The Art Of Silence

Living in or visiting Washington DC has one huge advantage over other large cities you find in this country: a large number (dare I guess three-fourths? perhaps) of our many museums are not only first-class collections of their various topics and subjects, but they are FREE of charge to the general public. Art and history and all of it for FREE? You bet. You pay nothing, and you get access to galleries and exhibits and displays that you don't get to see for free anywhere else. The catch? You have to take advantage of it, of course. But when you decide to take the step, the chances are high that you will find your world expanded, enhanced or down right changed.

The East Gallery of the National Gallery of Art.

I decided to take advantage of the free museum system this past weekend. The National Gallery of Art just opened a 4-month exhibit of one of my favorite American artists, Edward Hopper. And we're not talking about some measly 10 or 12 piece 'exhibit.' I'm talking close to 50 oil paintings, 38 watercolors and over 10 prints/sketches Hopper did. 2 expansive floors of the East Wing of the NGA. You want a definition for the word 'comprehensive'? This exhibit will do it, folks. It has the old standards that, even if you don't know the name 'Hopper', you will likely recognize. Pieces like 'Nighthawks' (one of my favorites I like to visit whenever I'm in Chicago...), 'Chop Suey' and Automat'. But then the exhibit goes on to expand on Hopper's collection of cityscapes, countryscapes, the placement of light, and his art of people lost in the silence of their own individual worlds.

The exterior of the museum announces the exhibit.

The main entrance to the exhibit inside.

The first piece I took a picture of....before I realized it said 'No Pictures.' Sue me.

I like Edward Hopper's art so much because it is simple and accessible and real, however cliche that may sound. He painted the world that he saw...from the lighthouses of Maine to the doorways of Paris. In his work, he found a way to capture the moments we have in our lives that seem simple or quiet or mundane. In piece after piece that you see in this exhibit, you come to understand that Hopper's brilliance was in capturing silence on canvas.

'Room In New York'

The Edward Hopper Exhibit at the NGA openend on September 16, 2007 and will be at the museum until January 21, 2008. You can plan your visit by clicking HERE to check out the NGA website. Or if spontaneous is more your style, simply hop the Metro to Archives/Navy Memorial (yellow/green line) or Judiciary Square (red line) and walk the few short blocks to where Constitution, Pennsylvania and 4th Street NW all meet up.

Now you have directions, a glowing review and the distinct advantage of free admission. When and how you choose to do it doesn't really matter. The key is just choosing to do it. Period.

Enjoy the silence!

My old friend, 'Nighthakws'

'Chop Suey'

'Gas'

'Ground Swell'

'Sun In An Empty Room'

***The picture at the top of this entry is entitled 'Early Sunday Morning'