Art Museum of the Americas / OAS

The Art Museum of the Americas (http://museum.oas.org/index1.html) was founded in 1976 by the Organization of American States.    Housed in the original home for OAS secretaries general, just behind the OAS building, the museum's mission is to broaden awareness of art from OAS member states.  The permanent collection focuses primarily on art from Central America and the Caribbean.  I had expected my visit today to be a foray into paintings and sculpture of the Americas, but the buildings themselves, rather than the permanent collection, are the gems of the collection.

         Supersticion                                         Estudiante Muerto

   Enrique Tabara-1963                          Alejandro Obregon-1956

The back room of the Art Museum is a spectacular tiled room with a prominent Central American theme. 

The OAS building, the Art Museum, and surrounding gardens are studded with statues of prominent historical figures from the Americas.  My favorite bust was of Miguel Larreynaga, a Nicaraguan philosopher who petitioned Spain for Nicaraguan independence in the 1818. Who knew that Elvis had relatives in Nicaragua?

The OAS building, completed in 1910, is the focus of the current exhibition at the museum.  Both buildings were designed by architect Paul Cret.  The OAS building design was chosen from six entries in a building competition.  It is open to the public although it still functions as OAS headquarters.  The architecture of both buildings is breathtaking and well worth the trip to 19th St and Constitution.

Peace Tree in the OAS Interior Courtyard

The National Gallery - The West Building - Chester Dale Collection

With a few hours to spend in DC before Mom's flight today, we headed over to the National Gallery to see the "Impressionism to Modernism" Exhibit.  http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/daleinfo.shtm

Chester Dale by Diego Rivera - 1945       Maud Dale by Fernand Leger - 1935

Running through July 2011, the exhibit features the collected works of Chester and Maud Dale.  The Dales were active collectors of European and American art throughout the early to mid 1900s.   When the National Gallery opened n 1942, the Dales donated a large number of pieces and more of the collection was donated when Chester dale died in 1962.  In all, this couple donated more than 300 pieces to the National Gallery including one of the most complete collections of Modigliani's work in the world.

Gypsy Woman with Baby

Amedeo Modigliani - 1919

As we went through the exhibition, we were struck by how many familiar artists were represented in utterly unfamiliar styles (a hunting portrait of Diana by Renoir, a floral still-life by Derain).  Maud Dale, an artist herself, was reputed to be a free-thinker with respect to the pieces that she chose helping to create the diverse collection represented in the exhibition.  

Favorites upon which Mom and I agreed:

Snow in New York - Robert Henri - 1902   The Loge - Mary Cassatt - 1882

Blue Morning - George Bellow - 1909

(he was a neighbor of the Dales)

The difference of opinion:

Mom liked the strong back of Matisse's "La Coiffure" on top while I was drawn to the colors in his "Odalisque seated with raised arms, Green striped armchair". Mom was thrown the double armpit hair.   The exhibition takes about an hour to see in its entirety and, at the low, low price of free, is worth multiple visits.  This definitely makes my list of favorite museum spots in DC.