Background

The Museum Project represents my most ambitious New Year's resolution of 2010. I moved to Northern Virginia two years ago and, after the initial post-move binge of sightseeing, found that there was still so much of DC that I hadn't taken in. So this is it...I plan to visit all of the museums, monuments, and historical sites in the city over the coming year with a few select spots oustide the district added in for good measure.

Twyla Tharp said "Art is the only way of running away without leaving home"...with the exceptions of tequila and my current obsession with LOST, I think that she was right on the money. My hope is that running away with the Smithsonian will have fewer repercussions than a bottle of Patron.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Evergreen 6

I’ve been working like a dog this week so decided that a nice Sunday brunch was in order to relax this weekend. I drove to Baltimore to meet Catharine and Ron at Petit Louis. After sating ourselves with mimosas, poached egg salad and cheese galore for dessert, I went to explore one of Baltimore’s hidden secrets, Evergreen Museum and Library. http://www.museums.jhu.edu/




Evergreen is the former family home of John Work and Alice Garrett. In 1942, it was bequeathed to Johns Hopkins University and has served as a museum ever since. This year, Evergreen is hosting, "Simultaneous Presence", the sixth biennial Sculpture at Evergreen. Ten invited artists have installed pieces around the grounds of Evergreen. The works play on existing man –made and natural features of the landscape – some hidden in overgrown corners of the garden others jarringly out of place in the bucolic setting.


I had been excited about seeing the exhibition because of photos I'd seen of artist Shannon Young's How Does your Garden Grow?  I was lucky enough to happen upon the artist herself.  How Does your Garden Grow? is a collection of small gardens housed in shopping carts with a nearby Greenhouse cum kitchen and small oven.  For the duration of the exhibit, the gardens are being tended by the artist with a cooking demo each Sunday afternoon.  I missed the cooking, but was lucky enough to get a ripe strawberry and a tour of the nasturtiums. 















Rounding the corner of the carriage house, is wood lined meadow with small stream and graffiti adorned basketball court.  Well, the court and associated graffiti are only temporary.  Evergreen Commons by Eric Leshinsky, C. Ryan Patterson, and Fred Scharmen is strikingly out of place on the grounds.  This little piece of downtown Baltimore is positioned across the creek from a small brick walled permanent garden on grounds creating an interesting city mouse / country mouse paradox.




For anyone interested in visiting the Evergreen there are tours of the Sculpture at Evergreen every Sunday in June and on June 29th from 5:30 to 7:30, an evening open house that will feature visits from the local artists, a tour of the first floor of the house, and a preview of Shakespeare in the Park.


Hide and Hide - Yukiko Nakashima - 2010



Skip - David Page - 2010
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