Illuminating tour of Smithsonian's Our America at Museum of American Art

Luis Jiménez, Man on Fire (1969)

"He's a new Icarus," commented Mihaela, a Latin teacher from Romania, when she saw Luis Jiménez's splendid sculpture Man on Fire, which opens the Smithsonian Museum's exhibit Our America. Docent LeeAnn Lawch explained to our group of eleven  from the Washington English Center and its outreach at the Georgetown Neighborhood Library that for his new Icarus, which reframes history, Jiménez had learned techniques for molding and painting plexiglass in his father's auto body shop.  Mrs. Lawch led our group through artworks illustrating themes of re-framing the past and the present (Western movies literally cut up with a tomahawk and then spliced together, sometimes upside down), the turning point (posters and paintings from the civil rights era), graphics, signs of the popular, street life, and pieces defying categorization.

Emanuel Martinez, Farmworkers' Altar (1967)

A colorful turning point was the self-taught artist Emanuel Martinez's Farmworkers' Altar (1967) where César Chávez ended his 25-day fast in support of migrant workers in 1968.  The artworks embraced a variety of media and styles including pop, digitally printed photographs, conceptualism, graphic art, expressionism, and comic book art -- free standing works made from nails, limestone, and even a chandelier.  Many were provocative.  What for example could Miguel Luciano's platinum plantain mean?  While our docent offered ideas, it was up to us as individuals to decide what the artworks meant.  Still, the universal reaction to our tour was that we were very happy to have guidance!  --Susan Joseph

Miguel Luciano's platinum plantain (2006)

Conversation students to have a private tour of Our America at the Smithsonian Museum of American Art

Death of Rubén Salazar by Frank Romero

Salazar's painting commemorating the death of activist Chicano journalist Rubén Salazar, killed by a tear-gas canister hurled by police into the Silver Dollar Bar in Los Angeles during an anti-war rally in August, 1970, is a colorful example of politically motivated art by American artists of Latino heritage featured in the Smithsonian's current exhibit Our America.  Romero's painting packs an emotional punch with its humorous style providing an ironic comment for its tragic content.  Students from the Washington English Center, which sponsors conversation classes both at 2200 California Street NW, and at the Georgetown Neighborhood Library, will have a private tour of the exhibit Our America at the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, 8th and F Streets, NW, Friday, February 28, starting in the lobby of the museum at 11:30 am.

Welcome to Georgetown Library's Conversation Blog!

For Fatima, from Brazil, and Meng, from China, the English Conversation Club at the Georgetown Neighborhood Library, at Wisconsin Avenue and R Street, NW, Washington, DC, is "a nice place where people from various countries can enjoy and share their experiences."  Fatima and Meng, who have been coming on Monday and Wednesday mornings, from 10 am until noon, for several months, are practicing and improving their English skills, as they become "part of the life of the city," and "on top of the news." Just last Monday the group was diverse, from Sri Lanka, China, Cambodia, Brazil, Romania, Bolivia, and Mexico, but everyone could agree that the conversation club helped them develop connections and friendships while discussing such topics as doctors' visits, creating viable online passwords, and the Washington theater scene.  The conversation club, which is staffed by trained facilitators from the Washington English Center, is free and ongoing, and no reservations are required.  Just come to the second floor of the library and meet new friends.  --Susan Joseph 

           

Sunny second floor of Georgetown Library

Going Out Guide for the Week of February 11, 2014

Discounted tickets for many events are available at Goldstar.com

Moliere’s Scapin at Constellation Theatre, 14^th Street Between R & Swann NW

Ella, First Lady of Song, at MetroStage in Alexandria, VA

Mother Courage at Arena Stage, Maine Avenue SW, DC