Last week while in Washington, DC, I visited the National Museum of the American Indian, a Smithsonian museum that had not yet opened the last time I was in DC. The NMAI was the first museum I visited upon my arrival–not because I’d planned it that way, but because its unique exhibit space literally drew me inside.
The architecture of the NMAI is visually striking, both outside and in. Although the building itself is not round…
its entrance atrium is, impressively.
Inside the NMAI, my favorite exhibition was “Native Modernism,” featuring the art of George Morrison and Allan Houser. Not only was the art here impressive, the actual exhibit space was intriguing, with wall cut-outs that encouraged “window peeking” from one room to another. In such a space, you could view art while watching other museum visitors moving through neighboring rooms…
or view works in one room from the perspective of another.
Since perspective is a vital element when viewing sculpture–a medium intended for three-dimensional viewing–it was wonderful to be able to view a single work first from one side…
and then from the other.
Since I typically go to museums to watch people as much as observe art, an exhibit space which invited both pedestrian movement and voyeuristic peepery was a delight. To my eye, there’s no thrill to art in an empty gallery; only a gathering of Admiring Eyes can bring life to dead paint and stone.
Ultimately, I think, it is this Gathering of Eyes that embodies what American Indian art is all about.
Jul 2, 2005 at 9:32 am
I’m glad I stayed tuned. This is a great photo essay on the NAMI. (It is an interesting coincidence that I just got a piece of promotional mail from the museum yesterday with an invitaion to join as a member). Your photos show that the museum architecture reflects many of the sensibilities of the broader Native American community. For example, the third one from the top (of the entrance atrium) is almost an exact replica of a “sipapu,” or entrance to a kiva–a place of worship for ancient Southwest Native Americans. I can’t wait to make my own visit; thanks for blazing my trail.
Jul 2, 2005 at 9:32 am
“Ultimately, I think, it is this Gathering of Eyes that embodies what American Indian art is all about.”
! Amazing, Lorianne, Amazing !
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing the photos and your eyes.
Jade.
Jul 2, 2005 at 9:41 am
I’ll have to hit this museum whenever I get back home. Thanks, L. Seems like you had a good trip.
Kevin
Jul 2, 2005 at 11:20 am
It is so great that these museums are allowing visitors to take photos. Thanks for your eye, Lorianne. I think it may have been impossible for even your eye/camera to have done this place justice, though. This is, I’m sure, a place that must be seen in person. I wish I could get there, but your pics are a fine promotion. Looking forward to tomorrow…
Jul 2, 2005 at 12:42 pm
Gorgeous lines and shapes…amazing photos !
Jul 2, 2005 at 1:00 pm
WOW! You have an unfailing ability to photograph places that holler “Fred, come for a visit.” Thanks for alerting me to this one.
Jul 3, 2005 at 11:57 am
“Sipapu”…yes, Carol Gee, thanks for reminding me of that term! I knew the atrium resembled a kiva, but I couldn’t remember the terminology for the various parts (and was too lazy to look it up!) Thank goodness I have keen-eyed & knowledgeable commenters!
(If you look closely at the second picture in this post, you’ll see there’s a hole in the pool/fountain outside the Museum entrance, in the lower righthand corner of the picture. I think it’s supposed to represent the sipapu hole inside many kivas: the opening between this & the Other World. And if you check out my final picture in today’s post, you’ll see Andy Goldsworthy non-Native American take on domed, kiva-like structures.)
Jade, thanks for the kind words. I loved that mural of glowing *faces* that I used as my final image: I think “the point” of the NMAI is showing how multifaceted Native American existence is, being made up of so many unique individuals who nevertheless are joined as a community.
Kevin, I had a great time: my aunt teased that I saw more in 5 days than she’s seen in 17 years! Definitely check out the NMAI the next time you’re Stateside: it’s well worth a visit.
Les, my photos definitely don’t do the place justice…and yes, I was shocked that photography wasn’t prohibited! Since this is the first museum I visited on my trip, I initially held back from taking pictures…but when I saw everyone else clicking away with indifferent guards present, I realized there were signs (at least in this gallery) forbidding photography. Even so, I took all these images without flash, which accounts for some blurry edges in some of them: I didn’t want to disturb other visitors, so flash-free photography was the least invasive way to go.
Paula, you pinpointed exactly what I love about these images: it’s *all* about line & shape. Thanks for noticing!
Handdrummer, I might add that the NMAI (like all the Smithsonian museums) has no admission charge, which is one of my favorite things about visiting DC. It’s wonderful to stroll from museum to museum without having to *pay* at each one (although these days you do have to go through security everywhere, which gets tiring after a while!)