Assignment 1 Post

The National Museum of Women’s Arts
The National Museum of Women’s Arts is located in the heart of downtown Washington D.C. on New York Avenue. With fairly reasonable admission prices, the museum serves to offer a look into Women’s Arts. The museum dates back to 1960, when a collection of art began by the Holladay family and established the museum in 1981. The museum has a variety of exhibitions ranging from paintings, crafts, drawings, and pottery. The museum’s collection of art focuses on recognition of women in the arts and their talents which are displayed on its many floors. The museum has a floor designated to holding permanent art, known as the Great Hall. On this floor, you can find their permanent collection, coat rooms, an education gallery, and a museum shop. There are other floors which have the cafeteria, special exhibitions, sculpture galleries, a library and a research center, all of which offer services and comfort during a visit through the museum. The museums permanent collection houses over 2500 art items. In their library collection you are able to access art files and information on over 18,000 pieces of art from all different periods. In the museum gift shop, you are able to buy small gifts, books about art, art, posters, and decorative items.
Prior to visiting the National Museum of Women’s Arts, I was skeptical in the types of art work that would be displayed. Overall, I held the assumption that the art would solely and somehow be related to feminism and exhibitions about women being powerful. To my surprise, the art work that was in the museum ranged from beautiful photography of not just women to sculptures that were not only depicting women. The museum was more of a way to commemorate women as artists and their incredible work as opposed to just art work by women of only women. One of the beautiful exhibits in the museum that really stood out was the pottery by the Native American women because of its roots and how much it dates back into history, even dating back to the 1800’s. One of the most intriguing historical facts I learned from visiting the museum was that the museum was not started by only a woman, but by a couple, Wallace and Wilhimena Holladay who donated around 200 pieces of art that they had been collecting.
Another museum visited was The National Building Museum which is located in downtown Washington D.C. This museum’s focus is primarily on construction, architecture, design, and engineering. There is no admission fee to enter the museum. The museum houses many exhibitions as well as holds events such as film viewings and lectures on important aspects of art and design. The museum is for all ages as it has lectures and exhibits for the older tourists and a hands on “building zone” for visitors as young as two. With the exhibit, children can build a tower, brick wall, browse through books, and explore a playhouse. Within the museum, an area called the Great Hall has a four story atrium and beautiful Corinthian Columns. The great thing about this museum is that it focuses a lot on architecture and design which is often overlooked because we are used to seeing the design of the buildings in Washington DC. However, having a museum that focuses on this allows us to appreciate them and take notice of other buildings.
The Smithsonian Museum is a popular museum located near the White House in Washington DC, which houses over 40,000 pieces of art from over 3 centuries. The Smithsonian Museum has numerous areas of focus but I particularly enjoyed the displays of African American Art. There was music, videos, a museum store, and beautiful sculptures.
Lastly, The National Museum of the American Indian is a museum also found in the heart of Washington D.C. on the national mall. This museum has a video introduction followed by exhibitions. This family friendly museum has no entrance fee and is accommodating to tourists with the large museum, welcome desk and dining area. The museum design is fun and friendly to all with its spiral ramps that take you from floor to floor. One of the most memorable parts was the actual clothing displays which featured traditional garments and dress for the Native American families. There are other collections which are of pottery from the native Americans and tools and items that they used on a every day basis to survive.
Prior to visiting any museum, I initially related feminism and art in a context that was different then what I discovered from the museum. My assumptions were that feminisms in entirely revolving around the liberation of women from traditional submissive views that women were once subjected to. Feminism further explains women’s rights to be equal in society in terms of education, salary, and responsibility. I believed that feminism in relation to art was going to depict women who are powerful and overshadowing men in society or depicting them as equals to society as a whole. Overall, the exhibits in the museum were by women but in no way solely focused on depicting women as superior to men.
Assumptions:
It will only be women’s art work
Exhibits will only be of women
Exhibits may depict women’s power in society or equality or even submissive men as opposed to women
The museum will not have much art work because women’s art is not as recognized as opposed to just art a whole.
Women may use their voice through art to depict women being superior to men