Located across from the White House, this iconic Smithsonian has recently been transformed and modernized. It took a two year renovation, but Renwick is finally up and running once again. The Renwick was the first National Historic Landmark to serve solely as an art museum. The authentic age and history is seen in the architecture, both inside and out.
It takes just a single trip to the museum to understand why it is now Instagram famous. Within the first month of re-opening in November 2015, the museum drew 100,000 plus visitors. To put that in comparison, that is the same number that would visit the Renwick per YEAR before the renovation.
The first new exhibit named “Wonder” lives up to the name. Every room is full of a different installation, each one more unique from the last. The different rooms feature art constructed from string, nets, leather, tires, marbles, branches, paper, and most interestingly, insects.
There is a hot pink room covered in a pattern of skulls and geometric shapes. From afar it looks like a simple wallpaper, but with closer inspection, all different insects can be seen. The different insects are natural, authentic, and real. Jennifer Angus worked painstakingly in order to perfect the message that she wanted to create. She wanted us to recognize the extreme beauty in the little things of life. By taking insects and placing them in front of us, we are able to appreciate the beauty in everyday life.
Patrick Dougherty worked with branches to bend and shape them into wispy shapes. The shapes allowed for people to enter and take photos, yet another way that the museum excels at allowing for art and viewers to connect. The shapes of the sculpture seem part reality and part Alice in Wonderland, making for a dreamlike view in Washington D.C.
The most calming and relaxing piece by far, was Janet Echelman's woven sculpture. At first glance, it seems serene, with nets suspending from the ceiling, colored lights slowly changing colors, and a soft carpet underneath. Viewers are encouraged to lay on the carpet, or sprawl out on the couches. She actually was inspired by the Tohoku earthquake in Japan, which was so strong that it actually shifted the Earth's axis. The juxtaposition of soft calming visuals, with a deep, meaningful inspiration, create a truly modern piece.
My personal favorite piece in the exhibit was “Plexus A1” by Gabriel Dawe. The strings are manipulated in such an authentic way, that they seem to be just rays of light. While that was his initial goal, it is amazing to see such a sight in real life. This piece cannot be translated into photos, but alas, we all try. The strings of vibrant colors twist to a rainbow, allowing for it to be seen from all sides, and for light to come in at the top. If you wait just long enough, light will stream down from the window, shine onto the string, and before your eyes you will see the strings come together to a single ray. The manipulation of light, color, and texture, is one that is hard to explain, but is worth the trip.
With the Smithsonian being free and full of such incredible work, it is easy to figure out why people flock to the Renwick. The different types of art all gathered under one roof make it a must see this spring. But go quick, as half of the exhibit closes on May 8th, and the other half on July 10th. This truly is a can't miss opportunity.
