• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide

  • ABOUT US
  • MEMBERS
    • MEMBER ACCESS (must be logged in)
  • SERVICES
  • RESOURCES
  • AWARDS
  • NEWS
  • JOIN
  • DONATE
  • ABOUT US
  • MEMBERS
    • MEMBER ACCESS (must be logged in)
  • SERVICES
  • RESOURCES
  • AWARDS
  • NEWS
  • JOIN
  • DONATE
You are here: Home / May 3 Visit to the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery

May 3 Visit to the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery

The Renwick Gallery is one-of-a-kind museum that dazzles the eyes and blows the mind! It features magnificent, colorful art made from all types of materials, and in Cyclopean sizes in its huge rooms with two-story high ceilings. During our visit, the Renwick Gallery displayed an exhibit called “Wonder,” with masterful artworks by well-known artists such as Jennifer Angus, Chakaia Booker, John Grade, and Maya Lin. As a child, Lin played with green glass balls her loving father had created. As an artist, she modeled the Chesapeake Bay with these light green balls, covering the floor, walls, ceilings and even the heat/air vents to display the exact topography and mapping.

There were willow osiers and saplings woven into enormous pods or little houses that create a sanctuary, giving us a great desire to own one in our own backyards to enjoy with family and friends! There was a massive suspended colorful net hanging from the ceiling, displaying a different view every time one gazes at it. Artist Tara Donovan used thousands of styrene index cards to create ten towers/looming spires that seem so natural and real. Then there were dazzling waves of colored light using thousand miles of embroidery thread, covering floor to ceiling and back with only a small space in the center.

The display of colored insects ranging from very small to seven inches created a fascinating design that boggled the mind. Leo Villarreal’s light sculpture is the only work which will remain at the Renwick Gallery, as all other displays will be removed and a few will go back to nature! The sculpture features 320 hanging rods that are encrusted with 23000 LED lights that shimmer, sparkle, shine, in endless non-repeating sequences. Tom Switzer said “It is unbelievable and I would not mind owning it!”

The event was well-attended, with about 60 members and non-members on two guided tours through this amazing Renwick Art Gallery. Thank you Sheila for again entertaining us as no other can. Much appreciation from everyone and that includes me too!

Troella Tyznik

Footer

CONNECT WITH US

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide
4001 North Ninth Street, Suite 214
Arlington, VA, 22203
703-820-5420

Our Vision Statement

AAFSW will continue to be a catalyst for beneficial change through advocacy and support for our Foreign Affairs Community. By providing resources, services and engaging programs through our effective network, we promote the goals and serve the needs of Foreign Service and Civil Service employees, spouses, partners, members of household and retirees.

Follow

My Tweets

Copyright © 2022 · Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide · Connecting the U.S. Foreign Affairs Community at Home and Abroad

AAFSW uses cookies to optimize your experience, analyze traffic, and personalize content. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of cookies on our site.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.