The Phillips Collection sent out a message last week about what could be a very cool project.  By Valentine’s Day, they hope to have put together a YouTube video of interviews and stories from couples who had romantic moments at the museum.  But they can only do it if enough people respond, so I’m helping to spread the word.  Here is the message from the Phillips:

Did you first encounter the Phillips on a memorable date? Or know someone else who did?

Do you know some romantic soul who chose  Luncheon of the Boating Party as the joyous backdrop for the perfect proposal?

Have you listened as a friend recounted their Artful Evening/Phillips after 5 love connection for the thousandth time?

We need your help! Lore and legend abounds about romance at The Phillips Collection. Duncan and Marjorie, intimacy and art—interpersonal connection is at the core of the Phillips story. But we want proof. If you or someone you know have had a Phillips love connection, live in the DC metro area, and would be willing to share that story with the Phillips on video, please contact Cecilia Wagner at 202-387-2151 x235 or cwagner@phillipscollection.org at your earliest convenience.

Those with stories to share will be invited to the Phillips in January. At that time, we will record high definition videos of these brief interviews. Given enough response, the videos will be edited together and posted on YouTube in time for Valentine’s Day.

I love visiting the Capitol Building, and there are many words I would use to describe it, but normally “whimsical” would not be on the list.  Kalman, however, focuses on quirky details to convey a mood of lighthearted optimism.  She writes that “the floors are polished to the point of ecstasy” and “fresh-faced, super-polite” pages rush around helping out.  In addition to Kalman’s illustrations, there are some fantastic photos:

In addition to political pups, lofty quotes above restroom doors, and cafeteria diners in porkpie hats, Kalman’s illustration of a bathtub in the Capitol basement is icing on the quirky cake:

Kalman’s work is refreshing given that the usual tone accompanying the Capitol Building is one of historic gravitas.  And, considering the acrimony surrounding the health care debate, among other things, it is a well-timed reminder that “e pluribus unum.”

Earlier:  New Installment of Maira Kalman’s “And the Pursuit of Happiness”

The great thing about the exhibit, though, was that the Phillips actually had a lot of the objects on display next to the photographs, so it was very clear the effect Man Ray (and the other modernist photographers) wanted the object to have on the viewer.  Also, the Phillips displayed other images, like book covers and fashion magazines, that showed the effect the photographs had on pop culture in the 1920’s and 30’s.  Ray’s pictures were some of the first (Western) portrayals of African objects as art rather than anthropological artifacts.   

This untitled photograph features a statute of a queen from Cameroon:

Predictably, though, my favorites featured people along with objects.  This may be one of Ray’s most famous photos, “Noire et blanche.”  Interesting contrast between black and white, hard and soft, male and female: 

This one is “Mode au Congo (Adrienne Fidelin),” featuring Man Ray’s lover.  The checkerboard seems heavy-handed but it does add a nice effect:

For example, la Madeleine, on 30th and M St. in Georgetown, recently added this:  

Here’s the north exterior wall of Luigi’s Restaurant, on 19th St. between L and M:

City Dogs on 18th St. near T added this little guy (dreaming of dog bones and fire hydrants?):

I have really been enjoying the wall art.  The murals are well done and it’s fun walking around and noticing new art popping up in unexpected places.  The murals express a certain playfulness.  Or, as la Madeleine puts it, a certain:

The exhibit was great, and much more expansive than other exhibits I’ve seen at the Phillips– it takes up the whole third floor of the new building.  It also seemed to feature a lot more high-impact works by prominent artists than other exhibits the Collection has offered.  I especially liked the two on display from John Currin, Lucean Freud’s  ”Naked Man, Back View,” and “Woman” by de Kooning.      

Here is one by Currin, “Hobo,” modeled on his wife:

Here is the painting by Freud, a grandson of Sigmund Freud, called “Naked Man, Back View.”  The subject is a popular London drag queen and performance artist, but here he is striped down and looks vulnerable:

Here is “Woman,” by de Kooning.  I’m ambivalent about it because it is a vicious portrayal of a woman (the colors and brush strokes are violent and she is practically bearing her teeth), but de Kooning’s emotion really comes through.  The placard next to the painting said it was evidence of de Kooning’s “conflicted” feelings about women because the subject is portrayed as aggressive and appalling but soft and seductive at the same time.  The latter description didn’t come through for me, but I was still drawn to the piece:    

If you have time to make it to the exhibit today before it closes, you should.  If not, you can see a video tour of the exhibit here.

The first installment was about her visit to D.C. for Obama’s inauguration, and she has done subsequent works about Monticello, the Supreme Court, and Benjamin Franklin.  The new piece is about immigration, and the history of how people got to the United States in general.  She even manages to make an office in the Department of Homeland Security look lovely!  I especially like the last line of the piece:  ”Happy to be here.”  

There are beautiful illustrations of  scenes from around D.C.  Above, the Supreme Court.  (I love how she says Ruth Bader Ginsburg has taken Jane Austen’s place as her “imaginary best friend forever”!  That’s saying something, in my book.)  On the right, a portrait of a museum guard at the National Gallery.  Kalman writes that she has “perfect red eyebrows.”  I think she got the uniform exactly right.  

Of course, I’ve been on to Maira Kalman for years, ever since I stumbled upon the quirky series of paper products she designed for kate spade.  I still have one of the greeting cards, featuring this lovely lady:

Check out the series.  If not for the inspiring content, then at least for the fantastic and colorful D.C. scenes.

This one is my favorite.  I love how the grey parts of the work are the actual wall, no paint involved:

I also enjoyed this, an intricate piece featuring . . . apartments?  Offices?  Either way, a very nice city scene:

See the rest, after the jump.

Another one in the back.  I like the “51″ stars, which I assume relate to DC statehood:

The most visible (and not so new) work in the alley is a piece by Shepard Fairey, the artist behind the famed Obama poster, added in October 2008:

Check it out!