DC Exhibits: Meet Joseph & Josephine

Meet Joseph Cornell, creative modern artist, and Josephine Baker, talented performer--both legends of their times at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture.

Josephine Baker: Image and Icon, which runs from now till March 18, 2007, brings together photos, posters, sketches, films and more. You follow her extraordinary life from her humble beginnings as a vaudeville dancer in St. Louis, Missouri to her extravagant life as a famous entertainer in France. Even though she was lived in France, she still supported the American Civil Rights Movement. She also adopted 12 multi-ethnic children, whom she called her "Rainbow Tribe."

As I walked through the exhibit, I was amazed by Josephine Baker's courage. She owned a pet cheetah! She sang, danced and entertained without inhibition.
Parisians wanted to emulate her hair and skin color. Everyone wanted to be like her--beautiful, glamorous & powerful.

Going beyond her physical beauty, you learn how she was multi-cultural, multi-lingual and an avid world traveler. What a rich, full life--a great inspiration to us all! If you can't make it to the exhibit, check out the online slideshow, which features images from the exhibit.

After seeing this exhibit, you can get a drink and snacks in the Upper West Side Café on the 3^rd floor. When you are ready to continue, walk over to the Joseph Cornell exhibit also located on the same floor.

Joseph Cornell: Navigating the Imagination, which runs from now till February 19, 2007, takes you into a magical world of little boxes with images of owls, parrots, planets and more. This extensive retrospective exhibit, the artist’s first in 25 years, features over 100 of his boxes, films, toys and other items from public and private collections.

Many people collect things, but not many can create extraordinary collages and boxes like Joseph Cornell. I was filled with a sense of wonder and curiosity as I looked at the things he created out of magazines, record covers and other little things he found. I was moved by a box with a mysterious owl in the silhouette of a full moon. This exhibit is quite extensive and may require several visits to fully appreciate everything. I left the exhibit inspired by Joseph Cornell’s creativity and imagination! Check out a slideshow of the exhibit.

About the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture
The Reynolds Center brings together the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery in one place.
Location: 8th and F Streets, NW, near Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro Station
Hours: 11:30 am to 7 pm (Closed Dec. 25)
Other Exhibits:
> An Impressionist Sensibility: The Halff Collection
This exhibit showcases impressionist art and other turn-of-the-century works by Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, John Twachtman and other legendary American artists.
> Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2006
This exhibit features works by 51 artists selected as finalists in the first national portrait competition.
The Reynolds Center features other exhibits in addition to the ones mentioned above. Click here to see a full list of current exhibits.