The National Sculpture Garden
Roy Lichtenstein, House I, 1996-1998
Date Visited: October 13, 2006
Contact Information:
On the National Mall at 7th Street and Constitution Ave.
Washington, DC
(202) 737-4215
Hours:
Monday–Saturday open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Sunday open 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Admission: Free
My Experience:
Walking through the National Sculpture Garden was a wonderful experience. As I walked around corners, sculptures would be revealed within the bushes and trees. Some of the sculptures were monumental, 
yet they did not steal my concentration from the work I was studying. Because of that, I think the garden was planned out really well with no one sculpture taking all of the attention. Some of the works were bold in color, however, and did not seem to belong in the natural environment. Perhaps this was intended and meant to be used for emphasis. In fact, it seemed to be a recurring theme in the sculptures since many of them were geometric and metallic, possessing a man made quality. These I liked, however. My favorite piece in the garden is the Cluster of Four Cubes by George Rickey. Although the cubes look heavy, they twirl in the wind, displaying the effects the natural world has on man made objects.
One thing I was disappointed about was the large fountain in the center of the garden was empty. It was probably being cleaned or prepared for the winter months when it is used as an ice-skating rink.
Within the sculpture garden is The Pavilion Cafe. Although I did not stop to eat, it seemed like a nice place to grab a bite to eat. Really the only places to eat that are directly on the mall are the cafes in the museums, so it is a good idea to take note of them. The cafe had both indoor and outdoor seating, and of course it offers a wonderful veiw of the garden and fountain.
Whenever you find yourself on the National Mall, and you have some free time, head over to the National Sculpture Garden, especially if it is a nice day. Even if you do not have a long time, it does not take very long to walk through it, and you do not have to wait in the long lines that seem to be the trend at many other museums on the mall. It is also a great place to get a bite to eat.
yet they did not steal my concentration from the work I was studying. Because of that, I think the garden was planned out really well with no one sculpture taking all of the attention. Some of the works were bold in color, however, and did not seem to belong in the natural environment. Perhaps this was intended and meant to be used for emphasis. In fact, it seemed to be a recurring theme in the sculptures since many of them were geometric and metallic, possessing a man made quality. These I liked, however. My favorite piece in the garden is the Cluster of Four Cubes by George Rickey. Although the cubes look heavy, they twirl in the wind, displaying the effects the natural world has on man made objects.
One thing I was disappointed about was the large fountain in the center of the garden was empty. It was probably being cleaned or prepared for the winter months when it is used as an ice-skating rink.
Within the sculpture garden is The Pavilion Cafe. Although I did not stop to eat, it seemed like a nice place to grab a bite to eat. Really the only places to eat that are directly on the mall are the cafes in the museums, so it is a good idea to take note of them. The cafe had both indoor and outdoor seating, and of course it offers a wonderful veiw of the garden and fountain.
No comments:
Post a Comment