Renwick Gallery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
|
|
.jpg) |
|
 Location in Central Washington, D.C.
Location in the District of Columbia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|
| Built | 1859–1873 |
| Architect | James Renwick Jr. |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000300 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 1969 |
The Renwick Gallery is a special art museum in Washington, D.C.. It's part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Here, you can see amazing American craft and decorative arts from the 1800s to today.
The museum is inside a very old building. It opened in 1859 on Pennsylvania Avenue. This building was once called "the American Louvre" because it was so grand. It's now named after its architect, James Renwick Jr..
Contents
History of the Renwick Gallery Building
The Renwick Gallery building was first built to be the very first art museum in Washington, D.C.. A man named William Wilson Corcoran wanted a place to show his collection of American and European art.
The building was designed by James Renwick Jr.. It was finished in 1874. Renwick designed it to look like the Tuileries Palace, which was part of the famous Louvre museum in Paris. Because of its grand style, people called it "the American Louvre."
The Building During the Civil War
The building was almost finished when the American Civil War started. In August 1861, the U.S. Army took over the building. They used it as a temporary storage place for military records and uniforms. Later, in 1864, General Montgomery C. Meigs used it as his main office.
From Art Museum to Courtroom
On May 10, 1869, the building was given back to William Corcoran. On January 19, 1874, the Corcoran Gallery of Art officially opened to the public. The art collection quickly grew too big for the building. So, in 1897, the Corcoran Gallery moved to a new, larger building nearby.
After the art museum moved out, the building got a new purpose. Starting in 1899, it became home to the federal United States Court of Claims. This court handles legal cases against the U.S. government.
Saving the Renwick Building
By the 1950s, the Court of Claims needed more space. They suggested tearing down the old building. But in 1963, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy stepped in and saved it from being destroyed.
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson and the head of the Smithsonian, S. Dillon Ripley, suggested a new idea. They thought the building should become part of the Smithsonian.
President Johnson signed an order to give the Renwick building to the Smithsonian Institution. The plan was to use it as a "gallery of arts, craft and design." After some repairs and updates, it reopened in 1972. It became the home for the Smithsonian American Art Museum's modern craft program. Today, the Renwick Gallery is a special part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It shows off amazing decorative art and crafts.
Renovation and Reopening
The Renwick Gallery closed on December 9, 2013, for a big renovation. The building had been slightly damaged during an earthquake in Washington D.C. in 2011. The renovation involved updating the building's old systems.
The museum reopened on November 13, 2015. The first exhibition after the renovation was called "Wonder." It featured special art installations created by nine artists just for the museum's spaces. The renovation was paid for by donations. A local supporter named David Rubenstein gave $5.4 million. Because of his generous gift, the gallery's main hall was renamed the Grand Salon in his honor.
What Changed During Renovation?
The renovation updated many parts of the building. All the heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing systems were replaced. Security, phone, and internet systems were also improved. Wi-Fi was added throughout the building.
Workers also brought back the original window design. Two vaulted ceilings on the second floor were restored. The basement was changed to create offices and workshops for staff. New LED lights were installed everywhere. The Grand Salon was also updated to be a modern event space.
Visiting the Renwick Gallery Today
The Renwick Gallery reopened on Friday, November 13, 2015. It is free to enter. The gallery is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The first-floor galleries usually have temporary exhibits. These change about twice a year. The art displayed here is considered "high art," not just everyday objects. The second floor has the famous Grand Salon. For many years, this room showed about 70 paintings by American artists. These included landscapes, portraits, and even portraits of Native Americans by George Catlin. Since November 2015, these paintings are no longer on display. The room has a more modern look now.
Exhibitions at the Renwick Gallery
In 2012, the Renwick Gallery had an exhibition called "40 Under 40: Craft Futures." It showed works by 40 artists. These artists used materials like glass, fiber, ceramic, and wood in new and exciting ways. They challenged traditional ideas of craft.
The "Wonder" Exhibition
The "Wonder" exhibition was very popular. It almost doubled the number of visitors to the gallery. It opened in November 2015 to celebrate the end of the two-year renovation. Nine major modern artists were invited to create special artworks. These artworks were designed specifically for the nine exhibition spaces in the gallery.
The artists in "Wonder" included Jennifer Angus, Chakaia Booker, Gabriel Dawe, Tara Donovan, Patrick Dougherty, Janet Echelman, John Grade, Maya Lin, and Leo Villareal. Each artist had the freedom to create their own unique installation.
- Jennifer Angus's piece, "In the Midnight Garden," used over 5,000 insects. These included beetles, moths, and cicadas. They were arranged in patterns in a pink room.
- Chakaia Booker's "Anonymous Donor" was made from old tires and stainless steel.
- Gabriel Dawe's "Plexus A1" used colorful threads to create a rainbow in the middle of a room.
- Tara Donovan made her artwork from thousands of index cards.
- Patrick Dougherty's installation, "Shindig," was made from willow branches.
- Janet Echelman's piece was inspired by images of waves from the 2011 Japan tsunami.
- John Grade rebuilt a mold of a very old hemlock tree. This piece was called "Middle Fork."
- Maya Lin mapped out the Chesapeake Bay using marbles.
- Leo Villareal's LED chandelier hung from the Renwick ceiling.
The "Wonder" exhibition was very popular on social media. People tagged the Renwick over 20,000 times on Instagram. The exhibition closed after eight months. It attracted 732,000 visitors.
Other Exhibitions and Events
The Renwick Craft Invitational is an exhibition that happens every two years. It shows the best in modern fine craft. The 2016 exhibition featured works by Steven Young Lee, Kristen Morgin, Jennifer Trask, and Norwood Viviano. The 2018 exhibition, Disrupting Craft: Renwick Invitational 2018, showed works by Tanya Aguiñiga, Sharif Bey, Dustin Farnsworth, and Stephanie Syjuco.
Since 2011, the Renwick has hosted a fun event called "Handi-hour." It's a craft-themed happy hour. People can do craft activities. The event also offers special craft beers.
In 2019, the Renwick had an augmented reality exhibition. It was created by glass artist Ginny Ruffner and digital artist Grant Kirkpatrick. It was called Reforestation of the Imagination.
In 2023, the tenth Renwick Invitational opened. It was called Sharing Honors and Burdens. This exhibition featured amazing Native American artists. They included Joe Feddersen, Erica Lord, Geo Soctomah Neptune, Maggie Thompson, Lily Hope, and Ursala Hudson.
Notable Artists in the Collection
Many famous artists have had their works in the Renwick Gallery's collection. As of November 2015, some of these works are no longer on display. Here are a few examples:
- Margaret Boozer's Eight Red Bowls is a sculpture made from Maryland clay and pine.
- Wendell Castle's Ghost Clock looks like a clock covered by a sheet.
- Dale Chihuly's famous glass sculptures are displayed in special sandboxes.
- Arline Fisch created a silver Body Ornament.
- Larry Fuente's Game Fish is a sculpture made from a mounted sailfish. It's covered with game pieces like dice, poker chips, and dominoes.
- Sam Maloof created beautiful furniture.
- Maria Martinez is known for her pottery.
- Albert Paley is famous for his metal sculptures.
- Ginny Ruffner's Reforestation of the Imagination is an augmented reality exhibit.
- Judith Schaechter's A Little Torcher is a stained-glass artwork.
- Kim Schmahmann's Bureau of Bureaucracy is a wooden cabinet. It has many hidden compartments and drawers that don't open. It's a fun way to think about how government works.
See also
In Spanish: Galería Renwick para niños
- Oak Hill Cemetery Chapel – another building in Washington, D.C., designed by James Renwick.
- Smithsonian Institution Building – another building in Washington, D.C., designed by James Renwick.
- St. Patrick's Cathedral – James Renwick's most famous work, located in New York City.
- Architecture of Washington, D.C.
