Washington, DC––13 June 2015

I went to the National Portrait Gallery / American Art Museum. I got about an hour before they opened, so I wandered over to the National Building Museum for a while. Here are some pictures along the way. The

When I took the next picture, I thought there was a regular-roofed building in front of the church, but no, the two styles really do merge.

National Building Museum

The next two are from the Government Accountability Office across the street from the Building Museum.

The Museum of American Art / National Portrait Gallery

Starting with the portrait gallery...

This next one is titled Shimomura Crossing the Delaware (by an artist whose surname is Shimomura).

The cat and wild boar statues are by Heinz Warnecke.

A collection of weather vanes.

And more artwork.

These two sculptures are right across the hall from each other, and they could not possibly be more different.

American Presidents

The Nixon portrait is by Norman Rockwell, the LBJ portrait by Peter Hurd—President Johnson said he thought it was very ugly. The Clinton portrait is by Chuck Close, who specializes in artwork of faces. He has face blindness.

Of course, not everything in the museum appeals to me. Here is what I call the “ghasty cherub room.” Also a “ghastly cherub Jesus.”

Moar art!

Mingering Mike

The museum had an exhibit of art by a fellow who went by the name “Mingering Mike.” He created album covers and record labels for a musical career that never existed.

Bravo! and Champions

This exhibit of entertainers and sports personages was on the top floor.

Miscellany

Washington DC Gay Pride Parade

A few SFW pictures from the parade. The first two are a) Deacon McCubbin, who opened one of the first LGBT bookstores in Washington DC, and b) Wilson Cruz, an actor.