Freer and Sackler Galleries of Asian Art Jefferson Memorial

Posted May two, 2007 By LAUREN MARSHALL
School of Communication
University of Miami

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Beautifully adorned Japanese princesses, larger-than-life Chinese guardians and a bejeweled Indian creature that is part-man and office-elephant can exist institute within walking altitude of the White House and Washington Monument.

Who are these exotic figures?

The outside view of the Arthur Chiliad. Sackler Gallery (Photograph by Lauren Marshall).

They are among the thousands of exquisite pieces of Asian artwork constitute in the collections of the Freer Gallery of Art and the neighboring Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, located in the heart of the Mall.

Together, these two globe-class galleries unite to form the national museum of Asian art for the United States.

The Freer and Sackler galleries are connected by an underground exhibition infinite, making it like shooting fish in a barrel to be transported to Mainland china, Japan, Republic of india, Korea, Turkey and the rest of Asia all in one mean solar day.

Sidelle Wertheimer is a docent at the Freer and described to visitors what the founder, Charles Lang Freer, had intended when the gallery kickoff opened in 1923.

"He felt that America should have an Asian presence on the Mall," Wertheimer said.

She explained why Freer donated his vast drove of Asian fine art, saying that "he believed that if it was beautiful in one generation, it would be beautiful in some other."

The Sackler opened in 1987 to share the historical focus of its sister museum, the Freer.

Every bit a docent at the Sackler, Robert Boies described to visitors one of the unique characteristics of the gallery, explaining that it is "the first major museum where the gallery is pretty much all beneath ground."

Xu Bing's "Monkey's Grasping for the Moon" suspended sculpture can exist seen while walking downwardly the stairwell in the Sackler (Photo by Lauren Marshall).

While visitors walk downwardly the stairwell in the Sackler, they tin can view the contemporary sculpture, "Monkeys Grasping for the Moon," suspended from high atop the sky-lit atrium down through the gallery's stairwell all the way downwards to the tertiary-level reflecting puddle.

Designed by expatriate Chinese artist Xu Bing, the sculpture of 21 interlocking "monkeys" was designed specifically for the Sackler.

"Information technology was designed by a gimmicky Chinese artist and deals with Buddhist legend," Boies said. "The monkeys are hanging by their tails reaching downwardly to run into the moon in the water, reaching for the unattainable philosophically. Each one means 'monkey' in a different language."

In "The Arts of Mainland china" collection on display at the Sackler, intricately carved ancient bronzes can exist seen upwardly close and personal by visitors.

"Some of the oldest pieces in the Sackler are the aboriginal bronze pieces, dating back to 1500 B.C.," Boies said. "They were used in religious ceremonies and sacrificial ceremonies."

Boies called attending to the Chinese ancient bronzes, explaining that "the detail seen on these pieces y'all don't find on Mediterranean bronzes. I am constantly amazed at the perfection of the technique."

Also, throughout "The Arts of Communist china" collection, visitors can acquire virtually the history of China and, by extension, its artwork by reading the several descriptions throughout the exhibit virtually each Chinese dynasty.

This "Ritual Nutrient Container," by Fang Yi, is ane of many aboriginal Chinese bronzes located in the Sackler (Photo by Lauren Marshall).

Working as a security guard at the Sackler for the past ix months, Arthur Stribling describes his work at the gallery as extremely exciting because "you get to come across people from all over the world and collaborate with them and run across them acquire."

"Everything hither is fascinating," Stribling explained. "I learn something different from each collection and information technology challenges me to acquire more."

In addition to the regular collections, the Sackler, equally well as the Freer, offers a multifariousness of programs, exhibitions and tours in conjunction with the 2007 National Reddish Blossom Festival.

I such exhibit at the Sackler is the "East of Eden: Gardens in Asian Fine art" exhibition, which displays approximately 65 scrolls, paintings, textiles, ceramics and numerous other objects that highlight the rich visual tradition of gardens in Asian art.

Amanda Williams works in the Office of Public Affairs and Marketing for both the Freer and the Sackler galleries.

She explained visitors' overall reactions to the "East of Eden" showroom, maxim that "many accept said that it is the perfect entrée into bound and an added complement to the festivities of the Scarlet Bloom Festival."

Dolores Parsil is one such visitor, coming to the Sackler on her trip to Washington, D.C., from Virginia with her girl, Kate Manzanares.

The sculpture of "Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi as Goddess Parvati" was made during the Chola period in India and can be found in the Freer (Photo by Lauren Marshall).

"I wouldn't commonly exist attracted to Asian art, but because of the cherry-red blossoms, I came thinking it would broaden my horizons," Parsil said.

Parsil and Manzanares attended one of the Sackler daily tours led past Boies, and enjoyed the educational experience.

"The bout guides are very informative and fun," Manzanares said. "They provide great stories about the artwork."

Other highlights of the Sackler drove include: aboriginal Near Eastern ceramics and metallic wares; sculpture from South and Southeast Asia; Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and S Asian painting; and 19th and 20th century Japanese prints and contemporary porcelain.

On the opposite end of the cloak-and-dagger tunnel at the Freer, visitors can once again experience artwork from all beyond Asia, each piece being unique and with its own story to convey.

Wertheimer described the diversity of the artwork on view at the Freer.

"Each piece of art has unlike things to look at and different things to translate," Wertheimer said.

Other Ruby Bloom Festival events are accept identify at the Freer equally well, including an ongoing exhibition of Japanese screens that range in date from the 15th to the 19th century. This exhibit of approximately 200 screens comprises i of the most important collections of its type in the globe.

Some other festival consequence at the Freer is the "Tea Bowls in Blossom, Botanical Decoration on Tea Ceremony Ceramics" exhibition, in which visitors can view delicately painted Japanese tea bowls and water jars that would accept been used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.

"Birds and Plum-Blossoms" is a painting that is maybe from Ming dynasty China (Prototype courtesy of the Freer Gallery of Art).

A third related event at the Freer is the "Landscapes in Japanese Fine art" exhibition, which includes 12 ceramics and xx paintings from the15th to the 19th centuries that illustrate landscapes by Japanese artists.

Wertheimer described the technique used past both Chinese and Japanese artists for this blazon of mural artwork.

"Chinese and Japanese paintings have alike perspectives in that, depending on how y'all see the painting, the images are noticeable and accept depth," Wertheimer said. "If you look at more than Western paintings, some images fade into the groundwork depending on the view it is looked at, such equally in the distance. That doesn't happen in Chinese and Japanese paintings. Each view brings images to the forefront. That is a very magical thing."

The ceramic dishes in the "Landscapes in Japanese Fine art" exhibit are particularly unique, according to Wertheimer.

"They [the Japanese artists] are showing you landscape even on their dishes," Wertheimer enthusiastically explained.

"These types of dishes were meant to be used," she said. "They are magnificent. I've never seen annihilation like them exterior of the museum."

2 golden peacocks were painted by James McNeill Whistler on the wall of "The Peacock Room," located in the Freer (Photo past Lauren Marshall).

Although the Freer contains by and large Asian art, American art is also on display, including the world's largest number of works by James McNeill Whistler.

While it might seem illogical to have a drove of American works in a gallery of mainly Asian fine art, Whistler'south piece of work was strongly influenced by Chinese ceramics and Japanese prints.

Whistler's inclusion at the gallery is even still appropriate when the fact that Freer became interested in Asian art as a direct result of his friendship with Whistler is taken into account.

One of the most famous objects in the Freer is "The Peacock Room" by Whistler. "The Peacock Room" was at one time the dining room in the London habitation of Frederick R. Leyland, a wealthy ship owner.

Whistler was deputed to paint the room, which was ultimately purchased by Freer and installed in the gallery, and decorated it with vivid gilt peacocks and rich blue walls and ceilings.

Additional highlights of the Freer collection include art from People's republic of china, Korea, India, Islamic republic of pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

From fine art historians to fine art novices alike, all can be transported to Asia with a trip to the Freer and Sackler galleries in an experience that, according to Stribling, truly "enhances your view of different cultures."

If You Become

The Freer Gallery of Art is located on Jefferson Drive at 12th Street Southward.West., on the National Mall.

The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery is located at 1050 Independence Ave., S.West., on the National Mall.

Both galleries are open every mean solar day except December. 25. Hours are from 10 a.grand. to 5:30 p.m., and admission is free.

For more information, call: 202-633-4880 (Telephone; Mondays to Fridays, viii:30 a.one thousand. to 5 p.m.), 202-633-0519 (24-60 minutes recording) or 202-786-2374 (TTY)

This "Cizhou or Cizhou-type ware wine jar" was made between the 13th century and the 15th century in China (Epitome courtesy of the Freer Gallery of Art).

The handicap attainable entrance to the Freer Gallery is located on Independence Avenue at twelfth Street, SW.

There is express on-street parking available, including reserved spaces for visitors with disabilities.

The Freer and Sackler galleries do not have on-site food service. However, in that location are places to eat shut by and in other Smithsonian museums. For more information, visit http://www.si.edu/dining/default.htm.

To learn more than about the Freer and Sackler galleries, visit their Spider web site at http://www.asia.si.edu.

For information about tours, talks and other events at both galleries, visit http://www.asia.si.edu/events/alphabetize.asp. To larn more about the collections of both the Freer and Sackler, visit http://world wide web.asia.si.edu/collections/default.htm. For a complete list of exhibitions at the Freer and Sackler, including the dates of the exhibit where applicable, visit http://world wide web.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/default.htm. For data about visiting the Freer and Sackler galleries, become to http://world wide web.asia.si.edu/visitor/default.htm.

"The Enlightenment" is 1 in a series of Gandharan friezes from Republic of india illustrating the life of the Buddha that can be found in the Freer (Photo by Lauren Marshall).

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Source: http://www.ournationalparks.us/mid_atlantic/washington-metro/galleries_offer_asian_art_tour_to_washington_visitors/

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