Voila — my new office space. Complete with coffee, semi-natural lighting, and chatty PreK-ers on field trips, I can think of no better place to work on my job search than the National Portrait Gallery.
My schedule has changed a bit over the past month. I’m living 12 hours behind my old self and working in a different national capital. I miss the hutongs, the good food, the friendly people, and the Chinese soldiers in their camo Keds. But my new capital has its perks too. For one, the museums here are incredible. I browsed the first floor of the National Portrait Gallery this afternoon and almost went into sensory overload when I realized there were two more floors! The first floor was astounding – showing early American portraits (Ben Franklin, G Wash, etc.). Around the corner is a 21st century portrait gallery, including the famous poster for Obama’s campaign.
I had no idea how incredible the original poster is. Rather than three flat tones, the colors are actually various stencils over old newspaper clippings, giving it a beautiful density. An art critic for the New York Times called the poster “the most efficacious American political illustration since ‘Uncle Sam Wants You’.” I’d agree with that. I didn’t know much about the artist, Shepard Fairey, but apparently he’s the one who did all those Andre the Giant stickers you see plastered everywhere. Its gotta be nice to be a “street artist” with works in Smithsonian institutions.
Guess who? The gallery showcased other 21st century celebs – LL Cool J, Lyle Lovett, George Lucas, Ben Bernanke. This one of Bernanke was made of deconstructed dollar bills. Isn’t that illegal? All in the name of art, I guess.
I’ve settled in the atrium most days to type cover letters at my computer and think vaguely about future goals. Maybe if I’m here long enough they’ll give me a job & board like Tom Hanks in the Terminal. Here’s hoping.
