Category: art

art · culture

Return of The Writing Salon at The National Gallery of Art

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One of my favorite museums in Washington DC is the National Gallery of Art. It’s technically not part of the Smithsonian Institute, but the museum has an awesome art collection and lots of superb activities and events.

Each year, the museum hosts Writing Salons, which use art as a focal point when discussing different writing techniques. I am excited to see the lineup of Writing Salon topics for this upcoming season! 
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The topics that will be explored during this Writing Salon season are:

  • Memoir: The Power of Metaphor
  • Historical Fiction: Reimagining the Past
  • Point of View: Narrative Choices
  • Poetry: The Rhythm of Color
  • Character: Exploring Identity
  • Flash Fiction: Building Tension

 

The events occur monthly, from September to April (except during the month of December). The event page lists when the tickets are available (usually one week before the event starts). This is a great opportunity to received specialized writing instruction in an intimate setting. The tickets are free of charge but they go fast, so you must quickly register if you’d like to attend.

I’m thinking about taking a few of these courses: I love writing and can always use more instruction and experience. Have any of you attended a National Gallery of Art event? Let me know in the comments below!

art · travel

Flashback to Cruise 2016, Pt. 2

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If you missed Part 1 of this series, check it out here.

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I mentioned that I would have an upcoming post about the ship’s decor, so here it is! I wish I had taken more photos, but I’ll share what I have.

I cruised on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas when I went to Bermuda in 2016. As with every ship that I’ve enjoyed, there is an abundance of art in the corridors.

I believe that being surrounded by art – even if they are just good replicas of more famous pieces – adds a luxurious feel to any space. While the overall feel of luxury will come from a combination of ship staff, amenities, dining options, ports of call and fellow passengers, the decor can do a lot for setting the tone.

What was fun and unique about this cruise was that the ship incorporated inspirational quotes as artwork. These lined the halls where the guests cabins were located.

The ship didn’t stop with the framed artwork: art could be found on the elevators, too.

The art I enjoyed most, however, was the artfully folded towels that were prepared every evening while I ate dinner. My room steward was a doll that could expertly fold a towel into just about anything that you could imagine. The photo below was my favorite: it was a towel lotus.

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Thanks for stopping by and reading! Part 3 will be available soon. Until then, take care!

art · international

A Night with Neneh Ada Yang

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A few months ago, I was invited to a red carpet event to celebrate the first US art exhibition of Neneh Ada Yang. The stunning Sierra Leonian married Chinese artist Yang Yan, and soon discovered artistic talents of her own. She mastered traditional Chinese painting techniques and now creates beautiful artwork that she sells to support her Queennak Foundation. Her foundation serves as a global diplomacy program, specifically engaging Sierra Leonians abroad.

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I was struck by Neneh’s beauty: petite, perfectly coiffed and elegant. She was so dainty and refined, yet possessing a quiet magnetism that drew everyone to her. She is soft-spoken and so gracious.

I enjoyed the experience very much, and I’m just sharing a few photos from the event. I suggest that you follow Neneh’s Facebook page and check out the Queennak Foundation.

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As a bonus, I’m including a photo of the gorgeous painting that Neneh gifted me. I’ll treasure it forever.

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Have you all gotten any beautiful artwork recently? Let me know in the comments below!

art · luxury

My Time With Yves

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I would love to give you a bunch of captions, but this was an exhibit that had to be EXPERIENCED. Writing about it just doesn’t do it justice.

Yves St. Laurent “The Perfection of Style” was a perfectly balanced exhibition. Gorgeous outfits, lots of his personal notes, video clips, and great biographical information. I’ll post some of my favorite photos from the exhibit, but be warned: photos really can’t capture the genius that was YSL. Enjoy!

art · Uncategorized

I Can’t Miss It!

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The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is currently exhibiting Yves Saint Laurent designs.

The exhibition closes on August 27th, so I’ve made it my goal to get to the museum before I lose my chance to see Saint Laurent’s genius up close and personal.

I’m eager to see which designs will be featured. Will there be “Le Smoking Suit” designs? Safari jackets? Trapeze dresses? I wonder if there will be any designs worn by Iman, or Laetitia Casta, or Mounia. I’m so excited to see which outfits will be on display.

I’ll follow up soon, with photos of my time at VMFA’s Yves Saint Laurent exhibit.