goSmithsonian - February 2008 - (Page 14) In the adjoining Folk Art galleries, is James Hampton’s The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly, a visionary and intensely religious work made from salvaged furniture, cardboard, old light bulbs and other found materials and covered in gold and silver foil. SECOND FLOOR “American Art Through 1940” links artworks, such as Frederic Auguste Bartholdi’s model for the Statue of Liberty and John Singer Sargent’s Gilded Age portraits, to American historical periods, dating from the founding of the American Colonies to the New Deal era. In the south lobby is David Beck’s MVSEVM, a delightful sculpture commissioned by the museum, that is inspired by the neoclassical architecture of the building. Once opened, the Joseph Cornell-influenced model reveals tiny artifacts and artworks that reference the history and collections of both the Portrait Gallery and the American Art museum. THIRD FLOOR Modern and contemporary artworks are located on the top floor. Visit the Lincoln Gallery, where several emotionally powerful works are installed, including Jenny Holzer’s stunning new work, a column of light and text entitled For SAAM. See also: David Hockney’s Snails Space With Vari-Lites, “Painting as Performance” and Nam June Paik’s Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii. SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS “John Alexander: A Retrospective” (closes March 16); “Obata’s Yosemite” (Feb. 22 through June 1); “Color as Field: American Painting, 1950-1975” (Feb. 29 through May 26); “The Honor of Your Company Is Requested: President Lincoln’s Inaugural Ball” (opens March 6); “Celebrating the Lucelia Artist Award, 20012006” (closes June 22); “Aaron Douglas: African American Modernist” (May 9 through Aug. 3); “Earth and Sky: Photographs by Barbara Bosworth” (opens June 20). COURTESY OF THE SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM; COURTESY OF FOSTER + PARTNERS Manhattan by Georgia O’Keeffe (1932) is on view on the first floor in the south wing at American Art. The Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard with its wavy glass canopy opened recently at the Reynolds Center. 14 www.goSmithsonian.com http://www.goSmithsonian.com
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