National Portrait Gallery (United States)

Coordinates: 38°53′52″N 77°01′22″W / 38.897824°N 77.022649°W / 38.897824; -77.022649

National Portrait Gallery
Location within Washington, D.C.
Established	1968[1]
Location	Eighth and F Streets, NW, Washington, DC
Director	Martin E. Sullivan
Public transit access	Gallery Place
Website	National Portrait Gallery

The air-conditioned Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery offers visitors a respite while touring museum exhibits.

The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery in Washington, D.C., administered by the Smithsonian Institution. Its collections focus on images of famous individual Americans.

Building

It resides in the National Historic Landmarked Old Patent Office Building (now renamed the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture), located just south of Chinatown in the Penn Quarter district of downtown Washington. The third oldest federal building in the city, constructed between 1836 and 1867, the marble and granite museum has porticoes modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, Greece.

The building was used as a hospital during the American Civil War. Walt Whitman worked there and used his experiences as a basis for The Wound Dresser. The Bureau of Indian Affairs moved into the building after the war ended. Whitman worked as a clerk for the bureau until 1867, when he was fired after a manuscript of Leaves of Grass was found in his desk.^[2]

It was spared from demolition by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958, and given to the Smithsonian, which renovated the structure and opened the National Museum of American Art (later renamed the Smithsonian American Art Museum) and National Portrait Gallery there in 1968.

It is the namesake for the Gallery Place Washington Metro station, located across the intersection of F and 8th Streets, Northwest.

Collection

Hallmarks of the National Portrait Gallery's permanent collection include the famous "Lansdowne" portrait of George Washington; the Hall of Presidents; and its extensive selection of portraits of remarkable Americans from all walks of life. Since its reopening on July 1, 2006, the Portrait Gallery has also focused on contemporary portraiture in its "Portraiture Now" series, and in its triennial contemporary portrait competition, the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition.

History

Renovation

The National Portrait Gallery was closed for extensive renovations and expansion in January 2000; it reopened on July 1, 2006.^[3][4] The renovated museum includes a new, glass-enclosed courtyard designed by Foster + Partners, the architecture firm of renowned architect Norman Foster.^[5][6][7]

Hide/Seek controversy

After complaints, and consultation with Gallery director Martin Sullivan and co-curator David C. Ward but not with co-curator Jonathan David Katz,^[8] Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough^[9] pulled down a video artwork "A Fire in My Belly", by artist David Wojnarowicz, part of an exhibit "Hide/Seek".^[10] The video contains a scene with a crucifix covered in ants.^[11] William Donohue of the Catholic League claimed the work was "hate speech", against Catholics.^{[12][13][14][15][16][17]} The curator David C. Ward said: "It is not anti-religion or sacrilegious. It is a powerful use of imagery".^[8] Gay historian Jonathan Ned Katz wrote:

In 1989 Senator Jesse Helms demonized Robert Mapplethorpe's sexuality, and by extension, his art, and with little effort pulled a cowering art world to its knees. His weapon was threatening to disrupt the already pitiful federal support for the arts. and once again, that same weapon is being brandished, and once again we cower.^[8]

On December 2, 2010, protesters against the censorship marched from the Transformer Gallery,^[18][19][20] to the National Portrait Gallery. The art work was projected on the building.^[21][22][23] On December 5, Michael Blasenstein and Michael Dax Iacovone were detained and barred from the gallery for holding leaflets.^[24][25] On December 9, National Portrait Gallery Commissioner James T. Bartlett resigned in protest.^[26] The Andy Warhol Foundation, who supported the exhibit, plans to cease funding future Smithsonian exhibits.^[27][28][29] The artist A. A. Bronson sought to withdraw his art from the exhibit, with support from the lending institution, the National Gallery of Canada,^[30] unsuccessfully as of December 20.^[31] The curators appeared at a forum at the New York Public Library.^[32][33][34] A protest was held from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Cooper-Hewitt Museum.^[35][36][37] On December 15, a panel discussion was held at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.^[38] On December 20, a panel discussion was held at the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center.^[39][40][41] On January 20, 2011, the Center of Study of Political Graphics held a protest at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art.^[42] Secretary Clough issued a statement standing by the decision, spoke at a Town Hall Los Angeles meeting,^[43][44] and appeared at a public forum in April 26–27, 2011.^{[45][46][47][48]} Several curators within the Smithsonian criticized the decision, as did critics, with Newsweek arts critic Blake Gopnik going so far as to call the complaints "gay bashing" and not a legitimate public controversy.^[49]

Directors

• Martin E. Sullivan
• Marc Prachter^[50]
• Alan M. Fern^[51]

References

1. ^ "Building Chronology". National Portrait Gallery. http://www.npg.si.edu/inform/chronology.html. Retrieved 2009-09-20. 
2. ^ Weeks, Christopher (1994). AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C. (3d ed.), pp. 76-78. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-4712-5.
3. ^ http://dc.about.com/b/2006/06/29/grand-reopening-of-the-national-portrait-gallery-and-the-smithsonian-american-art-museum.htm
4. ^ "'Looking History in the Eye' at Portrait Gallery". National Public Radio. July 13, 2006. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5554510. Retrieved September 18, 2010. 
5. ^ Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard
6. ^ Zach Mortice (DECEMBER 21, 2007). "Museum Courtyard Glides Through the Ages". AIArchitect. http://info.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek07/1221/1221d_portrait.cfm. 
7. ^ Epstein, Edward (2006-07-02). "Openings THU 13 Cesar Chavez Student". The San Francisco Chronicle. http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-07-02/travel/17302105_1_museums-marc-pachter-national-mall. 
8. ^ ^{a b c} Jacqueline Trescott (1990-04-21). "After Smithsonian exhibit's removal, banned ant video still creeps into gallery". Washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/06/AR2010120607328.html. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
9. ^ Culture Monster (December 2, 2010). "Is the censored David Wojnarowicz video really ‘anti-Christian’?". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/12/national-portrait-gallery-censored-david-wojnarowicz-video-.html. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 
10. ^ "National Portrait Gallery | Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture". Npg.si.edu. http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/hideseek/index.html. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
11. ^ The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/8175907/Museum-removes-portrait-of-crucifix-covered-in-ants.html. 
12. ^ "National Portrait Gallery in Washington bows to right-wing censorship". Wsws.org. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/dec2010/smit-d03.shtml. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 
13. ^ "National Portrait Gallery censorship controversy: Who was David Wojnarowicz?". TBD.com. December 2, 2010. http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-arts/2010/12/national-portrait-gallery-censorship-controversy-who-was-david-wojnarowicz--5383.html. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 
14. ^ Blake Gopnik (2010-12-01). "Museums shouldn't bow to censorship of any kind". Washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/30/AR2010113007227.html. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 
15. ^ Starr, Penny (2010-11-29). "Smithsonian Christmas-Season Exhibit Features Ant-Covered Jesus, Naked Brothers Kissing, Genitalia, and Ellen DeGeneres Grabbing Her Breasts". CNSnews.com. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/smithsonian-christmas-season-exhibit-fea. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
16. ^ "Smithsonian to Remove Ant-Covered Jesus on Cross Video From Exhibit". FoxNews.com. 2010-04-07. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/30/smithsonian-remove-ant-covered-jesus-cross-video-exhibit/. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
17. ^ "Fire in their belly". The Economist. http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/12/smithsonian_censorship?fsrc="fireinbelly. 
18. ^ Dave itzkoff (December 2, 2010). "Pulled from National Portrait Gallery, Video Emerges Elsewhere in Washington". The New York Times. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/pulled-from-national-portrait-gallery-video-emerges-elsewhere-in-washington/. 
19. ^ "Going Out Gurus - 'Hide/Seek': Go see it for yourself". Voices.washingtonpost.com. 2010-12-01. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/goingoutgurus/2010/12/hideseek_go_see_it_for_yourself.html. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
20. ^ Capps, Kriston (2010-12-01). "Transformer Will Show Video Art That National Portrait Gallery Took Down - Arts Desk". Washington City Paper. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2010/12/01/transformer-steps-up/. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
21. ^ "National Portrait Gallery censorship controversy: Artist projects film on portrait gallery, recreating '89 protest". News1.capitalbay.com. http://news1.capitalbay.com/news/washington-dc/157567.html. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 
22. ^ "Silent March Held To Protest Controversial Film's Removal From National Portrait Gallery | WUSA9.com | Washington, DC |". WUSA9.com. http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=123522&catid=158. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 
23. ^ Jessica Roake (December 2, 2010). "What Else Is In the National Portrait Gallery's "Offensive" Gay Show?". The Awl. http://www.theawl.com/2010/12/what-else-is-in-the-national-portrait-gallerys-offensive-gay-show. Retrieved 12/2/2010. 
24. ^ "Arts Post - Protestors banned from Smithsonian after playing video on iPad". Voices.washingtonpost.com. 2010-04-13. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/arts-post/2010/12/on_sunday_at_around_1.html. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
25. ^ "Portrait Gallery Censorship: Can you REALLY be 'banned for life' from the Smithsonian?", TBDArts, December 6, 2010
26. ^ http://blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes/2010/12/npg-commissioner-resigns-in-protest-of-video-removal/
27. ^ Taylor, Kate (2010-12-13). "Warhol Foundation Threatens to End Financing of Smithsonian Exhibitions". The New York Times. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/13/warhol-foundation-threatens-to-end-financing-of-smithsonian-exhibitions/?hp. 
28. ^ http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-arts/2010/12/portrait-gallery-censorship-warhol-foundation-threatens-to-cut-smithsonian-funding-5894.html
29. ^ Trescott, Jacqueline (2010-12-13). "Warhol Foundation threatens to cut Smithsonian funding over censored video". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/13/AR2010121304830.html. 
30. ^ Taylor, Kate (2010-12-17). "Canadian Museum Backs Smithsonian Protest". The New York Times. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/national-museum-of-canada-backs-artists-smithsonian-protest/?partner=rss&emc=rss. 
31. ^ Taylor, Kate, "National Portrait Gallery Rejects Artist’s Request to Remove His Work", The New York Times Arts Beat blog, December 20, 2010, 2:20 pm. Retrieved 2101-12-21.
32. ^ Taylor, Kate (2010-12-15). "Exhibit's Curators Criticize Controversial Art's Removal". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/arts/design/16censors.html?_r=1. 
33. ^ http://culture.wnyc.org/blogs/gallerina/2010/dec/16/hideseek-curators-nypl/
34. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-rosenbaum/dont-ask-dont-tell-a-usef_b_799414.html
35. ^ http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-opinion/news/2010-12-21/smithsonian-hide-seek-metropolitan-protest/
36. ^ http://bandofthebes.typepad.com/bandofthebes/2010/12/hundreds-in-nyc-protest-hideseek-censorship-.html
37. ^ Kennicott, Philip (2010-12-16). "Video outcry flares anew". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/15/AR2010121508326.html. 
38. ^ http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/12-15-10-camh-wojnarowicz/
39. ^ http://theaterjblogs.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/hidespeak-an-evening-with-david-c-ward-historian-national-portrait-gallery-curator-hideseek/
40. ^ http://freeindc.blogspot.com/2010/12/upcoming-tonight-special-talk-hidespeak.html
41. ^ http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar?id=126184&view=Detail
42. ^ http://www.politicalgraphics.org/calendar.html
43. ^ "Critic's Notebook: Smithsonian chief digging a deeper hole". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/01/critics-notebook-smithsonians-clough-needs-to-admit-error-.html. 
44. ^ "Protest over art censorship will greet Smithsonian chief before L.A. talk Thursday". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/01/protesters-carrying-two-custom-made-artworks-plan-to-greet-wayne-clough-the-embattled-secretary-of-the-smithsonian-instituti.html. 
45. ^ Trescott, Jacqueline (2011-01-19). "Smithsonian Secretary Clough stands by decision to pull 'Fire in My Belly' video". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/18/AR2011011805097.html. 
46. ^ http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-arts/2011/01/portrait-gallery-censorship-smithsonian-secretary-speaks-7473.html
47. ^ http://www.artsjournal.com/culturegrrl/2011/04/clough_gets_testy_at_hideseek.html
48. ^ http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/public-forum-flashpoints-and-fault-lines-museum-curation-and-controversy-april-26-27
49. ^ Experts debate Smithsonian's response to critics
50. ^ Jacqueline Trescott (December 12, 2006). "Portrait Gallery Director to Retire in '07". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/11/AR2006121101404.html. 
51. ^ "Portrait Gallery Chief Alan Fern to Retire". Washingtonpost.com. 2000-02-04. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/feed/a9489-2000feb4.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 

External links

• National Portrait Gallery - Official web site
• "Face to Face", National Portrait Gallery blog
• Current Exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery - An up-to-date list of National Portrait Gallery exhibitions
• Review of the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum
• Negotiating American Identity in the National Portrait Gallery.
• Review of National Portrait Gallery web resource, A Brush with History
• Review of National Portrait Gallery web resource, African Americans in the Harmon Foundation Collection
• Review of National Portrait Gallery web resource, Ballyhoo!: Posters as Portraiture