Looking to shake up your weekend routine? Interested in exploring some of D.C.'s extensive art scene? Take advantage of one of the cultural opportunities the District has to offer and head to the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
Located at 500 17th St. and easily accessible by Metrorail (Farragut North and Farragut West stations), taking a trip to the Corcoran is a must for all AU students this fall.
Showing vast collections of 18th, 19th and 20th century American art, the Corcoran's current exhibits are sure to appeal not only to art connoisseurs but also to those just looking for a different way to spend their afternoon.
If photography is your genre of choice, you are in luck. Now through Sept. 20, the Corcoran is showing a "William Eggleston: Democratic Camera; Photographs and Video 1961-2008" exhibit.
A leader in color photography, Eggleston captures commonplace and day-to-day images, but unlike his subjects, Eggleston's work is extraordinary. The exhibit is large, showing over 125 photographs spanning over 50 years.
"The exhibition features a selection of images from his landmark solo exhibition in 1976 at the Museum of Modern Art, widely regarded as one of the most influential photography shows of its time," according to the Corcoran's Web site.
However, to get the most out Eggleston's photography, one should be prepared to spend a fair amount of time at the Corcoran, as breezing through the exhibit will defeat the purpose of Eggleston's meaningful and complex images.
Do not be discouraged if photography is too contemporary for your taste. The Corcoran also has on display an extensive showing of more classic American paintings now through Sept. 6.
"American Paintings from the Collection" profiles a century's worth of iconic images of American history.
According to the Corcoran's Web site, the exhibit "simultaneously illustrates profound stylistic and philosophical shifts in American Art."
This exhibit will appeal especially to AU students who consider themselves history buffs in the slightest or those who enjoy art not requiring an immense amount of interpretation.
The paintings are grandiose and capture many moments of contention varying from political, social and economic changes happening during the Civil War up to World War II.
The Corcoran certainly does not lack diversity, as evident from one of their current displays, "American Bronzes from the Corcoran Gallery of Art."
"American Bronzes," an internationally recognized exhibit, features over 30 bronze sculptures from the later 19th and early 20th centuries.
Particularly notable are the sculptures by artists such as John Singer Sargent and Thomas Eakins, who are much better known for their paintings.
Also unusual about the exhibit is the number of female sculptors, such as Harriet Whitney Frishmuth and Bessie Potter Vonnoh, highlighted in the collection.
"American Bronzes" provides a unique alternative for those looking for art mixed with history, but does so through a more unusual medium.
Opening Sept. 12 and running through Jan. 3 is "Sargent in the Sea," a never-before-seen compilation of John Singer Sargent's earlier coastal scenes.
Showcasing over 80 drawings, paintings and watercolors, this exhibit is sure to be a must-see for not only Sargent fans, but also for anyone looking to see the best works of a classic artist.
In addition to the Corcoran, the Sargent exhibit will be shown in Houston and London.
The Corcoran is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission for students with a valid school ID is $8.
You can contact this staff writer at ostitilis@theeagleonline.com.
