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Interior of concrete metro station with arched roof and a mezzanine lever that somewhat looks like a balcony

Intermezzo: DC

Over Memorial Day weekend we took the train down to DC. We, that is me and my family, had dinner with my college buddy Brandon Morse and his family, which was great. I do not get to see him that often, I will however see him again in a few weeks at Currents 2026

We visited the capitol and when the rain was taking a break we explored the National Mall.

View of the empty reflecting pool being painted blue with the Washington Monument in the background. A person in a POTUS mask can be seen on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the foreground.
I think MLK had a slightly better view when he delivered his “I have a dream” speech.
A huge banner of the current US president hanging on a Department of Justice builsing
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We ended up seeing just two of the many museums, and only parts of those. I did not take any pictures in the Air and Space Museum worth posting. Here are some images from the National Gallery, where we expected to see a lot of American Art.

I was not aware that Video Artist Nam June Park was also a sculptor.

A small statue of a figure looking at a box made of the same material. They are located on a roof terrace with a high-rise and some trees in the background
Nam June Paik – Ugly Buddha and Ugly Television – Bronze, 1991-1996

There were many European classics.

Close up of dark head sculpture by Picasso with a statue of a sitting man in the background.
Pablo Picasso – Head of a Woman (Fernande) – 1909
In the background: Wilhelm Lehmbruck – Seated Youth – 1907

For some reason I have a weak spot for Max Ernst’s paintings. I find the amount of detail fascinating. There seem to be a lot of birds hiding in the forest. And is that a flying turtle?

Painting of what might be a forest with many hidden birds. In the sky there is what may be a moon, a bird and something that somewhat resembles a turtle, all rendered in the same bluish tint, with that moon standing bout as it seems to be blocking an yellow light source in the blue sky
Max Ernst – A Moment of Calm – 1939
A closeup of the "forest" part of the painting showing several abstracted pointy bird like figures.
Max Ernst – A Moment of Calm – 1939 – Detail

Halfway trough the trip I was unfortunately hit by a virus that had been doing the rounds in our family, but managed to not really get sick until we were back home. A memorable trip to a capitol under (re-)construction.

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