Washington, DC
From kaleidoscopic prisms to twinkling LED lights, nine room-size installations inaugurated the Renwick’s second reboot since its opening in 1859. Natural references and the importance of labor prevailed, as did explorations of growth and accumulation with materials of everyday life. By featuring contemporary artists Jennifer Angus, Chakaia Booker, Gabriel Dawe, Tara Donovan, Patrick Dougherty, John Grade, Janet Echelman, Maya Lin, and Leo Villareal, the Renwick opted to revitalize its original mission—it was the first private museum in the U.S. dedicated to the visual arts. This decision seemed to defy years of being the Smithsonian Institution’s venue for decorative arts and crafts, signaling perhaps the Renwick’s final blow to the distinction between the two genres…see the entire review in the print version of October’s Sculpture magazine.
