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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2009 > October > 07
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Obamas bring modern, abstract art to the White House
The art world is buzzing after the release yesterday of the 45 works art President and Mrs. Obama chose for display in the private quarters of the White House.
Modern abstraction, contemporary African-American artists, Native American Indian pottery and even some 19th-century patent models are among the things the first family chose. It’s a selection that shows a surprising range and a considered approach.
Among the artists chosen by Obamas is Alma Thomas, an under-recognized African-American expressionist painter based in Washington D.C. Here’s a complete list of work borrowed from national museums in Washington by the Obamas:
On display in the East Wing:
Alma Thomas’ “Watusi (Hard Edge)” from the Hirshhorn (right).
Displayed in the Obamas’ personal living quarters
From the National Gallery of Art:
George Catlin’s “A Crow Chief at His Toilette,”
“Camanchees Lancing a Buffalo Bull,” “Mired Buffalo and Wolves,” “Cheyenne Village,” “Grizzly Bears Attacking Buffalo,” “Game of the Arrow-Mandan,” “A Foot War Party in Council-Mandan,” “Ball-Play Dance-Choctaw,” “Buffalo Chase, with Accidents,” “Catlin and Indian Attacking Buffalo,” “K’nisteneux Indians Attacking Two Grizzly Bears”
Edward Corbett’s “Washington, D.C. November 1963 III”
Richard Diebenkorn’s “Berkeley, No. 52”
Sam Francis’s “White Line”
Winslow Homer’s “Sunset”
Jasper Johns’ “Numerals, 0 through 9”
Giorgio Morandi, two paintings called “Still Life”
Louise Nevelson’s model for “Sky Covenant” sculpture
Susan Rothenberg’s “Butterfly”
Mark Rothko’s “Red Band”
Edward Ruscha’s “I Think I’ll …”
Leon Polk Smith’s “Stretch of Black III”
Unknown artist: “Chief Jumper of the Seminoles”
From the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden:
Josef Albers’ “Homage to the Square: Elected II,”
“Homage to the Square: Midday,” “Study for Homage to the Square: Nacre”
Edgar Degas’ “Dancer Putting on Stocking,” “The Bow.”
Nicolas De Stael’s “Nice.”
Glenn Ligon’s “Black Like Me No. 2.”
Alma Thomas’ “Sky Light.”
From the Smithsonian American Art Museum:
William H. Johnson’s “Booker T. Washington Legend,” “Children Dance,” “Flower to Teacher,” “Folk Family.”
On display in the West Wing
In the Oval Office from the Museum of the American Indian: vase by Lucy M. Lewis (Acoma Pueblo), jar by Steve S. (Iroquois), jar by Maria Poveka Martinez (San Ildefonso Pueblo), the bottle “Intertwining Scrolls” by Jeri Redcorn (Caddo).
In the Oval Office from the National Museum of American History: Samuel F. B. Morse’s 1849 telegraph register patent model, John A. Peer’s 1874 gear-cutting machine patent model, Henry Williams’ 1877 feathering paddle-wheel (for steamboats) patent model.
In the Cabinet Room from the Harry S. Truman Library, Frank O. Salisbury’s “President Harry S. Truman.”
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