My Excellent Eastern Adventure...

As some of you surmised, I was in the Washington DC area last week. It was a whirlwind of visits, seminar and sightseeing. I initially went out to attend a weekend seminar, but as my brother and sister and their families both live in the area, my trip got extended a little on either side to spend a little bit of time with them. And, since I was staying a bit longer, it turns out I had time to go see my publishers who were in town attending ALA (amazing!).

So for my adventure, my sweet husband upgraded my frequent-flyer ticket to first-class (THAT is a whole other experience from coach. wow!) and in the few days I was back east, I got to spend some time in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and DC. Some of the places I ventured are shown below....

Excellent Eastern Adventure - ALA

After a somewhat frazzled morning of fried-cellphones (having accidentally being dropped into a puddle) and metro-schedules, I made it to the DC version of ALA.

It was a huge affair - held in the Washington Convention Center. After a bit of maneuvering to get my badge (since I couldn't call my publishers after the bath my cell had taken that morning), I was able to walk the floors.


It was amazing to see who was there 'exhibiting' - from very technical folks -

- to the well-attended Graphic Novel alley -

' Some of my favorite publishers were there.... Lots of catalogs, cards, bookmarks, posters, bags, and various authors or artists signing their wares for their respective publishing houses...

Finally found my way to the Sourcebooks booth where I got to see the next two Fairy Chronicles books (which are out this month, by the way!) and sign a few books myself since I was there.

Excellent Eastern Adventure - Smithsonian

In the afternoon, I spent a couple of hours at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum, which I had never been to before. There was a nice selection of paintings both historical and modern.


The portraits covered the whole of American history -


-from Colonial times up through the present. There was a whole wing devoted to portraits of all of the American Presidents.


There were the obligatory landscapes of American countrysides...


My favorite section was the 19th century art. The majority of which I had never seen before.


My favorite set of paintings were by an artist that I've run across a number of times lately - Abbott Handerson Thayer. His figures were lovely - and somewhat melancholy. The series of angelic figures were sadly painted after the death of his apparently beloved wife. They were stunning in person.

Excellent Eastern Adventure - sculpture

There was a nice selection of sculpture - not exactly Italian, but some lovely pieces non-the-less...




(the 'heroic-Roman-leader' busts of various American presidents cracked me up. This is Andrew Jackson - in hero mode.)

Excellent Eastern Adventure - Folk Art

The folk art section (the home of the 'flying dog') had a very eclectic collection.

I have a thing about primitive skulls. 'Great head collection!


I especially liked the depiction of animals. Stone hare here...


This is something that we'd see out my way - folk-salmon adorn everything here from the malls, to the libraries and airport.


Rustic pig sculpture - all obviously constructed - except for the teeth -

Quite the jaw-bone in this critter!

Excellent Eastern Adventure - Misc. Art

A smattering of 'other interesting stuff'...


A thing I'm sure you never knew you always wanted to see! The Pre-amble to the Constitution - in license plates!


Cherubic carvings...


Vibrant Tiffany windows - which I had never seen in person before. The thing I found the most interesting was how *dimensional* they were - not smooth glass at all!


Kitsch art....


And 'nothin' says *American Art* like a cowhide and animal horn chair!