American Aspirations
Kudos to Lonny Bunch for this thoughtful and uplifting exhibition
It took me awhile to get down to the Smithsonian Castle for the exhibit, American Aspirations which opened on June 2. The first weeks of June passed by in a blur and I was all set to go on the 24th when I learned it was closed for the day. Then the heat and the mishegoss on the Mall kept me away. But once the Fourth was past and the temperatures dropped (although the killer humidity is still with us), I had no more excuses plus I had to make haste as the exhibition closes on July 26.
Curated by Smithsonian secretary and museum rock star Lonnie Bunch, American Aspirations uses 30 objects out of the Smithsonian’s vast collections to illustrate the promise and hopes of America at its 250th anniversary. It is organized around the themes of pursuit: of liberty, fairness, new horizons, democracy, hope, defending freedom, and progress. Each of these themes is exemplified by a few objects beginning with an 1820 engraving of the Declaration of Independence and the small wooden desk Thomas Jefferson used to write the original. There’s Harriet Tubman’s hymnal, Sally Ride and Amelia Earhart’s flight suits, patent models of automobiles and reapers, campaign buttons, and a scrap of the original Star Spangled Banner. Bunch explains all of this in an article he wrote for The Atlantic that I’m gifting to you here.
American Aspirations will take you no more than 30 minutes to visit but those are minutes well spent. Although the exhibit itself is intimate, it feels expansive and ambitious, just like the ideals of the founders. While celebrating achievements, it also points out the work that remains to be done, demonstrating that you can love this country and still want it to do better.
But don’t expect this show of patriotism to resonate with the Trump Administration. The White House issued a scathing indictment of the Smithsonian’s treatment of American history on July 4th, cherry picking messages and thinly sourcing its critique. You can read it for yourself or just cut to the chase with Philip Kennicott’s takedown in the Post.
As I left the exhibit, I stopped to watch a slide show of historical photographs that runs across the entrance to the gallery, combining quotes from great Americans with images of America’s landscape and life. I captured a few of those celebrating America’s diversity and our rights of free speech and assembly. And yes, I got a little verklempt.
Exiting the castle, I strolled the grounds of The Great American State Fair, which was as soulless and cheap as you probably imagined. I really wanted to find the exhibit about the 50th anniversary of DC’s Metro system but the signage was terrible and I eventually gave up. On a weekday morning, the crowds were thin although there was no shortage of American flag inspired attire and a long line to get into the Florida exhibit. When I asked a lady standing in line what the draw was, she could only say that some kids told her it was cool. A rock band consisting of two White guys wearing t-shirts reading “my grandfather was an immigrant,” was playing to almost no one. I grabbed one of the free bottles of water and made my way home.
American Aspirations runs through July 26 at the Smithsonian Castle, just steps from the Smithsonian Metro station. It is open daily from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Admission as with all Smithsonian museums is free.
Better than all the Freedom 250 events combined!
You are our scout!