Constructed of brick, concrete and steel, the Kreeger Museum is a beautifully fortified art bunker that opened to the public in 1994.  The $10 entrance fee gets you access to a private practicum of modern art, with paintings by Kandinsky, Modigliani, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh and other luminaries hung on cotton-carpeted walls that soften the building’s acoustics.  An elderly woman admiring a room full of bronze sculptures by Auguste Rodin put it best, “[It's] so marvelous to have so much money you can do this.”  Indeed, everything here has an expensive aura.

Yet the museum also invites visitors to digest a lavish assembly of art books from their library.  Guests can pluck a few off the shelf, lounge in a big comfortable chair or spread them out on a table.  I spent about 20 minutes flipping through retrospectives of William Christenberry, Arshile Gorky and Robert Mapplethorpe.  (Some of Mapplethorpe’s photography makes you wonder if anyone is looking over your shoulder.)

My Saturday visit to the Kreeger was prompted by bk.iamart.adams, one of 20 artists who created new monoprints for a temporary exhibition running through February 26 called In Unison.  The interesting nature of this show is no matter what medium the artist normally works in, whether sculpture, canvas or multimedia, together they went back to print shop and collaborated on a group portfolio.

Above, Foon Sham’s 2009 cedar-based Revolve in the Kreeger sculpture garden.  Below front, Jean Arp’s 1958 bronze sculpture Torse Gerbe (Twisted Torso) on the rear patio.  This was my first trip here and it’s clear I need to return in the summer to see more of their 5½ acres.

Photography is not allowed anywhere in the museum, but guests are welcome to snap shots outside.  Within limits.

If you’re taking public transportation to the Kreeger Museum, wear comfortable shoes.  The D6 bus runs every 30 minutes and took me from 22nd & P Street in Dupont Circle to Reservoir & Foxhall, which is just north of Georgetown.  Once you get off on Foxhall, you have another three-quarters of a mile to walk, all uphill, along a treacherous sidewalk (as seen below).  Halfway up I thought, am I supposed to be doing this? And of course, on the way back I had one of those bus stop moments where you look at the schedule and think, maybe it stopped running today? So you look at the schedule again.  And again.  Finally, 25 minutes later the bus arrives.

My advice?  If you don’t want the exercise or have the patience, take a cab or drive.  I also suggest stopping at Jetties for lunch.  It’s next to the Foxhall bus stop and delicious.  Below is their “Surfside” sandwich with carved turkey, havarti, bacon, avocado spread and whole grain mustard on sourdough that got washed down with two glasses of root beer.  Today was a workout for the mind and body.  I was hungry.

Photo Credits: Joshua Yospyn (please ask permission to use our images)

Did you enjoy reading this post?  Then please support Worn by purchasing our magazine.