throwback (museum) thursday

Dancing with a Barry Flanagan sculpture at the Hirshhorn ...

no swimming

Between my still-healing recently broken toe, the shark and man-o-war sightings, and the colder weather, I haven't been doing as many beach walks and wading recently. This wooden screen from the Norton Museum of Art reminds me that toes heal, sharks and man-o-wars move on, and it will be warmer soon.

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gonna fly now

We spent a very enjoyable afternoon at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center. It's an amzing collection of history, design and even human tragedy—a piece of the Hindenburg sits in a display case alongside a china place setting from the doomed airship. But mostly it's an opportunity to look up in wonder. And avoid the crowds at the malls!

here I come to save the day...

Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA

singing rocks

At the National Museum of American History there are singing rocks. No, not rock singers, although they do have Prince's guitar. There are singing rocks, which warble folk and American musical theater tunes as you stroll the patio.

I am fascinated and repulsed by these objects, which are actually "naturalistic" speakers-made out of plastic, of course. But I can't help thinking of the myth of the Sirens, or some other suitable mythology.

I don't think I will go crashing into these rocks anytime soon, along to the soundtrack from Guys and Dolls or a classic Woody Guthrie song. But I do wonder why the museum thinks that outside space should be filled by noise, no matter how "historic."

Sometimes it would be nice to give peace and quiet a chance.