An Examination of Contemporary Crafts and Decorative Arts at the Renwick Gallery as Communications for Social Justice

 Dr. Nichole  Gibbs Thomas, Professor, Psychology

When people talk about the greats, mostly I hear them talking about actors, musicians, or even presidents.  For example, recently I heard someone say “Trust, but verify”, and it was followed by something like, “Yeah, Reagan said that. He was right.  He was one of our last greats.” Of course, I assume the person meant our great presidents. But what I am thinking about today is not presidents, it’s museums.

There is no shortage of museums in Washington, DC, the center of the universe of Smithsonian Museums. Just one block from where the President of the United States of America lives in Washington, DC and on Pennsylvania Avenue is the Renwick Gallery, a branch museum of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The Renwick Gallery is dedicated to contemporary crafts and decorative arts. Being so friendly and interesting caused me to fall in love with it, the Renwick.

The Renwick Gallery isn’t sadity, it’s friendly. I’m going to the museum on a Thursday in September of 2022, and I’m hoping I can get in – get into the museum without a ticket. When I go to a museum, I just want to be able to go. I don’t want to have to request a ticket, reserve a ticket, or buy a ticket. I just want to show up and enjoy. That’s exactly what happened. I showed up and immediately got in. Beyond that, it was a warm welcome. When a museum is friendly, it’s no guarantee that you’ll fall in love with it, but it’s a good start.

Next, I got past security. There were two security guards, friendly ones, checking bags. I walked up this gorgeous staircase decorated with a beautiful red rug and landed in this amazing space that leads to a gigantic ballroom. Unexpectedly, I’m dazzled by a piece in the ceiling of the grand ballroom, and the lovefest continues.

Then, I go to the first of ten rooms, and it has in it this this amazing quilt.

 Its height appeared twice my own, and that’s 64 inches. Its reported dimensions are 11’ x 13’.   I was struck by the juxtaposition of the largeness of the quilt and the smallness of the respect these soldiers received. Somehow it seemed like this being there, and being the size that it is, redefined these African American soldiers in a way that was right. Their stature in history had significantly increased.

I was having a good experience. I experienced a rush of positive emotions while looking at this quilt. I was in the shoes of these soldiers in this quilt, and we were experiencing this moment together. I felt confident, courageous, respected, hopeful, accepted, and proud. This piece, this amazing quilt, was emotionally satisfying. Renwick had given that to me, that experience of feeling emotionally satisfied with and because of Bisa Butler’s Don’t Tread On Me, God Damn, Let’s Go!— The Harlem Hellfighters quilt.

Its height appeared twice my own, and that’s 64 inches. Its reported dimensions are 11’ x 13’.   I was struck by the juxtaposition of the largeness of the quilt and the smallness of the respect these soldiers received. Somehow it seemed like this being there, and being the size that it is, redefined these African American soldiers in a way that was right. Their stature in history had significantly increased.

I was having a good experience. I experienced a rush of positive emotions while looking at this quilt. I was in the shoes of these soldiers in this quilt, and we were experiencing this moment together. I felt confident, courageous, respected, hopeful, accepted, and proud. This piece, this amazing quilt, was emotionally satisfying. Renwick had given that to me, that experience of feeling emotionally satisfied with and because of Bisa Butler’s Don’t Tread On Me, God Damn, Let’s Go!— The Harlem Hellfighters quilt

I continued to enjoy the museum at a leisurely pace, unbothered by crowds. Others were there, but not too many. I visited each of the ten rooms and the gift store.  It took me about one hour to gaze at every object in the entire gallery. I liked that. Bed, Bath, and Beyond gives me a headache. There are way too many things to look at there, but not at the Renwick. The number of things, beautiful things, interesting things, to look at, to take in, to consider, and to enjoy, is just right. If this is your first introduction to the Renwick, and you don’t know it yet, I think you should at least meet. If you are available on any day of the week between 10am and 5:30pm, that will work. Come to Pennsylvania Avenue at 17^th Street NW. She’ll be waiting.