The Freer Gallery of Art, named for Detroit industrialist Charles Lang Freer, boasts an internationally renowned collection of Asian art and is home to the world's largest holdings of works by the American artist James McNeill Whistler. Freer became interested in Asian art through his friendship with Whistler, whose work had been strongly influenced by Japanese prints and Chinese ceramics. In 1906, Freer donated 7,500 paintings, sculptures, drawings and works in metal, lacquer and jade to the Smithsonian, along with endowment funds. Today, the collection has grown to 24,000 works.
"Writing, Carving and Rubbing: China's Calligraphic Arts" (closes Oct. 26)
"Golden Seams: The Japanese Art of Mending Ceramics" (closes Nov. 8)
"Moonlight and Golden Clouds: Silver and Gold in the Arts of Japan" (closes Nov. 8)
In 1876 a wealthy ship owner, Frederick R. Leyland, asked James Whistler to advise his architect, Thomas Jeckyll, on a color for his dining room shutters and doors. Jeckyll had designed the room around a painting by Whistler, The Princess of the Land of Porcelain (1836-1865), and the china that Leyland had collected. Embossed and gilded antique leather covered the walls. On the floor was an Oriental rug with a red border.
To Whistler, these elements did not go with the colors of the large portrait, so he requested permission from Leyland to make "minor alterations." In his patron's absence, Whistler covered the ceiling with Dutch metal, or imitation gold leaf, over which he painted a lush pattern of peacock feathers. He then gilded Jeckyll's walnut shelving and embellished the wooden shutters with images of four magnificently plumed peacocks. Minor alterations, indeed.
"Surface Beauty: American Art and Freer's Aesthetic Vision" See works that influenced and informed the collections of the museum's founder.
"Arts of the Indian Subcontinent and the Himalayas" Sublimely beautiful Buddhist, Jain, Hindu and Islamic objects showcase the extraordinary range of South Asian and Himalayan art.
"Korean Ceramics" Simple in form and spare in decoration, ceramics have long been an integral part of Korean culture, admired for their distinctive balance of informality and dignity. The gallery features tableware, Buddhist cinerary urns, bowls and storage jars from the 3rd to the 20th centuries.
Teachers can visit asia.si.edu education or order curriculum materials from the Gallery Shop. For information on teacher workshops, call 202-633-0458 or e-mail fsgasiaeducation@si.edu.
The Freer shop features a unique selection of teapots, ranging from the whimsical to the traditional, as well as limited edition prints, jewelry from around the world, books and Asian music CDs, sudoku puzzles and origami projects.
Become a member of the Friends of the Freer and Sackler Galleries.
Explore the sounds of traditional and contemporary Asian music. You'll also find prints and jewelry from around the world, as well as educational materials and items for kids.
Although the Freer and Sackler galleries do not have on-site cafés, many Smithsonian museums do.
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