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Sunday, March 08, 2009

The 42nd Circle Time: The Show and Tell Weekly Thread

Show and Tell is wasted on elementary schoolers. Join several dozen bloggers weekly to show off an item, tell a story, and get the attention of the class. In other words, this is Show and Tell 2.0. Everyone is welcome to join, even if you have never posted before and just found out about Show and Tell for the first time today. So yank out a photo of the worst bridesmaid's dress you ever wore and tell us the story; show off the homemade soup you cooked last night; or tell us all about the scarf you made for your first knitting project. Details on how to participate are located at the bottom of this post.

Let's begin.

We spent Josh's birthday last weekend at the newly remodeled Portrait Gallery. The last time I had been there had been right before it closed to show my students the Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibit (I cried when the docent showed us the Arthur Miller photo where he is sitting next to his divorce papers, cementing my title as freakiest teacher at the school).

The new Portrait Gallery is gorgeous. It makes me want to mail out invitations to everyone in the world to ask them to come to Washington just so they can see the building. When you walk in, at the beginning of the hallway to the left, is the original Hope poster.

What you can't tell from the replications of the poster is that it is made with paint and old newspaper clippings and is a combination of printmaking and paint and cut-paper. It is so emotional to stand in front of it.

It has always been a gorgeous building architecturally.

But the latest addition is this enclosed courtyard.

The courtyard is huge. There are these low fountains on the floor and trees and a cafe. We sat at one of the tables and read until the room darkened. It is definitely one of my favourite places in the city. And it is completely free to enter and spend the whole day sitting in that courtyard or touring the museum. Reason #76298 to come to D.C.

My portrait of Josh at the Portrait Gallery. It's the city in which I love you, as Li-Young Lee would say.

What are you showing today?

Click here or scroll down to the bottom of this post if this is your first time joining along (hint: link to the permalink for the post, not the main url for your blog and use your blog's name, not your name). The list is open from now until late Tuesday night and a new one is posted every week.

Other People Standing at the Head of the Class:




Want to bring something to Show and Tell?
  • If you would like to join circle time and show something to the class, simply post each Saturday night (or earlier in the week or on Monday if you can't do the weekend), hopefully including a picture if possible, and telling us about your item. It can be anything--a photo from a trip, a picture of the dress you bought this week, a random image from an old yearbook showing a person you miss. It doesn't need to contain a picture if you can't get a picture--you can simply tell a story about a single item. The list opens every Saturday night and closes on Tuesday night.
  • You must mention Show and Tell and include a link back to this post in your post so people can find the rest of the class. This spreads new readership around through the list. This is now required.
  • Label your post "Show and Tell" each week and then come back here and add the permalink for the post via the Mr. Linky feature (not your blog's main url--use the permalink for your specific Show and Tell post).
  • Oh, and then the point is that you click through all of your classmates and see what they are showing this week. And everyone loves a good "ooooh" and "aaaah" and to be queen (or king) of the playground for five minutes so leave them a comment if you can.
  • Did you post a link and now it's missing?: I reserve the right to delete any links that are not leading to a Show and Tell post or are the blogging equivalent of a spitball.

31 comments:

Delenn said...

Wow! I am first!?

I love art museums and I would love to see that Hope portrait!

We visited D.C. when Michael was 3 years old...I want to go again!

Delenn said...

Ugh! I was so excited--I linked back to your link!! :-) Sorry.

Anonymous said...

'tis the city in which I love you back. thank you for a perfect birthday.

Anonymous said...

I LOOOOVE D.C.! My sis used to live in Alexandria and then Ft. Mead, so we used to get to explore all the fun things to do there on visits. I can't wait to go back again...looks like a great trip!

Eve

HereWeGoAJen said...

You and Josh make me all warm and fuzzy.

Happy birthday, Josh!

Cara said...

I must tell you - I have only travelled to DC once in my life as a high schooler. It was amazing and I must come back. That HOPE portrait makes we want to come now!

Kristin said...

I want to go there! Looks like a great day!

HaleyMarieOlson said...

What a cool way to spend Josh's birthday! Looks like an absolutely amazing place!

Beautiful Mess said...

WOW, that IS amazing! If Nae gets to go to DC next summer, we"re putting that one the schedule!

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

We had the opportunity to see a Shepard Fairey exhibit a couple of weeks ago, and my husband said, "I just flipped through a book of his work at the bookstore. No reason to go to the museum." Told you so, DH! (Instead we played cards and video games with friends. Also a good way to spend an afternoon.)

Carrie said...

Wow- that is a beautiful location! I had no idea the Hope artwork was made that way... I tear up at reproductions of it, so I am sure I'd be all weepy there (thanks, very much, hormones!)

I've never been to DC and this makes me want to come even more. Tell Josh happy birthday (from someone he's never met, but still)!

Hugs!
Carrie

Thanks again for S & T. It totally makes my week.

Anonymous said...

I love the hope image. It gets me down how some folks were calling plagiarism because it was inspired by an AP photo - but like you said, there is SO much more creativity put into it than something like a photoshop filter!

Anyhow, I decided to put up a show & tell for the first time today!

The Steadfast Warrior said...

Wow! What a stunning looking building! Looks like you guys had a great time- what a great birthday excursion. I'd love to see DC someday.

Photogrl said...

What a great way to spend a day!

It's going to be a must see when I visit DC again.

Io said...

That courtyard is freaking AWESOME! And the portrait makes me all welled up with happy all over again.

Happy birthday Josh!

Bea said...

Happy birthday Josh!

Hm... Washington may have to go up a notch on the list of places to visit before we die. (We keep a long list and are in no hurry to get through it, because death doesn't sound as inviting as all that.)

Bea

ColourYourWorld said...

Wow! That looks fantastic, definitely a place to visit.

Happy Birthday Josh !

~*~Bodhi~*~ said...

Grrr I was actually the 3rd to post today but then it disappeared from your list and now my link is to LAST WEEKS Show and Tell....just not my day today in the blogosphere!! Can you correct that for me please Mel?

Beaut photo's by the way!!

Wishing 4 One said...

What an awesome Birthday Day. I LOVE LOVE LOVE D.C., only been there twice, but loved it! I did not visit this place and now I so wish I did!

Lolli, i have a Show and Tell but its not a usual one. Meaning, i want to link to someone who is giving away something free, can I do it, pretty please? And of course if you let me, I tell him to double up your free stuff.

..al said...

It looks wonderful indeed. I love the Hope portrait. Thanks for describing it in detail, because the picture did not reveal the intricacies. Wow!

Jamie said...

What a beautiful courtyard! It is more than a good enough reason to visit DC.

I would love to see the original Hope portrait. I didn't know it was made from paint and newspaper clippings. It ~would~ be very emotional to see in person.

Raggedy Ann said...

Wow! The courtyard is gorgeous. Hope to visit DC one day. Happy birthday to Josh!

battynurse said...

Very cool looking place. I've never been to DC. Someday.

Kristin (kekis) said...

Wow - what a beautiful building!

Jo said...

I am so jealous. Where I live, we have a grand total of two museums. . .and neither one is much too exciting.

Sounds like you had a relaxing weekend.

MrsSpock said...

I've got to go there if I ever visit DC...

Billy said...

Looks like a very beautiful place!

Wishing 4 One said...

Thanks Lolli, if you want to try this and want more than one let me know. I'll hook you up like that... cause youre da woMAN!

Brenna said...

Ooo, next trip to DC we're definitely making time to see the updates! It's been years since I visited the portrait gallery, the renovations look incredible.

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Happy belated birthday to Josh!

That looks like a wonderful place to visit. Must. Come. Back.

sunflowerchilde said...

That is a beautiful place. The picture make the courtyard look like an artist rendering, rather than the real thing.

I'm posting for Show and Tell. I have no idea idea what Mr. Linky is, though, sorry!

http://alittlebitohope.blogspot.com/2009/03/show-and-tell.html