#TheArtRoute DC edition

Last weekend my #ArtRoute flew all the way to Washington DC. I only had two days to explore this amazing city I hadn’t been before, but when your friends from high school join the trip it can be a little challenging to make the most out of the route. I couldn’t leave the city without visiting at least the most important museums and places, so we decided I got to choose Sunday’s plan. I couldn’t believe I ended up convincing six of my friends to join me. Most of the time I make this routes by myself, so it was so exciting and interesting for me to listen to their different perspectives and points of views.

If you happen to love art like I do, but find it challenging to convince your friends to join you on your #artroute, make a deal with them! Let them know you are willing to sacrifice yourself for them and their plans but ask that in return, they can give you at least one day for your art route.

#TheArtRouteDC :

1. Georgetown Walk:

On Saturday I knew I wouldn't get to choose the plans for the day, but I convinced my friends to have lunch in Georgetown at least, so I could walk around and take pictures. This neighborhood was my favorite part of DC. It seemed as if I was walking inside a movie, everything around me was perfect. We stopped for a coffee at a place called Baked and wired, and wow! I had the most delicious cookies and coffee.

2. National Gallery of Art:

Ok, you need to know this MUST be your first stop. It’s out of this world, I promise. If you are more into modern and contemporary art than renaissance art, my advice is to start with the East Building, which is the wing closest to the U.S Capitol. Before going inside, you will fall in love with the building’s design. It’s so spectacular, it’s recognized as DC’s modern marvel. Architect I.M. Pei designed the museum based on an early sketch where the East Building is represented by two triangles. Featuring two sides of equal length, the isosceles triangle has been incorporated as a major feature of the building’s architecture. What’s inside is nothing short of incredible, from design motifs echoing I.M. Pei’s sketches of the museum to gleaming galleries with works by Alexander Calder, Barbara Kruger, Jasper Johns, Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko and so many more. After you are done with the East Building, Multiverse light-sculpture will transport you to the other wing. It’s created as a path for visitors between the East and West Building, which makes you feel as if you are traveling from one era to the other. I absolutely loved this museum. The architecture, the simplicity of its lines, the natural light, THE collection... It’s just incredible. Best part: the museum is free of charge!

3. A walk through the Constitution Avenue

After you completed your stop at the National Gallery, as you step outside you will find through the Constitution Avenue, United States Capitol to your right and the National Mall to your left. This is one thing I loved about DC, everything is right next to each other, so you won’t mind walking at all. The long, grassy walk through the National Mall is beautiful. It is home to iconic monuments including the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. It’s also flanked by Smithsonian museums, and its lawns and pathways are often crowded with school groups, joggers, and softball teams.

4. Hirshhorn National Museum of Modern Art

Hirshhorn also belongs to the Smithsonian museums, so it’s free to all and open 364 days a year. As you may know by now, I am an architecture lover, so this building’s structure and design was everything for me. Gordon Bunshaft designed a hollow-centered, elevated cylinder – primarily a gallery for paintings – that floats above nearly for acres of landscaped grounds for sculptures. Its shape reminded me of the Guggenheim Museum in NY. This museum is known for creating meaningful, personal experiences in which art, artists, audiences and ideas converge. My favorite exhibition that's currently on view, is from Barbara Kruger’s Belief + Doubt. The entire space – walls, floor, escalator sides – is wrapped in text printed vinyl, immersing visitor in a spectacular hall of voices.

5. Blind Whino

I had to make Blind Whino, the city’s most hidden gem in the arts and cultural community, a MUST stop in #TheArtRouteDC. Located at: 700 Delaware Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024.

The building was home to the Friendship Baptist Congregation for almost a century. Reimagined in recent years as an art space, it is now a treasured community hotspot once again. The church was built in 1886 by former slaves and is one of the oldest extant buildings in Southwest. The fact that it has survived to the present day is something of a miracle. It was cool to find this colorful building in a hidden corner of DC.

6. President’s Park Walk

I couldn’t leave DC without visiting the white house, so before meeting my friends for lunch I stopped the uber and decided to do a quick walk through President’s park. I had to take pictures of every building around me, specially the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and Renwick Gallery. The White House was everything I was expecting, so imposing! One of my friends was joining me in this quick walk and told me something I really liked. She was standing in front of the people taking pictures with the White House and told me: “You know, it’s the little things I enjoy the most. Watching all these people taking pictures with huge smiles, makes me realize how we sometimes take for granted things that are dreams come true for others…”

​ART ROUTE - DC MAP: