In a message dated 96-10-18 15:41:13 EDT, [log in to unmask] (Steve
Eichner) writes:

> Let's move on and discuss good things!

Ok, I just spent the afternoon going through the Olmec Exhibit at the
National Gallery in DC. I have no idea if this is/was a travelling show, but
I hope so as it was pretty darn good. First off, thumbs up to the curators -
although their names did not jump out at me :-( for a very good attempt at
blending art and anthropology. For once, I went into the National Gallery and
was able to learn something about the artist (oooh, I can just hear the
flamethrowers loading up:-). And imagine my excitement to see cranial
deformation, tattooing AND labretifery all mentioned in the same exhibit! I
was beside myself. I would like to know who curated the show (too poor to buy
the catalog), to find out whether the tattoos on the masks are considered
representations of the actual tattoos that were present on the face of the
model for the mask, or whether the designs on the mask were interpretations
of the individual the mask represented as a whole.

On another topic but related (Hank, you can probably answer this one for me),
what's the deal with the sculptures across Constitution from the Washington
Monument (or on the lawn down from the White House, depending on how you
choose)? Is this a permanent installation? I only ask b/c I got rear-ended
last week on Constitution (probably as a result of someone checking them
out!), and they seem a bit out of place.

OK, there's your change of subject ;-)

- Adrienne