In our fast-paced, chaotic society, I think it is incredibly important to take a moment and just breathe. The stress of daily life, jobs, school, and extra-curricular activities takes a toll on our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. When life becomes simply too much for you, here are some suggestions for a day full of relaxation, meditation, and an all around artsy day in Washington, D.C.
Photo by Robin Benzrihem on Unsplash
Photo by Jakub Kapusnak on Unsplash
To begin your day, I suggest stopping for a coffee and a croissant on your way to the U.S. Botanic Gardens. Ebenezers Coffee is one of my favorite coffee shops located at Union Station. Just the smell of coffee invigorates the senses and clears the mind. It is only a 20 minute walk from Ebenezers Coffee to the U.S. Botanic Gardens. This free, living plant museum, is open daily - including weekends! Basking in the tropical climate will warm any chill you are experiencing on a cold winter’s day. As you ascend the conservatory, it’s as if you become a monkey living and swinging among the trees. In my opinion, connecting with nature is one of the best ways to bring tranquility back into your life.
Pat Steir, Color Wheel at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 2019. Photo by Lee Stalsworth, Courtesy of Pat Steir and Lévy Gorvy.
Your peaceful journey continues on to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. On the second floor, I highly recommend visiting Pat Steir’s Color Wheel (2019). This exhibition features 30 large-scale painting which are presented as one cohesive piece, Steir’s version of a color wheel. These brightly colored-paintings have a commanding presence in the gallery space, and they showcase Steir’s perfected layering and glazing technique. As you wander throughout the exhibit, I suggest taking a full stop and a deep, conscious breath in front of each painting. With each breath, I try to practice some self-refection. I find that it helps me to stay in the present moment and to just be with the art.
At this point in the day, you might be experiencing museum fatigue (yes, museum fatigue is a real thing), so I recommend grabbing a bite to eat. My food cravings change on the daily, but whatever I decide to eat, I’ll bring it to the National Portrait Gallery and eat it in the Atrium. (Pro-Tip: On weekdays, Maryland Ave SW, near the Hirshhorn Museum, has a surplus of food trucks with any cuisine imaginable that smell and taste oh-so-yummy!) During the week, you’ll find a variety of working professionals on their lunch break eating at the little garden tables. It is a serene place to people watch, rest your weary museum-worn legs, and replenish your energy for your late-afternoon adventure.
The Laib Wax Room at The Phillips Collection, 2013. Photo by Lee Stalsworth.
After the Laib Wax Room, I suggest ending at Studio Gallery - a mere two turns from The Phillips Collection. Studio Gallery is a non-profit artist’s cooperative which showcases new art every month from its members. A piece that particularly struck me was David Wolfe’s Sunshine Mountain (2017). The painting’s bright blue sky and lush green hills recall the soothing effect that nature has over me.
I hope this post encourages you to take a day dedicated to “just breathing.” Happy Meditating!
Photo from National Portrait Gallery
To round off your day, hop on the Redline and metro to Dupont Circle. Two must see spots are The Phillips Collection and Studio Gallery. In The Phillips, I recommend beelining to the Laib Wax Room. Created in 2013, the small space is coated in fragrant beeswax with a single light hanging from the ceiling. The space is quiet and personal as only two people can enter the exhibit at one time. While in the space, I challenge everyone to spend at least three minutes in silence (it is longer than you think) completely blocking out the outside world.
David Wolfe, Sunshine Mountain, 2017 @Studio Gallery.
From Staff Contributor Michele McDevitt