Washington's 122-year-old Smithsonian Institution has often been called "the nation's attic." Over the years, public-spirited citizens have given it a little bit of practically everything, from the Hope Diamond to, inevitably, some art. But museumgoers in search of the art had a hard time finding it in a few cramped galleries behind the stuffed elephants. Under the leadership of Secretary Dillon Ripley, the Smithsonian has recently been cleaning out its attic. Last week, with a black-tie gala for 2,300 guests led by Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson, the Smithsonian's paintings and sculpture, now formally known as the National Collection...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
