Editor’s Note: The trip to DC was impeccably planned, flawlessly executed and enjoyed completely by all
who had the good fortune to join Laura O’Connor and Gina Knox on this most excellent adventure.
Below is a brief synopsis of the four day trip in the co-chairs’ own words.
Twenty-three art lovers in PAA traveled east on April 29 th to engage in contemporary art DC style. Our
nation’s capital holds plenty of museums to visit, lots of activities to contemplate and oodles of
restaurants to choose from. Laura and Gina whittled out the best of the best and managed to get it all
in within four days. These trips are a whirlwind but we always learn something new, appreciate the art
and most importantly, make and deepen our friendships.
We stayed in the lovely Hay-Adams which gave us all a peek at the White House located just across the
park. Gathering in the hotel bar, aptly named “Off the Record,” we enjoyed a welcome drink before
walking to The Oval Room for our first meal together.
We hit the road the following morning, beginning with the National Gallery of Art, touring the East
Building and Sculpture Garden. Over the week we also visited the Phillips Collection, Glenstone, The
Renwick Gallery and the Hirshhorn Museum. These museums are chock full of stunning art. We had
time for just a taste of each and left with a sense that we would all like to come back for more of our
own in-depth study.
But that’s not all! We also enjoyed two lovely private collections, a trip to the Hillwood Museum which
is the former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post and a quick stop at the African American Museum of
History and Culture. Although these two museums do not house contemporary art, it was a welcome
change of pace. We can all still appreciate eighteenth-century French decorative art, a beautiful table
setting and the exquisite detail of Faberge Eggs. The African American Museum is an important new
museum and the “with it” ladies of the PAA couldn’t come home without “being in the know”!
In between all the learning and site-seeing, there was, as usual, lots of laughter, lots of conversations and lots of bonding between friends.