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DAILY 03-09-10 MD SU C5 BLACK
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010
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Natural History museum turns 100
ON FASHION
A fizzy moment in
museum from C1
man Origins will cover 15,000
square feet, including a large
inaugural history
time tunnel tracing human his-
tory. The exhibition space will dent, more of a fashion risk-
have 75 cast reproductions of by Robin Givhan taker and just a bit more fanci-
skulls, covering the last 6 million ful in her overall style. Much of
years. The displays will include Every four years the country that has been borne out. Obama
dozens of fossils, including rare has a collective fashion mo- has worn an array of unexpect-
originals. ment. Citizens wait, if not in ed designers. Physically, she has
Giving visitors a sense of the breathless anticipation, then at been emblematic of her genera-
past and providing evidence of least in a state of mildly embar- tion of weight-lifting, active
the Natural History museum’s rassed, vaguely fraught curios- and body-conscious women.
role as a leader in scientific dis- ity for the first glimpse of a sin- And finally, her events have of-
covery and collections are some gle dress: the inaugural gown. ten had an element of the unor-
of the major themes of the cen- The fascination thrives on thodox to them. Children have
tennial celebration, a year-long the curiously ill-defined role of been invited to official events
event at the museum. the first lady. She is a symbol whenever possible, including
“In round figures, 290 million rather than a salaried employee the welcoming ceremony for
people have been to the building and so her clothes, her person, the administration’s first state
since it opened,” said Cristián take on exaggerated meaning. dinner. Obama dressed as a cat
Samper, a biologist who is the In modern history, the dress has for Halloween and brought area
Natural History museum’s direc- served as an indication of the children to the White House to
tor; he oversees the largest col- sort of White House style that is trick-or-treat. And she hula-
lection of natural history speci- to come: down-home, a tad re- hooped and jumped rope dur-
mens in the world. “There have
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
gal, somewhat patrician or ing a health fair there.
been a lot of things done here the museum has often participat- The National staunchly middle-of-the-road. But the dress also reflected a
that help us understand who we ed in groundbreaking scientific Museum of Over the years, however, the naive, youthful effusiveness, a
are. We continue to build on our research that the public rarely Natural History message in the inaugural gown fashion statement that has not
collections and grow in strategic sees. Its collections have provid- was the second- has proven to be a bit like a been repeated. Obama’s most
areas,” Samper added in an inter- ed a historical basis for biodiver- most-visited campaign promise — vague and memorable state formalwear
view at his new “green office,” in sity work, and the museum offers museum in the more idealistic than the cynical has been glamorous and ele-
a recently renovated part of the basic research material such as world last year. world of Washington allows. gant, more streamlined and of-
building. DNA information for all living It opens the new Like her predecessors, first ten black. The inaugural gown
Another major part of the cen- organisms. Since at least the Hall of Human lady Michelle Obama will do- was frothy and girlish, like
tennial will be a new Web site, 1930s, when the FBI began work- Origins, above nate her inaugural gown to the something an ingenue would
coming in May, dedicated to the ing with Ales Hrdlicka, a contro- and left, on its Smithsonian’s National Mu- wear for her first red carpet
museum’s history. It will have a versial physical anthropologist 100-year seum of American History. promenade. The dress sweetly
timeline of the expeditions, col- who promulgated the view that anniversary, She’ll make the presentation reflected the giddy mood of the
lections, research projects, staff Northeast Europeans had larger March 17. Tuesday morning in front of an country in a few yards of silk; it
scientists, researchers and oral brain capacity, the museum be- audience of students from New was perfect costuming for a
histories dating to the 1970s. came a nationally known center York’s Huntington High School Frank Capra feature.
Some of the cultural materials of forensic anthropology. Fashion Program in hopes of in- Now the dress will become
collected by explorer Charles Environmental work has been spiring careers in the arts or at part of the First Ladies Collec-
Wilkes in an around-the-world a constant at the museum. The least a lifelong appreciation. tion — an artifact representing
expedition in 1838-1842 — in- staff was involved in the devel- Obama’s dress, custom-made a country’s outsize optimism. A
cluding species of coral and in- opment of the Endangered Spe- by New York designer Jason reminder of sky-high approval
sects — are still used. Charles D. cies Act, which passed in 1973. In have the specimens,” said Pamela servicemen sent. Wu, was unique in several re- ratings, “Kumbaya” on the Mall
Walcott, a paleontologist and for- the 1960s, when Rachel Carson M. Henson, director of the mu- To connect yesterday and to- spects, beginning with the and endless possibilities. That
mer secretary of the Smithsonian was writing “Silent Spring,” and seum’s institutional history divi- day, the museum next month is youth and relative inexperience intoxicating, cultural celebra-
Institution, discovered the Bur- more recently, when Patricia sion. placing a series of portable signs of its creator. Wu was only 26 on tion was captured in a silk
gess Shale formation in the Ca- Cornwell was turning out her The public will be able to join throughout the building to show Inauguration Day, and to some frock. It was one of a kind, nev-
nadian Rockies, where fossils mystery books, the authors con- in the nostalgia. Planned for a how the museum’s mission, sci- degree, that showed in the er to be repeated and, in hind-
proved that there was life in the sulted the museum’s scientists. late May opening is an exhibition entific work and exhibition de- dress’s not-so-expertly-finessed sight, a bit overwrought. Still,
area more than 550 million years Now the scientists are collaborat- of archival and modern photo- sign have changed over the years. bodice. The one-shoulder de- the dress will serve as a lasting
ago, an important 20th-century ing with other researchers in graphs. Another upcoming fea- (There used to be domesticated sign was revealing and glamor- reminder of just how fizzy that
finding. John James Audubon, a building an online Encyclopedia ture will be a showcase detailing chickens where the Human Ori- ous, a combination that hadn’t fleeting moment looked.
leading ornithologist, collected of Life, a record of 1.9 million the work of Smithsonian scien- gins Hall will be, for instance.) been seen since Nancy Reagan givhanr@washpost.com
birds for the museum. known species. “We are taking tists and the military during Samper says the placards will wore a James Galanos creation
And Samper said the Hope the Smithsonian to people out- World War II. Among the of- complement the memory of a to her husband’s first inaugura- Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown
Diamond, whose arrival 50 years side the Smithsonian,” Samper ferings: The Smithsonian pro- typical visitor, who usually tion in 1981. Obama’s dress was goes on public display Wednesday
ago cemented the museum as a said. duced a military survival manu- makes three trips during his or also more romantic than state- at the National Museum of
tourist attraction and scientific Another forensic treasure al, “Survival on Land and Sea,” in her lifetime, ending up as a ly: ivory silk chiffon, flowing American History as part of a new
hub for the study of gems and trove is the museum’s collection 1945 and “A Field Collector’s grandparent pointing out the lines and Swarovski crystals. gallery, “A First Lady’s Debut,”
minerals, will get a new tempo- of birds killed in aircraft strikes, Manual in Natural History” in great elephant in the rotunda. “I The dress — which goes on which will showcase 11 dresses
rary setting during the summer. which started in the 1940s and 1944 with directions on collect- met a number of people in the public display Wednesday — worn by various first ladies. 14th
Thanks to its rich abundance goes all the way up to the Miracle ing natural history specimens. halls who said, ‘I was here when I suggested a different kind of Street and Constitution Avenue NW.
of materials — 126 million ob- on the Hudson incident of 2009. The museum still uses some of was 6,’ ” said Samper. first lady, one who promised to For information, call 202-633-1000
jects — and the quality of its staff, “When questions come up, we the specimens that World War II trescottj@washpost.com be more physically self-confi- or visit www.americanhistory.si.edu.
THEATER REVIEW
Starts This Friday–3DaysONLY
5 times the charm: ‘Some Girl(s)’ casting
PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR SPRING PROJECTS
LaBute throws you off that is duration: Two hours-plus with
by Nelson Pressley scent with the appearance of intermission doesn’t feel like this
Lindsay, a professor Guy slept tight play’s ideal running time.
In Neil LaBute’s “Some Girl(s),” with in college. That affair But the production is clean and
a guy named Guy travels across reached a scandalous boiling unmannered, keenly attuned to
the country to check in on several point, and Lindsay plays by LaBu- emotional shifts and verbal nu-
women he used to date. He’s tean rules — no rules, in other ance, which is what you want with
about to get married, but first he words — with Lisa Hodsoll giving LaBute. Morgan gets full credit
wants to make sure everything’s an impressively intimidating yet for simply hitching his wagon to
fine with the unhappy flames he wounded performance. smart, appealing actors and let-
left behind. Emily Simoness rounds out the ting them run.
This is called sticking your fin- gallery with a sweet/fierce por- style@washpost.com
ger in a sore, and before too long trayal of a woman who knows Guy
you feel it would be terrific if one well enough to give him a real bat- Pressley is a freelance writer.
of the women hit Guy in the face tle, but after what happens with
with a shovel. That’s praise, sort Lindsay, your radar will probably
of: From “In the Company of Men” be on full alert, wondering why
to “Fat Pig” and beyond, LaBute he’s still at this game. Sloppy this Some Girl(s)
has courted that kind of visceral playwright is not, and the funni- by Neil LaBute. Directed by Joshua
response to blithe self-absorption, est passages of the play come as Morgan. Set design, Sean Urbantke;
and the new No Rules Theatre LaBute transparently turns the costumes, Paul McCrae; lights, Eric
Company turns out to be pretty focus on his own much-debated Grims. About 2 hours 15 minutes.
handy with emotional outrage tactics as a writer. Through March 21 at the H Street
and baseline skeeviness. The only real error by director Playhouse, 1365 H St. NE. Call
No Rules staged “Hedwig and Joshua Morgan (co-artistic direc- 866-811-4111 or visit
3 GREAT DAYS-
the Angry Inch” downtown last tor of No Rules along with Sutow) www.norulestheatre.org.
Friday, March 12 - Sunday, March 14, 2010
summer but is billing this produc-
tion (at the H Street Playhouse) as See the latest in Interior and Exterior Design. Everything from
its real entrance onto the scene.
appliances, home repair, energy efficient solutions to outdoor patios,
“Some Girl(s)” might not be a true
debut, but for a still-fledgling
lighting and kitchens. Full size landscapes, garden vignettes, and
troupe, it is unusually well-cast.
new for 2010 townhouse gardens.
Brian Sutow is neatly under-
stated as Guy, grinning and listen-
Over 60
It’s all here under one roof !
ing with a half-distracted air as
Nationally
the baffled women — each in a dif- Shop, Compare and Save!
ferent city — try to figure out what
Recognized Dealers
this ex-boyfriend wants. Some-
times they come on to him, and
March 12,
Hours: Fri 11-9, Sat 10-9, Sun 11-6
Sutow’s Guy is charmingly chaste.
13&14
Tickets - $12 Adults
Sometimes they call him on his
Fri. 11–8; Sat. 11–6;
Kids 6-12 - $5
broken promises, and Sutow
Sun. 11–5
Kids 5 and under Free accompanied
treads softly, claiming innocence.
The women are presented with
Episcopal High School
by paying parent
increasing degrees of difficulty,
3900 W. Braddock Rd.
beginning with Clementine Alexandria, VA
Metro Stops Inside The Building.
Thomas as a plaintive housewife
Park free at Metro operated lots on weekends
touchingly hoping for a quickie Enter Convention Center from Mt.Vernon Sq.or L Street
fling with her former high school
beau. As Tyler, a wild child in
SpecialEvents
Remodeling,
ripped jeans and high-heeled
Fri.: Speakeasy Party; Guided Show
boots, Morgan Reis flings her
body around provocatively and
Tour; & Folk Art Lecture
Decorating,
SEMINARS!
smiles quizzically at this peculiar
Sat.: Brunch with Chris Jussel
100s of BOOTHS
Hot New Products,
male specimen, whose learned vo-
(1st host,
TALK TO THE EXPERTS!
Antiques Roadshow)
cabulary sometimes gets her goat.
Evaluation & Conservation Clinic
Free Advice.
It’s at this point that you start
Sun.: History of Cocktail Dress
wondering about Guy’s profes-
Lecture & Fashion Show
For More Information and $3 Discount Coupon*
sion, since he has just published a
story in the New Yorker that the
All days:
www.WashingtonHomeandGardenShow.com
Spirits in America loan exhibit
(202) 249-3400
ladies recognize in some of the
particulars. If he has enough on Info: 703-548-SHOW
*Coupon OnlyValid Friday 3/12
the ball to make that literary
www.antiquesinalexandria.com
scene, how can he be so tone-deaf
THE PERFECT SHOW AT THE PERFECT TIME!
in these encounters?
BLACK C5
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