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Jennifer Sergent

Freelance design writer + blogger | Marketing copywriter

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Awestruck by “Wonder” at the Renwick

January 8, 2016

Fine, Washington Post. Steal everyone’s Wonder thunder. Blame us all for being a bunch of boobs and madly Instagramming our visit to the Renwick Gallery’s new Wonder exhibit, the first since reopening in November after a two-year renovation.

Is it so bad to have this glorious feeling after waiting up to an hour just to get through the door? Shouldn’t we be able to proudly broadcast that the wait was SO. WORTH. IT. ?

Yes. And the curator, Nicholas Bell (whom I had the pleasure of collaborating with when I was at the Washington Design Center in 2012), agrees with me.“It’s like this new first-person narrative of the museum experience. I’m fascinated,” he told The Post in today’s story.

Even the most hardened children, like our own, who start groaning at the mere utterance of the word “museum,” were completely taken in—a victory in itself, and an Instagram-worthy accomplishment at that. So here’s my own photographic tour from Wonder, which I will proudly add to the enormous compilation that’s already out there. Thanks to Nicholas and his entire team for the experience!

My son Chalmers, hater of all museums, turned into Mikey here—"Hey Mikey -- he likes it!"
My son Chalmers, 11, hater of all museums, turned into Mikey here—”Hey Mikey — he likes it!” (My husband Jim, meanwhile, peaks out from behind him.)

 

My 14-year-old Henry, who struck a post for his own Instagram account.
My 14-year-old Henry, who struck a pose for his own Instagram account.

 

Smartphones out in abundance. But how could you not with an exhibit of woven thread that looks like light itself?
Smartphones out in abundance. But how could you not with an exhibit of woven thread that looks like light itself?

 

Canyons of index cards -- do you ever feel like your desk looks like this? Maybe not so artfully arranged, though.
Canyons of index cards — do you ever feel like your desk looks like this? Maybe not so artfully arranged, though.

 

The glowing works of art mingle with the surrounding architecture to create an entirely new, collective scene.
The glowing works of art mingle with the surrounding architecture to create an entirely new, collective vision.

 

Architect Maya Lin's stunning recreation of the Chesapeake bay watershed using glass marbles.
Architect Maya Lin’s stunning recreation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed using glass marbles.

 

Yes, I'm the 10,000-th person to take a picture of the bug wall that ends the exhibit. But who cares?
Yes, I’m the 10,000-th person to take a picture of the bug wall that ends the exhibit.

“Hello. My name is Jennifer, and I’m an addict of Wonder and Instagram.” OK? At least this is a super-cool support group.

This circle just begs for portraits, right? Here's me and my husband, Jim Sergent, the art director at USA Today (not bragging or anything).
This circle just begs for portraits, right? Here’s me and my husband, Jim.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Art/Photo, Popular Posts Tagged With: Renwick Gallery, Wonder

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Casart says

    January 13, 2016 at 5:44 pm

    Great post and pics Jen! I’m glad you got your boys to go and enjoy. Fortunately, I was able to see this when it was much less crowded the first week it opened and also wrote about it on my ArtIsEverywhere and Slipcovers for your walls blogs. It’s so worth seeing. I just hope it’s being appreciated beyond Instagram but at the same time, I’m glad it’s gotten the attention it deserves. If it gets too crowded, one tip is to view all the artists’ videos about their creative process involved on the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) Youtube channel. It’s a remarkable re-opening exhibit for the Renwick! Hope to see you in the new year! Happy 2016!! — Ashley

  2. Al says

    January 11, 2016 at 10:51 am

    This looks incredible – Scott and I have that on our Winter bucket list 🙂 Though personally, I could do museums all day/every day. Love this city!!!

  3. Jean Molesworth Kee says

    January 9, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    Can’t wait to go. I need some “wonder” this time of year! Great post!

  4. Ursula @ Verdigris Vintage says

    January 9, 2016 at 10:14 am

    Jennifer, I just read about the exhibit in the Post and can’t wait to see. Glad to have a confirmation of how awesome it is! Nice portrait… Ursula

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Jan 22

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When I told my husband I wanted to name our first son Henry, he readily agreed because Henry Aaron was his favorite baseball player of all time. And several years later, my mother gave a framed, signed photograph of this legend to @hjsergent for Christmas, and it hangs right next to his bed. What a sad day, felt all the more personally because I can’t think of my wonderful son without thinking also of the great man who helped inspire his name.🙏🏻
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@markdsikes does it again at #kipsbaydallas with this dreamy living room, Happy Friday! 
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