Over the last few weeks, Erica and I saw a couple of exhibits at D.C. museums.

Edward Hopper – National Gallery of Art. Other than Nighthawks, I was familiar with Hopper’s work. Three recurring themes come to mind when thinking back on the exhibition; “empty” New York, New England in sun and shadow and isolated people, particularly women in their bedrooms looking out the window. I enjoyed his paintings.

Be advised that on weekends, the exhibit is quite crowded; expect to wait in line. We skipped the movie narrated by Steve Martin. The exhibit runs until January 21, 2008. Despite Jim Moran’s efforts to charge admission to the Smithsonian, the exhibit is free.

Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990-2005 — Corcoran Gallery of Art
Leibovitz takes excellent portraits of famous people. Sometimes they even have their clothes on. I think I was most impressed by her Saravejo photographs though. There are also a few landscape photographs which segue into…

Ansel Adams — Corcoran Gallery of Art
Adams probably did more for the cause of National Parks than anyone since Theodore Roosevelt. His Yosemite photos are stunning in sharp, black and white. However, my favorite photo was of a New Mexican town as the moon climbed into the sky.

The Adams exhibit runs until January 27, 2008. The Leibovitz exhibit goes until January 13, 2008. Admission for both exhibits is $14. We took advantage of the later closing time (9 p.m.) on Thursdays and avoided the crowds.