Michelle Obama Portrait Debuts At Smithsonian

[bigtree]

Aug. 22, 2010

(AP) Move over Martha Washington. Martha Stewart and Michelle Obama are getting space in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington for the first time.

A new exhibit, "Americans Now," opened Friday, featuring famous names from science, business, government and the arts.

President Barack Obama and the first lady are among those portrayed. It's the first time Michelle Obama's individual portrait has been shown at the gallery.

The portraits are on view through July 2011.

read: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/21/entertainment/main6793183.shtml

big pic of portrait: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/22/michelle-obama-smithsonian_n_690355.html

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. More stylized that accurate, not that it matters

[bigtree]

3. true, though I think the stylized portrait reflects on

. . . a forward-looking definition of her husband's unprecedented election. A traditional portrait would have been fine for this exhibit, but I like this choice because it invites a more progressive view of the First Lady's 'term' and highlights her own special dynamism.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. No clue where you are getting that from...but sure

[bigtree]

6. we all interpret art from our own bias (like most everything else)

Stylized art generally reflects a modernism, or, as I've interpreted it, progressivism. The portrait of the First Lady is going to be viewed through a lens of history, now and in the future. A traditional portrait would convey a continuity or conservatism, while a more stylized design conveys progress or change which I think is appropriate to the times and this presidency they are highlighting with this portrait of our Democratic First Lady.

[Laughing Mirror]

2. Vive Warhol!

Ah excuse me, the portrait was by Mickalene Thomas.

[kstewart33]

5. Very nice - I hope Michelle likes it. nt