What's Going On at Rubell Museum DC

Sunday was a good day, I woke up early despite the change of time and planned a visit to the new museum in town, the Rubell Museum in DC. The Rubells have been collecting and investing in art for decades. Thus, it is no wonder after numerous visits to the nation's capital that a DC museum was in their plan. Hence, the day began at the steps of the Rubell museum where one is greeted by the welcoming staff to the large halls of the art museum. Beyond the friendly, engaging and well informed staff, the museum is housed in one of DC best known celebrities' former schools - in a school that the late singer Marvin Gaye attended as a child. The beautiful historic building has been cleverly transformed into an open floor plan museum. The architect's ability in persevering the old while mingling it with the new, makes this museum extra special due to its sentimental value and its connection to Marvin Gaye. The modern glass façade of the entrance creates a flow into the historic building leading one into a big room full of huge and impactful works of art. The Rubell Museum DC's collection emphasizes on highlighting the works of contemporary African American artists while also showcasing a number of renowned international artists as well.

Besides the remarkable work on the building's interiors such as the arched brick doorways that lead the visitors from one gallery into another, one can't help but hear the voice of Marvin Gaye echoing within his old school walls singing "What's Going On". This remarkable connection to the past and especially to such an important DC figure makes the museum experience meaningful and memorable. Through the late singer's voice ringing through the museum's walls, one is engulfed with a haunting feeling of a bygone era - some of the art reflects this sentiment in its topic and poignant subject matter. The works of the late artist Keith Haring are paired with Marvin Gaye's song "What's Going On". Seeing Haring's work and listening to Marvin's lyrics, I couldn't help but feel that both of these musical and artistic geniuses were incredibly ahead of their time. It has been said that true artists have a sixth sense and can foretell the future. Perhaps the lyrics of Marvin's song along with the doomsday illustrations of a dying world by Haring had warned us of what to come. Pass forward many years later, I am standing in the museum intently listening to Marvin's lyrics:
"You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
Oh, what's going on"
For me, Marvin's song was a crying plea to society to stick together even when times are awfully bad. Marvin implored us to stay connected, talk with each other: talk to your neighbor, to your brother, to your father, to your friend, to your co-worker and simply ask them "What's going on?" For in that simple and kind greeting, hatred is melted and love develops. Marvin's message of love, much like Keith's illustration of people hugging each other in circles of unity, remarkably manages to ignite the sense of tenderness after all these years.
Beyond the strong and historic arched windows and walls, the artwork that spoke the most to me was the rainbow mixed media painting by Vaughn Spann titled "“Big Black Rainbow (Smoky Eyes)". I don't know if the hanging of the rainbow piece right next to an arched window was planned or pure coincidence. Nevertheless, whatever it was, and if it was planned by the curator, then this was definitely a stroke of genius to position the arched rainbow in the same level of the arched window looking to the outside. Such little details in curation and art installation, I do pay attention to. This creative juxtaposition does create an incredible flow within the room and the museum making the viewing experience an exceptional one. Bravo!
Going back to the reasons why I felt Vaughn's work was hands down goes above and beyond the rest is due to its mastery and radiant energy that the painting emits. The rainbow almost becomes a holy matter similar to a halo floating and beaming light within the room. The painterly execution is done with such effectiveness pointing out the strength of the artist's hands. The rainbow is a symbol of hope. In a biblical sense, God promised Noah to lookout for the rainbow after the flood as a sign that all is good and all will be well. Therefore, the rainbow becomes a symbol of hope for good things to come, the calm after the storm so to speak. The reassurance of hope is what I see in Vaughn's rainbow piece. In this, the artwork transcends the element of a 2D painting and becomes a bridge that takes one into a spiritual field where hope and love reigns.
The Rubell Museum DC made me feel like I stepped into another time, and into a place full of memory, history and loads of hope through the arts.

Rubell Museum DC's link: https://rubellmuseum.org/dc

To learn more about artist and art educator, Vian Borchert, visit:

www.vianborchert.com