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Outdoor Sculpture
Outdoor artwork can be found throughout America’s capital city, yet perhaps
nowhere in such abundance as the area known as Judiciary Square, a name derived
from the fact that it became the municipal center of Washington early in its
history. Why should a place known for its courthouses be the source for so much
public artwork? Only the lawyers and judges know for sure, but suffice to say
that you will run into some giants of jurisprudence along this route—after
you’ve encountered a “temple” to an egotistical dentist and two anonymous chess
players. The National Gallery of Art East Building, an outdoor sculpture in and
of itself, provides inspiration for a series of contemporary pieces gracing the
museum grounds. Even a federal government agency gets in on the act with a pair
of sculptures that embody the Art Deco movement of the 1930s. We’ll conclude at
the National Gallery Sculpture Garden, only a decade old and already a favorite
outdoor venue.
Led by Carolyn
