American Acrostics: Milton Avery and John Sloan

John Sloan, Clown Making Up, 1910

John Sloan, Clown Making Up, 1910, Oil on canvas 32 1/8 x 26 in.; 81.5975 x 66.04 cm. Acquired 1919. The Phillips Collection, Washington DC.

To celebrate the last month of Made in the USA, we’ve asked Phillips staff to create acrostic poems for works in the exhibition. We’ll feature some of our favorite submissions over the next few weeks. In this post, Specialist for School, Outreach, and Family Programs Andrea Kim Taylor tries to get inside the head of a young woman writing at a desk and William Spates, Museum Assistant, gets thoughtful about one of his favorite paintings.

 

Milton Avery, Girl Writing
Under the influence of inspiration
She stops to empty her mind
And struggles for expression

Andrea Kim Taylor, Specialist for School, Outreach and Family Programs

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Milton Avery, Shells and Fishermen, 1941. Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 1/8 in. The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, Acquired 1943

 

 

 

 

John Sloan, Clown Making Up

Unfulfilled
Survivor
A lifetime of stories to share

William Spates, Museum Assistant

American Acrostics: Thomas Eakins

Thomas Eakins, Miss Amelia Van Buren, ca. 1891

Thomas Eakins, Miss Amelia Van Buren, ca. 1891, Oil on canvas 45 x 32 in.; 114.3 x 81.28 cm. Acquired 1927.

To celebrate the last month of Made in the USA, we’ve asked Phillips staff to create acrostic poems for works in the exhibition. We’ll feature some of our favorite submissions over the next few weeks. In this post, It Support Specialist Sandy Lee treats us to a special double feature.

Thomas Eakins, Miss Amelia Van Buren

Untold
Sarcasm
Awaits

 

Unbeknownst to Eakins,
Sitting was not
Amelia’s favorite activity.

Sandy Lee, IT Support Specialist

American Acrostics: Arthur G. Dove

Arthur G. Dove, Lake Afternoon, 1935, Wax emulsion on canvas 25 x 35 in.; 63.5 x 88.9 cm.. Acquired 1947. The Phillips Collection, DC.

To celebrate the last month of Made in the USA, we’ve asked Phillips staff to create acrostic poems for works in the exhibition. We’ll feature some of our favorite submissions over the next few weeks. In this post, Michele De Shazo, Assistant Registrar for Visual Resources and Collection, describes a work she finds “creepy” with three great words.

Arthur G. Dove, Lake Afternoon

Unusual
Sentient
Animals

Michele De Shazo, Assistant Registrar for Visual Resources and Collection