Installing Ancestor

Images of preparators moving the sculpture

Preparators move Seymour Lipton’s Ancestor to a cozy spot in front of the Phillips. Photos: Amy Wike

Yesterday, the weather cooperated and the sun peeked out as preparators spent the morning installing Seymour Lipton’s Ancestor (1958) in front of the original Phillips house.

Images of Phillips staff installing the sculpture

Preparators Bill Koberg and Alec MacKaye rotate the statue to test out a few angles, while Director Dorothy Kosinski provides input. Photos: Amy Wike

Images of the sculpture installed

Installed! Seymour Lipton, Ancestor, 1958. Nickel-silver on monel metal, 87 x 19 1/2 x 32 in. The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C. Acquired 1964. Photos: Amy Wike

Good Morning, Washington!

Photo of Phillips staff filming for Good Morning Washington

Director Dorothy Kosinski leads Phillips staff in a morning salute to Washington, cheered on by ABC7/WJLA-TV community relations director Abby Fenton. Photo: Sarah Osborne Bender

On Tuesday, my day began alongside dozens of our staff, beaming and dressed in their summer best, and Antony Gormley‘s personable Aperture XIII  (2010) in a shoot for ABC7, WJLA-TV‘s “Good Morning Washington” program. Watch for our greeting starting next week, mornings between 4:30 and 7:30 am!

Farewell to Our Friend, Caroline Macomber

It is as though I can hear Caroline Macomber’s inimitable greeting: “Hello there!” Her dear friend, Louisa Duemling, captured Caroline’s voice, her strength, her elegance, and intelligence so accurately—pitch perfect—at the funeral on February 1.  Caroline’s sudden death is a terrible blow felt deeply by her fellow trustees and the Phillips staff that came to know and admire her profoundly over years. She continues to inspire us to move beyond sadness to work with passion and vigor for this institution she so well loved.

Dorothy Kosinski, Director

Caroline Macomber and I deep in conversation about a David Smith sculpture together at last year's Art & Innovation Summit. Photo: James R. Brantley