Posted on 03/25/2015 11:13:45 AM PDT by drewh
Visitors to the White House on Tuesday saw a side of the mansion that had previously been hidden from public view. The Old Family Dining Room, once a private space for first family meals, has been refurbished by Michelle Obama in her first major attempt to leave her mark on the interior of the historic house.
The dining room, used in recent decades as a staging area for State Dining Room events, has been thoroughly modernized. The works added to the room are bold, including a custom-made rug based on a 1950 weaving by Anni Albers. Most of the artists featured in the room lived in the last century, including Alma Thomas, a force in the Washington Color School and the first African-American woman to be included in the White House permanent collection.
Thomas’s piece, “Resurrection,” is reflective of her expressionist style, evoking a burst of color. The White House Historical Association acquired it at auction last year for $290,000. The association, founded Jacqueline Kennedy, also paid for the repainting of the walls, which are now a cool gray — a major shift from the golden yellow that Kennedy selected.
The room is reflective of the Obamas’ tastes, which favor abstract artists. Two paintings by the 20th century modernist Josef Albers — husband of Anni, whose work inspired the rug — are featured across from a large mirror acquired during a 1902 restoration of the White House by the Roosevelt administration.
Obama unveiled the new room Tuesday by surprising visitors on public tours of the White House and encouraging them to look in on the refurbished space.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Hideous & at that cost? it doesn’t even look “modern” or whatever look she was going for.
What was she smoking?...
I agree. The walls are probably an improvement from the yellow that was there, too.
It looks like she wanted to go modern but had to keep the furniture and ended up with an eclectic mess.
She'll first have to divert the Potomac through the White House to flush out the cultural stench from the previous FSOTUS* occupants.
*First Squatters of the United States.
Oh.
A rainbow bullseye painting.
Whatever might that represent?
There are no words to describe the vile people infesting our White House.
I see paperclips in the rug, but it was nice of FLOTUS to hang up her daughter’s art work.(sarc)
The one in the back? Which one of the kids is into archery?
incorrect
she has the taste of someone that would wear boob belts
With that period furniture and the fireplace, the paintings and rug just look silly!
I actually like the muted grey walls.
The rug looks like my youngest took a Sharpie to it.
Huh. They cleaned Barry’s spittle http://www.bing.com/images/searchbyimage/?q=obama%20mirror%20needs%20to%20be%20cleaned&cbir=sbi&FORM=IRSBID&mid=ED831BDCFD7C273270D7B2B14D655D9DFB521FEF&simid=608006480149414110 off the mirror.
Pretty hideous.
And Way over valued.
If she’s going to hang that art — then the drapes need to go. And the furniture needs to be replaced.
Didn't see that at first, because of the other distracting travesties. The dartboard makes sense, although the O rainbow logo should be pinned on it as a better target.
I was expecting to see a bullfighter emblazoned on a sea of black velvet. I guess somebody put their foot down about that one.
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