The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum is home to some of the most incredible displays of crafts and decorative works from American artists in the nation.
One of the art installations at the Renwick Gallery, which has become a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike, has been Janet Echelman’s 1.8 Renwick.
The story behind Janet Echelman’s 1.8 Renwick art installation
Janet Echelman’s art installation “1.8 Renwick” was first inspired by the aftermath of the massive Tohoku earthquake and the subsequent tsunami that significantly damaged the northeastern region of Japan.
The earthquake was noted to be so strong that it shifted the earth on its axis and shortened the day by 1.8 millionths of a second, which served as the inspiration for the exhibit’s name.
The work of art is a series of knotted and braider fibers hung from the ceiling of the Renwick Gallery’s Rubenstein Grand Salon, where it is dynamically changing as a result of color lights being projected onto it and movement as a result of wind from programmed fans.
When is the 1.8 Renwick art installation going to close?
The exhibit has been on display at the Renwick Gallery on two separate occasions, which means that it could come back in the future.
However, here are the periods when this iconic work of art has been on display to date:
- November 2015 until May 2017 as part of the WONDER exhibit.
- September 2020 until its expected closure on May 13th, 2025.
To see this iconic installation before it is closed, you can enter the Renwick Gallery museum free of charge Monday through Sunday from 10:00 am until 5:30 pm.