I have only ever experienced “chills” a few times in my life. I’m not talking about the “fever and chills” type sensation, but rather the physical manifestation of a sense of awe, like some primitive part of your nervous system recognizes an important moment even before your brain can process it. I experienced it today when I turned a corner and saw this statue.
I feel like I’ve spent a lot of time with Peter Norman, Tommie Smith, and John Carlos. The picture of their silent protest at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City moves me in a way few images have, and is all the more poignant the more I learn about the symbolism of the moment and the repercussions faced by the three men afterward. Seeing the scene as a statue was like the photograph come to life in front of me. I know that I will visit it again.
Wendy, Kalyani, Hannah, and I explored the NMAAHC together this afternoon, searching out the objects we’d chosen for our initial blog posts. It was not necessarily an ideal way to experience the museum–we had to bypass a lot of the most intriguing objects and exhibits in the interest of time–but it gave me interesting insight into my group. It was wonderful hearing in person what each woman’s chosen object represented for her. We spent more time than I would have predicted with “Walking,” the painting Kalyani chose for her blog post. We found meaning in the clothing of the women represented, the body language, colors, and movement. It felt like each of use could make the painting come alive by imbuing the figures with our own chosen meaning.
The Museum Kat 
Love that last sentence, Katherine–“like each of use could make the painting come alive by imbuing the figures with our own chosen meaning.” Phyllis and I spent some time with that painting yesterday. I was taken in by the expressions on the faces of some of the figures–so distinctive and suggestive!
The NMAAHC is one of the only museums that routinely gives me chills and even brings me to tears. It’s an extraordinary place.
LikeLiked by 1 person