Day at the Museum

A couple weeks ago I took a trip to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. There I found many different interesting pieces, but the most interesting we depictions of America itself!

Preamble

The Preamble was made by Mike Wilkins in 1987 using 50 United States license plates on vinyl and wood. For those of you who can't remember decipher the Preamble from the Constitution. It reads, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."


Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii

The Electronic Superhighway is an installation created by Nam June Paik in 1995-1996. The installation is was created by Nam as a representation of America, viewed through his eyes as a young Korean in a new place. The installation is decorated with Neon lights outlining monitors particular to that state. These lights represent the different colors found on most U.S. maps. "The different colors remind us that individual states still have distinct identities and cultures, even in today's information age."