Snap away: Washington art gallery encourages photos at new exhibit

It won’t be long until some beautiful images out of Washington DC end up on your Instagram feed.

Gabriel Dawe, Plexus A1, 2015
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Courtesy Conduit Gallery Image by Ron Blunt

The Renwick Gallery, a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, has reopened after two years of renovations and is filled with some amazing new pieces of art in an exhibit entitled WONDER.

Photography is encouraged at a new exhibit at the Renwick Gallery in Washington. Image by Laura Baptiste

The gallery is also taking a bit of a different approach than some and actually putting up signs encouraging people to take photos – something that everyone who visits will surely want to do.

Patrick Dougherty, Shindig, 2015
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum Image by Ron Blunt

While the prevalence of cameras and smartphones has led many galleries to loosen up on rules around photography, actually encouraging people to document their time at the Renwick is a bit of a different approach. And if the photos found on Instagram at #renwickgallery are any indication, it’s one that’s working quite well.

Jennifer Angus, In the Midnight Garden, 2015
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum Image by Ron Blunt

Laura Baptiste, a public affairs officer with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, told Lonely Planet they have “embraced the idea that taking pictures, especially with a mobile device, is essential to how visitors today experience the museum.”

John Grade, Middle Fork, 2015
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum Image by Ron Blunt

Photography has been allowed for nearly a decade in the museum’s permanent collection galleries, and Baptiste said it is logical that would extend to the re-opened branch. She added that they plan to continue the policy wherever possible, and are “excited to see that not just allowing photography, but encouraging it, has really energized the public.”

Maya Lin, Folding the Chesapeake, 2015
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum Image by Ron Blunt

The debut exhibit at the gallery following the renovation features art from nine contemporary artists, and will be on display for six months.

Janet Echelman, 1.8, 2015
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Courtesy of Janet Echelman, Inc. Image by Photos by Ron Blunt

The artists selected for the exhibit were each able to choose an area of the gallery while it was closed and then create an art installation for that space.

Check out more amazing photos from the gallery on Instagram here.