Renwick Gallery turns entire rooms into works of art. One of their rooms currently houses David Best’s piece, Temple. The architecture evokes spiritual feeling. In response, visitors are encouraged to write thoughts on wooden placards and place them throughout the room. This work is essential to any art tour of the city. Consider staying our DC Inn on your next trip to our nation’s capital.
Exhibit
Temple is part of the larger exhibit No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man. This exhibit is on the upper floor of the Renwick Gallery. Temple is one of several rooms displaying immersive art from Burning Man. Another room details the history of Burning Man, a festival and cultural phenomenon. Burning Man first began in Nevada in 1986. The festival fosters art and creativity based on community values. These 10 principles are still an integral part of the festival today. Temples are a longstanding part of the festival.
Both at the festival and Renwick, visitors are encouraged to write messages on wooden placards and place them throughout the space. The placards embody the Burning Man values of participation and communal effort. Temple creator, David Best, has constructed many temples for Burning Man. Throughout the festival, the temple becomes filled with messages. However, once the festival reaches its end, the temple is burned in an act of ritual. Visitors to Renwick can now experience a Best temple firsthand.
The Artist
David Best lives in California. His elaborate temples, however, are acclaimed internationally. Best creates temples that are unaffiliated with any religion to allow all people to process deeply felt emotions. Incorporating Burning Man’s emphasis on community, the temples are built with local involvement. Those who help Best create his temples are known as the Temple Crew. The crew consists of people from many different places with many different skills.
Location
Temple is at the Renwick Gallery until January 5, 2020. It is housed on the upper floor of Renwick in Bettie Rubenstein’s Grand Salon. The gallery is open daily from 10:00 am – 5:30 pm. The exhibits are free and open to the public. Renwick right next door to the White House. Book your room at the American Guest House to stay in DC near the White House in 2019 to see David Best’s unforgettable creation. We offer beautiful rooms and free breakfast.
