Dressed in a cotton and silk tutu with linen slippers, Belgian dancer Marie van Goethem stands proud, face upturned, and feet in classic ballerina pose. She’s been immortalised for eternity as Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer, a wax sculpture by Edgar Degas. Today revered for being one of his greatest works, Little Dancer wasn’t warmly received by critics and French bourgeois society who called it “ugly”, “repulsive” and oddly, a “threat to society”. All because Marie didn’t fit the society ideal—she was, after all, an “opera rat”, a term given to working-class young dancers with the Paris Opera ballet.

Today, a recast of Marie is one of the highlights at Washington DC’s National Gallery of Art.

It speaks volumes that even today women are still often lambasted for not fitting a perfect society ideal. As Marie shows us, it is absolutely alright to stand out from the crowd because history will remember you.

It is my maiden visit to Washington DC, the capital of a country that could soon be electing its first woman President. There, I find many other powerful women, like Marie, whose stories fascinate and delight.

At The National Museum of Women in the Arts, I am reacquainted with that legendary feminist painter, Frida Kahlo. It’s a self-portrait painted for her lover, Russian revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky, during their brief affair. She’s dressed in a pink embroidered skirt, gold jewellery and honey-hued shawl, black hair woven with flowers.

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The revolutionary artist and feminist may be the most famous woman in the museum but hers isn’t the only inspiring work. The museum is the first of its kind dedicated only to women (or those identifying as women) artists, with paintings and sculptures that are big, bold and powerful.

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Take Lalla Essaydi’s Bullets Revisited #3, a staged photo where a henna-d model sleeps on bullet casings. “This photograph is to showcase the role of women in revolutions, which often gets ignored. It’s also a way of talking about how the white gaze has impacted perceptions of Arab women,” says our guide, Micah Koppl.

There’s a floor dedicated to heavier work, sculptures in iron and wood because “work by women are thought to be delicate and small”.

The beauty of this museum is that it is all inclusive—there are non-binary artists’ work on display, it features transgender artists during exhibitions, there’s a nursing lounge for mothers, and all-gender bathrooms.

Interestingly, its grandeur is owed to the fact that it sits in what was once a Masonic temple. Elsewhere, on a visit to a functioning Masonic temple, Scottish Rite House of the Temple, what stands out in this all-male bastion is the fact that my guide is a woman. She has no connection to the freemasons and yet, conducts a tour that is informative, knowledgeable and extremely witty.

While on the subject of women breaking the mould, there’s aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, which deservedly pays tribute to this record-setting aviator and pilot. I learn that Earhart was also a trendsetter when on the ground. She designed and wore her own clothes. The line, Amelia Fashions, released in 1933, was revolutionary for its time, being practical, fuss-free and meant for “active women”.

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America’s many women icons can be found in museums and institutions across Washington DC.

A tour of the US Capitol takes me to the rotunda with its paintings and heavily decorated ceiling, and the National Statuary Hall. There, the newest statue is of civil rights leader and journalist Daisy Lee Bates. In the rotunda, a white marble sculpture honours three prominent Suffrage pioneers, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

Tour guide Ann mentions that Rosa Parks (also in the hall) was the first woman to lie in honour in the Capitol when she passed in 2005; her statue was the first full-length statue of an African American.

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Helen Keller is here too, captured as a seven-year-old showing her expression the first time she touched water. The disability rights advocate’s ashes are interred at the Washington National Cathedral.

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The Neo-Gothic structure is the second largest church building in the country but perhaps best known for possessing a gargoyle of Darth Vader.

The Episcopal cathedral looks like a traditional religious structure, but offers much for those with a keen eye. In the section titled the “Human Rights Porch”, are small sculptural heads of Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt. This year is important to the cathedral—it marks the 50th anniversary of the first ordination of women as priests in the Episcopal Church, and they hired their first woman stonemason.

As religious structures go, it certainly is unique.

Museums and their food

One of my favourite finds in the city is the Mitsitam Native Foods Café in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, which showcases native foods. Mitsitam offers a taste of native foods, some in new avatars. There is frybread, manoomin (wild cakes) with smoked salmon, bison burgers and hotdogs, wild rice salad and corn pudding. This kitchen is pathbreaking also because it is led by chef Alexandra Strong and sous chef Toshiba Veney—the first all-female team at a Smithsonian museum café.

Right outside the museum I find presidential candidate Kamala Harris staring at me. Given that it is election time, she and Donald Trump are everywhere.

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The stretch of road in front of many Smithsonian museums is parked with vans dishing out hotdogs, pretzels and souvenirs. Harris’ face adorns many of the vans, and you can also find it on tees, caps and magnets. Her famous “I’m Speaking” phrase (from the 2020 vice-presidential debate with Mike Pence) is a particular favourite. It may seem like just a cheap souvenir but it is a sign of the time, or possibly of history in the making.

At the Made in Washington store promoting black artists, it is easy to see whom they support—Harris shows up on candles, magnets, coasters, and tea towels.

Like many of the other iconic women in Washington DC, Harris seems set to become a part of the country’s history.

Joanna Lobo is a Goa-based journalist.

 

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On Tuesday, October 29th, Washington DC’s Tech leaders gathered at ilili Restaurant to celebrate being named as one of Washingtonian’s 2024 Tech Titans! The list features current tech leaders and rising stars in the industry. The cocktail reception brought honorees together to connect, enjoy food and drinks, and of course, get a picture at the highly sought after Washingtonian faux cover photo booth. 

President and CEO of Washingtonian, Cathy Merrill opened the evening by congratulating the honorees, and thanking the event sponsors. Verizon’s Mario Acosta-Velez followed with remarks highlighting Verizon’s work in the tech industry and shared information on their new initiatives.  

The vibrant atmosphere of ilili created the perfect backdrop for the evening, and guests enjoyed the Lebanese cuisine. ilili’s bar featured PepsiCo products so guests could pick and choose their own mixers. Those who wished to share more intimate chats could sit in the customized PepsiCo or Verizon lounge. 

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible:

PepsiCo

Verizon

J.P. Morgan

Amazon

Thank you to our venue and vendor partners:

ilili Restaurant

Washington Talent Agency

Mixing Maryland

Lee’s Flower Shop

Photos by Joy Asico-Smith

Manager, Marketing & Events

Regardless of their ward, Washington, D.C., residents can vote at any voting center. All voting centers will have ballots tailored to all eight wards.

Here is a breakdown of where Washington, D.C., residents can cast their vote.

Ward 1

Columbia Heights Education Campus: 3101 16th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20010

Marie Reed Elementary School: 2201 18th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009

H.D. Cooke Elementary School: 2525 17th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009

Bancroft Elementary School: 1755 Newton St NW, Washington, D.C., 20010

Columbia Heights Community Center: 1480 Girard St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009

Price Hall Center (Masonic Temple): 1000 U St NW, Washington, D.C., 20001

Ward 2

Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church: 1701 15th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009

Stead Recreation Center: 1625 P St NW, Washington, D.C., 20036

Hardy Middle School: 1819 35th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20007

Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library: 1630 7th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20001

Georgetown Neighborhood Library: 3260 R St NW, Washington, D.C., 20007

M.L.K. Jr. Memorial Library: 901 G St NW, Washington, D.C., 20001

West End Public Library: 2301 L St NW, Washington, D.C., 20037

Ward 3

Palisades Recreation Center: 5200 Sherier Pl NW, Washington, D.C., 20016

Annunciation Church: 3810 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20016

Oyster-Adams Bilingual School: 2801 Calvert St NW, Washington, D.C., 20008

Janney Elementary School: 4130 Albemarle St NW, Washington, D.C., 20016

Murch Elementary School: 4810 36th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20008

Horace Mann Elementary School: 4430 Newark St NW, Washington, D.C., 20016

Chevy Chase Community Center: 5601 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20015

Cleveland Park Library: 3310 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20008

University of the District of Columbia: 4200 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20008

Ward 4

Powell Elementary School: 1350 Upshur St NW, Washington, D.C., 20011

Barnard Elementary School: 430 Decatur St NW, Washington, D.C., 20011

Takoma Education Campus: 7010 Piney Branch Rd NW, Washington, D.C., 20012

LaSalle-Backus Education Campus: 501 Riggs Rd NE, Washington, D.C., 20011

St. John’s College High School: 2607 Military Rd NW, Washington, D.C., 20015

Ida B. Wells Middle School: 405 Sheridan St NW, Washington, D.C., 20011

Shepherd Recreation Center: 7800 14th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20012

Fort Stevens Recreation Center: 1327 Van Buren St NW, Washington, D.C., 20012

Emery Heights Community Center: 5801 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20011

Takoma Community Center: 300 Van Buren St NW, Washington, D.C., 20012

Raymond Recreation Center: 3725 10th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20010

Ward 5

Burroughs Elementary School: 1820 Monroe St NE, Washington, D.C., 20018

Noyes Education Campus: 2725 10th St NE, Washington, D.C., 20018

Joseph H. Cole Recreation Center: 1299 Neal St NE, Washington, D.C., 20002

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church: 3015 Earl Pl NE, Washington, D.C., 20018

Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library: 5401 South Dakota Ave NE, Washington, D.C., 20011

McKinley Technology High School: 151 T St NE, Washington, D.C., 20002

Dunbar Senior High School: 101 N St NW, Washington, D.C., 20001

Woodridge Neighborhood: 1801 Hamlin St NE, Washington, D.C., 20018

Turkey Thicket Recreation Center: 1100 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, D.C., 20017

Ward 6

J.O. Wilson Elementary School: 660 K St NE, Washington, D.C., 20002

Stuart-Hobson Middle School: 410 E St NE, Washington, D.C., 20002

Eastern Market: 225 7th St SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

Payne Elementary School: 1445 C St SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

Watkins Elementary School: 420 12th St SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

Jefferson Middle School Academy: 801 7th St SW, Washington, D.C., 20024

King Greenleaf Recreation Center: 201 N St SW, Washington, D.C., 20024

Sherwood Recreation Center: 640 10th St NE, Washington, D.C., 20002

Walker Jones MS/RH Terrell Recreation Center: 155 L St NW, Washington, D.C., 20001

Ward 7

Kelly Miller Middle School: 301 49th St NE, Washington, D.C., 20019

Miner Elementary School: 601 15th St NE, Washington, D.C., 20002

Kenilworth Recreation Center: 4321 Ord St NE, Washington, D.C., 20019

River Terrace Education Campus: 420 34th St NE, Washington, D.C., 20019

Nalle Elementary School: 219 50th St SE, Washington, D.C., 20019

Randle-Highlands Elementary School: 1650 30th St SE, Washington, D.C., 200203702

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church: 3601 Alabama Ave SE, Washington, D.C., 20020

Kimball Elementary School: 3375 Minnesota Ave SE, Washington, D.C., 20019

Benning Stoddert Recreation Center: 100 Stoddert Pl, Washington, D.C., 20019

Deanwood Recreation Center: 1350 49th St NE, Washington, D.C., 20019

Hillcrest Recreation Center: 3100 Denver St SE, Washington, D.C., 20020

Rosedale Recreation Center: 1701 Gales St NE, Washington, D.C., 20002

Ward 8

THEARC: 1901 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, D.C., 20020

Hendley Elementary School: 425 Chesapeake St SE, Washington, D.C., 20032

Allen A.M.E. Church: 2498 Alabama Ave SE, Washington, D.C., 20020

Covenant Baptist Church: 3845 S Capitol St SW, Washington, D.C., 20032

Union Temple Baptist Church: 1225 W St SE, Washington, D.C., 20020

Anacostia Senior High School: 1601 16th St SE, Washington, D.C., 20020

Ballou Senior High School: 3401 4th St SE, Washington, D.C., 20032

Turner Elementary School: 3264 Stanton Rd SE, Washington, D.C., 20020

Arthur Capper Community Center: 1000 5th St SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

Bald Eagle Recreation Center: 100 Joliet St, Washington, D.C., 20032

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Fort Stanton Recreation Center: 1812 Erie St SE, Washington, D.C., 20020

Ferebee-Hope Recreation Center: 700 Yuma St SE, Washington, D.C., 20032