Moon Gate

This is a view through the Moongate looking to the public space beyond the garden. It was inspired by the gardens and architecture of The Temple of Heave in Beijing, China.

This small garden is part of the larger Enid A. Haupt Garden set among the Smithsonian museums: http://gardens.si.edu/our-gardens/haupt-garden.html

I did get a chance to spend an hour at the Smithsonian American Art Museum after the conference. One of my favorite paintings was clean, spare painting byEdward Hopper, called Ryder's House: http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=10763

One of the glaring realities I have noticed in DC is the caste system of employment. Secret Service personnel and police around the capitol, almost exclusively men and almost entirely white; security guards (on the grounds and in museums), people of color; doormen and bell hops, African American men; front desk, white and people of color; hotel catering staff (almost entirely men) and housekeeping (almost entirely women), people of color; cab drivers, middle eastern and people of color.

In some sections of DC I have seen a smattering of middle class African Americans, however, for the most part the unskilled employment is performed by people of color, while employment requiring education is performed by whites. There is a very clear line of demarcation.

Tomorrow we meet with our senators and congress people, should be an interesting day!