When I met Patrick Smith of Market Hardware last November at BarCamp DC, I hardly realized how inspired I’d become by just volunteering my free time to work on a project he envisioned. After all, I already very happily volunteer with FullBleed helping to solicit stories and edit articles for the ADCMW community. And, with other responsibilities on my plate outside my day job, I was a bit skeptical that I had more time to give.
But, as a fan of TED — which stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design — I thought it could be fun to be part of a local version, which Patrick was beginning to plan, called TEDxPotomac. So, when he asked if anyone would be interested in volunteering, I stepped forward, and it’s proved to be such a fulfilling endeavor.
Now, after eight months and hundreds of hours of planning among passionate volunteers and supporters alike, we’re about to see the fruits of our labors distilled in a line-up of truly engaging presenters who embody our theme, “Beyond Politics: Innovation, Inspiration, and Insight.” With so many events in DC geared toward specific industries or issues, it’s refreshing to be an integral part of a more wide-spanning program whose talks range from environmental impact to electronic music, from architecture to the Encyclopedia of Life, and from cupcakes to Craigslist.
The start of Spring, for me, isn’t the official date on the calendar, or the day I’m able to walk outside donning a fresh pedi and flip flops, but the day I get to sit in the sun with an italian sausage, draft beer, and watch nine innings of baseball. And on Saturday, April 3, during an exhibition game at Nationals Stadium against my home team, the Red Sox, Spring began.
Loving baseball and being a part of Red Sox Nation was unavoidable, growing up in the South Shore of Massachusetts. There’s not a memory of my summers that doesn’t include the sound of a game on a tv in the background, or a trip to Fenway on the itinerary. Aside from the constant reminder of the 1986 Halloween party that was ruined by Bill Buckner’s 1st base error thus developing my passion for the sport and my team, the little designer in me was also enamored by the branding of it all.
I just finished reading Katie O’Brien’s useful article in a recent FullBleed entitled,“Talking ’bout a Resolution.”. (Better late than never, I suppose!) One New Year’s tip she suggested was to “pick 12 museums and dedicate each month to going to a different one.” I think for budget-minded DC creative types, this is an ideal resolution concept that few other metropolitan areas could better fulfill.
In this regard, I thought it would be a good time to re-submit an article I completed several years back when FullBleed was actually printed. I was asked to write an article about a museum of my choice for an upcoming museum-themed issue. That issue was never published …and a lot of time has gone by. But the murder of Officer Tyrone Johns on June 10, 2009, in the entrance of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum underscores the relevance of this museum and the need to raise awareness of hate crimes that, sadly, continue to exist across the globe today — and in DC, too.
The current exhibit, State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda, reveals how the Nazi Party used modern techniques, new technologies, and carefully crafted messages to sway millions with its vision for a new Germany. Since we as ADCMW members are involved in creating communications, I think a visit to this excellent museum would be a valuable resolution to keep. 30-minute guided tours of the Propaganda exhibition are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Inquire at the museum’s information desk for tour times. The museum is free, but timed tickets must be obtained at entrance.
What follows is a brief overview of the design/logistical evolution of the museum.
