It takes about an hour to drive from Frederick to Washington D.C., making it a perfect day trip. Last weekend, the weather was warm and the sky was clear, so I visited the Smithsonian American Art Museum for the first time in a while.

The American art museum in downtown D.C. is a space where you can see the history of American art at a glance.

As soon as I entered, I thought, 'This is not just a place to display paintings, but a space that records the time of America.' It may not be as glamorous or grand as European museums, but instead, it features many works that calmly express the lives of real people, the changing cities, and the identity of the country called America.

In particular, I was impressed by the corner of American landscape paintings from the 19th to early 20th century. The vast plains, faded mountain ranges, and scenes from the westward expansion depicted by the artists made me feel like 'this is how this country began.' There was a connection to the rural landscapes near Frederick, which made it even more appealing.

In the contemporary art section, there were pop art and abstract works on display. Honestly, I didn't understand them at first, but after reading the explanations, I realized that each piece was connected to the social atmosphere of the time. Especially, the urban sensibility and bold colors of Warhol's works were in stark contrast to the quiet streets of Frederick.

That contrast was fascinating. If you go up to the second floor, you can also see craft art pieces continuing in the Renwick Gallery. There were sculptures made of glass, wood, and textiles, and the details were truly amazing. One piece was made by thinly slicing wood to create something like paper and then shining light on it to create shadows as art; I stood in front of it for a long time.

I lost track of time. One of the reasons the Smithsonian American Art Museum is great is that admission is free.

You don't have to stand in line for tickets; you can just walk in. Instead, visitors voluntarily make donations, and I also contributed a small amount as a token of gratitude. This cultural infrastructure is part of what makes America attractive. Anyone can enjoy art in the middle of the city. After finishing my visit, I took a short break at a nearby coffee shop, and I noticed that the expressions of people who had seen the art were all similar.

There was a calm and relaxed feeling. I think everyone had a moment of stepping away from their daily lives and experiencing 'seeing human thoughts and emotions in color.' On the way back to Frederick, the sunset was setting beside the highway, overlapping with the scenes from the landscape paintings I had seen during the day. Suddenly, I thought that art has the power to make us look at this moment we live in a little differently.

If you live in Frederick, just visiting an art museum for a day can enrich your life. By the time I got home, it was already dark, but my heart felt strangely bright. Next, I think I might visit the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

It's in the same building, and they say portraits of historical figures in American history are on display. Having such art close by is another happiness of living in Frederick, I think.