Smithsonian

Moment of Zen

Moment of Zen. Washington, D.C., USA. September 2016. 

Moment of Zen. Washington, D.C., USA. September 2016. 

If you are a looking for a quiet hiding spot on D.C.'s National Mall, you will find it in one of the two garden courts at the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art West Building. As a D.C. resident, this is a free and accessible retreat that I do not take advantage of enough.

The Hirshhorn has a panoramic room on their top floor, the National Portrait Gallery has a glass ceiling courtyard created by Foster+Partners, and the National Gallery of Art has this neo-classical garden. This photo was taken on a Sunday afternoon and while the gallery was bustling, the garden was perfectly still. 

So, "Here it is, your moment of zen."*

*Thank you Jon Stewart