When I saw the Cinema Effect: Realisms during Hirshhorn After Hours a few weeks ago, I was somewhat wound up and distracted. Granted, the exhibit is a bit esoteric and weird to absorb amidst revelry and cocktails.  Last spring's Cinema Effect: Dreams lent itself perfectly to an altered state of consciousness: floating through the darkened hallways, seeing an old man's face projected onto the crumpled body of a babydoll -- the exhibit paid homage to the nonsensical musings of nighttime slumber. You weren't supposed to understand.  Realism, on the other hand, presents a problem in its focus -- the very nature of realism demands understanding. So in conclusion, I think I needed a bit of assistance in comprehending the exhibition.  

No fear, says the Hirshhorn.  We'll help you out. Out of all of the Smithsonians, Hirshhorn really delivers on the new media front. Three years ago, when podcasts were still in the phases of germination, Hirshhorn broke new ground and offered a podcast tour of the national mall. OK, back to the story.



Hirshhorn has created a new blog named Ask the Artist, where different artists from the exhibit respond to visitor questions submitted the week before. The crowds haven't lined up yet, so if you ask, your question has a pretty good chance of being answered. The first artist profiled, Kota Ezawa, responded thoughtfully and insightfully to five of six of his posed questions.

So ask away, dear readers!  Nervous about being judged for your artistic ignorance? That's the beauty of the blog -- just assume a pseudonym .  Even if you don't end up posing a question, the answers provided should really illuminate the nature of the diverse works at play in the exhibit.