by Wendy
I always look forward to spring break visits from my sister April and nephew J. We love hanging out in our DC neighborhood and taking road trips to nearby cities like NYC. Since they’ve been to Washington many times previously, Jack and I always try to design a varied itinerary.

At the top of the list this year are the recently opened National Museum of African American History and Culture and the temporary Yayoi Kusama “Infinity Mirrors” exhibit at the Hirshhorn. While all Smithsonian museums are busy, these two are generating a lot of buzz. I hadn’t the privilege of seeing either one yet. Both offer free admission, but require timed entry passes due to popularity. The advance online option doesn’t work out, so I must try for same-day timed entry tickets. I’m determined to secure entry to at least one of these coveted attractions, though there’s a good chance this will involve standing in at least one long line.

April and J are arriving around noon on a Wednesday. I’ve set my alarm for 6:25am that morning (which never happens unless I have a flight to catch). Same-day timed passes for the National Museum of African American History and Culture are released online starting at 6:30am. I sit at the computer and refresh the screen for a few minutes until available times appear around 6:38am. I score tickets for mid-afternoon that I print out immediately. I breathe a sign of relief and return to bed.

Although I fall back asleep for awhile, I’m thinking I should try for the Kusama tickets as well. Why not? Same-day tickets are only available at the museum starting at 10:30am.

I’ve taken the morning off in anticipation of April and J’s arrival, so Jack drops me off at the Hirshhorn around 9:30am. There is already quite a line. Apparently this exhibit is all the rage on Instagram, and it is supposedly trendy to take a selfie in one of the “infinity mirror” rooms.

I take my place at the end of the line but before long, there is a trail of people behind me. I’ve never seen anything like this for an art show. I assume I’m probably too late but don’t mind waiting outside at all. It’s a gorgeous morning with a clear blue sky and warm sun, with just a hint of chill in the shade. I have a book to read and an interesting scene to observe.

Those in the queue are talking, speculating about our chances. There is a myriad of people, from families with babies and young kids to hipsters to college students to international visitors to locals to retirees and even a few elderly waiting in line with their walkers. I chat with the gal in front of me who lives in the nearby neighborhood. She jokes that there should be an amusement park roller coaster at the end of this process. The line starts to inch forward. We watch as one woman leaves her friends to go investigate and then return with what appears to be hopeful news, though she also expresses enthusiasm about the coffee and gelato cart nearby. Another lady walks around the outskirts of the line taking a video with her phone.

I start to worry a bit: what if I am the last person to be offered a ticket? I need 3 since Jack is working. I would feel sad for the nice girl behind me with the Hello Kitty backpack and her boyfriend – they are so eager to see the exhibit. Surely my queue comrades will get tickets!

We move closer to a covered tent, only to discover that there is more waiting to be done inside. But look! There is a screen on the wall listing times still available, and there are surprisingly many! I start to calculate the best time for our visit, and decide I will request 5:45pm since the African American History and Culture Museum closes at 5:30pm.

A Hirshhorn Museum employee suddenly enters the tent. Neighborhood gal gasps and freezes, hand on heart. Everyone assumes the employee will apologize and announce that all tickets have been distributed. Nope, she’s just trying to sell a few audioguides.

The line creeps toward the museum, then finally through the entrance for bag check. Approaching the visitors desk in the lobby, I join my acquaintances in line congratulating each other, then part ways forever. By 11am, I’ve got the tickets.

I walk to a nearby coffee shop for a latte and chocolate croissant before heading to the metro. The waiting pattern follows me with a delayed metro train to the airport. Fortunately Jack picks all of us up at the airport in our car, stores the luggage in the trunk and then drops April, J and me back near the National Mall so we can have our museum day.

Worth it? In my opinion, yes to both.

The African American History and Culture Museum is a worthy addition to the National Mall. One of the best things about living in DC is being near the world-class Smithsonian Institution, and I look forward to getting to know this museum as well as I know some of the others. While April, J and I spent a couple of hours looking around, you could easily spend an entire afternoon or day exploring the details of each floor (and Jack and I likely will on future visits). The architectural design is unique and the exhibits are compelling and thoughtful. It was busy, but once inside you encountered only a few lines which seemed to move relatively quickly.

The Kusama exhibit, on the other hand, could perhaps also be titled “Infinity Lines”. The timed pass essentially gives you permission to join more queues. I guess it’s inevitable – the exhibit includes six “infinity mirror” rooms that only 2-3 people can enter. They are extremely cool, giving you the impression that the lights or objects (such as dotted pumpkins) go on forever. However, you’re constantly aware that your time in the room is ultra-finite, like 30 seconds before you’re ushered out by staff. There’s barely enough time to gaze around or snap a photo (I love this one of the pumpkins that J took).

And yet, it’s still really fun. And probably the only way to allow many visitors the opportunity to attend the elusive exhibit. April, J and I laugh about the crazy lines and just decide to skip the longer ones. We enjoy taking a peek in several of the whimsical mirrored rooms, posting bright stickers over colorless furniture in the “obliteration room” and yep, taking a few selfies.

Kusama’s Infinity Mirrors is in DC through mid-May, so I likely won’t have the time to go back. But I love the Hirshhorn, and it remains one of my favorite museums. There is always something beautiful or bizarre or perplexing or controversial on display. The contemporary art collection and rotating exhibits can inspire, broaden perspectives, prompt strong opinions and feelings. I’ve always been drawn to modern art and appreciate the way it often flaunts the rules, grants infinite space for new ways to tell stories, and challenges the observer to create their own art.

My nephew said, “Modern art is my favorite kind of art,” as we were walking around, which justified every minute I spent in line as far as I’m concerned.