Welcome to the home of the American People here in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. The exhibition in the Chief of Mission Residence includes works of art that highlight strong women, the power of connection, and showcase iconic places in the United States.
Old School by Barbara Ernst Prey serves as the keystone of this exhibition. The watercolor painting depicts four small boats nestled closely together on a calm sea, evoking a sense of connection and community. The other works in the exhibition bring to life America’s diversity and showcase some of the country’s most special landmarks.Read More
Internationally recognized photographer Chris Crisman specializes in lifestyle and portrait photography that “blend[s] the natural with the fantastical.” He positions his subjects directly in the foreground, creating a commanding presence set against an ethereal yet authentic background. Sadie Samuels is part of Crisman’s Women’s Work: Stories from Pioneering Women Shaping Our Workforce, a book of photographs of women from all over the United States who have pioneered work in jobs and fields that are historically male-dominated.
Crisman graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. His work has been recognized by trade organizations such as Communication Arts, Luerzers Archive, American Photography, and Graphis.
Chris Crisman, Sadie Samuels, Lobster Fisherman, Archival Inkjet Print, Overall: 26 × 38in. (66 × 96.5cm), Courtesy of the artist, Penn Valley, Pennsylvania
Carol Highsmith visually documented the architecture, people, and culture of the United States. Influenced by the work Dorothea Lange and Frances Benjamin Johnston, Highsmith’s subject matter includes engineering marvels, natural landscapes, national parks, and historic sites. “I work every day with a heartfelt commitment to document the living history and built environment of our times. I consider my work an indestructible record of our vast nation, including sites that are fast fading, even disappearing, in the wake of growth, development, and decay,” she said.Read More
CCarol Highsmith, Brooklyn Bridge from the Air, Digital print from color transparency, Overall: 20 × 30in. (50.8 × 76.2cm), Collection of Art in Embassies, Washington, D.C.
For over fifty years, Susan Pear Meisel has created whimsical scenes of landmarks in New York; Washington, D.C.; and other major cities. Her use of ink and lines creates a “playful layering within the composition.” Whether a print or silkscreen, “the inked hues carry their tonalities to the surface of the paper. The layering of multiple colors builds up a ground pattern that engages with one another in a vibrancy of color.” Read More
Susan Pear Meisel, Golden Gate Bridge, Lithograph, Overall: 20 × 27 × 1 in. (50.8 × 68.6 × 2.5 cm), Collection of Art in Embassies, Washington, D.C.; Gift of Sidney Meisel
Susan Pear Meisel, The White House, Screenprint, Overall: 26 1/2 × 31 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (67.3 × 80 × 3.8 cm), Collection of Art in Embassies, Washington, D.C.; Gift of Franklin Wilk
Watercolorist Barbara Ernst Prey is inspired by vibrant colors throughout history as well as by twentieth-century abstract expressionists like Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. “Color, light, composition, and design are the armature for the painting and hold the subject and narrative. My paintings may not seem abstract, but if you look at them, you will see underneath is a design which is very abstract and ties everything together,” she says.
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Barbara Ernst Prey, Pile Up, 2015, Digital print on watercolor paper, Overall: 30 × 40in. (76.2 × 101.6cm), Courtesy of the artist
Barbara Ernst Prey, Old School, Digitized Inkjet print on watercolor paper, Overall: 31 × 39in. (78.7 × 99.1cm), Courtesy of the artist, Oyster Bay, New York