S+ART

In Tribute to Black History Month

Jacob Lawrence, Cabinet Makers, 1946. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1966

 

In celebration of Black History Month, I wanted to begin the post by giving a brief bio of a well known artist whose works are displayed here in town!

Artist Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000), whose painting is featured above, was one of the prominent African American painters of the 20^th century. As depicted in his artwork and throughout his career as an artist, Lawrence placed great emphasis on the history and struggles endured by African Americans. Lawrence’s career skyrocketed at the young age of twenty-three when he completed the sixty-panel set of narrative paintings, called The Migration Series. The series marks the story of the migration of hundreds of thousands of African Americans from the South to the North after World War I. Visit The Phillips Collection, where even-numbered panels from The Migration series are on view or venture to the 3^rd floor at The Hirshhorn Museum to see other paintings by Jacob Lawrence.  

 

The big to-do’s around town worth checking out for Black History Month:

Smithsonian Black History Month 2012 Event Calendar : In Celebration of Black History Month there are several events taking place at various Smithsonian venues throughout the month of February. This site features heritage videos, kid’s activities, “Family Memory” storybooks and other related resources.

 

Black History Month at the National Museum of African Art: Features the performance of  Haitian-American musician, Daniel Roumain, on Saturday, February 25. The Museum will also be hosting their 2012 African Art House Film Festival , on every Thursday evening in February. Also, stay tuned for this months after hours, Africa Underground on February 24, 2012!

 

On view at the National Museum of American History is the exhibit, Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello:Paradox of Liberty from The National Museum of African American History and Culture. The exhibit recognizes six slave families living at Jefferson’s estate, Monticello. The exhibit takes a deeper look into slavery along with the family’s ties to religion, literacy and struggle for freedom. The exhibit remains open till October 14, 2012 at.

 

African Voices  at The Museum of Natural History is a permanent exhibit that examines various themes in the life of Africa’s peoples and cultures. The exhibit includes historical and contemporary objects, interactive stations, and various personal testimonies.

 

Anacostia Community Museum - On view in the permanent collection, Separate and Unequaled: Black Baseball in the District of Columbia highlights the history of baseball in Washington, D.C. from Reconstruction to the second half of the 20^th century.

 

In addition, here’s an online source worth exploring:

Smithsoniain.com-Black History & Heritage Month : If you can’t make it to any of the featured exhibits/events, here’s the site for you. This online dedication hub to Black History Heritage Month consists of articles rich with history and stories of legendary African American leaders and role models in the country. The site also includes personal testimonies from President Barack Obama, poet Rita Dove, and legendary dancer, Maurice Hines.

 

If you know of any other Black History Month related events or exhibits on view please fill us in! Thanks!

 

~ Margaret

American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music

 

Many people from countries around the globe immigrate to the United States with dreams and aspirations to obtain freedoms, liberties and an overall better standard of living. Groups of individuals can leave behind poverty, political strife and religious conflict but in the process also lose personal treasures like home, history and family. The one item that never leaves them is their culture.

Culture is the face and voice of every nation. At the heart of each culture, one can find traditional crafts, food, art, dance and music. In order to be immersed into another’s culture, one must receive a glimpse and appropriate taste of these elements. What flavors of Latin culture have mingled with the United States music scene and history? Where do they come from and reside? How do they affect American culture? If this interests you, questions will be answered with viewing and listening pleasure at American Sabor. American Sabor is a new exhibition at the Smithsonian Ripley Center displaying Latin music history and its unique influence on U.S. popular music and dance over the years.

After the 1940’s, many Latin people from the Americas immigrated to United States. The Latin influences that originated in Central and South America and the Latin-Caribbean have become an integral part of the American music scene. At this time, Latin Music began making a profound effect on many of the rhythmic genres of U.S. music such as, jazz, R&B, rock 'n' roll, and hip hop.

After learning the history of major traditional dance styles like salsa, mambo, rumba, cha-cha-cha, move your way through the exhibit stopping by five major musical production centers in the United States where Latin music has made the biggest impact: Miami, New York, San Antonio, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Check out famous memorabilia, fantastic images and shake your hips at the different musical stations.

 

Works At the Exhibition

Collage of Record Covers

  Santana

Woodstock in Bethal, NY, August 15, 1969

Wall Size Poster Print

 

~Matt Weiler

Mt. Pleasant Temporium

 An empty storefront at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW will soon become the district's second Temporium, a temporary space for local artisans to showcase and sell their work. The first Temporium was on H Street NE in July 2010, and it was a huge success. The new Temporium should provide exciting opportunities for the culturally rich and truly diverse neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant, the often forgotten hidden gem of DC. The Temporium will not only support creative entrepreneurs, but will activate and highlight the Mt. Pleasant Street commercial corridor, providing residents with unique services and activities. Most importantly, the Temporium will promote this lively neighborhood. 

The theme of the Mt. Pleasant Temporium is storytelling, which will give visitors insight into the handmade goods for sale as well as the 30 local, independent artists who made them. The storytelling theme will also be explored through special programming, such as autobiographical and theatrical storytelling with SpeakeasyDC, trunk shows, educational panels, and live music.

“I lived in Mt. Pleasant for 10 years, so I have a real soft-spot for the neighborhood and a desire to see it prosper,” said Amy Saidman, director of SpeakeasyDC. “The Temporium is a great way to bring people and energy to this great neighborhood.”

Two local DC artists, Sean Hennessey and Rania Hassan, have been selected to curate the front windows.

The Mt. Pleasant Temporium
3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW
Washington, DC 20010
Tentatively Jan. 28 - Feb. 26
Wed – Fri 2pm – 7pm -- Sat 10am – 6pm -- Sun 11am – 5pm
More information: Mt. Pleasant Temporium

  
images: Sean Hennessey, We Power the Universe, 2008. Glass, Concrete.
Rania Hassan, Drop Stitch, 2009. Oil, Fiber, Canvas, Metal.

Text adapted from http://mtptemporium.com/

Allison Recht

Going On: Community Day - African Soul

On Saturday, September 18th, the African Art Museum hosts a Community Day from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. This year's theme is "African Soul." Events include arts-and-crafts activities, dance performances and workshops, face painting, a film screening, and a creation station, where participants will have an opportunity to interact with international artists who work and create in public spaces. The programs are all free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://africa.si.edu/calendar.html#/?i=1.

Going On: Arts on Foot

Today, tomorrow, and Saturday, take a stroll over to 7th and F Streets NW for The Washington Examiner's Arts on Foot event. Featured activities include a juried fine art market, entertainment stages, exhibits, hands-on activities, food and wine tastings, and a neighborhood showcase. This annual event is free and offers the perfect way to enjoy our beautiful fall weather this weekend. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Saturday will also feature a Festival to celebrate the final day of the event.

Goings On: The World of Yves Klein

Yves Klein remains in modern art’s more recent memory as one of the most influential, forward-thinking, and conceptual artists of the twentieth century.  This summer, the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is hosting an exhibition of Klein’s work—the first retrospective of his work in the United States in 30 years.  The exhibition is called With the Void, Full Powers, and runs from May 20, 2010 to September 12, 2010.

All of Yves Klein’s major series will be represented in the exhibition, including works from Anthropometries, Cosmogonies, fire paintings, planetary reliefs, blue monochromes, gold and pink monochromes, and body and sponge reliefs.  More ephemeral works such as “air architecture,” letters, writings, sketches, and photographs will also showcase his unique process and individualistic artistic conception of the self.

 Born in Nice, France in 1928, Yves Klein’s artistic career was abruptly cut short at the age of 34 when he suffered a fatal heart attack in Paris in 1962.  However, his contribution to modern art has left a legacy of capturing the immaterial and achieving artistic spirituality through pure color.  In his quest he invented a variation of ultramarine blue called International Klein Blue.  He practiced his notions color and art through a wide range of media, such as painting, sculpture, photography, music, film, performance, and literature.  His pioneering approach paved the way for modern artists to be less concerned with physical objects and more concerned with representing the conceptual, abstract, and intangible.  In connection with this exhibition, the Hirshhorn Museum is conducting gallery talks, lectures, and after hours events aimed at illuminating the world of Yves Klein—as both an enduring artist and transitory man.

"Color is sensibility in material form, matter in its primordial state."

-Yves Klein

The schedule of events is as follows:

Friday, July 16^th

Gallery Talk: Yves Klein, 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM

Steve Antosca, composer and artistic director of the VERGE ensemble and the National Gallery of Art’s New Music Ensemble, discusses Yves Klein's Monotone Symphony.

Location: Hirshhorn Museum, meet at information desk

Admission is free

Friday, July 23^rd

Gallery Talk: Yves Klein, 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM

Daniel Moquay, director of the Yves Klein Archives in Paris, leads a tour of the exhibition while sharing his extensive knowledge of the artist’s career and creative process.

Location: Hirshhorn Museum, meet at information desk

Admission is free

 

Hirshhorn After Hours: A Special Evening of Art, Music, and Cocktails, 8:00 PM to Midnight

After Hours celebrates Yves Klein with gallery talks, live music, and special performances by Karl Marks, Brandon Joseph Neukam, and Sunrize Highway.  Hosted by drag performer, Summer Camp.

Location: Hirshhorn Museum

Tickets On Sale Now: $18 in advance, free to Annual Circle members (tickets must be purchased in advance; no door sales)

Buy Tickets Now

Thursday, September 9^th

Kaira Cabañas on Yves Klein, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Kaira Cabañas, an art historian and contributor to the exhibition catalogue, discusses Klein’s work with directed focus on his film and performance work.

Location: Hirshhorn Museum

Admission is free 

Every Saturday + Sunday through September 12^th

Exhibition Tour: Yves Klein: With the Void, Full Powers, 12:30 PM

Docent-led tour of exhibition

Location: Hirshhorn Museum, meet at information desk

Admission is free

 

 

 

 

MAKIYKUMANTA-Peru: Arts and Cultural Legacy

This year’s Indian Summer Showcase at the Smithsonian has yet again proved to be a phenomenal success.  The National Museum of the American Indian has featured a continual series of cultural displays from Argentina, Mexico, Bolivia, Hawai’i, and Peru in its annual summer celebration.

What’s coming up next?  The 6-day festival of “MAKIYKUMANTA-Peru: Arts and Cultural Legacy.”  This event runs from Tuesday, July 13^th through Sunday, July 18^th and is co-sponsored by the Embassy of Peru.

  

 

 

Here is a sampling of daily events:

 10:00am- Arts and Crafts Exhibits Open

10:00am-10:30am- Open

10:30am-11:00am-Open

11:00am-11:30am- Children's Workshop by Antonieta Merida (ceramics)

11:30am-12:00pm- Musical Performance by INCA SON

12pm- 12:30pm-Perfomrance by INCA SON (includes dance lessons)

12:30pm-1:00pm- Open

1:00pm-1:30pm- Films/Videos

1:30pm-2:00pm- Films/Videos

2:00pm-2:30pm- Musical Performance by INCA SON

2:30pm-3:00pm- Performance by INCA SON (includes dance lessons)

3:00pm-3:30pm- Senora de Cao (conference)

3:30pm-4:00pm- Open

4:00pm-4:30pm- Rural Community Lifestyle (conference)

4:30pm-5:00pm- Open

5:30pm- Arts and Crafts Exhibits Closes

  

Location:

American Indian Museum

Potomac Atrium, 1^st Level

Fourth Street & Independence Ave., S.W.

Washington, DC 20560

The National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C., is located on the National Mall between the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum and the U.S. Capitol Building.

Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily

This event is FREE to the public!

In addition to enjoying music, performances, food demonstrations, films, lectures, and dance, visitors are able to purchase textile, silver jewelry, paintings, ceramics, and wood/stone carvings.

Come see the beauty and spirit of these Peruvian arts!

Goings On: 10-Day Festival for Arts and Artisans from Bolivia and the Peruvian Island of Taquile

For the fifth consecutive summer, the National Museum of the American Indian has hosted the acclaimed multicultural Indian Summer Showcase—a cultural amalgamation featuring indigenous native art, dance, film, food and music.   
This summer’s Fifth Anniversary schedule of events looks promising, as several exciting and enlightening concerts, demonstrations, fairs, and performances bring together the traditional, yet dynamic native cultures of Bolivia, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, and even Hawai'i.

The first three-day event of the Indian Summer Showcase began Saturday, May 29, called Celebrate Hawai’i: Hula, highlighting Hawaiian dance, food, and botany.

Following this event is the three-day Ibero-American Guitar Festival, starting TOMORROW, Friday, June 4 through Sunday, June 6.  Look forward to hearing traditional instruments in concerts and in classes.

Next is the event featured: the 10-Day Festival of the Arts and Artisans from Bolivia and the Peruvian Island of Taquile.  Presented by the National Museum of the American Indian, and co-sponsored by the Inter-American Foundation (IAF), this 10-day festival takes place from Friday, June 11, 2010 to Sunday, June 20, 2010 in the Potomac Atrium (1^st level) of the NMAI.  Best of all? It’s completely free to the public! 
Venture over to see the authentic crafts and culture of the visiting Bolivian artisans.  Ideal for kids and families, or simply anyone interested in the colorful and diverse offerings of Bolivian art or Peruvian dance, this Indian Summer Showcase event highlights the objects of artistic and cultural significance of the Chiquitanos, Guarayos, Icocenos, and Ayoreosl people from the eastern lowlands region of Bolivia. 
These indigenous artisans will be showcasing and selling traditional weavings, embroidery, pottery, paintings, and sculpture for visitors to bring home a piece of authentic Bolivian art for themselves.
  If this isn’t exciting enough, you will be able to see customary dances performed by an ensemble from the Island of Taquile in Lake Titicaca!

 

Following this 10-day festival is a collection of equally enticing events, such as Country of the Clouds: Indigenous Artists of the Oaxaca-Mixtec Region from June 22 to June 26, MAKIYKUMANTA-Peru: Arts and Cultural Legacy from July 13 to July 18, All Hands on Design! Native Designers from Argentina from July 31 to August 3, and finally Living Earth Festival, which wraps up the Indian Summer Showcase event series.

For more information on the schedule of the Indian Summer Showcase festivals, concerts, films, etc., go to www.AmericanIndian.si.edu or the Indian Summer Showcase Schedule of Events 2010.

Make a point to check it out!

Goings On: Festivals!

Of course the kick-off of the National Cherry Blossom Festival starts this Saturday and goes until Sunday, April 11^th.  There are tons of activities happening daily beginning with Family Day this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.  The opening ceremony is at the National Building Museum and starts at 4:00 p.m.  The ceremony offers three engaging Japanese-inspired activities. 

At Animals Around Town, you can explore the significance of animals in Japanese and D.C. architecture and make reliefs for homes by picking out animal “protectors” to carve into self-hardening clay.  There will also be bridge making with basic craft materials while celebrating to bridge between the U.S. and Japan.  Lastly you can learn about traditional Japanese theater in the Kyogen Theater Stage Design area, where kids can design their own stage sets, place characters inside and re-enact a favorite story.  There are many other activities along with a beautiful ceremony.  To find the complete schedule for the Festival you can visit the website at www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/. There will also be several performances by the Washington Ballet, Lori Kotake, Miss DC 2009, Jennifer Corey and the Shigeyama family famous Kyogen players with a history dating 400 years.

It will be a beautiful two weeks and I am anticipating its beginning since I have never been in D.C. and participated in such a unique festival!

Another annual festival that is this weekend in the 44^th Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival, “CRAFTed for Flight”.  It is this Saturday, March 27, 2010 starting at 10:00 a.m. and going until 4:00 p.m.  The Festival is located at the Washington Monument in D.C. and the weather looks like it be a little chilly but the sun should be shinny with a good breeze, perfect for kite flying.  There are several activities prepared for the whole family including Kites as Craft, kites from all over the world.  Children’s Kitemaking, Traditional Japanese Craft, Stingrays in Flight and several competitions.  For more information or directions visit the website at www.kitefestival.org.

I am especially excited about this weekend since my parents are visiting me and I haven’t seen them in months!  I am looking forward to being involved in such spectacular events that are tradition here but new for me!  So don’t make it a staying-in weekend just because it will be on the chilly side, throw on a thin jacket even if your just coming to observe.  And don’t forget your camera!

 

Going Ons: 'Tis the Season

This weekend, visit the National Zoo’s annual winter celebration, ZooLights! Until January 2nd, the Zoo will be decked out with thousands of lights. In addition to enjoying the sparkling décor, visitors will be able to visit the Zoo’s animals after dark and enjoy special keeper talks. The ZooLights can be viewed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights from 6-8:30 p.m. Starting on December 18, ZooLights will be open nightly until after the New Year. Tickets for the light display are $5 for FONZ members and $8 for General Admission. Visit http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/ZooLights/default.cfm for more information.

Entrance to ZooLights, The National Zoo

 

On Saturday, December 12 at 1:00 p.m., spend a Day with the Artists at the National Museum of the American Indian. Meet Kelly Church (Grand Traverse Band Ottawa/Chippewa Indians), John Hudson (Tsimshian), and Dennis White (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe)—three recipients of the National Museum of the American Indian Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program, a program that enables indigenous artists to research, document, network, and develop life skills to enhance artistic growth and strengthen career development. Spend an afternoon learning about their art forms, influences, and special projects.

 

Hand-made holiday cards from the Archives of American Art are currently on display at the Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. Visit the exhibit on Saturday, December 12 and you’ll have an opportunity to create your very own holiday cards. From 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., artist Ed Bisese, who for many years has produced a hand–made holiday card, describes his process and guides participants in creating mail–ready works of art. This is a family-friendly workshop!

 
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

 

For another family-friendly activity, visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum and take advantage of its ongoing Art à la Cart program. On both Saturday and Sunday, kids will have an opportunity to travel throughout the galleries to find interactive carts where they can handle brushes, palettes, bison hide, bottle caps, and quilt squares.  Pick up your Art à la Cart map and passport at information desks located in the F Street and G Street lobbies. The program runs from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on both days. See http://americanart.si.edu/calendar/family/cart/ for additional information.

 

If your favorite part of the holiday season is the music, the Smithsonian Encore Chorale will be performing on Sunday, December 13 in the Kogod Courtyard at the American Art Museum. Conducted by Jeanne Kelly, this group of dynamic singers ages fifty-five and older will perform madrigals, sacred songs, and timeless holiday tunes, including It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Let it Snow, Various Themes on “Fa La La,” and the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. The program will conclude with a holiday sing-along. The concert begins at 1:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

 

Finally, if you still have some gift shopping to do, visit one of the DC area’s many Holiday Craft Markets. The 5^th Annual Downtown Holiday Market runs through December 23^rd. The Market is located on the F Street sidewalk between 7^th and 9^th Streets NW (between the American Art Museum and the Portrait Gallery). More than 150 local artisans and crafters will have goods for sale from 12 noon to 8:00 p.m. daily. While shopping, you can also enjoy special performances and festive snacks. For more information about the Downtown Holiday Market, visit http://www.downtownholidaymarket.com/.

Downtown DC Market

 

The Washingtonian also has a list of markets going on throughout DC, Maryland and Virginia: http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/shopping/shoparound/14288.html

 

-- Compiled by Elyse Tadich, Studio Arts Program Assistant