SOLD OUT

ONLINE: Wed., Aug. 2–23, 12 p.m.; Heather Kerley; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0VS; Members $135; Nonmembers $155

By Heather Kerley

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Mixed-Media Art Warmups

Art warmups enable students to jump right into their projects knowing there are no wrong answers. Students work with positive and negative space, do quick sketches, go beyond the color wheel, and use mixedmedia techniques to build layers and texture.

ONLINE: Fri., June 9–23, 1 p.m.; Marcie Wolf-Hubbard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UP; Members $165; Nonmembers $185

Altered Books

By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

Learn to upcycle book pages as surfaces for drawing, painting, and collage. Students experiment with materials and techniques to create their own stories using gelatin plate prints, textures, photo transfers, drawing, painting, and text redaction.

ONLINE: Wed., July 12–Aug. 16, 1:30 p.m.; Marcie Wolf-Hubbard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0VT; Members $195; Nonmembers $225

Artful Mind, Tranquil Mind

By Sushmita Mazumdar

Centering practices used by artists to prepare for making art can be helpful in everyday life. Through guided instruction designed to enhance your artmaking, explore mark-making with lines, swirls, and puddles, and use paper to experiment with folding and tearing.

ONLINE: Mon., July 17–Aug. 21, 12 p.m.; Sushmita Mazumdar; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V00VW; Members $95; Nonmembers $125

Introduction to White-Line Woodblock Printing

White-line woodcuts are multicolor images printed from a single block of wood. Learn to create your own by cutting a nature print or simple line drawing into a single wood block with a knife or gouge, creating the “white lines” when printed.

ONLINE: Sat., June 24, 10 a.m.; Sue Fierston; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UQ; Members $75; Nonmembers $85

By Sue Fierston

Fancy-Fold Cards for All Occasions

Create four different fancy-fold cards sure to impress any recipient. Fancy folds look challenging, but this workshop walks you through all the steps. Detailed instructions provide you with everything you need to create future fancy folds on your own.

ONLINE: Sat., July 22, 10 a.m.; Karen Cadogan; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0VY; Members $70; Nonmembers $80

By Karen Cadogan

Make Your Mark

Students explore mark and pattern making as the first step toward developing fully realized works of art. Intuitive exercises use a variety of simple tools to generate many types of marks.

ONLINE: Mon., July 24–Aug. 14, 6:30 p.m.; Sharon Robinson; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0XL; Members $145; Nonmembers $165

Build a Tiny House

By Sharon Robinson

The Painterly Gel Print

By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

In this three-day workshop, students construct tiny houses, which they personalize working in papier-mâché, acrylics, and mixed media. Finish the house’s interior and exterior in acrylic, photo transfers, and a variety of techniques to make it your own.

ONLINE: Wed., July 12–26, 6 p.m.; Marcie Wolf-Hubbard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0VU; Members $165; Nonmembers $185

Build a Tiny Interior

By Sharon Robinson

Printmaking using a gel plate offers many options for combining materials and techniques to achieve distinctive results. Learn simple techniques for transferring images to the plate for printing, layering, masking, and brushwork.

ONLINE: Sat., July 22–Aug. 12, 1 p.m.; Sharon Robinson; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0XK; Members $155; Nonmembers $175

Imagine your dream home, either from your past or in the future, then bring its tiny interior to life using papier-mâché, acrylics, and other mixed-media techniques. Exercises include visualizing the possible inhabitants of your small space, then designing furniture, fixtures, clothing, or accessories for them.

ONLINE: Wed., Aug. 2–16, 6 p.m.; Marcie Wolf-Hubbard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0VX; Members $165; Nonmembers $185

By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

Explorations in Art and Poetry

Discover your inner artist or poet, or both, in this course that lets you delve into mixedmedia and poetry. Using discussions, research, and experimentation, create both visual and written works of art.

ONLINE: Thurs., Aug. 10–31, 6 p.m.; Richard Allen May; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0XT; Members $155; Nonmembers $175

By Richard Allen May

Crepe Paper Flowers: Clematis

Learn floral papercraft techniques, using different weights of both crepe paper and floral wire, to create the beautiful clematis, known to gardeners as the queen of climbers.

ONLINE: Sat., Aug. 19 and 26, 10:30 a.m.; Karen Cadogan; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0XF; Members $100; Nonmembers $120

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Circular Weaving

Circular weaving is a fun and versatile technique for new weavers as well as experienced fiber artists. Learn how to warp and weave on several sizes of circle looms as you create projects from coasters to cushions to home décor.

Basic Weaving on the Rigid Heddle Loom

By Karen Cadogan

By Tea Okropiridze

ONLINE: Tues., June 6–20, 6 p.m.; Tea Okropiridze; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TX; Members $125; Nonmembers $145

The versatile and portable rigid heddle loom is a great entryway into weaving scarves, placemats, dishtowels, and more. Learn how to prepare (dress) the loom for weaving, along with basic handcontrol techniques including flat tapestry, raised tapestry, open-lace work, pickup, plane weave, and several finishing techniques.

ONLINE: Tues., July 11–Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m.; Tea Okropiridze; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0VZ; Members $155; Nonmembers $185

Botanical Illustration in Redwork

Learn the history of redwork quilts and how this type of embroidery—primarily done in red but also in blue and black—can be used to make beautiful, delicate botanical illustrations. Students create designs based on plants native to their area, transfer those designs onto fabric, and then make a basic small quilt using their embroideries.

TWO ONLINE OPTIONS: Thurs., June 1–15, 10 a.m. (CODE 1V0-0UR); Wed., July 12-26, 12 p.m. (CODE 1V0-0WA); Heather Kerley; details and supply list on website; Members $105; Nonmembers $125

By Heather Kerley

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Introduction to Calligraphy: The Foundational Hand

This class offers an introduction to the basic calligraphic strokes that make up the Foundational hand, the starting point for learning other hands such as Italic and Black Letter. Students begin by using dual pencils and then the broad-edged pen. They acquire the necessary skills and understanding in drawing guidelines, determining heights, and letter spacing.

ONLINE: Sat., July 8–Aug. 26, 1:30 p.m.; Sharmila Karamchandani; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0WX; Members $235; Nonmembers $265

By Sughra Hussainy

Introduction to Afghan Manuscript Illumination

Learn the elements of goldleaf manuscript illumination in the Afghan tradition. Create geometric, vegetable, and floral motifs using graph and tracing paper and transfer designs onto fine-art paper. Then, color the designs with opaque watercolors, outline them in black ink, and use as ornamentation for calligraphy and manuscripts.

ONLINE: Sun., July 9–Aug. 27, 1 p.m.; Sughra Hussainy; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0WY; Members $245; Nonmembers $275

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Introduction to Beading

Learn to create your own handcrafted jewelry. Cover the basics of bead stringing, wireworking, and pearl knotting, along with the names and uses for common hand tools, wire, stringing materials, and findings. Make up to two necklaces, two to three pairs of earrings, and one single-strand necklace or bracelet using the pearl-knotting technique.

By Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Thurs., July 13-27, 6 p.m.; Mïa Vollkommer; details and supply list on website; CODE 1K0-0WD; Members $195; Nonmembers $215

New Classes

Wirework Intensive: Rings

Learn to create three different ring designs using wire-working, forming, and riveting. Designs can be embellished with beads and easy texturing techniques. Students leave the class with several finished pieces that are ready to wear.

By Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Thurs., June 1–15, 6:30 p.m.; Mïa Vollkommer; details and supply list on website; CODE 1K0-0US; Members $165; Nonmembers $185

Growing Show Orchids

If your orchids are thriving and blooming and you’re wondering what’s next in your orchid adventure, this class is for you. Learn about the conditions necessary to raise vigorous, healthy orchids for shows and tips on transporting competitionready orchids.

ONLINE: Sat., June 10, 2 p.m.; Barb Schmidt; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UT; Members $30; Nonmembers $40

The Art of Floral Design

Online Sold Out

Explore the spectrum of floral design in this class that covers such practical areas as sourcing (with a focus on sustainability), making the most of seasonal flowers, creating centerpieces, wiring techniques, and photographing your work.

By Arrin Sutliff

ONLINE: Wed., July 12–Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m.; Arrin Sutliff; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0WC; Members $155; Nonmembers $185

By Bonnie Fitzgerald

Mosaics for Beginners

Weekly lectures, demonstrations, and work-along periods provide a solid creative and technical foundation for working with mosaics. Select from eight unique patterns designed by the instructor, with the option to work in either glass tiles or unglazed porcelain.

ONLINE: Tues., July 18–Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m.; Bonnie Fitzgerald; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0WE; Members $155; Nonmembers $175

Bead Weaving: On and Off the Loom

Bead weaving offers an endless possibility of stitches, designs, and color combinations to explore and create. Learn two bead weaving methods—with and without a loom—as well as two different stitch patterns with a myriad of design possibilities. The class focuses on how to start and finish wearable pieces, create patterns, and choose bead colors and finishes.

ONLINE: Sat., Aug. 12–26, 12 p.m.; Mïa Vollkommer; CODE 1K0-0WF; details and supply list on website; Members $195; Nonmembers $215

By Mïa Vollkommer

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Introduction to Lightroom Classic

Adobe Lightroom is a useful program for organizing and editing either RAW or JPEG image files. The workshop offers users an overview of Lightroom, with a focus on working with the Library and Develop modules. Functions such as importing, exporting, deleting, and grouping files; sorting and ranking files for quality; and attaching keywords for easy retrieval are covered.

Understanding Your Digital Mirrorless or SLR Camera

By Eliot Cohen

TWO ONLINE OPTIONS: Sat., June 24 and Sun., June 25 (CODE 1V0-0UZ); Sat., Aug. 12 and Sun., Aug. 13 (CODE 1V00WW); 9:30 a.m. Eliot Cohen; details on website; Members $275; Nonmembers $295

By Patricia Howard

By Eliot Cohen

Learn how digital SLRs or mirrorless cameras can help you achieve better picture quality and control. Sessions cover ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and depth of field; RAW vs. JPEG files; and white balance and auto focus modes. Several photos can be uploaded before the second session, which features suggestions for possible improvement.

TWO ONLINE OPTIONS: Sat., June 10 and 17 (CODE 1V0-0UW); Sat., July 29 and Aug. 5 (CODE 1V0-0WV); 9:30 a.m.; Eliot Cohen; details on website; Members $265; Nonmembers $285

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Hands-On History of Photography: The Cyanotype

Explore the world of cyanotypes, a photographic printing process that produces a cyanblue and white print. Create your own cyanotype artwork in this unique studio arts program.

ONLINE: Sat., June 17 and 24, 12 p.m.; Patricia Howard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UY; Members $85; Nonmembers $105

Natural-Light Photography

Understand the essential basics of shooting in a natural-light setting as you learn to gauge the direction of light; recognize degree of diffusion; minimize (or emphasize) lens flare; control conditions with lens hoods; and identify the “golden hour.”

ONLINE: Thurs., July 6, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0WH; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

New Class

Black-and-White Film Developing at Home

Processing your own 35mm or 120mm black-and-white film is cost-effective and typically yields better results than sending it to a commercial lab. Acquire the skills you need to process film at home in this information-packed session, with topics such as stages of the chemical developing process, negative storage, film scanners, and printing options.

ONLINE: Wed., July 5, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0WG; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

The Joy of Photography

This class is designed for beginners who want to learn how to use their digital or mirrorless camera as a creative tool. Students gain skill in technical aspects of photography so that they can concentrate on composing beautiful images. Topics include aperture, shutter speed, ISO, the exposure triangle, focal length, metering, white balance, and composition.

ONLINE: Mon., July 10–Aug. 14, 6:30 p.m.; Marty Kaplan; details on website; CODE 1V0-0WK; Members $185; Nonmembers $215

Introduction to Photography

Whether you want to work in digital or film, this course offers a solid foundation for new photographers ready to learn the basics. Topics include camera functions, exposure, metering, working with natural and artificial light, and composition. Critiques of assignments enhance the technical skills you learn.

ONLINE: Tues., July 11–Aug. 15, 10:30 a.m.; Andargé Asfaw; details on website; CODE 1V0-0WL; Members $185; Nonmembers $215 By Andargé Asfaw

Apertures, Shutter

Speeds, and Exposure Modes

Take command of your photographic vision as you learn the basics of your camera’s exposure functions. Learn to control the properties of your images through the understanding of apertures, shutter speeds, depth of field, shutter motion effects, equivalent exposures, and exposure modes.

ONLINE: Thurs., July 13, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0WR; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

Understanding ISO

ISO is the numerical value used by digital and film cameras to define the light sensitivity of the recording medium. In this workshop, learn how to match your ISO to your creative needs by minimizing noise; eliminating camera shake and freezing motion; pairing with fast or slow lenses; and assisting with tripod use.

ONLINE: Thurs., July 20, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0WS; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

By Joe Yablonsky

Achieving Balanced Compositions in Photography

Balance is frequently mentioned as an attribute in painting, drawing, and design, but rarely in photography. Learn how to incorporate the concept of arranging positive and negative elements in space to achieve an aesthetically pleasing outcome into your previsualization process to obtain consistently stronger compositions.

ONLINE: Wed., July 26, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0WT; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

Exposures and Histograms

Histograms are a graphic display of the brightness levels of pixels in an image. For new photographers, they can be an essential guide to achieving the correct exposure. This workshop is a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of exposure and how to manipulate each element to positively affect your histogram.

ONLINE: Thurs., July 27, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0WU; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

Taking Better Photos

Learn to develop your photographic vision and take better photos more consistently. After fostering a more deliberate approach to composition, balance, lighting conditions, and keeping it simple, students see improvement in their photographs of people, landscapes, gardens, and architecture.

By Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Thurs., Aug. 3–17, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0XH; Members $125; Nonmembers $145

Focus and Depth of Field

Gain a better understanding of focus modes, area modes, and hyperfocal distance and focusing. Learn the variables that contribute to depth of field, including fast lenses, depth-of-field tables, and the preview button.

ONLINE: Wed., Aug. 2 and 9, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0XG; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Hands-On History of Photography: Surrealism

Learn about the world of the photo surrealists—Man Ray, László Moholy-Nagy, Hannah Höch, and others—and explore how they pushed the boundaries of photographic imagery. Then, create your own surrealist collage as part of the experience.

ONLINE: Sat., June 3 and 10, 12 p.m.; Pat Howard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UE; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

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Photographing Industrial Items

Learn the camera controls, composition, and lighting considerations to achieve artful images of items such as brickwork, apartment or office buzzers, call boxes, and vintage signage. Working knowledge of your camera is required, along with willingness to see the mundane as magnificent.

ONLINE: Thurs., June 1 and 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1V0-0UD; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

Slow Shutter-Speed Photography

Slow things down as you learn to capture movement and low light scenes with longer shutter speeds. Topics covered include panning, zoom effect, intentional camera movement, tripods, drive modes, neutral density filters, and the camera settings required to take slow shutter-speed photos in bright light, low light, twilight, and night.

ONLINE: Wed., July 12 and 19, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0WQ; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

Macro Photography

Take a much closer look at your photographic subjects through the art of macro photography. Get an introduction to the technique’s aesthetics and design, as well as technical tips on lenses, close-up focusing distance, depth of field, tripod use, lighting, and other key elements.

ONLINE: Thurs., June 15 and 22, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0UX; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

By Andargé Asfaw

Introduction to Photography II

Whether you work digitally or in film, this course is ideal for students who are familiar with their cameras but are interested in expanding their understanding of photography fundamentals. Sessions focus on lighting, composition, shooting techniques, and gear; photo-editing software is also discussed. Students must have a camera with manual controls and a tripod.

ONLINE: Wed., July 12–Aug. 16, 6:30 p.m.; Andargé Asfaw; details on website; CODE 1V0-0WP; Members $185; Nonmembers $215

Designed for people who want more than just a getaway, Smithsonian Associates expert-led Study Tours offer oneof-a-kind experiences—no matter how far from home you travel. They’re the perfect way to learn more about the places and topics that fascinate you, and you’re sure to discover plenty of new favorites along the way.

Bus

Exploring the Historic C&O Canal

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal was the brainchild of George Washington, who dreamed of creating an inland waterway to ferry goods between the Ohio River and Chesapeake Bay. Washington didn’t live long enough to see it come to fruition in 1828, but the C&O Canal touched many lives during the almost 100 years it was in use.

The canal’s colorful history is the focus of this excursion, guided by Aidan Barnes, director of programs and partnerships for the C&O Canal Trust, along with other Trust and Park staff. Participants also get a close-up view of the canal’s stunning natural features, tour a rehabilitated lockhouse, and learn about the lives of the lockkeepers, boat captains, and laborers who lived and worked along the canal.

Fri., June 2, 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-014; Members $145; Nonmembers $195

The Distinctive Birds of Western Maryland

Habitats in the Wild

High elevation and precipitation levels in the mountains of Garrett County, Maryland, create avian habitats that closely resemble those found hundreds of miles farther north—providing birdwatchers an opportunity to observe a myriad of nesting species typically found in New England and Canada. Join naturalists and birding leaders Matt Felperin and Joley Sullivan for a full day of exploration in the Maryland panhandle region bordering Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

As you travel west on I-68, enjoy strategic stops along the way at distinctive habitats that host Henslow’s sparrows, bobolinks, grasshopper sparrows, black-billed cuckoos, and golden-winged, bluewinged, and cerulean warblers.

Then head to Garrett County’s New Germany State Park, a mountain gem filled with diverse forests and miles of trails, where you’ll be on the lookout for many species of warblers, red crossbills, and rose-breasted grosbeaks—and salamanders. The day ends at the Finzel Swamp Preserve near Frostburg, where you can watch for ruffed grouse, Nashville warblers, broad-winged hawks, and Alder flycatchers in this unique ecosystem.

Sat., June 3, 5 a.m.–7 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1ND-003; Members $185; Nonmembers $235

Giants of the Sea

Norfolk’s Naval Heritage

For over a century, the Hampton Roads area has hosted Norfolk Naval Station, the largest navy base in the world and home to the U.S. Navy’s gigantic Atlantic Fleet. Spend a day exploring some of the world’s greatest ships with transportation expert Scott Hercik.

Begin at Nauticus maritime museum, where you find the USS Wisconsin, the Navy’s last battleship. Learn of the dynamic growth in global commerce moving through the Port of Virginia and the critical importance that the Navy plays in protecting America’s interests around the world. Climb on board the Wisconsin, launched in 1943.

After lunch, set sail aboard the Victory Rover to enjoy a close-up view of huge marine terminals, served by some of the largest container ships in the world, and marvel at the ships of the Atlantic Fleet, including huge Nimitz-class and the newest Ford-class nuclear aircraft carriers.

Thurs., June 15, 7 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-019; Members $205; Nonmembers $255

Please visit SmithsonianAssociates.org to view the FAQ on Health & Safety guidelines

The Urban Geology of the National Mall

Washington, D.C.’s National Mall provides a world-class showcase for a diverse collection of American architectural styles, landscape design and use and building stones. Join geologist Kenneth Rasmussen on a 3-mile walking tour that views structures on the Mall built from igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock formed during roughly 3.5 billion years of Earth’s history and erected during 220 years of American history.

Rasmussen discusses the rocks’ origin, age, and significance, as well as the engineering, aesthetic, and political reasons for their selection and placement. He sets the Mall’s evolution in geological and architectural context and traces roughly 230 years of design in buildings and monuments created from 1791 to the present, including recent flood-mitigation efforts in view of projected sea-level rise.

Thurs., June 8, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1ND-004; Members $105; Nonmembers $125

Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn

Pierre L’Enfant’s 1791 plan for the National Mall envisioned a grand “public walk.” By 1900, that plan had been stymied and ignored. The far-reaching and critically influential McMillan Plan of 1902 reinterpreted the ceremonial core of the city, and much of what we see on the Mall today reflects that proposal.

Enjoy a morning walking tour and discover the Mall’s history, design, and architecture, from its earliest incarnation to the latest developments. Learn what happened to the museum park and the railroad station and its tracks and why the Mall does not align with compass directions.

Take in a wide range of architectural styles as you view the Smithsonian’s buildings—from the first permanent structure, the 1846 Castle, to the 2016 National Museum of African American History and Culture—as well as the National Gallery of Art and the Department of Agriculture. Styles range from the Castle’s Gothic Revival to the Arts and Industries Building’s exuberant Victorian architecture to the Natural History Museum’s Beaux Arts classicism. Compare the varied interpretations of Modernism expressed in the Hirshhorn Museum, American History Museum, Air and Space Museum, American Indian Museum, and African American History and Culture Museum. The tour concludes at the newest addition to the Mall, the Frank Gehry–designed Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial.

The tour leader is Bill Keene, a lecturer in history, urban studies, and architecture. THREE OPTIONS: Sat., Aug. 12, 8:30–11 a.m. (CODE 1CS-A10); Fri., Aug. 18, 8:30–11 a.m. (CODE 1CS-B10); Sun., Aug. 27, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. (CODE 1CS-C10); detailed tour information on website; Members $50; Nonmembers $70

Travel insurance is advised for overnight and multi-day tours. Travel insurance provides additional coverage against unforeseen incidents that require last-minute cancellations.

Walking Tour

In the Footsteps of Activists

Looking at D.C. History From an LGBTQ+ Perspective

Long before the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming the right to same-sex marriage, Washington, D.C., was a place where LGBTQ+ history was made. Join leaders from A Tour of Her Own to explore feminist history through a queer lens in the nation’s capital.

As you walk through downtown neighborhoods filled w ith theaters, street art, and historic locations, stop to hear stories of defiance, resistance, and triumph at sites that include Black Lives Matter Plaza, the White House, and Ford’s Theatre.

TWO OPTIONS: Sat., June 17, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. (CODE 1CS-A07); Sun., June 18, 4–6 p.m. (CODE 1CSB07); detailed tour information on website; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Bus Tour

Andrew Wyeth and the Brandywine Valley

Andrew Wyeth had a lifelong link to the rural beauty of Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley, with connections to both family and art. A day-long visit to the Brandywine Museum of Art led by art historian Bonita Billman brings that personal landscape to life and offers an opportunity to view an exhibition of Wyeth’s works featuring many pieces that have not been exhibited before.

“Andrew Wyeth: Home Places” presents nearly 50 paintings and drawings of local buildings that inspired Wyeth time and again over 7 decades of his career. Among the previously unexhibited works are the early oil The Miller’s Son, painted when Wyeth was just 17 years old, and the watercolor Noah’s Ark Study, made at age 87—both depicting the same property, Brinton’s Mill.

Travel offsite to see Andrew Wyeth’s nearby studio, where he produced thousands of works of art from 1940 to 2008, and enjoy a boxed lunch at the museum’s Millstone Cafe.

Sat., July 1, 7:15 a.m.–7 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-016; Members $175; Nonmembers $225

Walking Tour

U Street

Shaped by History, Musical Legends, and Relative Newcomers

The U Street, NW, neighborhood has long been a vibrant corridor for the rich social, civic, and cultural life of Washington’s African American community. Join local guide Lynn O’Connell on a walking tour that focuses on the neighborhood’s history.

Begin at the African American Civil War Memorial, which honors the more than 200,000 African American soldiers and sailors who served during the Civil War. Then see sites for which U Street was dubbed the Black Broadway—including the legendary Howard Theatre and the Lincoln Theatre, which featured headliners such as Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and D.C.-born Duke Ellington.

Along the way, learn about the riots that started on April 4, 1968, following the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Traverse the area known as Little Ethiopia, and discover murals featuring such history makers as Ellington and go-go legend Chuck Brown.

THREE OPTIONS: Sun., July 9 (CODE 1CS-A08); Tues., July 11 (CODE 1CS-B08); Thurs., July 20 (CODE 1CS-C08), 6–8 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

The Latest Buzz on Bees

Bees are nearly ubiquitous worldwide, busily pollinating on every continent except Antarctica. There are nearly 20,000 known bee species, and 4,000 of them are native to the United States. The Mid-Atlantic alone has nearly 500 species of native bees. Spend the day at three labs that research and support native bees and honeybees.

Begin the day at the United States Geological Survey’s Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab with wildlife biologist Sam Droege, who develops identification methods and conducts surveys of native bee species. Then visit the University of Maryland’s Bee Lab to get up close and personal with honeybees. Suit up before visiting the onsite colonies with the Bee Squad, Karen Rennich and Mark Dykes. Learn about bee husbandry and the lab’s research on honeybee health and reducing colony losses. After lunch at a local restaurant, spend the afternoon at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Bee Research Laboratory with entomologist Jay Evans for an inside look at the lab’s research on honeybee diseases. What exactly do busy bees do in their hive? Find out when you visit a glass observation hive.

Fri., July 14, 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; CODE 1CD-017; by bus; detailed tour information on website; Members $150; Nonmembers $200

5-Day Tour

A Berkshires Summer Sampler

A popular summer retreat for Bostonians and New Yorkers for well over 150 years, the scenic and historic Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts are alive with music, art, and theater. Arts journalist Richard Selden leads a five-day tour that offers a splendid sampling of cultural attractions in the region, from writers’ historic homes to outstanding museums to music and theater performances.

Destinations with literary connections include Herman Melville’s evocative Pittsfield farmhouse, Arrowhead, and Edith Wharton’s elegant Lenox estate, The Mount.

Visit the Clark Art Institute in picture-perfect Williamstown; MASS MoCA, a collection of contemporary galleries in a 16-acre former industrial complex; and the first-rate art museums at Williams College and Yale University. Be part of the audience at two intimate chamber music venues, Music Mountain in western Connecticut and Yellow Barn in Putney, Vermont, as well as for a performance of Blues for an Alabama Sky at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Sun., July 30, 6:30 a.m.–Thurs., Aug. 3, 9:30 p.m.; CODE 1CN-BER; by bus; detailed tour information on website; Members $2,050; Nonmembers $2,735

Please visit SmithsonianAssociates.org to view the FAQ on Health & Safety guidelines

Walking Tour

Inside Smithsonian Libraries The Cullman Library

The largest and most diversified museum library system in the world, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives holds more than 2 million items in a network of 21 library research centers and an institutional archive throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, New York, and Panama. These rich resources are used by Smithsonian curators, staff, researchers, and scholars, as well as members of the public.

Guided by outreach librarian Erin Rushing, visit the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History in the National Museum of Natural History for a rare look at this research library, typically open by appointment only.

Upon arrival, tour Smithsonian Libraries and Archives’ newest exhibition, “Nature of the Book,” with the conservators who curated it. The exhibition focuses on books of the handpress era (from about 1450 to the 19th century) through the natural materials that went into making them.

This collection features contains approximately 10,000 rare volumes on the natural sciences, all published before 1840. Topics include botany, mineralogy, and zoology, and some of the books belonged to Smithsonian founder James Smithson.

THREE OPTIONS: Wed., Aug. 2, 9:30–11 a.m. (CODE 1CS-A09); Wed., Aug. 2, 3:30–5 p.m. (CODE 1CS-B09); Fri., Aug. 4, 9:30–11 a.m. (CODE 1CS-C09); detailed tour information on website; Members $40; Nonmembers $50

Bus Tour

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Objects of Devotion

The Buddha Across Asia Buddhism—and the art it inspired—helped shape the cultures of Asia. Today, its extraordinary art is a source of beauty and contemplation for audiences across the world. Join Robert DeCaroli, an art historian and specialist in the early history of Buddhism, as you spend the day exploring Buddhist and other Asian works of art in two major museum collections in the region.

Begin at the National Museum of Asian Art for a look at the museum’s holdings, focusing on objects showcasing the Buddha’s life story and early devotional practices as well as the schools and visual forms that developed in East Asia. Explore the permanent collections with museum docents and DeCaroli, co-curator of the Smithsonian’s recent exhibition, “Encountering the Buddha.”

After lunch, visit the Walters Art Museum’s newly installed “Across Asia: Arts of Asia and the Islamic World.” A private tour of the exhibition highlights the Buddhist art collection while exploring cultures and spiritual traditions across Asia.

While traveling by bus between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, DeCaroli provides insights and answers questions generated by the day’s experiences.

Thurs., Aug. 3; 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; CODE 1CD-018; by bus; detailed tour information on website; Members $155; Nonmembers $205

2-Day Tour

Exploring Frank Lloyd Wright

Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, and Polymath Park

One of America’s most innovative architects, Frank Lloyd Wright experimented with new ways to design homes and integrate them into nature. Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, and the houses at Polymath Park offer prime examples of his organic architecture. Visit all three locations on an overnight tour to the scenic Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, which is especially lovely colored in its autumnal palette. Tour leader Bill Keene, a writer and lecturer on architecture, urban history, and city planning, has a special interest in Wright.

Fallingwater, perhaps the architect’s best-known structure, was designed in 1936 as a mountain retreat for the Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh. Cantilevered over a waterfall, the home is one of the most dramatic and frequently photographed works of architecture. It is also the only major Wright house with its setting, original furnishings, and artworks intact. And it is one of 24 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United States.

Constructed of Tidewater red cypress and native fieldstone, the house on Kentuck Knob almost appears to be part of the mountain on which it is built. It was designed by Wright in 1953 for the I.N. Hagan family and now houses furnishings and art of the current owners, Lord Peter and Lady Hayat Palumbo.

At historic Polymath Park near Fallingwater, view two houses designed for everyday living in the 1950s: the Usonian-style Duncan House and the Mäntylä House, both of which were relocated here.

Sun., Oct. 1, 7:15 a.m.–Mon., Oct. 2, 6 p.m.; CODE 1CN-FLW; by bus; detailed tour information on website; Members $535; Nonmembers $685

5-Day Tour

Theodore Roosevelt’s North Dakota

Badlands, Bison, and the Making of a Conservationist

In 1883, Theodore Roosevelt looked to the Badlands of western North Dakota as a place where he could transform himself from an asthmatic 24-year-old New Yorker into a biggame hunter, rancher, and authentic cowboy. A year later, it took on new meaning as a place of refuge and solace after the deaths of his wife and mother.

Over the course of the more than three decades he lived or visited there, the Badlands did indeed transform Roosevelt into the kind of vigorous outdoorsman that he’d idealized as a youth—and that shaped his public image as president. Perhaps more importantly, this corner of the West turned him into a passionate conservationist dedicated to the preservation of the rugged landscapes and native wildlife of the place he described as “where the romance of my life began.”

Experience those landscapes—filled with dramatic vistas, vividly colored canyons, and wandering herds of wild bison—on a 5-day study tour led by author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley that brings you into the heart of Roosevelt’s Badlands and the national park that bears his name.

Sat., Oct. 7, 6 p.m.–Wed., Oct. 11, midday; CODE 1CN-NDK; detailed tour information on website; Members $1,865; Nonmembers $2,215; NOTE: Tour participants meet on site and are responsible for their own airfare.