Smithsonian Associates March 2023 program guide

Dear Friends and Members,

March is Women’s History Month—an opportunity to honor women’s achievements and reflect on ongoing challenges faced by half the global population. In this month’s program guide, Smithsonian Associates offers many ways to deepen your familiarity with the celebrated—and the often-overlooked—women whose leadership, talents, passions, and fortitude shaped the world we know.

Examine how and why the fight for equality that engaged American women across a century continues today (p. 4). Go behind the scenes at Woodrow Wilson’s 1919 White House, where Edith Bolling Galt Wilson functioned as president for her incapacitated husband. (p. 5). A 1909 photo taken at a Wright Brothers’ flight trial captures a trend-setting Alice Roosevelt Longworth in her electric car playing host to a trio of men, two of whom are cabinet secretaries. Discover the fascinating story behind that proto-tailgate party (p. 6).

Trace the artistic and cultural influences that guided art patron Isabella Stewart Gardner as she assembled the dazzling and highly personal collection showcased in her Boston palazzo (p. 41). Unwrap the creative partnership of Jeanne-Claude and Christo, which generated extraordinary works of ephemeral public art that live long in memory (p. 44). And extraordinary is just one of the words describing Barbra Streisand, whose mercurial talents and career are applauded in a lively evening program (p. 19).

The Smithsonian’s American Women’s History Initiative, Because of Her Story, launched in 2018 and Associates programs are among the offerings all year long. Keep an eye out for the logo as you peruse this month’s new selections, and you’ll notice it in many more issues to come. Visit womenshistory.si.edu, the initiative’s site, for another way to celebrate Women’s History Month.

March

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Frederica R. Adelman, Director adelmanf@si.edu

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Smithsonian Associates

We invite you to join us

In Person

for selected in-person programs, concert series, studio arts classes and workshops, as well as walking tours, full-day study tours, and overnight tours that visit a range of local and regional destinations.

Performances and Concerts

Smithsonian Chorus: Legends of Song

Aperitivo: Italy’s Magical Pre-dinner Hour

Wed., Mar. 22

Learn the traditions behind this informal early-evening gathering. Then, sample tastings of aperitivo cocktails and easy-to-prepare classic Italian appetizers.

(see p. 15)

Pati Jinich: La Frontera

Wed., Apr. 19

Mexican chef Pati Jinich screens an episode from the new season of her PBS docuseries “La Frontera” and offers insights into how she uses food to explore the culture and people along the border of the United States and Mexico.

(see p. 15)

Thurs., Apr. 13 (see p. 22)

Performance: Thurs., June 8

The Smithsonian Chamber Music Society: 2023 Season

The Axelrod String Quartet

Sat., Apr. 1 and Sun., Apr. 2 (see p. 20)

A Celebration of Marin Marais

Sun., Mar. 19 (see p. 20)

Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra

Jazzed About Art

Sat., Apr. 1 (see p. 21)

Plato’s Republic

Wed., Apr. 5

An illuminating book discussion series examines why some of the central themes in this timeless dialogue are as relevant today as they were in 4th-century Athens.

(see p. 8)

Studio Arts

Let your creative side shine in a wide variety of handson classes including photography, drawing, painting, calligraphy, fiber arts, and mixed-media, geared to all experience levels and led by professional artists.

(see pp. 46–48)

To Have and Have Another

Thurs., May 4

Writer Philip Greene, a co-founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail, examines the life of Hemingway through his favorite drinks.

(see p. 17)

The Duke Ellington Orchestra

Sat., June 10 (see p. 21)

Tours

Our expert-led tours offer one-of-a-kind travel experiences. They’re perfect ways to learn more about topics that intrigue you— and satisfy your yen for exploring fascinating places.

(see pp. 59–64)

Read more about these in-person programs in this guide on our website. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more are at

SmithsonianAssociates.org

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

Live from Turkey

Exploring Ancient Anatolia: A Turkish Odyssey

Anatolia’s colorful history has left a windfall of riches—ancient ruins, ornate Byzantine churches, elegant mosques, and splendid Ottoman palaces. Serif Yenen, a Turkish-born tour guide and author, highlights the heritage and splendor of ancient Turkey through an examination of some of its cultural gems, from Neolithic settlements and giant Roman temples to Christian rock-cut churches and the early Ottoman Empire’s stunning Great Mosque.

MAR 1 Neolithic and Bronze Ages

MAR 8 Iron-Age, Hellenistic, and Roman Periods

MAR 15 Christianity in Anatolia

MAR 22 The Turkish Period’s Capitals

4 sessions: Wed., March 1–22, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-239; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

New Dates: Wed., Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

As of January 2023, there are 1,157 UNESCO World Heritage sites throughout the world. Each of them offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of complex civilizations, empires, and religions. Historian Justin M. Jacobs offers an in-depth overview of three of the most intriguing UNESCO World Heritage sites from around the world, from Iraq to Brazil.

Each lavishly illustrated program goes far beyond the typical tourist experience by incorporating the insights of the latest scholarship and research.

MAR 1 Philippine Rice Terraces of Ifugao

MAR 8 Sacred Sites of Tibet

MAR 15 Brasilia, the Utopian Capital of Brazil

Wed., March 1 (CODE 1J0-242C); Wed., March 8 (CODE 1J0-242D); Wed., March 15 (CODE 1J0-242E); 6:45 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Spring in the South of France

A Virtual Tour of the Region’s History, Culture, and Sights

Everyone from ancient Romans to Post-Impressionist artists to movie stars has been lured to the enchanting South of France. Its abundance of lavender-laced valleys, glittering seashores, medieval hill towns, and lively cities, all bathed in translucent light, are downright seductive. Journey with travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy in a virtual exploration of Provence and the Côte d’Azur, including the region’s most intriguing sights, historical aspects, food and wine, and art. Among the locales are the formerly gritty city of Marseille, the Gothic palaces of Avignon, the sunny beaches of the French Riviera, and the gorges known as Europe’s Grand Canyon.

MAR 2 Marseille and Aix-en-Provence

MAR 30 Avignon and la vraie Provence

MAY 4 Côte d’Azur

JUN 1 Off the Beaten Path

4 sessions: Thurs., March 2, March 30, May 4, and June 1, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-SFR; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

Individual sessions: Thurs., March 2 (CODE 1CV-A10); Thurs., March 30 (CODE 1CV-B10); Thurs., May 4 (CODE 1CV-C10); Thurs., June 1 (CODE 1CV-D10); 7 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Ulu Cami mosque in Bursa, completed ca. 1399

Facade of the Library of Celsus at Ephesus, completed ca. 117

Catedral Metropolitana, Brasilia

The Potala Palace, Tibet

MARTIN GRAY

RODRIGO DE ALMEIDA MARFAN

Marseille

Côte d’Azur Avignon Verdon Gorge

Philippine rice terraces, Ifugao

American Women and the Fight for Equality

Perspectives on a Century

The 19th Amendment enfranchising 26 million white and Black women became law on August 26, 1920. However, it did not enfranchise all women or even protect the rights of those women who could vote. Today, women are still grappling with how to use the vote and their political power to expand everything from civil rights to reproductive rights.

Drawing on her new book, Formidable: American Women and the Fight for Equality: 1920 –2020, author Elisabeth Griffith discusses how the diversity of the women’s movement mirrors America.

Thurs., March 9, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-244; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Cuban History: Cycles of Hope and Heartache

More than 20 years ago, scholar Damián Fernández posited that Cuban history moves in cycles of “desire and disenchantment.” From the Cuban wars for independence through the Cuban Revolution and beyond, Cubans have often felt on the verge of fulfilling their nation’s destiny, only to find their hopes were misplaced or betrayed.

Historian Michael J. Bustamante charts these ups and downs from 19th-century Cuba to the present. He also reflects on the dramatic pivot from the hope inspired by the normalization of U.S.-Cuban relations between 2014 and 2016 to the disillusionment that followed.

Thurs., March 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-761; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Slavery and Freedom in the Shenandoah Valley

During the Civil War, Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley was the site of fierce conflicts, both on and off the battlefield. Historian Jonathan Noyalas examines how the region’s slaves faced their many challenges and how they supported the Union war effort by serving as scouts, spies, and laborers and by fleeing slavery to enlist in the United States Colored Troops.

Noyalas is the director of the McCormick Civil War Institute at Shenandoah University. His book Slavery and Freedom in the Shenandoah Valley During the Civil War Era (University Press of Florida) is available for purchase.

Tues., March 14, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-012; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Support what we do at Smithsonian Associates

Please help us continue to carry out our educational mission by making a charitable contribution today. Your help is essential because, unlike the museums, Smithsonian Associates is not federally funded and relies entirely on donations and membership support to bridge the gap between program expenses and ticket revenue. SmithsonianAssociates.org/levels

African American Union soldier with family, 1863

New

Lost Opportunities

The Troubled History of African American and Irish Relations

The individual histories of African Americans and Irish Americans have each been fraught with discrimination and hardship. Despite both groups having faced oppression and societal scorn as second-class citizens, they often found themselves at odds during the 19th century, with the competition for housing and jobs creating racial tensions.

Historian Christopher Brooks discusses the parallel histories of African Americans and Irish Americans, the unlikely kinship of abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell, and how natural allies became historical rivals.

Wed., March 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1CV-011; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Edith Wilson

The First (Unelected) Female President

While this nation has yet to elect its first woman as president, just over a century ago a woman became the first unofficial acting president. In 1919, Edith Bolling Galt Wilson effectively acted as president when her husband, Woodrow Wilson, was incapacitated. Beautiful, brilliant, charismatic, catty, and calculating, she was a complicated figure who reshaped the position of first lady into one of political prominence.

Rebecca Boggs Roberts, a leading historian who focuses on women’s suffrage and power, takes an unflinching look at the woman whose ascent mirrors that of many powerful American women.

Tues., March 14, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-343; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

How the Internet Changed the Media

Media expert Brian Rose examines the many ways the Internet has radically transformed the “old” media of newspapers, magazines, the recording industry, film, radio, and television. He traces how this digital revolution took place in such a short period of time and what lies ahead in the era of “new” media.

Rose explores questions such as whether there will be printed newspapers 10 years from now; if newsstands and bookstores will disappear as fast as record stores; if movie theaters will exist in their present form; and whether prime-time television will vanish.

Thurs., March 16, 12-1:15 p.m.; CODE 1J0-247; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Heart of John Brown

On the night of October 16, 1859, John Brown and his followers attacked the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia—part of a plan to stir an enormous revolt that could destroy American slavery. But Brown and his accomplices were soon caught and Brown was hanged having failed to free a single enslaved person.

Why do Brown’s failed actions still matter? Historian Richard Bell argues that Brown’s execution made him a martyr among Northerners and paved the way for Lincoln’s unprecedented election, the secession crisis, and the coming of the Civil War.

Thurs., March 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-249; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

York City draft riots, armed rioters clashing with Union Army soldiers, 1863

Rebecca B. Roberts

John Brown by Augustus Washington

Tudor London

A Dynasty’s Imprint on History

There are few periods of British history that command greater curiosity and interest than the years associated with the Tudor dynasty (1485–1603). Although this significant ruling family spanned only three generations, it produced some of the most memorable monarchs of any age or place.

Historian Cheryl White examines four historical themes that were significant to the promoting of the indelible Tudor imprint upon history, inviting participants to engage with the intriguing but often dangerous court life of Henry VIII, witness the dramatic religious and social challenges wrought during the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I, and experience the progressive but cautious Renaissance court of Elizabeth I, whose patronage of the arts gave her name to an entire age of world history.

9:30 a.m. Introduction: London Landscapes and Landmarks

11 a.m. Royal Fortresses, Castles, and Palaces

12:15 p.m. Break

1:15 p.m. The Dark Side of Tudor London: Prisons, Tortures, Execution Sites

2:45 p.m. The Tudor Religious Landscape of London

Sat., March 18, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; CODE 1M2-248; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

Stories from a Single Image True Tales from the Life of Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Alice Roosevelt Longworth, sitting in her Baker electric car, pours from a thermos. Three men look up at her expectantly: Secretary of State Philander Knox, an unidentified man, and Secretary of Commerce Charles Nagel. They’re all at Fort Myer, Virginia, for the Wright brothers’ Military Flyer trials in July 1909. The historic flights were a social calendar highlight of the year for the cream of Washington society.

In a richly illustrated presentation, master storyteller Paul Glenshaw speaks with historian Callan Shea as he peels back the fascinating layers in this deceptively simple image.

Thurs., March 23, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-344; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The ceiling of the Great Hall of Hampton Court Palace

Portrait of Queen Mary I of England, by Antonis Mor, 1554

Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Secretary of State Philander Knox, an unidentified man, and Secretary of Commerce Charles Nagel at Fort Myer, Va., July 1909

Magna Carta: A Blueprint for Democracy

The Magna Carta originated in 1215 as what was essentially a failed peace treaty between King John of England and his barons. Centuries later it transformed into a document held by the Founding Fathers as a foundational cornerstone of citizens’ rights in this country.

Thomas J. McSweeney, a law professor at William & Mary Law School, explores the document’s evolution beginning in the 13th century through its role in 17th- and 18th-century revolutions. He surveys some of the major historic debates about the Magna Carta and whether it is a good model for the guarantee of rights in a republic.

Wed., March 22, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-760; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Sears Houses of Arlington

From 1908 to 1940, Sears, Roebuck & Co. sold more than 70,000 of its prefabricated Modern Homes kits, affordable dwellings assembled on site that offered all Americans the chance to own an up-to-date house. Arlington County, Virginia, which saw a boom in its growth during the 1920s, boasts a significant collection of these kit houses.

Historian Dakota Springston discusses the history of these, the rapidly growing communities in which they were built, and the agrarian communities they replaced. Sears homes highlighted range from the single-story “Sunlight” to the magnificent 10-room “Woodland” model. Afterward, Kathryn Holt Springston, a Sears Homes expert, takes part in a live Q&A session.

Mon., March 27, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-028; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

An Enemy of the People? Niccolò Machiavelli in Context

Florentine statesman Niccolò Machiavelli’s 1513 treatise, The Prince, was not long, but its perceived message has lost little potency 500 years later. After all, it advised leaders that the iron fist is far more effective in governing than the velvet glove—that is, fear trumps human kindness.

Author Ross King places Machiavelli in the context of his times and examines his more positive legacy and influence. Although an English cardinal had described him as an enemy of the human race, Machiavelli’s lessons on leadership, liberty, virtue, and good government are worth re-examining today.

Wed., March 29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-758; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

King John signs the Magna Carta

Portrait of Machiavelli by Santi di Tito

A Sears house in Arlington

Book Discussion

Shedding Light on Plato’s Republic

For many people, tackling The Republic feels daunting. That’s why Georgetown professor Joseph Hartman is offering this illuminating four-session discussion-based course. Hartman examines some of the central themes, questions as relevant today as they were in 4th-century Athens: What is justice? Is there an external source of goodness? What makes a political community strong, and what causes it to decline?

APR 5 Setting the Stage: Introduction and Book I

APR 12 Building and Educating the Political Community (Books II–V)

APR 19 Plato’s Cave: The Turn Toward the Good (Books VI and VII)

APR 26 The Decline of the Regime and the End of Things (Books VIII–X)

4 sessions: Wed., April 5–26, 12–1:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1J0-263; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Genius, Tragedy, Ethics, and the First Atomic Bomb

J. Robert Oppenheimer never really thought about the ethics of the atomic bomb until the successful test of a plutonium device at Alamogordo, New Mexico, on July 16, 1945. Then, he experienced an inrush of ethical anguish and spent the rest of his life trying to come to terms with what he, what America, and what humankind had done.

Hardened geopoliticians of the Cold War tried to destroy Oppenheimer, principally because he expressed his misgivings about the United States’ creation of the hydrogen fusion device. Historian Clay Jenkinson examines Oppenheimer’s ethical quandary about nuclear warfare—and the price he paid for it.

Tues., April 11, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-350; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

What Were They Thinking?

The Philosophies of Maimonides and Aquinas

Maimonides and St. Thomas Aquinas, the pre-eminent Jewish and Christian thinkers of the medieval period, shared a passion for applying the rationalist methods of Aristotle to questions of belief. Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed sought to guide the Jewish community in understanding God as they contended with the more populous and politically powerful Christian and Muslim majorities. Aquinas’ Summa Theologica addresses every conceivable issue that defined Christian thinking up to his time. Ori Z. Soltes, author and Georgetown University lecturer, considers how these gigantic thinkers differ, where they share common ground—and their relevance to our own world of thought and action.

Wed., April 12, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-764; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Moses Maimonides St. Thomas Aquinas

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Plato (left) from the fresco The School of Athens (detail) by Raphael, 1509-11

The Supreme Court’s Role in Our Constitutional Democracy

Recent years have seen increasing controversy concerning the Supreme Court— contentious appointments, divisive opinions, and even leaks from inside. Some critics blame the philosophy of originalism, others claim individual justices are advancing political agendas or they fault the judicial body’s structural features and the nominating and confirmation processes.

Kermit Roosevelt, a constitutional law professor, former Supreme Court clerk, and member of President Biden’s Supreme Court Reform Commission, assesses the court and its place in our system of constitutional democracy. What role should the Supreme Court play? What forces are driving the recent controversies? And what, if anything, can we do to make things better?

Mon., April 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-765; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Changing Face of Television

YouTube, Bingeing, Streaming, and Beyond

Watching television used to be a fairly simple enterprise: You turned on the set and selected one of 500 cable channels. Now, more and more viewers are watching online-only channels like Netflix or Disney+. Many younger viewers prefer devices such as their laptops or their phones. And tens of thousands of kids and teenagers have started their own TV networks on YouTube, bypassing regular programming altogether. Drawing on video clips to illustrate his talk, media expert Brian Rose explains why the old days of simply “watching TV” are fast disappearing.

Thurs., April 13, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1J0-250; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Traditional Roots of Modern China

How an Ancient Worldview Drives Today’s Foreign Policy

China scholar Robert Daly traces China’s 21st-century drive for wealth, power, and status to geographic influences, beliefs, and social and cultural practices rooted in its earliest dynasties. The country’s location, Taoism, social stability, and cultural cohesion all played a role.

10 a.m. Pangu’s Bones: How Geography Shaped Chinese Culture

11:30 a.m. The Struggle for Harmony: Qi and Chinese Attitudes Toward Nature

12:45 p.m. Break

1:15 p.m. Culture, Technology, Wealth, and Power

2:45 p.m. Three Ways To Look at China

Sat., April 15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; CODE 1M2-254; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

Xi Lake and bridge in Hangzhou, China

Jiaxiu Pavilion on the Nanming River, Guiyang, China

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

Rasputin: The Man Who Would Not Die

More than 100 years after his death, few figures in Russian history evoke as much fascination as Grigori Rasputin, often portrayed as the “Mad Monk” who became the political power behind Czar Nicholas II and his family.

The fact that he was neither mad, nor a monk, hasn’t stopped writers from repeating these and other bogus claims. Historians also debate the extent of Rasputin’s influence on the royal family. And many questions still swirl around his murder one December night at the Yusupov Palace.

Historian Ralph Nurnberger explores the mysteries surrounding the life and death of one of Russian history’s most intriguing characters.

Tues., April 18, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-011; Members $20; Nonmembers $25 Grigori

The French Wars of Religion, 1559–1598 Reform and Conflict

In the second half of the 16th century, France teetered on the edge of an abyss. For three decades the kingdom was near anarchy, torn apart by the vicious cycles of violence between Catholics and Protestants.

Historian Alexander Mikaberidze discusses the complex origins of the Wars of Religion in France and provides concise analysis of the wars, their social and economic toll, and the lasting impact of political ideas that they generated. He also examines the effect they had on the French state, economy, culture, and society.

Thurs., April 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-256; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

From Coronation to Committal

The Traditions and Ceremonies that Shape the British Monarchy

In September 2022, the world watched the pageantry of Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral. For the first time, the coverage included the committal ceremony, during which the emblems of royalty were taken from her coffin and placed on the altar. This ritual symbolizes the ongoing nature of the monarchy, with the crown passing from one individual to the next.

From coronation to committal, ceremonies shape the monarchy. Tudor scholar Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger explores the history and significance of these royal traditions and discusses why the ceremonies are important today.

Sat., April 22, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-257; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

Coronation portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton, 1953

The Sack of Lyon by Calvinists, 1565

Rasputin

The Spanish Influence in the American Revolution Guns, Ships, and Cows

The American Revolution was seen by King Carlos III and his ministers as an unprecedented opportunity to regain territory Spain had ceded to the British during the French and Indian War, argues University of Maryland historian Richard Bell

For that reason, Spanish merchants in Bilbao and the Caribbean began secretly supplying the patriots with flintlocks, shot, blankets, and cows in 1774, well before their government’s declaration of war five years later. Bell draws connections between the American Revolution and the waves of independence movements that rippled across Spain’s Latin American colonies in the decades afterward.

Mon., April 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-258; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Moviegoing in America

From Nickelodeons to Movie Palaces to IMAX to Streaming

Ever since the movie industry was born in the 1890s, audiences have been thrilled to watch stories come to life on the big screen. Actually, nickelodeon screens weren’t very big. But by the 1920s, extravagant movie palaces were a common venue. Then came suburban drive-ins, followed by shopping-mall multiplexes. Today, the movies offer mind-boggling experiences at 7-story IMAX theaters.

Media expert Brian Rose looks at the fascinating history of movie theaters, examines how the experience of moviegoing has changed over the decades, and considers whether movie theaters will survive in the age of streaming services.

Wed., May 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-260; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Alcatraz: 250 Years on the Rock

Alcatraz is America’s most notorious island, and its most misunderstood.

Beginning with its first sighting by Europeans in 1769 through its present standing as the top paid tourist attraction in San Francisco, its history is multi-layered. Former National Park ranger and historian John Martini uncovers both the island’s infamous past as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963 and its lesser-known roles as a Civil War fortress, political prison for Confederate sympathizers, and military prison for recalcitrant U.S. Army soldiers and Native American warriors. He also covers its evolution as a National Park site, the now-resurgent natural life, and the challenges of preserving its aging infrastructure.

Wed., April 26, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-013; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

A Bitter Defeat

The 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville

Military historians consider the May 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville to be Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s tactical masterpiece and a notable defeat for the Union. However, the consequent Confederate overconfidence played a significant role in the decision to invade the North at Gettysburg, with results that would turn the tide of war.

Historian Christopher Hamner examines the lead-up to Chancellorsville, Lee’s tactics, and the strategic implications of the Confederate victory.

Wed., May 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-013; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Related tour: The Civil War at Chancellorsville (see p. 63)

The Fox Theater in Atlanta

Battle of Chancellorsville by Kurz and Allison, 1889

The Cuban Missile Crisis Re-examining a Moment of Extreme Danger

The Cuban Missile Crisis is an event most Americans think they could probably recount in broad contours: In 1962, the Soviet Union tried to sneak nuclear missiles into Cuba, but the United States discovered them and forced the Soviets to back down. But is that what really happened, or is that just the myth Americans have told themselves in the years since? Allen Pietrobon, a global affairs professor at Trinity Washington University, reflects on how such a moment of extreme danger came to happen and whether the United States truly won the face-off.

Mon., May 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-261; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Physiologus A Book of Nature and Fantasy

Unicorns, centaurs, and other animals—both mythological and real—make an appearance in the Physiologus (The Naturalist), a compilation written in Greek by an anonymous author, probably in Alexandria in the 3rd century A.D. Its text comprises chapters on assorted animals and magic stones, with information drawn from the works of ancient and Christian authors, the Bible, and fables. Ilya Dines, a medieval manuscripts specialist at the Library of Congress, delves into the text, illuminations, and legacy of the Physiologus.

Mon., May 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-265; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Global Geopolitical Organization

The View from Ground Level

According to the standard model of global politics, the world is cleanly divided into a set number of fundamental units called nation-states. In the conventional narrative, the nation-state model originated in Europe in the late 18th and early-19th centuries and subsequently spread across the world, becoming fully globalized during the post-World War II decolonization era.

But global political organization is far more complicated and chaotic, reminds historian Martin Lewis, and expecting all countries to act like nation-states can result in severe miscalculations. Imposing regime-change, for example, on a country with an inadequate national foundation can result in rapid state collapse rather than democratic reconstruction. Lewis explores how the world is geopolitically constituted at the ground level, rather than as it is ideally imagined by diplomats, scholars, and foreign-policy experts.

Tues., May 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-767; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

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A U.S. Navy P-2H Neptune flying over a Soviet cargo ship with crated Il-28s on deck during the Cuban Missile Crisis

Illuminated mauscript page from the Physiologus

MORGAN MUSEUM AND LIBRARY (NEW YORK)

A Journey Through Ancient China

China has more than 3,000 years of recorded history, but misconceptions abound at every stage. This series takes you on a thematic tour of four important topics in ancient Chinese history: religion, ethnicity, law, and eunuchs. Justin M. Jacobs, a professor of Chinese history at American University, gives you a nuanced overview based on the latest scholarship and illustrated with copious slides.

MAY 24 Religion in Chinese History

MAY 31 Ethnic Identity in Chinese History

JUN 7 Law and Punishment in Chinese History

JUN 14 Eunuchs in Chinese History

4 sessions: Wed., May 24, May 31, June 7, and June 14, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-270; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

Individual sessions: Wed., May 24 (CODE 1J0-270A); Wed., May 31 (CODE 1J0-270B); Wed., June 7 (CODE 1J0-270C); Wed., June 14 (CODE 1J0-270D); Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Colonial India’s Complex History

While the historical relationship of India and Great Britain is well-known, events in other countries also affected how India developed into the country it is today. Author Fazle Chowdhury unravels the complicated history of India from its existence as a British colony to an independent Asian nation.

Chowdhury traces the impact of such seemingly unrelated factors as power struggles in 19th-century Afghanistan, Persian Qajar invasions, diplomatic conflicts between Britain and Czarist Russia, and revolutionary movements in both Russia and Persia.

Fri., June 2, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-266; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Quakers and the Birth of the Antislavery Movement

As members of the Religious Society of Friends, Quakers in colonial America manifested their radical sense of equality in what they wore and how they acted. It’s not surprising, then, that 18th-century Quakers were the first group of white Christians in America to confront slaveholding as a religious problem that demanded social action.

But for much of the colonial period, many Quakers were slaveholders themselves— including members of William Penn’s family. It took tremendous energy and effort on the part of a small number of activists to disrupt that status quo in the decades before the Revolution and steer their church towards an outspoken commitment to Black freedom.

Historian Richard Bell recounts this untold story, focusing on the dramatic antislavery crusades and wildly different tactics of three 18th-century Quakers: Benjamin Lay, a hermit; John Woolman, a shopkeeper; and Anthony Benezet, a schoolteacher.

Tues., June 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-264; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Yang Guang depicted as Emperor Yang of Sui, 7th century

The Hanging Monastery, the only Chinese temple that encompasses Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism

Engraving of Anthony Benezet instructing children

Lady Jane Grey First Tudor Queen or Royal Traitor?

When young King Edward VI died in 1553, England believed the next monarch would be his half-sister Mary Tudor, the daughter of Henry VIII named in the Succession Act and Henry’s will as Edward’s heir. But Edward was determined not to leave the crown to a Catholic. With the help of John Dudley, president of the regency council, Edward created a “Devise for the Succession” to rewrite history and choose his successor.

Four days after Edward’s death, Lady Jane Grey Dudley—John Dudley’s teenage daughter-in-law—was proclaimed queen. For several days, both Jane and Mary considered themselves the ruler of England. But once she was installed on the throne, Queen Jane’s reign lasted less than two weeks.

Tudor scholar and historian Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger considers Jane’s life and character and the powerful men around her, tracing the path from noblewoman to young wife to queen. She also examines Mary Tudor’s complicated relationship with Jane—and why it was necessary for one of them to lose her life.

Wed., June 21, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-265; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

The Perils of Polarization A History of a Nation Divided

It’s increasingly clear that the United States is fragmented: Civility is in short supply, and common values are eroding. However, that’s nothing that hasn’t happened before. Journalist, historian, and author Ken Walsh illustrates how the United States has had recurring problems with creating unity and maintaining respectful discourse. Walsh examines how the United States reached this point, places the current situation in historical context, and discusses whether there is much chance for comity, consensus, and cooperation in the future.

Thurs., May 25, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-014; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Give a Gift of

Membership Smithsonian Associates

For so many of us scattered across the country, it’s challenging to find ways to connect with friends and family. But no matter where you live, here’s how to share a wonderful experience with people you care about. Give a Smithsonian Associates membership, and who knows…you may end up attending an online Zoom program or two with your best friend next door— or your far-off cousin!

For more information visit smithsonianassociates.org/gift-membership

The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche, 1833

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

VOICES

Highlighting people who share their unique perspective on the world today

Pati Jinich: La Frontera

In her PBS PrimeTime docuseries

“La Frontera,” Mexican chef Pati Jinich uses food as the vehicle to explore the culture and people along the border of the United States and Mexico, sharing meals with locals from all walks of life and reflecting on the melding of cultures.

Returning for a second season this spring, “La Frontera: The Everchanging Borderlands” features Jinich’s explorations on the western half of the Mexico–U.S. border, covering California and Baja California, Arizona and Sonora, and New Mexico and Chihuahua. Join her for a screening of an episode from the new season, followed by a conversation focusing on the creation of the series and what she discovered traveling in both countries.

Wed., April 19, 6:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1L0-508; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Aperitivo: Italy’s Magical Pre-dinner Hour With Tasting

Kick off the evening as the Italians do, with the aperitivo—an informal gathering of friends for a pre-dinner cocktail, socializing, and hors d’oeuvres.

Food historian Francine Segan dishes on the tradition’s delicious history; iconic cocktails like the Negroni, Bellini, Aperol Spritz, and Americano; its many regional appetizer specialties; and how the aperitivo continues to play an important role in Italy’s social life.

A reception afterward offers tastings of regional specialties and recipes for aperitivo cocktails and easy-to-prepare classic Italian appetizers.

Wed., March 22, 6:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1D0-008; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

A Top Sommelier's Guide to Wine Winter Wine Adventures

Island Time: Exploring Wines from the World’s Best Island Regions

Expand your knowledge of wine with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in a delectable wine-tasting adventure. No wine is an island, but many world-class wines are from islands. Discover the various island winemaking regions and how a proximity to oceans and seas leads to consistent flavor elements in the finished products. Segelbaum explores the similarities and differences between cold-water and warm-water island appellations and shares tips on how to identify and taste the specific flavor markers of island-produced wines.

Fri., March 17, 6 p.m.; CODE 1L0-499; Members $65; Nonmembers $75

Cost includes a curated personal tasting kit with enough wine for one person to sample the full lineup of wines. Wine-tasting kit pick-up information on page 16

Pati Jinich

Black sand vineyards in La Geria, the wine region of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

A TOP SOMMELIER'S GUIDE TO WINE

Spring Wine Adventures

Expand your knowledge of wine as you travel the world with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in delectable wine-tasting adventures. Each immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.

In a New York State of Wine

New York wine has been pleasing palates and wowing enophiles for ages. The vineyards surrounding the Finger Lakes have proven time and time again to produce wines on a world-class scale. Erik Segelbaum leads a tasty, in-depth session focused on the red and white varieties that grow best in the state, as well as explores some up-and-coming varieties that are being pioneered in New York’s appellations. This is a can’t-miss for any lover of bright, elegant, and complex wines.

Fri., April 21, 6 p.m.; CODE 1L0-511; Members $65; Nonmembers $75

Wein-derlust: Exploring Austrian Wine

Austria has a long and storied history of producing extraordinary, high-acid, and fresh wines. Whether it’s bone-dry Rieslings or Austria’s heritage grape, Grüner Veltliner, its whites are guaranteed palate pleasers and are exceptionally food-friendly. But Austria has so much more to offer. Native reds like Blaufrânkisch (Lemberger), Zweigelt, and St. Laurent shine brightly, as do international varieties like Pinot Noir (Spâtburgunder). This delightful session will have you drinking like a sommelier in no time.

Fri., May 19, 6 p.m.; CODE 1L0-512; Members $65; Nonmembers $75

Deutschland Entkorkt: Uncorking Germany’s Best

Germany has some of the world’s most challenging vineyards to maintain. Steep slopes, eroding hills, and climate change all collaborate to make viticulture a harrowing challenge for even the most seasoned winemaker. However, the effort is well worth it. The country’s wines are mainstays of any sommelier’s toolkit for food-and-wine pairings. It’s here where Riesling finds its ancestral home and is readily consumed in all styles from bone-dry to semi-sweet. Germany’s fresh, bright, and food-friendly reds are also comfortably at home on dinner tables all over the world. Erik Segelbaum serves up a delicious exploration of the wines of Germany and their rich histories.

Fri., June 23, 6 p.m.; CODE 1L0-513; Members $65; Nonmembers $75

3 wine-tasting sessions: CODE 2WINE2023; Members $175; Nonmembers $200

Wine-tasting kit information: The cost includes curated personal tasting kits with enough wine for one person to sample the full lineup of wines. Additional participants must register individually to receive their own tasting kits, which is an essential component of the series. Each session has separate kits available during two scheduled pick-up times the day before the program and the day of the program, 12–4 p.m. at The Eastern wine bar in the Capitol Hill neighborhood (360 7th Street SE; Metro: Eastern Market, Orange, Silver and Blue Lines). Due to state and federal laws, wine kits may not be shipped. NOTE: Patrons receive additional wine tasting kit pick-up information by email prior to each session.

Austrian red-wine vineyards

Finger Lakes, Central New York

Vineyards in southern Germany

In Person

Spices 101: Pepper

From the tangled jungles of Kerela, black pepper spread around the globe and altered the course of history as it did. Ground, dried, and cooked peppercorns have been used since antiquity, both for flavor and as a traditional medicine. Black pepper is the world’s most-traded spice, beguiling cooks worldwide with its fragrant warmth. Varieties include black, green, and pink pepper, Sichuan, cubeb, long, sansho, and more…but which are the true peppercorns and which are pretenders?

Eleanor Ford, award-winning author of The Nutmeg Trail, delves into the history, botany, lore, and culinary uses of the world’s favorite spice, then turns to the kitchen to explore flavor profiles, cooking tips, and recipes to put pepper to best use.

Wed., April 26, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1NV-032; Members $25; Nonmember $30

To Have and Have Another

The Life and Times (and Cocktails) of Ernest Hemingway

Although he probably never drank Dos Equis, Ernest Hemingway could have been the prototype for the brand’s “Most Interesting Man in the World.” One of the 20th century’s greatest writers, he lived a big, bold, adventurous life, filled with exploits in locations across the world.

Writer Philip Greene, a co-founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail, examines the life, prose, travels, and adventures of Hemingway through the lens of his favorite drinks, watering holes, and drinking buddies. Enjoy light snacks and four cocktail samples and raise a toast to Papa.

Greene’s book To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion (TarcherPerigee) is available for purchase and signing.

Thurs., May 4, 6:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1L0-509; Members $55; Nonmembers $70

The Oscars

Before the big Academy Awards night rolls around on March 12, what’s more enjoyable than comparing your picks with other movie fans? Washington City Paper film critic Noah Gittell hosts an evening focusing on all things Oscar, from Academy Awards history and trivia to discussions of this year’s nominations and behind-the-scenes stories. He sorts through all of the story lines, rumors, and gossip, so that when the telecast begins, you’ll be the most knowledgeable guest at your Oscar party. Cast your vote for the winners in several major categories, with the most accurate predictions eligible for prizes after the awards are presented.

Tues., March 7, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-243; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Your Monthly Digital Program Guide Is Always On Time!

It’s becoming harder and harder to be patient as widespread mail delays across the country are affecting the timely delivery of our monthly program guide. But, in the meanwhile, we want to remind you of some of the convenient online options available to help you keep up with Smithsonian Associates’ programs and special offers.

It Pays To Become a Member (Especially Today) The digital program guide is sent automatically to members via email (1–2 weeks before the print guide arrives).

Members receive early email announcements of new programs, free events, and other special offerings—ahead of the general public Visit Our Website Purchase tickets and make payments; become a member or renew your membership; sign up for program eAlerts; and access our popular Digital Digest.

Philip Greene

Feminist Fairy Tales

Who Needs a Prince?

You might have heard something like this: “Fairy tales are so sexist. All these girls needing a prince to save them!”

In fact, scholars have grappled with questions such as why so many famous fairy-tale heroines are waiting to be rescued—and whether they really need rescuing at all. This work has even spurred the creation of new fairy tales that reflect contemporary mores in old stories.

Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman explore how scholarly discussions of sex and gender have transformed the art of the fairy tale as we know it.

Mon., March 13, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0245; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Wonder Tales from Japan

Gender, Sexuality, and the Fairy Tale

Fairy tales have a reputation for being conventional, and many of the most famous ones—think Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk—appear to be just that. But they can be surprisingly inclusive and wonderfully disruptive to our expectations.

Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman share some very old and very unconventional fairy tales and discuss modern LGBTQ+ twists on old tales and traditions.

Tues., June 20, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0271; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Whether they’re called fairy tales or something else, magical stories are found the world over. Like their Western counterpart, Japan’s fantastical stories—otogi-banashi—are part of the body of stories folklorists call “wonder tales”: They contain supernatural elements, are set in the land of once upon a time, and feature marvelous situations.

Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman explore traditional tales from Japan and how contemporary Japanese creators are taking a clue from the West as they combine the enchantments of wonder tales and fairy tales in modern genres like anime (animation) and manga (comics).

Mon., April 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-249; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

“The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child,” The Japanese Fairy Book, 1908

Smithsonian Art Collectors presents

The Art of Philip Guston

Philip Guston Now is on view through August 27 at the National Gallery of Art.

Inscapes: Words and Images, 1977 Poster | Retail: $35; Member: $20*

*Member pricing applies to Promoter level and above For membership levels visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/levels

Inscapes: Words and Images was a 1976 city-wide festival held in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the collaboration of poetry and visual arts. To commemorate the festival, the Smithsonian commissioned Guston and poet Stanley Kunitz to create this collaborative work inspired by and featuring one of Kunitz's poems.

Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman

What Does It Mean To Live a Good Life?

Philosophical Evenings

What better way to spend four March evenings than by pondering one of the central questions of the Western philosophical tradition: What does it mean to live a good life? Learn how some of the greatest philosophers of all time have approached this fundamental question and how the question lives on today.

Discussions are led by philosophy scholar Michael Gorman

MAR 7 Plato and Aristotle on the Life of Reason

MAR 14 Augustine and Aquinas on the Life of Reason...with Divine Help

MAR 21 Modern Approaches: Hume, Kant, Mill

MAR 28 Modern Moral Philosophy in Question

4 sessions: Tues., March 7–28, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-251; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

A Celebration of French Music

France is an immeasurable powerhouse of cultural achievement. Through French politics and history, philosophy, fine arts, and cuisine, our lives continue to be influenced by the Gallic vision of society. And in many ways, the history of French music is also the history of Western music. But what makes French music French?

Popular speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin combines lectures and piano demonstrations to explore the social, political, religious, and cultural influences that shaped the output of France’s great composers. She presents a selection of the greatest works in the literature from early 12th-century polyphony by Léonin and Pérotin; exquisite work by Guillaume de Machaut (14th century) and Josquin des Prez (15th century); the 19th-century massive scale and spectacle of Hector Berlioz and Georges Bizet; and modernity defined by Satie, Milhaud, Poulenc, and Messiaen.

MAR 21 700 Years in 2 Hours

MAR 28 Excess, Outrage, and Virtuosity

APR 4 Passing the Flame

APR 11 Modernism Smashes Old Idols

4 sessions: Tues., March 21–April 11, 12–2 p.m.; CODE 1K0-345; Members $95; Nonmembers $105

Barbra Streisand: She’s All That

She’s all-daring and all-voice, magnificent and maddening, improbable and irreplaceable. We might sometimes poke fun at her (she does) or say she’s “last year,” but when she starts to sing, she can still your heart or lift you over the moon. She’s a sorceress of song who covers pop tunes, show tunes, movie tunes, and Sondheim with ease. And then there are her movies— funny, tender, or over the top.

Documentary filmmaker and writer Sara Lukinson’s abundant clips make this a fun night to spend with La Streisand.

Tues., March 28, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-347; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Thinker in the garden of Musée Rodin, Paris

Lithographic poster for the premiere of Georges Bizet's opera Carmen, 1875

Promotional photos for the 1964 release of Streisand’s album People

1912 Ballets Russes program depicting Vaslav Nijinsky in L'aprèsmidi d’un faune, composed by Claude Debussy

The Smithsonian Chamber Music Society: 2023 Season

In Person

All performances are in the Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music, American History Museum

The Axelrod String Quartet: Stradivarius and Amati

Join the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society for the unparalleled experience of hearing two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicoló Amati. Axelrod String Quartet members Marc Destrubé, James Dunham, and Kenneth Slowik perform with guest violinists in programs that illustrate the breadth of the quartet repertoire while being unified through the inclusion of a Beethoven quartet in F Major on each program.

Sat., April 1 and Sun., April 2: Mozart: Quartet in G Major, K387 Bartók: Quartet No. 1, Op. 7; Beethoven: Quartet in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1; with guest violinist Mark Fewer

Sat., April 29 and Sun., April 30: Haydn: Quartet in D Minor, Op. 76, No. 2, “Fifths”; Britten: Quartet No. 2 in C Major, Op. 36; Beethoven: Quartet in F Major, Op. 135; with guest violinist Joseph Puglia

Sat., April 1 (CODE 1P0-770); Sun., April 2 (CODE 1P0-773); Sat., April 29 (CODE 1P0-771); Sun., April 30 (CODE 1P0-774); Members $27; Nonmembers $35

In Person

More Musical Delights in the 2023 Concert Season

A Celebration of Marin Marais

The Smithsonian Chamber Players

Marin Marais (1656–1728) was a preeminent French master of the bass viola da gamba. The program includes works for one, two, and three viols, with accompaniment provided by the colorful team of viol, theorbo, and harpsichord.

The players are Kenneth Slowik, Rebecca Landell-Reed, and Catherine Slowik, viol; Lucas Harris, theorbo; and Webb Wiggins, harpsichord.

Sat., March 18, 7:30 p.m.; CODE 1P0-777; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Sun., March 19, 7 p.m.; CODE 1P0-778; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Smithsonian Chamber Music Society concerts are held in the intimate Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music, American History Museum

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

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Axelrod Quartet (clockwise from left): Marc Destrubé, violin; James Dunham, viola; Kenneth Slowik, violoncello

Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Concert Series

Under the artistic direction of maestro Charlie Young, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra has celebrated some of the greatest jazz music throughout its 32-year history as one of the crown jewels of the National Museum of American History.

Jazzed About Art Jazz Appreciation Month

To kick off the annual worldwide celebration of jazz, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra offers a soundtrack filled with rhythm, texture, and color as it showcases the work of prominent 20th–century visual artists including William Sharp, John Fenton, and Romare Bearden. Be-Bop by Dizzy Gillespie, Crying and Sighing by McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, and Kingdom of Not by Sun Ra are among the musical selections.

Sat., April 1, 7 p.m.; Baird Auditorium, Natural History Museum; CODE 1P0-780; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Duke Ellington Orchestra: A Centennial Celebration

They’ve been called everything from the Washingtonians to Duke Ellington and His Kentucky Club Orchestra to Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (and more). But the Duke Ellington Orchestra under any name maintains an unparalleled place in the history of American music. This year marks the 100th anniversary of this legendary ensemble, and the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra is ready to celebrate its vast musical legacy. Performance selections include Rainy Nights, Harlem Airshaft, Charpoy, and The Biggest and Busiest Intersection

Sat., June 10, 7 p.m; Baird Auditorium, Natural History Museum; CODE 1P0781; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Literature’s Nobel Prize Who Won, Who Didn’t, and Why It Matters

Each year in October, the greatest award in the world of books— the Nobel Prize in Literature—is announced. Since 1901, the Swedish Academy has given the prize to an author from any country who has produced “the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction.” These subjective words have led to choices that have been alternately celebrated and criticized.

Join Joseph Luzzi, a professor of comparative literature at Bard College, as he delves into the history of the prize, including some of the Academy’s more controversial losers (Leo Tolstoy) and winners (Bob Dylan).

Thurs., April 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-253; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

Charlie Young

Smithsonian Chorus: Legends of Song

If you’re looking for a choral program that celebrates memorable music across the decades, this is the one for you. Join fellow music lovers to sing timeless classics from the 1920s and ’30s such as I Got Rhythm all the way to ’70s and ’80s hits like I’ll Be There and Don’t Stop Believin.

Choral conductor and music educator Ernest Johnson leads the ensemble in arrangements of the hits you know and love. Songs may include favorites by the Gershwins, Duke Ellington, the Beatles, and others, selected by the conductor. (The final song list and musical arrangements are chosen to fit the specific vocal and musical abilities of the group.)

The experience is designed to entertain, challenge, and educate adult singers of all skill levels. Singers receive general instruction in vocal techniques that include exercises in healthy breath. Basic music reading instruction included as music is rehearsed. Rehearsals culminate in a free performance on June 8.

8 sessions plus performance: Thurs., April 13–May 4, Tues., May 9, Thurs., May 18–June 1, 6:30–8:30 p.m.; Thurs., June 8 performance, 7 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1P0-782; Members $120; Nonmembers: $135

Celebrating Brahms

The Man, His Music, and His Legacy

Impassioned romanticism and classical principles are reconciled in the masterworks of Johannes Brahms. Opera and classical music expert Saul Lilienstein examines the breadth of Brahms’ extraordinary career, from his teenage years playing piano in the brothels of Hamburg to his sweeping triumphs in Vienna and international recognition as the greatest living symphonist. Explore the full range of his work in this series highlighted by film clips and music recordings.

APR 18 Music for Piano and Chamber Ensembles

APR 25 Choral Masterworks and Lieder

MAY 2 Concertos

MAY 9 Symphonic Music, Part I

MAY 16 Symphonic Music, Part 2

5 sessions: Tues., April 18–May 16, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-255; Members $85; Nonmembers $95

Make Sure To Share Your Email With Us!

We want to make sure you’re up-to-date on changes to our program schedule and other important news. Log in to your member account to update or add an email address at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

And while our offices are closed, the best way to connect with us is CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Johannes Brahms

Saul Lilienstein

RISA RYAN

The chorus performs

How Culture Works

Driven by the Intersection of Peoples

What good are the arts? Two faculty members of Harvard University, Martin Puchner, a professor of English and comparative literature, and Maya Jasanoff, a professor of history, converse on how humanity has sought to understand and transmit to future generations not just the “know-how” of life but the “know-why”— the meaning and purpose of our existence, as expressed in art, architecture, religion, and philosophy. They also explore how contact among different peoples has driven artistic innovation in every era.

Mon., April 17, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1J0-264; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

More Stories from the American Songbook

Here are more of those wonderful songs we love and the stories behind their long and unexpected lives. Each program takes up the work of one songwriter and a few of his familiar, forever songs, where daydreams, blue skies, and love lost and found still live. Combining a lively lecture with a wide variety of film clips, filmmaker and cultural historian Sara Lukinson traces how these favorite songs from the Great American Songbook came to be and how different artists, unexpected arrangements, and changing times transformed them into something new but still the same.

APR 19 Blue Skies: Songs by Irving Berlin

MAY 3 My Huckleberry Friend: Songs by Johnny Mercer

MAY 17 The Look of Love: Songs by Burt Bacharach

3 sessions: Wed., Apr. 19, May 3, May 17, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1K0-357; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

Individual sessions: Wed., Apr. 19 (CODE 1K0-358); Wed., May 3 (CODE 1K0-359); Wed., May 17 (CODE 1K0-360); 12–1:15 p.m.; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Gods and Mortals

A Modern Look at Ancient Greek Myths

Gripping tales that abound with fantastic characters and astonishing twists and turns, Greek myths confront what it means to be mortal in a world of powerful forces beyond human control. Gods transform themselves into animals, humans, and shimmering gold to visit the earth in disguise, and mortals use their wits and strength to conquer the forces unleashed by the gods.

Classicist Sarah Iles Johnston looks at some of the best-known tales as well as others that are seldom told; highlights rich connections among characters and stories; and draws attention to the often-overlooked perspectives of female characters.

Wed., April 26, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-361; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Martin Puchner

Maya Jasanoff

KATE SWEENEY

Sarah Iles Johnston

Virgil’s Aeneid

Perusing Ancient Rome’s Greatest Epic Poem

Two millennia after it was composed, Virgil’s Aeneid remains one of the most influential and remarkable works in Western literature. Joseph Luzzi, a professor of comparative literature at Bard College, delves into what makes Virgil’s great work tick.

This ancient poem that recounts the myth of how the Roman empire was founded remains relevant today, Luzzi says. He explains why the Aeneid has unusual force and how it continues—as well as departs from—the storyline of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

Thurs., May 11, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-262; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

Dido, Queen of Carthage, and Aeneas from Virgil's Aeneid

Jazz and Blues on Film

While 20th-century jazz and blues artists have been well documented in books and documentaries, the cinematic achievements of these remarkable performers have either been downplayed or deeply undervalued. This is especially puzzling, says film historian Max Alvarez, because of the tremendous impact blues musicians and singers had on commercial films from the late 1920s to the early 1960s, where they easily stole any musical comedy, show business biopic, or edgy melodrama in which they had fleeting cameos.

Alvarez leads an electrifying two-part musical journey that begins in 1929 with Bessie Smith’s only screen appearance (Dudley Murphy’s St. Louis Blues) and culminates in Dave Brubeck’s work in the 1962 British drama All Night Long. As a bonus, Alvarez pays tribute to a 1986 French film many consider to be the greatest ever made about jazz and blues: Bertrand Tavernier’s ’Round Midnight starring brilliant tenor sax player Dexter Gordon.

2 sessions: Wed., May 17 and 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-367; Members $50; Nonmembers $60

Robinson Crusoe: The Classic Castaway

Robinson Crusoe (1719) is one of the first English novels and still one of the best. Everyone knows the basic story: Marooned alone on an island, Crusoe must create a new life of security and self-sufficiency from local resources and the items he’s able to rescue from the ship.

Daniel Defoe’s fascinating account of the survival—and the eventual triumph—of Robinson Crusoe represents a key field test of Enlightenment economics. Which is the climax of the novel: when Crusoe discovers the footprint of another man on the island or when he re-invents agriculture there with a few discarded seeds he finds in a small bag? Defoe’s prose style is entirely accessible to 21st-century readers. Join public humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson for an evening with this splendid and influential work of English fiction.

Tues., May 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-365; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

Robinson Crusoe finds the remains of a cannibal feast, lithograph, 1877

Theatrical release poster for the 1943 film Cabin in the Sky

George Gershwin: Our Love Is Here to Stay

George Gershwin is one of the giants of American music, unique in that he was a brilliant composer of both popular songs (Swanee, I Got Rhythm, They Can’t Take That Away From Me) and more serious music, including Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, and Porgy and Bess.

Pianist and Gershwin authority Robert Wyatt explores the composer’s life and legacy, sharing film clips, music recordings, and rare film footage, along with unpublished photographs. Archival recordings of his 1934 radio program, “Music by Gershwin,” are also featured. S’wonderful!

Tues., May 23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-261; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

Music Inspired by the Natural World

A painter can create entire worlds on a flat piece of paper. But where is a composer to start when seeking to represent the natural universe through sound? Centuries of exquisite nature-inspired concert works show just how well it can be done through direct imitation, allegory, and symbolism. Over time, composers have fashioned powerful musical vocabularies that guide us to “see” harmonies as visual images.

In this 4-session course, popular speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin uses her unique live piano demonstrations and fascinating film clips to explore how such masters as Beethoven, Mahler, Wagner, Vivaldi, Holst, Vaughan Williams, Saint-Saëns, and countless others who composed beloved works that conjure our natural world.

MAY 24 Earth: Its Creation, Seasons, and Landscapes

MAY 31 Heavenly Marvels

JUNE 7 Creatures of the Earth, Sea, and Sky

JUNE 14 Water, Water Everywhere

4 sessions: Wed., May 24–June 14, 12–2 p.m.; CODE 1K0-366; Members $95; Nonmembers $105

Bob Dylan and American Memory

“’Twas a dark day in Dallas, November ’63,” begins Bob Dylan’s most recent magnum opus, the song Murder Most Foul. From his earliest days as a songwriter, he presented himself as a witness to American history in songs about dispossessed workers and racial injustice. As his musical output unfolded, Dylan increasingly focused on how our art forms construct a common American culture and memory—topics that have become more significant in his work since the beginning of the current century.

Timothy Hampton, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley, examines some of Dylan’s most famous songs to reveal his deep interest in historical themes and social change as well as how his music asks us to think about the way the past is remembered and shaped by art.

Thurs., May 25, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-768; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Documentary film poster for Don’t Look Back, 1967

George Gershwin by Carl Van Vechten, 1937

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Jane Austen: Forever Fascinating

Why do so many readers throughout the world still clamor for the books of Jane Austen? How did she help reinvent the novel with her powerfully original writing and unique artistic vision? And why is her life the subject of ongoing fascination—and Hollywood movies? English professor Joseph Luzzi explores the remarkable career and astonishing life of a woman who overcame countless obstacles to become one of the most revered authors in the literary tradition.

10 a.m. Jane Austen: Life and Work of an Unlikely Legend

11:15 a.m. Sense and Sensibility

12:15 p.m. Break

12:45 p.m. Pride and Prejudice

2 p.m. Persuasion and Concluding Thoughts

Sat., June 3, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; CODE 1J0-267; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

How Disney Conquered the Entertainment Universe

Over the last nine decades, the Walt Disney Company has played a huge role in transforming every facet of the entertainment business, including feature-length cartoons, television, theme parks, film, Broadway musicals, and streaming services. Media historian Brian Rose examines a remarkable story of creativity and media growth as he traces how the company evolved from a small cartoon studio in 1923 to one of the most powerful forces in worldwide entertainment today.

Mon., June 12, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-269; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

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Portrait of Jane Austen by Cassandra Austen, 1873, colorized engraving

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

The Geology of Western National Parks

Join geologist Kirt Kempter as he explores the geology of Western National Parks over the course of 2023, with an in-depth look at one location every month. Each program’s content is enhanced by geologic maps, photos, and Google Earth imagery.

MAR 6 Grand Canyon, Arizona

APR 10 Zion and Bryce, Utah

MAY 1 Valles Caldera, New Mexico

JUN 5 Death Valley, California

I N SI DE S C I ENCE 3 sessions: Mon., April 10, Mon., May 1, and Mon., June 5, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-GE2; Members $60; Nonmembers $75

Individual programs: Mon., March 6 (CODE 1NV-019); Mon., Apr. 10 (CODE 1NV-029); Mon., May 1 (CODE 1NV-030); Mon., June 5 (CODE 1NV-031); Members $25; Nonmembers $30

“See You in Orbit?” A History of Space Tourism

Millions of dreamers have anticipated their chance to travel in space. However, since human space travel began, fewer than 650 earthlings have viewed our planet from a spaceship. What makes so many people think they have the slightest chance to fulfill the dream?

Alan Ladwig, former manager of NASA’s Space Flight Participant Program, has one answer: For the past 70-plus years, space visionaries, aerospace companies, government agencies, and the media have told us the countdown is coming. Ladwig draws on his book See You in Orbit? Our Dream of Spaceflight as he examines the expectations surrounding space tourism.

I N SI DE S C I ENCE Thurs., March 23, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-027; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

A Journey Through the Potomac Gorge

One of the most biologically diverse and ecologically significant landmarks in America, the Potomac Gorge, located near Washington, D.C., has held an important place in human history since the Ice Age.

Naturalist and author Melanie Choukas-Bradley has spent the past year exploring the gorge on foot, by bicycle, and by kayak. She leads a virtual journey along the most dramatic section of the 405-mile-long river: the 15-mile stretch from Great Falls in Maryland and Virginia to Theodore Roosevelt Island. It’s a perfect way to plan outdoor adventures for the coming seasons.

Wed., March 29, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1NV-026; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

Potomac River, Great Falls National Park

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Assateague: A Natural History Primer

Garden educator and naturalist Keith Tomlinson leads a virtual tour of Assateague Island National Seashore and neighboring Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The barrier islands have their own ecology, with ephemeral landscapes bound by the coastal plain and the restless Atlantic Ocean. Marine and continental biomes converge to create natural spaces that attract visitors seeking recreational opportunities including remote beach hiking, birding, biking, and camping. Appealing as well are glimpses of the managed free-ranging herds of horses.

Tomlinson also explores unique maritime forests, dune communities, and intertidal wetlands, as well as the island’s fascinating human history.

I N SI DE S C I ENCE Thurs., March 30, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-025; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Black Holes 101

Black holes are bizarre cosmic objects whose gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape them. And although you might guess that Einstein came up with the concept of black holes, the idea can be traced back to the late 1700s. But Einstein did develop the notion that three-dimensional space and time are part of a single framework to describe the known universe and how black holes shape it.

Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, discusses how cosmologists still grapple with how best to describe and study them.

I N SI DE S C I ENCE Wed., March 29, 6:45 p.m; CODE 1L0-505; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Artist's concept of the most distant supermassive black hole ever discovered

Close-up on Warblers

Birding fans are familiar with year-round feathered friends such as northern cardinals and blue jays, but there’s a secret world of neotropical birds that temporarily make their home in North America. Many of these tiny colorful gems are warblers, beautiful insect-eating birds that migrate from as far as South America to breed. Migrating hundreds of miles overnight, these warblers look for any suitable habitat to drop into as dawn approaches. Join naturalist Matt Felperin to learn more about why warblers undertake such a dangerous journey and how to find them in the wild—and enjoy some fantastic warbler photographs.

I N SI DE S C I ENCE Wed., April 12, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-034; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

Wild horses at Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland

A Grand Tour of the Solar System

Presented in partnership with George Mason University Observatory

This series treks to the sun and the four inner terrestrial planets before traveling outward to the asteroid belt, four Jovian planets, and beyond. At each session, a professional astronomer presents the latest research on a solar system body. Following the talk and a question-and-answer period, Peter Plavchan, a professor of physics and astronomy at George Mason University, brings that night’s sky right into participants’ living rooms via remote control of the university observatory, weather permitting.

The Sun, Front and Center

The tour begins with the 4½-billion-year-old star at the center of the solar system, the sun. Its gravity is the glue that holds the solar system together. Its activity, from powerful eruptions to the steady stream of charged particles it sends out, provides a protective bubble that shields the planets from damaging galactic radiation. George Mason University astrophysicist and cosmologist Hakeem Oluseyi shines a light on this special star.

Tues., April 18, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-254; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Mercury, Small but Mighty Interesting

Mercury, the innermost planet in the solar system, remained relatively unexplored until NASA’s MESSENGER probe orbited and studied it from 2011 to 2015. MESSENGER’s results have transformed the understanding of Mercury, forcing scientists to reexamine what was thought to be known about the first rock from the sun. Physicist Ronald J. Vervack Jr., who worked on the MESSENGER mission, highlights how Mercury provides insight into the formation, evolution, and current state of the solar system.

Tues., May 9, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-255; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Venus, Shrouded in Clouds

In this solar system, Venus is the planet most like Earth in size and density, yet at some point in planetary history they evolved very differently, creating a kind of Jekyll and Hyde scenario: Venus now has a toxic atmosphere and is the hottest planet, contrasting with habitable Earth. University of California, Riverside, astrophysicist Stephen Kane reveals clues that point to a possible habitable past of Venus and discusses how its environment might have become hostile to life.

Tues., May 30, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-256; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

NASA/JPL

NASA/JPL NASA/JPL

A colorful view of Mercury created from the color base map imaging campaign during MESSENGER's mission

A solar flare erupting

An image of Venus and its cloud patterns captured by the Galileo spacecrafts, 1990

Renaissance Cabinets of Curiosity

Collecting All Sorts of Wonders

A narwhal tusk and a meticulous painting of a tulip might seem to have little in common, but they were among the wonders of nature and artifice displayed proudly in Renaissance collections of marvels known as curiosity cabinets. In their quest for knowledge, collectors ranging from apothecaries to Medici dukes acquired and categorized such intriguing pieces from around the globe.

Biologist Kay Etheridge describes how these collections provided naturalists with centers of study and source material—and ultimately led to the genesis of the modern museum.

I N SI DE S C I ENCE Wed., April 19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-251; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Mario Livio on What Makes Us Curious

The ability to ask “why?” makes us uniquely human. Curiosity drives scientific research, is the engine behind creativity in all disciplines, and provides a necessary ingredient in every form of storytelling that delights.

Renowned astrophysicist Mario Livio interprets cutting-edge research that explores the origin and mechanisms of curiosity. Livio has examined the personalities of Leonardo da Vinci and physicist Richard Feynman and interviewed nine exceptionally curious people living today, including linguist Noam Chomsky and the virtuoso lead guitarist of the rock band Queen, Brian May, who holds a Ph.D. in astrophysics.

I N SI DE S C I ENCE Tues., April 25, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-259; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Live from the UK Chasing Plants

Join botanist Chris Thorogood for a glimpse into the exhilarating adventures of a field botanist. As part of his job, Thorogood has clambered over cliffs and up erupting volcanoes and trekked through typhoons. Along the way, he’s encountered exotic pitcher plants and orchids of unimaginable beauty.

Thorogood shares details of his hair-raising excursions and explains the vital work he and other botanists are doing to protect the world’s plants. His book Chasing Plants: Journeys with a Botanist Through Rainforests, Swamps and Mountains (University of Chicago Press) is available for purchase.

I N SI DE S C I ENCE Thurs., April 27, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1J0-257; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

Cabinet of Curiosities by Domenico Remps, 1690

Mario Livio FESTIVAL DELLA SCIENZA/ BRUNO OLIVERI /LORENZO GAMMAROTA

A tropical pitcher plant (Nepenthes villosa) on Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, painted in oils by Chris Thorogood

In-person and Online Program Taking a New Look at Historical Objects Interdisciplinary Technology Studies Unveil Insights

Using sophisticated tools that include a repurposed particle accelerator and working with museums, universities, and private collectors, Michael B. Toth and his colleagues have digitized everything from manuscripts to fossils, mining them for new information about their content and creation. Among the pieces they have worked on are the earliest known copy of work by Archimedes, Sir Isaac Newton’s sketch of how a rainbow is formed, Gutenberg and other early Bibles, and Muslim manuscripts.

Toth, the president of R.B. Toth Associates, talks about some of their findings.

I N SI DE S C I ENCE Tues., May 2, 6:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1J0-259; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

Keeping the Pace The Science of Pacemakers and Defibrillators

Today’s smallest pacemaker is the size of a multivitamin, weighing as little as a penny. It’s a long way from the first pacemaker, which was worn around the neck and weighed over half a pound. Today more than 3 million people have pacemakers, with over 600,000 implanted yearly.

Tom Choi, a pediatric cardiologist and electrophysiologist in Delaware, and Carolyn Ramwell, an electrophysiology nurse clinician in Washington, D.C., discuss the fascinating past, present, and future of this small but essential lifesaving device. In a lively talk, they cover the experimental history of the modern pacemaker and defibrillator; the current applications of both; the risk-taking scientists involved in discovering the electrical properties of the heart and the ability to restart the heartbeat; and the future implications posed by artificial intelligence and technological advances.

I N SI DE S C I ENCE Thurs., May 4, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-033; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Notes on Complexity Connection, Consciousness, and Being

Nothing in the universe is more complex than life. In its myriad forms—from cells to human beings, social structures, and ecosystems—life is open-ended, evolving, and unpredictable, yet adaptive and self-sustaining. Complexity theory addresses the mysteries that animate science, philosophy, and metaphysics: how this teeming array of existence, from the infinitesimal to the infinite, is a seamless living whole and what our place, as conscious beings, is within it.

Physician, scientist, and philosopher Neil Theise discusses this “theory of being,” one of the pillars of modern science, and its holistic view of human existence. He notes the surprising underlying connections within a universe that is itself one vast complex. His work considers links between ant colonies and the growth of forests; cancer and economic bubbles; and the buzz of starlings and crowds walking down along the street.

His book Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being (Spiegel & Grau) is available for purchase.

I N SI DE S C I ENCE Mon., May 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1CV-015; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Digitally recovered library stamp from a stolen book

X-ray of permanent pacemaker implant

A New Year of Delightful Destinations

Smithsonian Associates Overnight Tours for 2023

Our study tours are designed for people who want more than just a getaway: They offer one-of-a-kind experiences combined with opportunities to gain new insights into the topics that fascinate you. Whether you’re a fan of history, art, music, nature, or architecture— or simply love exploring new places—these expert-led excursions offer a year’s worth of tempting travels. Several of our most popular tours return to the schedule, offering you another chance to join us on these adventures—before they sell out again!

Frank Lloyd Wright: Masterworks in the Midwest

Sun., May 21–Thurs., May 25 (on sale now; see p. 61)

SOLD OUT

This tour for architecture lovers includes Chicago-area visits to Unity Temple and the Robie House, a gem in Wright’s signature Prairie style, and the Wisconsin sites of his estate, Taliesin, and the Jacobs House, the first of the innovative Usonian residences.

Leader: Bill Keene

All Eyes on Pittsburgh

Sun., Mar. 26–Tues., Mar. 28

(on sale now; see p. 59)

An art-filled three days— highlighted by the 58th Carnegie International exhibition—shows off how the city of smokestacks and steel has been reborn as a cultural capital.

Leader: Richard Selden

By Popular Demand

The Best of Brooklyn

Sun., Apr. 16–Mon., Apr. 17 (on sale now; see p. 61) Brooklyn offers plenty of delights for lovers of art, music, nature, and food. An arts journalist and former Brooklynite introduces you to several of its top attractions.

Leader: Richard Selden

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

A Mountain Rail Extravaganza

Fri., June 2–Sun., June 4 (on sale now; see p. 64)

Stunning spring vistas, vintage locomotives, and West Virginia history are on the itinerary for a weekend spent riding the Cass Scenic Railroad and other mountain routes.

Leader: Joe Nevin

Note: All tour dates and content are subject to change.

A Berkshires Summer Sampler

Sun., July 30–Thurs., Aug. 3

(on sale April 1)

The scenic and historic Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts are alive with music, art, and theater. A 5-day tour offers a splendid sampling of cultural attractions in the region.

Leader: Richard Selden

Theodore Roosevelt’s North Dakota

Sat., Oct. 7–Wed., Oct. 11

Fly west and experience the wild beauty of the Dakota Territory that shaped young Theodore Roosevelt’s course as a conservationist and naturalist.

Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley

Fall in the Shenandoah

Sun., Oct. 15–Mon., Oct. 16

Celebrate the beauty of Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park as you hike its trails and take in the panoramas from Skyland, your historic lodge nestled along Skyline Drive.

Leader: Keith Tomlinson

The Corning Museum of Glass

Wed., Nov. 1–Sat., Nov. 4

Discover Queens

The Neustadt Collection and Queens Museum

August 2023

Opulence is the focal point for a weekend in New York with visits to the Queens Museum and the Neustadt—the premier collection of works and archives of Tiffany glass.

Leaders: Elizabeth Lay, Lindsy Parrott

This glass-lover’s dream tour offers a true insider’s experience at the renowned museum, including many curator-conducted sessions.

Leader: Bill Keene

Sun., Nov. 12–Mon., Nov. 13 Our series of explorations of New York City’s outer boroughs continues with a visit to the largest of all.

Leader: Richard Selden

Travel insurance is advised for overnight and multi-day tours. Travel insurance provides additional coverage against unforeseen incidents that require last-minute cancellations. If you wish to purchase travel insurance, you can do so on your own. Smithsonian Associates does not do this for you. Overnight tours are non-refundable.

Note: All tour dates and content are subject to change. Please

DAVID SCHLEGEL

ART SCI ENCE STUDIO ARTS CULTURE HI STORY ART

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

Lunchtime with a Curator

Decorative Arts Design Series: Textile Diplomacy

Join curator Elizabeth Lay, a regular lecturer on the topics of fashion, textiles, and American furniture, to learn how textile conservation is a form of cultural diplomacy, cultivating and honoring people and heritage.

Textile conservator Julia M. Brennan describes how she has worked to build cultural bridges by engaging in both high-profile and grassroots projects to help set up conservation labs, train local specialists, and preserve local and regional textile heritage.

Mon., March 13; 12–1 p.m.; CODE 1K0-342; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit (for each program session)

Masterworks by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse at the Barnes Foundation

Drawing on what is considered one of the greatest post-Impressionist and early modern art collections in the world, Barnes Foundation educator Penny Hansen guides live virtual tours through the galleries, examining in depth the paintings of three revolutionary artists.

Using high-definition Deep Zoom technology developed by the Barnes, Hansen provides astonishingly close-up views of the canvases, revealing their paint surface, brushstrokes, and details in ways that bring the art and the artist vividly to life. All programs provide the chance to interact with Hansen in a Q&A session.

MAR 9 Matisse

MAR 16 Renoir

MAR 23 Cézanne

3 sessions: Thurs., March 9, 16, and 23, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1NV-BAR; Members $75; Nonmembers $90

Individual sessions: Thurs., March 9 (CODE 1NV-022); Thurs., March 16 (CODE 1NV-023); Thurs., March 23 (CODE 1NV-024); 12–1:30 p.m.; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Tale of Shuten Doji

The 14th-century Japanese legend about warrior Raik’s conquest of a terrifying, flesh-eating ogre is recounted in The Tale of Shuten Doji. During the Edo period (ca. 1600 –1868) the story’s popularity inspired many painted scrolls, folding screens, wood-block prints, and other media.

The tale may appear to be a typical retelling of warrior heroes battling savage demons, but a closer look reveals a more complex picture of socially marginalized groups and notions of otherness. Art historian Yui Suzuki focuses on illustrations that convey the story’s conventional and cryptic meanings.

Tues., March 14, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-246; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Women in the Fields by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1919

Nature morte au crâne, (detail) by Paul Cézanne, 1896-98

Le bonheur de vivre (detail), by Henri Matisse, 1906

Julia Brennan and master batik makers review a historic batik reproduction owned by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.

The Tale of Shuten Doji, Edo period

World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit

The History of Western Architecture

Tracing the history of Western architecture is like looking back at a long trail of footprints in the sand. Each step marks a particular moment of the journey, just as architectural movements and styles mark distinct moments in Western history. By examining four distinct historical periods in Western architecture, art historian Rocky Ruggiero traces the development of architectural styles, traditions, trends, and forms beginning in the ancient world and continuing through to the present day.

MAR 21 The Ancient World

MAR 28 The Medieval World

APR 4 The Early Modern and Baroque Worlds

APR 11 The Modern World

4 sessions: Tues., March 21–April 11, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-248; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Ancient Egypt Through its Art and Architecture

The secret to understanding the daily life and culture of ancient Egypt under its great rulers and pharaohs is right before our eyes—in its art and architecture.

B.C.)

Examinations of these vast treasures reveal how they influenced Egyptian cultural identity and how religion shaped artistic production.

Using evidence from the most recent archaeological discoveries, Egypt specialist Jacquelyn Williamson surveys the social and historical realities of this civilization from its early pyramids through its art created under King Akhenaten, who upended centuries of tradition to create new artistic conventions.

9:30 a.m. Understanding Egyptian Art: The Origins of an Artistic Tradition

11 a.m. Wonder and Majesty: The Art of the 4th Dynasty

12:15 p.m. Break

1:15 p.m. The Elegance of Discord and the Beauty of Empire

2:45 p.m. The Art of Heresy: Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Sat., March 11, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; CODE 1M2-240; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Thomas

Gainsborough: Beyond the Blue Boy

British artist Thomas Gainsborough (1727–1788) was widely known and admired for his fluid handling of paint in his portraits and landscapes. He and rival Joshua Reynolds dominated portrait painting in the 1770s and 1780s.

The largely self-taught, witty, convivial Gainsborough’s patrons included musicians, actresses, artists, the aristocracy, and members of the royal family. He became famous in the United States when one of the Gilded Age’s notoriously wealthy robber barons purchased the iconic Blue Boy (1770).

Art historian Bonita Billman examines Gainsborough’s career and his influence on painting.

Thurs., March 23, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-252; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough, 1770

Athenian Treasury at ancient Delphi

La Salve Bridge over the Nervion River, Bilbao, Spain

The Great Sphinx monument (1397–1388

and a pyramid at Giza

Egyptian goddess Maat, 664–332 B.C.

WALTERS ART GALLERY

J.M.W. Turner and the Art of the Sublime

British artist J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851) is known for innovative landscape paintings that captured nature’s power and drama. His radical techniques allowed him to create unprecedented imagery that still appears modern today.

Art historian Tim Barringer places a selection of Turner’s works in historical context. He reveals how Turner’s art reflected his belief in “the sublime,” an artistic theory that contrasted the power of nature with the fragile condition of mankind, and how in paintings such as Rain, Steam and Speed (1844) he evoked the drastic transformations caused by the Industrial Revolution.

Thurs., March 30, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-759; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

SmithsonianAssociates.org/artcertificate

Art-full Fridays | Live from Italy, with Elaine Ruffolo

World Art History Certificate electives: Earn ½ credit each

From Towers to Palaces An Architectural Tour of Medieval Florence

The architecture of medieval Florence was characterized by soaring towers, massive fortress-like palaces, and breathtakingly beautiful basilicas. During the period of communal self-government in the 13th and 14th centuries, public buildings such as the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo (now known as the Bargello) and the Palazzo dei Priori (today’s Palazzo Vecchio) set an important precedent for the palace builders of wealthy patrician families during the Renaissance.

Join art historian Elaine Ruffolo as she traces how the built environment of Florence clearly reflects the historical development of the city at the dawn of the Renaissance.

Fri., March 31, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1D0-009; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Uffizi Gallery

An Unrivaled Collection

Located in the heart of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery has long been regarded as one of the most important museum collections in the world. Not only was it one of the first in Europe to emerge in accordance with the modern idea of a museum, but it is also unsurpassed in the quality of works it contains, boasting some of the greatest masterpieces of the Florentine Renaissance.

Join art historian Elaine Ruffolo as she discusses the history and aspects of the gallery—including the patronage of the Medici family, the innovative architecture of Vasari, and, of course, an in-depth examination of the best of the remarkable painting collection.

Fri., April 14 and 28, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1D0-010; Members $35; Nonmembers $40

Rain, Steam and Speed–The Great Western Railway by J.M.W. Turner, 1844

Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo

The Uffizi Gallery

Spring’s Awakening A Reflective Writing Workshop

Discover the power of reflective writing guided by the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, Mary Hall Surface. Inspired by works of art by Vincent van Gogh and poetry by Mary Oliver, explore the lessons that the season of spring offers us when we slow down, look closely, and reflect. Designed for writers of all levels, the workshop invites you to look outward at paintings and poetry and to look inward through writing. These reflections can become creative fertile ground for memoir, poetry, and more. The workshop has a limited enrollment to maximize interaction among the instructor and students.

Tues., April 4, 10-11:30 a.m.; CODE 1K0-356; Members $40; Nonmembers $45

Art Crimes: Stolen Secrets of the Third Reich

Expert on art fraud, author, and former FBI agent Robert Wittman draws from his book The Devil’s Diary: Alfred Rosenberg and the Stolen Secrets of the Third Reich to recount his 2013 recovery of the long-lost private diary of the Nazi Party’s chief ideologue, who laid the philosophical foundations for the Holocaust. Rosenberg’s diary had been lost for more than 60 years and its longhidden contents offer first-person insights into the Nazi rise to power, the genesis of the Final Solution, and Germany’s brutal occupation of the Soviet Union.

Wed., April 12, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-351; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit Art and Fiction

A picture is not only worth a thousand words: It can sometimes inspire a whole invented world. Independent art historian Heidi Applegate explores the art and artists behind three works of historical fiction. Gain new perspectives on Renaissance portraiture; Dutch still lifes, genre painting, and a cabinet house; and the Frick Collection in New York City by delving into the novels, followed by Applegate’s examination of the factual background along with the fiction.

APR 7 Maggie O’Farrell, The Marriage Portrait, 2022

MAY 12 Jessie Burton, The Miniaturist, 2014

JUN 16 Fiona Davis, The Magnolia Palace, 2022

3 sessions: Fri., April 7, May 12, June 16, 12-1:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-762; Members $60; Nonmembers $65

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

Almond Blossom by Vincent van Gogh, 1890

Lucrezia de' Medici by Bronzino or Alessandro Allori, ca. 1560

Petronella Oortman's doll house at the Rijksmuseum The Frick Collection

Rosenberg diary

Certif icate Prog ram i n World Art H i story

Art is all around us. It excites us, enriches our lives, and enlivens our imaginations. But to truly appreciate any work of art, we need to understand the context and culture in which it was produced. That’s why Smithsonian Associates offers an exciting certificate program in World Art History.

The wide-ranging offerings are designed to provide a global perspective on art and architecture and draw on the Smithsonian’s world-class collections and the rich resources of other Washington institutions.

The core courses and electives in our program are selected from among Smithsonian Associates’ ongoing courses, seminars, study tours, and Studio Arts classes. Look for “World Art History Certificate” throughout the program guide to see current listings.

Complete the program requirements at your own pace. Credits are counted from the day of program registration and are not given retroactively.

Register now and receive invitations for special tours and informal gatherings with course leaders and other program participants.

To learn more about the Smithsonian Associates certificate program in World Art History, visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/ArtCertificate

You love art. Now become the expert you’ve always wanted to be.

Left column, from the top: Fresco of the Libyan Sibyl, ca. 1511, Sistine Chapel, by Michelangelo; Taj Mahal, completed 1643, Agra, India; The Young Ladies of Avignon, 1907, by Pablo Picasso; Equestrian ceramic figure, ca. 13th–15th centuries, Mali*; Second column: Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, 2010, by Frank Gehry, Las Vegas; The Calf-Bearer, ca. 570 B.C.; Athens, Greece; Frida Kahlo by Magda Pach, 1933*; Before the Ballet, ca. 1892, Edgar Degas

*from Smithsonian museum collections

World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit Introduction to American Art

From the glorious vistas of landscape painting to the bold splashes and strokes of Abstract Expressionism, American artists have captured the nation’s enormous energy and tumultuous growth. Art historian Bonita Billman introduces major artists and movements in American painting from the late 18th century to the present, revealing the connections between historical changes and artistic choices.

APR 13 Early American Art

APR 20 Landscape Painting

APR 27 Realism and Impressionism

MAY 4 Early Modernism

MAY 11 Modern and Contemporary Art

5 sessions: Thurs., April 13–May 11, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2253; Members $85; Nonmembers $95

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Artists and Friends in the World of Manet

Cézanne and Pissarro, Van Gogh and Lautrec

The lone artist, wrestling with their genius and isolated by their obsession with work, is a popular stereotype. But it’s often through their close friendships with other artists that great creative leaps are made. When thinking of great painters who painted Provence, two names jump to mind: Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne. But before they created their celebrated works there, these outsiders had profound experiences and friendships in Paris that would alter their artistic paths.

Popular Smithsonian Associates speaker Paul Glenshaw examines two such relationships: Paul Cézanne’s friendship with Camille Pissarro and Vincent van Gogh’s with Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in the vibrant avant-garde art scene pioneered by Édouard Manet.

APR 13 Paris and Manet

APR 20 Curious Kindreds: Cézanne and Pissarro

APR 27 Curious Kindreds: van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec

3 sessions: Thurs., April 13–27, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-362; Members $60; Nonmembers $70

Smithsonian Associates’ Digital Digest is a lively monthly e-newsletter filled with information about programs and experiences that are entertaining, informative, eclectic, and insightful. Be sure to catch every issue by subscribing at: smithsonianassociates.org/digital-digest

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

House by the Railroad by Edward Hopper, 1925

Niagara by Frederic Edwin Church, 1857

Portrait of Vincent van Gogh by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1887

Write Into Art

Creative Writing Inspired by Visual Art

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for three online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts.

The sessions spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. Each workshop has a limited enrollment to maximize interaction among the instructor and students.

APR 18 Capture Sensation

APR 25 Unveil Stories

MAY 2 Explore Place

3 sessions: Tues., April 18, 25, and May 2, 10–11:30 a.m.; CODE 1K0-352; Members $105; Nonmembers $115

Individual sessions: Tues., April 18 (CODE 1K0-353); Tues., April 25 (CODE 1K0-354); Tues., May 2 (CODE 1K0-355); 10-11:30 a.m.; Members $40; Nonmembers $45

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Three Masterpieces of Etruscan Art

The Etruscans hold a reputation for mystery, but we do know a lot about them and their remarkable contributions to the history of art. Art historian and author Laura Morelli explores what makes Etruscan culture unique in the Mediterranean world. She spotlights three Etruscan masterworks excavated from tombs in central Italy; examines how the Etruscans adorned the places where they planned to spend eternity; and describes the incredible luxury objects they took with them. She discusses the hallmarks of Etruscan visual art and why Etruscan archaeology is a vibrant field of study today.

Tues., April 18, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1H0-763; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Cultural Heritage Sites of India

From India’s elaborately decorated Ajanta Caves to the splendor of the Taj Mahal, UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites offers a spectacular window into South Asia’s past. Art historian Robert DeCaroli highlights historic palaces, grand temples, royal mausoleums, and more that showcase how India’s rich religious traditions have inspired the creation of many of the subcontinent’s abundant historically and culturally significant destinations.

9:30 a.m. Rock-cut Wonders

11 a.m. Sacred Sites (Part 1)

12:30 p.m. Break

1:30 p.m. Sacred Sites (Part 2)

2:45 p.m. Seats of Power

Sat., April 22, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; CODE 1J0-252; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

Entrance to the Grand Canal from the Molo, by Canaletto 1742/1744

Etruscan fresco (detail) of a musician from the Tomb of the Triclinium in the Necropolis of Monterozzi

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Isabella Stewart Gardner: A Global Vision of Art

Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840–1924) assembled an extraordinary collection of art from diverse cultures and eras—and built a Venetian-style palazzo in Boston to share her exquisite treasures with the world. Diana Seave Greenwald, assistant curator of the collection at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, shines new light on Gardner. As one of the authors of Isabella Stewart Gardner: A Life, Greenwald provides a multifaceted portrait of a trailblazing patron who used her varied collection, including Italian Renaissance paintings and Chinese antiquities, to create a museum unprecedented in its curatorial vision.

Tues., April 25, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1L0-510; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

20th-Century Oceanic Art

Ten thousand islands dot the Pacific Ocean, a vast expanse of water that covers one-third of the Earth’s surface. For over 40,000 years, people have lived and traveled among these islands, establishing thriving and interconnected states and societies, and creating artworks that express the excitement and vitality of their lives.

Art historian Kevin Tervala surveys the artistic practice across 20th-century Oceania, examining the ways that European colonization and decolonization, the Pacific theater of World War II, and the increasingly globalized nature of the economy transformed the work that artists did and the forms that they produced.

Tues., April 25, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-012; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Lesser-Known Museums of Rome

Private Art Collections of Rome, Part 1

A number of Rome’s greatest art treasures are displayed in the private collections of historically influential Roman families. Not surprisingly, some of these families produced popes such as Innocent X (Pamphilj), Urban VIII (Barberini), and Martin V (Colonna). Fortunately, a number of these art collections are now museums open to the public.

Renaissance art expert Ruggiero explores four of these private collections—the Doria Pamphilj Gallery, the Barberini Palace Museum, the Villa Farnesina, and the Colonna Palace—and explains how the artworks they held helped shape the Italian Renaissance.

Mon., May 1, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-258; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

Isabella Stewart Gardner (detail) by John Singer Sargent, 1888

Canoe splashboard, Trobriand Islands, Honolulu Museum of Art

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Palazzo Colonna

In this quarterly series, Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero spotlights the significant collections of Rome’s sometimes-overlooked museums.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Kandinsky: Abstraction’s Architect

Art historian Joseph Cassar explores Russian-born Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), a leading figure in the development of abstract painting. His illustrated lecture begins with Kandinsky’s initial years as a lecturer in law at the University of Moscow and proceeds with his friendship with artist Gabriele Munter and their travels to Tunisia. Cassar offers a special focus on works Kandinsky produced in the pre-World War I Murnau period and as part of the avant-garde Blaue Reiter group. He connects Kandinsky’s publications with his teaching years at the Bauhaus in Weimar and Dessau and provides a critical analysis of Kandinsky’s abstract paintings and his final years in Paris during the 1930s and ’40s.

Tues., May 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-363; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

World

Art History Certificate elective:

Earn ½ credit

Byrdcliffe: An American Arts and Crafts Colony

Founded in 1903, the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony was born out of the late 19th century’s Arts and Crafts movement and a passion for building a utopian community with like-minded writers, poets, painters, and craftspeople.

Overlooking the scenic Catskills in Woodstock, New York, the colony was an idealistic venture founded by Ralph and Jane Byrd McCall Whitehead and two friends, Bolton Brown and Hervey White. Offering a place where artists could train and acquire practical skills, the colony was intended to be self-sufficient through the sale of furniture, ceramics, and weavings. Curator and author Nancy Green explores how Byrdcliffe began as a community of talented artists and artisans, students and teachers, and their commitment to the goals of joy and fulfillment in their labors and an appreciation of a simple aesthetic harnessed to a simple lifestyle.

Wed., May 10, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-014; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo: Contrasts in Greatness

Leonardo and Michelangelo: These towering geniuses grew up in the same city, shared patrons, and also shared an intense dislike for each other. But their fraught relationship was fueled by a secret mutual fascination and a fierce competition that spurred them to new levels of artistic achievement.

Art historian Nigel McGilchrist depicts the two artists as perfectionists and brilliant craftsmen of radically different kinds who revolutionized the received methods of painting and sculpting.

10 a.m. The Consequences of Competition

11:30 a.m. Techniques and Conservation

12:45 p.m. Break

1:15 p.m. Obsessions and Recurring Themes

2:45 p.m. Writings, Dreams, and Nightmares

Sat., May 13, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; CODE 1M2-260; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo

Byrdcliffe Theater

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Art and Beauty in Siena

Siena’s beautiful townscape encapsulates everything we love about Tuscany—charming towns among rolling hills, rich history, and artistic and architectural treasures from its medieval heyday—rivaled only by its Tuscan neighbors, Florence and Pisa.

Art historian and author Laura Morelli leads an immersive virtual tour of Siena’s most iconic landmarks: the Gothic cathedral, Siena’s city hall or Palazzo Pubblico, and the unusually shaped town square, the Piazza del Campo. She also examines masterpieces by Siena’s most enduring artists: Duccio, Simone Martini, and the Lorenzetti brothers.

Tues., May 16, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1H0-766; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit How Catholic Art Saved the Faith

Not long after Martin Luther’s 95 Theses were posted in 1517, dialogue between Protestants and Catholics broke down and devastating religious wars erupted across Europe. Desperate to restore the peace and recover unity, the Catholic church turned to its longtime allies, the arts.

Convinced that to win over the unlettered, the best place to fight heresy was not in the streets but in stone and on canvas, prelates enlisted the century’s best artists, including Caravaggio, Guido Reni, Annibale Carracci, Federico Barocci, and Artemisia Gentileschi. Art historian and author Elizabeth Lev tells the story of the creation and successes of a magnificent, generations-long project: the affirmation through beauty of the Catholic belief in saints, sacraments, and salvation.

Wed., May 17, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1H0-769; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit The Mosque

Linking Religious and Architectural Traditions

The mosque is the defining element of an Islamic community. While there are a few essential components of a mosque, over time and across geographies an astonishing variety of form, building materials, and decoration in mosque architecture developed. With the spread of Islam around the world, mosques that were built for Muslim communities maintained the core components needed for the building’s function but developed regional styles depending on local building materials, architectural traditions, and climate.

Nancy Micklewright, a specialist in the history of Islamic art and architecture, looks closely at some of the most iconic and spectacular examples of mosques from different parts of the Islamicate world—including the Washington area—to survey this regional and temporal variety. From one of the smallest and oldest to one of the newest and most grand, she explores how these buildings maintain a connection with a building tradition that stretches back to the 7th century CE.

Thurs., May 18, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1L0-514; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Nativity by Federico Barocci, 1597

Great Mosque of Cordoba, Spain, interior

Scenic view of Siena, Tuscany, Italy

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit Great Castles of Great Britain From William the Conqueror to Elizabeth I

From foreboding fortresses to captivating castles, Great Britain is home to extraordinary buildings that were the locations of some of the extremes of British history, ranging from the viciously vindictive—such as the grotesque murder of Edward II at Berkeley Castle—to the glamorously amorous, such as the adventures of Bess of Hardwick Hall, ever richer with each of her four marriages. Art historian Janetta Rebold Benton takes you on a vicarious visit to castle life in medieval and Renaissance England, examining architectural styles, historic structures, and splendid settings.

FRI., MAY 19

10 a.m. Moat, Keep, Motte, and Bailey

11:15 a.m. Manor Manners

FRI., MAY 26

10 a.m. Castle Life Fit for a King—and Queen

11:15 a.m. Architecture and Ego

2 sessions: Fri., May 19 and 26, 10 a.m.–12:15 p.m.; CODE 1D0-015; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit German Expressionism

German Expressionism emphasizes the artist’s emotions or ideas over replicating reality and is characterized by simplified shapes, bright colors, and gestural marks or brushstrokes. In a program that covers paintings, drawings, etchings, woodblock prints, and sculpture, art historian Joseph Cassar introduces and explores 20th-century German Expressionism as a movement. He discusses forerunners of Expressionism such as Gruenwald’s Crucifixion and Goya’s The Third of May, and the work of Die Brücke (The Bridge), an organization of German painters and printmakers that from 1905 to 1913 played a pivotal role in the movement’s development. He also examines the Degenerate Art exhibition of 1937, with an emphasis on artists such as Kirchner, Nolde, Otto Mueller, Schmidt-Rottluff, Grosz, Otto Dix, Beckmann, and others.

Fri., May 19, 12–2 p.m.; CODE 1K0-364; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude Outdoors, Outsized, and Out of the Ordinary

From their New York City apartment, Christo Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon initiated some of the most enigmatic, ephemeral, and beautiful works of public art ever created around the world. Each used acres of colorful fabric to cover an entire building, line a path, or surround islands—on display for no more than two weeks.

Art historian Nancy G. Heller analyzes the couple’s most important projects and explains their significance in the history of contemporary art.

Wed., May 24, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-262; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

L'Arc de Triomphe, wrapped by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, 2021

A Group of Artists by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1926–1927

Haddon Hall is one of the oldest houses in England

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Renoir: The Gift of Joy

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, celebrated as a founding member of the Impressionists, is also hailed by modern realists for his painterly technique and happy subjects. His work reflected one central tenet: “To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful and pretty. …There are too many ugly things in life as it is without creating still more of them.” No stonebreakers or railway stations for him.

Renoir reveled in lush color that can be seen in sensual nudes, family portraits, landscapes, and genre depictions such as The Luncheon of the Boating Party. Art historian Bonita Billman showcases selections from his prolific oeuvre of more than 4,000 works as she illustrates why Renoir is one of the most highly regarded artists of his time.

Thurs., June 8, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-266; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Hokusai’s Career in Prints

Internationally renowned for iconic works such as Under the Wave off Kanagawa, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) designed popular woodblock prints for more than five decades. His boundless creativity led to a prolific output on a range of subjects in a variety of genres. National Museum of Asian Art curator Kit Brooks examines the print works of this artist, who has come to be seen as an embodiment of Japanese artistic style.

Mon., June 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-268; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit Understanding Modern Art

The radical innovations made by European and American painters and sculptors between 1900 and 1960 forever altered the way we think about visual art. Before World War I, Fauvist and Expressionist painters challenged the traditional Western concept of beauty, while Picasso and Malevich took on thousands of years of art history by exploring the controversial realm of abstraction.

Between the wars, artists as different as Salvador Dali and Frida Kahlo made images based on their own dreams and hallucinations. Later, American art finally achieved international recognition through the enormous, dramatic canvases of Jackson Pollock, paving the way for several decades of cultural prominence that began in the 1960s.

In this richly illustrated two-part course, art historian Nancy G. Heller, professor emerita of art history at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, discusses major works by the period’s seminal painters and sculptors, emphasizing their broader socio-political and aesthetic contexts.

FRI., JUNE 9

6:30 p.m. New Art for a New Century

SAT., JUNE 10

10 a.m. Empathy and Shock

11:30 a.m. Beyond Realism and Narrative

12:45 p.m. Break

1:15 p.m. Exploring the Subconscious

2:45 p.m. The Triumph of American Painting

2 sessions: Fri., June 9, 6:30–8 p.m. and Sat., June 10, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; CODE 1M2-263; Members $85; Nonmembers $95

Under the Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai

Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1881

Nous Autres Musiciens by Pablo Picasso, 1921

Number 1 (Lavender Mist) by Jackson Pollock, 1950

IN

PERSON DRAWING n n n n

Beginning Drawing

In-person classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio. View portfolios of work by our instructors at SmithsonianAssociates.org/art instructors.

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

This course, a valuable introduction for beginners, teaches the basic skills needed as a strong foundation for drawing. Working with a variety of materials and techniques, including charcoal and pencils, students explore the rendering of geometric forms, volume, and perspective, with an emphasis on personal gesture marks.

IN PERSON: Tues., April 18–June 6, 10:30 a.m.; George Tkabladze; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0RQ; Members $255; Nonmembers $285

Popular theory holds that the right brain is primarily responsible for the intuitive understanding of visual and spatial relationships. This class improves the way people see and record objects on paper by working through a set of visual exercises that help build the ability to draw.

IN PERSON: Wed., April 19–June 7, 2:30 p.m.; Shahin Talishkhan; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0RR; Members $235; Nonmembers $265

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit

Drawing in Museums

Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery

Spend Saturday afternoons developing your rendering and composition skills, and learn the art of copying by drawing paintings and classical sculptures displayed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.

IN PERSON: Sat., May 6–June 17, 1:30 p.m. (no class May 27); Paul Glenshaw; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0RU; Members $195; Nonmembers $225

PAINTING n n n n

Beginning Oil Painting

Lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on experimentation introduce the medium of oils. Working from museum masterpieces, still-life arrangements, or your own favorite photos, explore basic painting techniques, including color-mixing, scumbling, and glazing. to gain the technical background and experience you need to get started as a painter.

IN PERSON: Wed., April 19June 7, 6:30 p.m.; Shahin Talishkhan; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V00SC; Members $265; Nonmembers $295

Introduction to Indirect Oil Painting

Cézanne-inspired Still Life Compositions

The vibrant medium of oils was a favorite of Impressionist artists because of its luminosity and color layering effects. Working from stilllife arrangements reminiscent of Cézanne’s in-studio sessions, learn to achieve the brilliant and subtle effects characteristic of the medium.

IN PERSON: Sun., April 23–May 7, 11 a.m.; Sandra Gobar; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0SE; Members $185; Nonmembers $205

Still Life with Apples and Peaches by Paul Cézanne, 1905

Color Stories Journal

Explore your relationship to individual colors and how they connect to facets of your life. Practice simple, playful acrylic painting techniques incorporating all the colors of the spectrum, plus black and white. Then, begin to record personal stories in a journal to use every day.

IN PERSON: Tues., May 9–June 6, 6:30 p.m.; Sushmita Mazumdar; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0TP; Members $165; Nonmembers $195

By Sushmita Mazumdar

MIXED-MEDIA n n n n

Mixed-Media Constructions

OTHER MEDIA n n n n

Mosaic Jewelry

By Sharon Robinson

Take your mixed-media ventures in a new direction with 3D constructions using wood, personal mementos, old jewelry, metal fixtures, photos, and other found objects. Experiment with molding objects from air-dry clay, along with techniques such as weaving, image transfers, and stitching with cord.

IN PERSON: Tues., April 18–May 23, 6:30 p.m.; Sharon Robinson; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0TR; Members $215; Nonmembers $245

Fundamentals of Abstract Collage

Collage is an amazingly versatile art form with no limit when it comes to techniques and materials. In this beginner-level course, learn about tools, adhesives, materials, and appropriate bases for supporting a collage.

IN PERSON: Sat., April 29–June 17, (no class May 13 and May 27); 1 p.m., Sharon Robinson; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0TS; Members $235; Nonmembers $265

By Sharon Robinson

Learn to create mosaic jewelry in this daylong workshop. Topics include jewelry-base selection, adhesive choice, and suitable tesserae. Gain experience in precision cutting, artistic laying techniques, and working on a small scale as you create two silverplate mosaic pendants.

SOLD OUT

IN PERSON: Sat., March 11, 10:30 a.m.; Bonnie Fitzgerald; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0RD; Members $85; Nonmembers $95

An Orchid Afternoon: Intermediate Orchid Care

Enjoy a fun, relaxing afternoon learning about orchid care. The advanced class culminates with an orchid mounting activity using materials supplied in class. Students may also bring in their own orchids for a question-and-answer session.

IN PERSON: Sat., March 25, 2 p.m.; Barb Schmidt; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0RE; Members $90; Nonmembers $100

FIBER ARTS n n n n

Explore the Smithsonian Collection: Knitting

Explore knitted objects from the Natural History Museum’s collection. Learn about the techniques, traditions, and tales connected to hand-knit pieces such as Greenlandic doublethumbed mittens and scarves made from Alaskan musk ox wool.

IN PERSON: Fri., March 10, 1 p.m.; Ann Richards; details and supply list on website; Museum Support Center, Suitland, MD; CODE 1V0-0RN; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

By Bonnie Fitzgerald

Phalaenopsis orchid

Knitted dolls, Natural History Museum

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Freestyle Embroidery Basics

In this workshop, beginners are introduced to surface freestyle hand embroidery. In this style, the stitches are applied freely, disregarding the weave or structure of the ground cloth. Learn how to select and prepare fabric using a simple design, ready the hoop, and begin stitching.

IN PERSON: Sat., March 18, 11 a.m.; Heather Kerley; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0RC; Members $55; Nonmembers $65

PHOTOGRAPHY n n n n

Introduction to Photography

By Heather Kerley

Abstract Embroidery

Learn to apply the principles of abstract art to making embroidery. Develop a freeflowing approach to embroidery that emphasizes form, color, line, texture, pattern, composition, and process.

IN PERSON: Tues., May 2–23, 10 a.m.; Heather Kerley; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0TW; Members $115; Nonmembers $135

SCULPTURE n n n n

Figure Sculpture

Students examine the materials and processes for sculpting a portrait, torso, or full figure using a live model. They learn clay sculpture techniques focused on tool use, armatures, anatomy, and proportions and have the opportunity to explore their own individual styles.

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.

By Andargé Asfaw

IN PERSON: Tues., April 18–June 6, 6:30 p.m.; Andargé Asfaw; details on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0SX; Members $225; Nonmembers $255

Introduction to Photography II

This course is ideal for students who are interested in expanding their understanding of photography fundamentals. Sessions focus on lighting, composition, shooting techniques, gear, and photo-editing software.

IN PERSON: Wed., April 19–June 7, 6:30 p.m.; Andargé Asfaw; details on website; CODE 1V0-0SZ; Members $225; Nonmembers $255

By Andargé Asfaw

On-Location Photography

By George Tkabladze

IN PERSON: Tues., April 18–June 6, 6:30 p.m.; George Tkabladze; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0SS; Members $285; Nonmembers $315

Clay Portrait

Develop basic sculpting skills in this introduction to the concepts and techniques of sculpting the human head. Create copies of a plaster cast portrait or sculpt from a live model. Hands-on practice helps students develop skills in using different techniques and tools and understanding proportion and problem-solving.

IN PERSON: Tues., April 18–June 6, 2 p.m.; George Tkabladze; details and supply list on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0SR; Members $285; Nonmembers $315

By George Tkabladze

Capture images of Washington, D.C., as you sharpen your way of thinking about shooting outdoors. Emphasis is placed on what happens before the shutter release is pressed and on truly previsualizing the photograph. Sessions include lectures, Metroaccessible field trips, loosely structured assignments, and critique sessions in which students develop outdoor-shooting strategies.

By Joe Yablonsky

IN PERSON: Sun., April 30–June 11 (no class May 28), 1:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0TE; Members $195; Nonmembers $225

By Heather Kerley

IN

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

Online classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio. View portfolios of work by our instructors at SmithsonianAssociates.org/art instructors.

ONLINE ART THEORY AND PRACTICE n n n n

World Art History Certificate

elective: Earn 1/2 credit

Composition

Composition is one of the most important elements of any artwork. Examine fundamental concepts of composition and their practical application in studio-art practice. Develop tools to enrich your own work as well to analyze and appreciate visual art in general. Create several collages based on artworks and themes discussed in class.

ONLINE Mon., May 1–22 ; Shahin Talishkhan; 10:30 a.m.; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RX; Members $155; Nonmembers $175

Curating a Life: Art as Memoir

NEW

Creating a Sustainable Arts Practice

Art can inspire us in so many ways, but is it possible to have an eco-friendly creative practice? Through instructor-led discussion and handson exercises, explore the possibilities for creating work that is sustainable in every sense of the word.

By Heidi Rugg

ONLINE: Thurs., March 9 and 16, 6:30 p.m.; Heidi Rugg; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RM; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

Visual Journaling: Creativity Workout

By Renee Sandell

This unique course is designed to engage your skills in decoding (reading) and encoding (creating) visual meaning. Explore selected works from the Smithsonian’s and other collections to find images that inspire hands-on exercises for building visual thinking skills: drawing, painting, and mixed-media; sketchbook journaling; and finally, creating a “memoir museum” of past experiences—and those yet to explore.

ONLINE: Mon., April 17–May 22, 1:30 p.m.; Renee Sandell; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RV; Members $225; Nonmembers $255

Visual Journaling: Creativity Intensive

Strengthen your creative journaling muscles in three intensive sessions focused on artistic experimentation. Engage in markmaking and mapping exercises; use a variety of artistic media and techniques; explore modes of visual thinking and working from memory; observation, imagination, narrative, and experimental approaches.

ONLINE: Sat., May 6, May 20, and June 3, 1 p.m.; Renee Sandell; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RW; Members $185; Nonmembers $205

By Renee Sandell

Gather your art materials for a morning of artistic experimentation designed to strengthen creative muscles and deepen skills in visual expression. Explore five modes of visual thinking: working from memory, observation, imagination, narrative, and experimental approaches.

By Renee Sandell

ONLINE: Sat., May 13, 1 p.m.; Renee Sandell; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TK; Members $75; Nonmembers $85

Creative Mind Mapping

Take your ideas from banal to beautiful by learning how to create mind maps worthy of framing. Choose from three different styles to illustrate your thoughts and goals.

By Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Mon., May 15 and 22, 6:30 p.m.; Mïa Vollkommer; details and supply list on website; CODE 1K0-0TL; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

Moroccan Café by Matisse, 1913

ONLINE

Beginning Drawing

Introduction to Afghan Geometric Design

For centuries, religious and secular Islamic manuscripts have contained beautiful geometric decorations. Explore the history and construction of these traditional designs and create designs with graph paper and a compass.

By Sughra Hussainy

ONLINE: Sun., April 16–May 21, 1 p.m.; Sughra Hussainy; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RP; Members $195; Nonmembers $225

NEW CLASSES

Drawing with Silverpoint

This course, a valuable introduction for beginners, teaches the basic skills needed as a strong foundation for drawing. Working with a variety of materials and techniques, including charcoal and pencils, students explore the rendering of geometric forms, volume, and perspective, with an emphasis on personal gesture marks.

ONLINE: Sun, April 23–June 18 (no class May 28), 10:15 a.m.; Josh Highter; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RS; Members $255; Nonmembers $285

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit

Drawing Light…and How the Masters Did It

By Lori VanKirk Schue

Silverpoint drawing uses a silver stylus on specially prepared paper to produce delicate lines. Initially silver-gray, the drawing tarnishes when exposed to air, resulting in a characteristic warm brown tone. Learn the history of silverpoint, the materials required, and the vocabulary. Prior drawing experience is strongly recommended.

ONLINE: Fri., May 5 and 12, 1 p.m.; Lori VanKirk Schue; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V00TJ; Member $95; Nonmembers $115

Introduction to Chalk Pastels

Chalk pastels can be used to create dynamic artworks in any genre: portrait, still life, abstract, or landscape. Techniques are demonstrated, and various types of chalk pastels, how to combine them with other media, their history, and proper storage are discussed. All levels are welcome.

By Lori VanKirk Schue

ONLINE: Mon., April 24–May 8, 1 p.m.; Lori VanKirk Schue; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V00TH; Members $135; Nonmembers $155

By Nick Cruz Velleman

Learn the strategies artists such as Rembrandt, Cézanne, and Van Gogh used to harness light in order to give their images dimension. Inclass exercises focus on using graphite, ink, and pastel to draw studies of masterworks.

ONLINE: Tues., April 25–May 23, 6:30 p.m., Nick Cruz Velleman; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RT; Members $185; Nonmembers $215

PAINTING n n n n

Introduction to Watercolor

Beginning students as well as experienced painters explore new materials and techniques in watercolor painting. Working on stilllifes and landscapes from direct observation or photographs, they learn about basic watercolor techniques and new approaches to painting through demonstration, discussion, and experimentation.

By Josh Highter

ONLINE: Mon., April 17–June 12 (no class May 29), 6:30 p.m.; Josh Highter; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RZ; Members $245; Nonmembers $275

Quick-Sketch Watercolor Journaling

Virtually travel from coast to coast and to Europe in order to explore a variety of subjects using quick-sketch watercolor techniques. Capture a scene with graceful lines and paint with flowing watercolors as you learn to break down a scene into simple shapes.

ONLINE: Sat., April 22 and 29, 10 a.m.; Cindy Briggs; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TM; Members $155; Nonmembers $175

By Cindy Briggs

Hill Country Cottage in Watercolor

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit

Drawing Light: How the Masters Did it in Color

Using watercolor and oil pastels, learn the strategies Delacroix, Turner, Monet, and Cézanne employed to harness light in their images. By looking deep into their work, participants investigate how these masters’ use of color manipulates the experience of light.

By Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Wed., May 24–June 21, 6:30 p.m.; Nick Cruz Velleman; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TQ; Members $165; Nonmembers $195

MIXED-MEDIA

Gyotaku: The Japanese Art of Printing with Fish

By Cindy Briggs

Learn to see and draw relationships in architecture exemplified by classic Hill Country cottages. Aided by an instructor-provided tracing and video link, describe the character of stonework with reflective light in the shadows, and give depth to the surrounding landscape. Previous watercolor experience is helpful but not required.

ONLINE: Wed., April 26 and Thurs., April 27, 6:30 p.m.; Cindy Briggs; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TN; Members $95; Nonmembers $115

Botanicals in Watercolor II

Build on your botanical painting skills as you create vibrant watercolors inspired by nature. Learn to focus on the texture and detail of botanical subjects including flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Step-by-step instructions in watercolor are given, along with practical demonstrations. Some basic watercolor experience is required.

ONLINE: Tues., April 18–June 6, 5 p.m.; Lubna Zahid; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0SB; Members $265; Nonmembers $295

By Lubna Zahid

By Sue Fierston

Using direct printing and water-based printing inks, create realistic looking schools of fish or a single artistic print simply by inking a whole fish and pressing it to paper. Create several 12-by-18-inch gyotaku. Learn how to paint realistic fish-eyes to bring your print to life and cut masks to create realistic compositions.

ONLINE: Sat., April 22, 10 a.m.; Sue Fierston; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0SK; Members $75; Nonmembers $85

Artful Mind, Tranquil Mind

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

ONLINE: Mon., April 17–May 22, 12 p.m.; Sushmita Mazumdar; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V00SG; Members $95; Nonmembers $125

By Sushmita Mazumdar

Mixed-Media Art Warmups

Art warmups can be students’ starting point for a new artwork or an opportunity to explore new materials and techniques. Students work with positive and negative space, make quick sketches, go beyond the color wheel, and use mixed-media techniques to build layers and texture.

Adult Art Camp: Working in Two Dimensions

By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

Newsprint Collage (Continued)

ONLINE: Fri., March 3–17, 1 p.m.; Marcie Wolf-Hubbard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RL; Members $165; Nonmembers $185

By Susan Vitali

This course is a no-judgment zone to let you recapture your yearning to explore different media and let loose. Work with watercolor, pencil, pastel, collage, and printmaking, and learn the elements of art and principles of design. Easy projects with handouts and samples are provided.

ONLINE: Thurs., May 11–June 15, 6:30 p.m.; Susan Vitali; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UH; Members $185; Nonmembers $215

Creating with Pressed Botanicals

By Kate Lewis

Students who completed the Newsprint Collage Workshop now have the opportunity to further develop their collage practice. Experimenting with materials, students continue to explore and express their ideas about world affairs through collage. Instruction is tailored to the individual student in a class that fosters lively discussion and supportive feedback.

ONLINE: Tues., March 7–21, 10:30 a.m.; Kate Lewis; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0QX; Members $175; Nonmembers $195

Collage and MixedMedia: Animals and Nature

By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

With an emphasis on imagery from the natural world, learn to sketch animals and objects found in nature, then combine your drawings with painting and additional elements and textures to create whimsical or serious mixed-media art.

ONLINE: Wed., April 19–June 7, 1:30 p.m.; Marcie WolfHubbard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V00SH; Members $245; Nonmembers $275

Use pressed botanicals, such as flower petals, grasses, and leaves, along with watercolors and colored pencils to make uniquely seasonal artworks. Learn how to select and press plant materials and create successful compositions with organic and rigid shapes in a no-stress environment. Designed around playfulness and working with “mistakes”, the lessons learned can be useful when creating future artworks in any chosen medium.

By Lori VanKirk Schue

ONLINE: Mon., June 5, 1 p.m.; Lori VanKirk Schue; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TV; Members $55; Nonmembers $65

Collage and Mixed-Media

Collage is a highly versatile and accessible art technique that results in the playful combination of different and sometimes unlikely materials. Get an introduction to the materials, tools, and technologies used in collage and assemblage. Find inspiration in artists who worked in collage including Joseph Cornell, Romare Bearden, and Gertrude Greene. Then, develop your own collage, mixed-media, or assemblage projects.

By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

ONLINE: Wed., April 19–June 7, 6:30 p.m.; Marcie WolfHubbard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0SJ; Members $245; Nonmembers $275

Fabric Printing Using Natural Materials

Experiment with hand-printing on fabrics using colorful Akua waterbased printmaking ink and natural materials. Practice printmaking techniques on muslin and cotton or cotton-blend fabric.

ONLINE: Sat., April 29, 10 a.m.; Sue Fierston; details and supply list on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $65 Student work

Image Transfers and Altered Photos

Discover a variety of methods for making and using image transfers and expanding your creative horizons with photo alteration. Both techniques can offer new dimensions and interest to your artworks.

ONLINE: Mon., May 1–22, 6:30 p.m.; Sharon Robinson; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TT; Members $155; Nonmembers $175

By Sharon Robinson

Let’s Tell Our Tales: Personal Storybooks

FIBER ARTS

Introduction to Bobbin Lace

Handmade bobbin lace has been around since the 16th century. All bobbin lace is made with two moves, with four bobbins at a time. Learn the basics of the craft, from winding the bobbins to making four small lace projects, in this introductory class.

By Karen Thompson

NEW CLASSES

ONLINE: Thurs., April 27–May 18, 12 p.m.; Karen Thompson; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TG; Members $205; Nonmembers $225

Weaving Plaid on the Rigid Heddle Loom

Learn to warp the ridged heddle loom for a plaid design and create a woven structure with a repeating sequence. Explore weaving and experiment with a variety of techniques while creating a scarf or table runner.

By Sushmita Mazumdar

Tell your story as you fill three handmade books with original art and writing. Each book presents an opportunity to work with different techniques and media, from papercutting and 3D structures to color pencils on pastel paper; Chinese ink and brush; and collage.

ONLINE: Fri., May 5–19, 12 p.m.; Sushmita Mazumdar; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TU; Members $95; Nonmembers $115

Advantages to providing your email to customer service:

• Receive a digital version of the member program guide so you can read it anywhere

• Receive important notices regarding your class along with other useful information

ONLINE: Tues., March 7–21, 6 p.m.; Tea Okropiridze; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RA; Members $105; Nonmembers $125

By Tea Okropiridze

Mind and Body Centering Through Art

By Lauren Kingsland

Feeling balanced contributes to our sense of well-being and promotes resilience in the face of life’s challenges. Centering art practices can be an effective tool in helping to restore this sense of equilibrium. Learn how to create calming geometric designs and how to use them for contemplation and relaxation practices.

ONLINE: Wed., March 1-22, 1:30 p.m.; Lauren Kingsland: details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0QZ; Members $85; Nonmembers $105

When Good Patterns Go Bad

Avoiding and Fixing Knitting Mistakes

Learn how to detect knitting errors sooner and how to fix them. From dropped stitches to difficult pattern instructions to twisted stitches and more, learn a protocol to follow when you’re stuck on a knitting project.

ONLINE: Sun., March 5, 1 p.m.; Ann Richards; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0QD; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

Felted Jewelry

By Renate Maile–Moskowitz

ONLINE: Fri., March 10–24,

Explore the creative possibilities of combining wool with other decorative elements such as metal, beads, and stones to make distinctive necklaces,rings, pendants, earrings, and other jewelry.

1 p.m.; Renate Maile-Moskowitz; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0SM; Members $145; Nonmembers $165

Color Theory for Embroidery Artists

Find your personal sense of color confidence while learning to apply color to embroidery. Learn color-theory vocabulary through exercises and embroidery hoop experiments. Extract palettes from found images and translate them into stitched creations.

ONLINE: Thurs., March 9–23, 12:30 p.m.; Heather Kerley; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RB; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

By Heather Kerley

NEW CLASSES

Wet Felting Workshops

Small Vessels with Felted Stoppers

Learn the basic techniques of wet felting over small-scale resists to create small vessels, topped with lids or stoppers. Also taught is color blending. This workshop is an ideal challenge for both beginning and experienced felters.

ONLINE

By Renate Maile-Moscowitz

ONLINE: Sat., May 13 and 20, 1 p.m.; Renate Maile-Moscowitz; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UK; Members $115; Nonmembers $135

Resist and Unite

By Renate Maile-Moscowitz

The socio-political slogan “resist and unite” can also be used to describe two techniques of wet felting: using a resist to keep fibers from felting together and the uniting of fibers to create a form. Learn these methods to create a trivet or small wall hanging.

ONLINE: Sat., April 22 and 29, 1 p.m.; Renate MaileMoscowitz; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V00UJ; Members $115; Nonmembers $135

Tapestry Weaving

Learn basic tapestry weaving techniques and design. Then, create a miniature woven tapestry on a small frame loom. Techniques covered include warping the loom; color mixing and hatching; creating stripes and irregular shapes; and shading and contour.

ONLINE: Thurs., April 20–June 8, 10:30 a.m.; Tea Okropiridze; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0SN; Members $225; Nonmembers $255

By Tea Okropiridze

Written in Fabric

Memory Messages Through Quilts

Preserve precious memories for future generations and express current feelings and emotions through memory quilts. Learn hand piecing, machine and hand appliqué, managing repurposed fabrics, freestyle embroidery, and creating text using needle and thread.

ONLINE: Wed., April 26–June 14, 1 p.m.; Lauren Kingsland and Heather Kerley; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0SP; Members $245;

Nonmembers $275

By Lauren Kingsland

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.

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NEW CLASS

Wirework Intensive: Creative Chains

ONLINE

By Tea Okropiridze

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

Introduction to Pointed-Pen Calligraphy

Learn how to use the elegant Copperplate script and take your personal correspondence to a whole new level. Sessions focus on basic tools and mechanics; working with color; and using this hand in different sizes and in various applications. No prior calligraphy experience is needed.

ONLINE: Sat., April 22–June 17 (no class May 27), 1:30 p.m.; Sharmila Karamchandani; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0SQ; Members $235; Nonmembers $265

A beautifully crafted chain can adorn a handmade pendant or be worn alone as a unique and expressive piece of jewelry. Learn to create three different chain designs using wire-working, forming, and texturing. Wire fusing is also demonstrated and instructions for a complementary clasp are included.

By Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Sat., April 29–May 13, 12 p.m.; Mïa Vollkommer; details and supply list on website; CODE 1K0-0SU; Members $195; Nonmembers $215

Washington’s Marvelous Mosaics

The Washington, D.C., area contains a surprising number of works that together provide a picture of the styles and techniques of an art form that’s been practiced since ancient times. Take a virtual tour that highlights local mosaic treasures at notable public sites, contemporary spaces, and federal and private buildings.

ONLINE: Tues., May 2, 6:30 p.m.; Bonnie Fitzgerald; details on website; CODE 1V00TY; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Summer Orchid Care

Just in time for summer, discover the pros and cons of moving your orchids outside in the hotter months. Learn about the extra care orchids need while they are outside and when they are ready to be brought back indoors.

ONLINE: Tues., May 23, 6:30 p.m.; Barb Schmidt; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UG; Members $35; Nonmembers $45

Statue of Liberty (detail) depicted in a mosaic at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

The Art of Floral Design

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.

Taking Better Photos

By Arrin Sutliff

ONLINE: Wed., April 26–May 31, 7:30 p.m.; Arrin Sutliff; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0ST; Members $155; Nonmembers $185

PHOTOGRAPHY: Beginner n n n n

Introduction to Lightroom

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, architecture, and more.

By Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Wed., April 19–May 3, 6:30 p.m., Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0TA; Members $125; Nonmembers $145

Introduction to Photography

By Eliot Cohen

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.

ONLINE: Sat., April 22 and Sun., April 23, 9:30 a.m.; Eliot Cohen; details on website; CODE 1V0-0TC; Members $275; Nonmembers $295

Understanding Your Digital Mirrorless or SLR Camera

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.

ONLINE: Wed., April 12–26, 1 p.m.; Eliot Cohen; details on website; CODE 1V0-0SV; Members $255; Nonmembers $275

By Eliot Cohen

By Andargé Asfaw

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: Wed., April 19–June 7, 10:30 a.m.; Andargé Asfaw; details on website; CODE 1V0-0SY; Members $225; Nonmembers $255

Aspect Ratios

Gain an understanding of aspect ratios (digital sensors and film). The class explores changing the aspect ratio in camera, aspect-ratio constraints in cropping and post-production, and use of the Photoshop image size and canvas size commands. Class discussion explores how aspect ratio affects print sizes and presentation methods (mat board, frames, etc.).

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

Photo 101

ONLINE

Introduction to iPhone Photography

iPhone cameras are continually improving and replacing point-and-shoot cameras with convenient and easier ways to capture, post-produce, and share images. Learn how to use a well-designed secondary camera app to further improve the basic iPhone camera.

By Peggy Feerick

ONLINE: Sat., May 13 and Sun., May 14, 10 a.m.; Peggy Feerick; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UA; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

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PHOTOGRAPHY: Experienced

Architecture and Public Art Photography

Learn how to take great photographs of architecture and public art. Class discussions include techniques and camera settings for cityscapes, individual buildings, architectural details, contemporary public art, monuments and memorials, and cemetery statuary.

ONLINE: Thurs., March 2–16, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0RG; Members $125; Nonmembers $145

iPhone Photography II

This workshop provides additional hands-on practice to students who have completed Introduction to iPhone Photography, including achieving better exposure (using the ProCamera app), understanding advanced technical methods and terms, and using editing and organization apps.

ONLINE: Sat., March 4 and Sun., March 5, 10 a.m.; Peggy Feerick; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RH; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

By Peggy Feerick

NEW CLASSES

Photography

Next Steps: The

Personal Project

Photographers ready to advance or refine a body of work explore editing and sequencing personal projects through discussion and writing. View the work of other photographers and fellow students. Then, begin creating an effective photographic series.

By Patricia Howard

ONLINE: Sat., March 4–25, 12 p.m.; Patricia Howard; details on website; CODE 1V0-0RJ; Members $135; Nonmembers $155

Photographing Pets and People

Learn to create photo portraits of family, friends—and passers-by—and their pets. Draw on tips from photojournalism and street photography as you learn how to use available natural light in your photos. Studio photography topics are not included in this class. Draw on personal interests through homework assignments.

ONLINE: Wed., March 8 and 15, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0RK; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

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

By Joe Yablonsky

Mastering Exposure

Develop a greater understanding of the complex relationship among aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Topics include exposure modes, exposure compensation, filter exposure factors, bracketing, metering modes, histograms, the zone system, dynamic range, eliminating camera shake, tripods, and flash concepts. Skills are honed through assignments and in-class review.

ONLINE: Thurs., April 27–May 25, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0TD; Members $185; Nonmembers $215

The Flash Class

Lighting can make or break your work as a digital photographer. Learn the tech tips that will make your flash one of your most effective creative tools and help create a three-dimensional look in your photographs of people and objects.

By Marty Kaplan

ONLINE: Mon., May 1–22, 6:30 p.m.; Marty Kaplan; details on website; CODE 1V0-0UF; Members $165; Nonmembers $185

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., May 10 and 17, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0TZ; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

ONLINE

The Photo Essay

Learn how to create a photo essay, a set of photographs that tell a story or evoke a series of emotions. Homework assignments are designed to encourage students to explore their own personal interests.

ONLINE: Wed., May 24 and June 21, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V00UB; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit Hands-On

History of Photography: Surrealism

Learn about the world of the photo surrealists—Man Ray, László MoholyNagy, 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

Build Your Photographic Portfolio

Show off your photos like a pro and learn how to assemble a personal portfolio that reflects your best work and your distinctive vision as a photographer. Targeted homework assignments help you increase your collection of portfolio-quality work.

ONLINE: Wed., May 31–June 14, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0UC; Members $125; Nonmembers $145

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Rayograph (untitled), 1922, by Man Ray

Montgomery Meigs in Washington Beyond the Civil War

Montgomery Meigs is best known as the quartermaster general of the Union Army during the Civil War. Less known, however, is that he also was an engineer, architect, inventor, patron of the arts, and a Smithsonian regent. As such, Meigs left an indelible impression on the face of the capital city, from the dome of the U.S. Capitol to the Smithsonian Arts and Industries building, and more. Explore his legacy during a full day of history and architecture in Washington, D.C., led by history, urban studies, and architecture lecturer Bill Keene.

The tour visits the Arts and Industries Building, the National Building Museum, Battleground National Cemetery, and the Commissary Sergeant’s Quarters at Fort Myer, as well as views other buildings and works by Meigs.

Fri., March 24, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; by bus; CODE 1CD-007; Members $160; Nonmembers $210

All Eyes on Pittsburgh

The centerpiece of this art-filled three-day visit to Pittsburgh—a city of smokestacks and steel reborn as a cultural capital—is the 58th Carnegie International exhibition, held every three to five years at the Carnegie Museum of Art. The latest edition displays the work of more than 30 artists, both rising stars and celebrated figures.

In addition, the tour led by arts journalist Richard Selden visits alternative-art venue the Mattress Factory, the museum devoted to Pittsburgh-born pop-art king Andy Warhol, and the former estate of industrial baron and art collector Henry Clay Frick, an associate of Andrew Carnegie.

The itinerary includes a walking and tasting tour of Pittsburgh’s revived market center, the Strip District; a ride on the 1877 Duquesne Incline cable car to view a panorama of downtown; and lunch at the National Aviary.

Sun., March 26, 8 a.m.–Tues., March 28, 10 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-PIT; Members $1,045; Nonmembers $1,375

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Study Tours are designed for people who want more than just a getaway, Smithsonian Associates expert-led tours offer one-of-a-kind travel experiences.

Bus Tour

National Building Museum

Battleground National Cemetery

Bus Tour

The Duquesne Incline overlooking downtown Pittsburgh

View of Julian Abraham “Togar” installation from Rijksakademie Open Studios, Amsterdam, 2021 at the 58th Carnegie International

Walking Tour

Springtime on the Potomac Heritage Trail

Wildflower Hike at Turkey Run Park

Discover the spring splendors of the Potomac Gorge, a 1,900-acre natural area spanning Maryland and Virginia, and one of the most geologically diverse places on Earth. Hiking north from Turkey Run Park along the Potomac Heritage Trail, trek along one of the most scenic sections of the Potomac River as you admire lush upland forests and floodplains brilliantly decorated by Virginia bluebells. Keep an eye out for great blue herons and other native fauna in the temporary pools and side channels.

Study leader Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a naturalist and author, has spent a year exploring the Potomac Gorge from Great Falls to Theodore Roosevelt Island for an upcoming book, and this trek covers one of her favorite sections of it.

TWO OPTIONS: Wed., April 12 (CODE 1CS-B05); Thurs., April 13 (CODE 1CS-C05); 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $75

Doodlebugging Through Delaware

Hop aboard a private charter of an early 20th-century self-propelled railcar called the Doodlebug and take in the spring sights along the historic Wilmington & Western Railroad line. The W&W has been in continuous operation since 1867, stretching at its longest to 20 miles of track along the Red Clay Valley from downtown Wilmington, Delaware, to Landenberg, Pennsylvania.

As you ride, tour leader Joe Nevin, a railroad historian, covers the colorful background of the W&W and offers stories of the once-bustling industrial towns along the branch line. The visit includes a tour of the W&W’s steam locomotive and passenger car shop facilities at Marshalltown, as well as a guided walking tour of a vintage amusement park site at Brandywine Springs. The day concludes with a stop in New Castle to see remnants of the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad, one of the nation’s first. Lunch is at the Back Burner restaurant in Hockessin, the current end of the line. Sat., April 15, 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-008; Members $200; Nonmembers $250

Wilmington & Western Engine 98 crosses Red Clay Creek near Greenbank Mills and Philips Farm, Delaware

Bus Tour

Yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum)

Virginia bluebells, a species native to eastern North America, at Turkey Run Park

MELANIE CHOUKAS-BRADLEY

The Best of Brooklyn

Brooklyn is New York City’s most populous borough and is arguably the most historic and colorful section of the city. Today it’s hipper than ever, filled with intriguing shops and restaurants and a booming cultural scene. On this two-day visit, arts journalist and former Brooklynite Richard Selden introduces you to several of Brooklyn’s top attractions.

The itinerary includes the Brooklyn Museum; a chamber-music performance at the floating venue Bargemusic; and a special look inside the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Bridge, Olmsted and Vaux’s Prospect Park, and other landmarks round out the sites. Stay in a hotel in the heart of Brooklyn and eat like a local with dinner at a charming Italian restaurant in Carroll Gardens and a visit to an authentic Turkish restaurant for lunch.

Sun., April 16, 7 a.m.–Mon., April 17, 9:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-BOB; Members $635;

Nonmembers $835

Military History in the Capital Area

Much of America’s military history—both past and present—is connected to the capital area, the backdrop for a day that spotlights three significant sites in a tour led by two staff members of the National Museum of the United States Army, public outreach manager Brent Feito and historian Matt Seelinger

A visit to Mount Vernon, the home of the United States’ first commander in chief, George Washington, sets the stage for examining the early military campaigns of the fledgling nation. The Fort Belvoir–based Museum of the United States Army, one of the newest in the area, gives visitors the opportunity to explore the branch’s 247-year history and its direct influence on American life.

The final stop is the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, for a look at the extensive display of American and international military aircraft, uniforms, and other artifacts and close-up views of holdings such as the Bell AH1F Cobra, a Bell UH-1H Iroquois “Huey,” and a Redstone missile.

Fri., April 21, 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; by bus; complete tour information on website; box lunch provided; CODE 1CD-009; Members $160; Nonmembers $210

Bus Tour

Bargemusic, Pier 1, DUMBO waterfront

National Museum of the United States Army

Mount Vernon

Brooklyn Bridge from the DUMBO waterfront

The lake, Prospect Park, Brooklyn

The Shinto shrine at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Bus Tour

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Hillwood: A Collector’s Vision of Beauty, Inside and Outside

Walking Tour

Discover one of the finest and most personal museums in Washington in a private, small-group experience that invites you to spend a spring day exploring Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, the former residence of businesswoman and collector Marjorie Merriweather Post.

Enjoy a guided tour of Hillwood’s gardens, which feature a diverse and fascinating array of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. It’s the perfect season to stroll through the French parterre, the Japanese-style garden, and the working greenhouse filled with orchids and other tropical plants.

Then tour the Georgian-style mansion that reflects the distinctive artistic focus of Post, who maintained strong ties to the 18th-century French decorating style when transforming Hillwood into her own after purchasing the estate in 1955. Within its walls are a large decorative arts collection focusing heavily on Russian art and religious objects—including Faberge eggs—as well as 18th- and 19th-century French art and furniture.

TWO OPTIONS: Fri., May 5 (CODE 1CD-010) and Fri., May 19 (CODE 1CD-B10), 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $150; Nonmembers $200

Glimpses of Old Arlington

The essence of Arlington County goes beyond highways and high-rises—and reaches deep into the past. From the early 17th century to the Revolution and the Civil War to the Great Depression and the postwar boom, Arlington County has been a canvas for American history. Get a close look at sites that reflect that fascinating heritage with historian Dakota Springston.

After an introductory presentation at the Ripley Center, a bus tour travels through diverse neighborhoods in East Falls Church, Fostoria, Clarendon, Cherrydale, Fort Myer Heights, Glencarlyn, and Ballston. Participants visit five historic structures such as the Ball-Sellers House, a circa-1780 log cabin that’s the oldest residence in the county; the Mary Carlin House from around 1800; and the Clarendon post office, opened in 1937. A catered box lunch is served in a firehouse.

Sat., May 6, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; CODE 1CD-011; by bus; detailed tour information on website; Members $135; Nonmembers $185

Support what we do at Smithsonian Associates

Please help us continue to carry out our educational mission by making a charitable contribution today. Your help is essential because, unlike the museums, Smithsonian Associates is not federally funded and relies entirely on donations and membership support to bridge the gap between program expenses and ticket revenue.

SmithsonianAssociates.org/levels

Ball-Sellers House

Clarendon post office

Japanese-style garden

Lincoln in Virginia: A Wartime Journey

Abraham Lincoln spent 18 of the last 21 days of his life in eastern Virginia, headquarters for Ulysses S. Grant’s campaign against Robert E. Lee, whose army was in the process of defending Richmond and Petersburg. Join Noah Andre Trudeau, author of Lincoln’s Greatest Journey: Sixteen Days That Changed a Presidency, March 24–April 8, 1865, as he leads a visit to sites in the region connected to that trip.

Highlights include City Point, Lincoln’s base during his visit; Fort Wadsworth, where Lincoln and his son Tad observed troops in combat; the Thomas Wallace House, the site at which Lincoln and General Grant met to discuss the terms for Lee’s surrender; and Richmond’s Jefferson Davis mansion, the house Lincoln visited the day after Union troops entered the city. Representatives of the National Park Service and the American Civil War Museum add perspective on Lincoln’s visit and the closing weeks of the war.

Sat., May 13, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-012; Members $175; Nonmembers $225

The Civil War at Chancellorsville

In the eyes of many Civil War scholars, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory and Union General Joseph “Fighting Joe” Hooker’s greatest lost opportunity can be found during the battle of Chancellorsville that raged in the Virginia Wilderness from May 1-4, 1863. Marc Thompson, a former Air Force military intelligence officer, leads a visit to most of the significant locations associated with this epic Civil War battle.

Thompson’s extensive experience in analyzing and assessing adversary operations, along with his intimate knowledge of the Chancellorsville battlefield, provide him with some unique perspectives on combat leadership and the fog of war that impacted the battle’s participants.

Sat., May 20, 8:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-013; Members $150; Nonmembers $200

Related program: A Bitter Defeat (see p. 11)

A Spring Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island

Enjoy a spring morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows the island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C.

Choukas-Bradley shares an overview of the landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes.

THREE OPTIONS: Tues., May 23 (CODE 1CS-A06); Wed., May 24 (CODE 1CS-B06); Thurs., May 25 (CODE 1CS-C06); all tours 8:30–11:30 a.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $75

The Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center

Bus Tour

Walking Tour

Theodore Roosevelt Memorial

Thomas Wallace House, Petersburg

Stone steps and bridge at Theodore Roosevelt Island

A Mountain Rail Extravaganza

The Cass Scenic Railroad and Other West Virginia Excursions

All aboard for an exciting rail journey through West Virginia’s breathtaking mountain scenery. Led by railroad historian Joe Nevin, this multi-day tour features three rail excursions, including a climb behind the geared steam locomotive of the Cass Scenic Railroad to the top of the second-highest point in the state.

Friday’s route descends into the scenic Shenandoah Valley before turning west into the region known as “Virginia’s Switzerland.” Continue west to the town of Durbin, West Virginia, and have lunch before a chartered trip on the last remaining 10 miles of the track along the upper Greenbrier River that once connected Durbin with Cass.

Saturday begins with a tour of the historic lumber town buildings and remnants of the great mills that once filled the valley. In Cass, board your train for an afternoon excursion (including an onboard lunch) to Bald Knob overlook, where a large platform offers panoramic views into two states and the Allegheny Mountains. On Sunday, visit the West Virginia Railroad Museum, where a specialized collection of memorabilia and railroad equipment tells the story of the state’s rail heritage. Then take your seat on the New Tygart Flyer for lunch and a fourhour round trip before returning to the station for your journey home.

Fri., June 2, 7:30 a.m.–Sun., June 4, 8:45 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-MRE; Members $850; Nonmembers $1,050

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, blue-winged, 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

Support what we do at Smithsonian Associates

Please help us continue to carry out our educational mission by making a charitable contribution today. Your help is essential because, unlike the museums, Smithsonian Associates is not federally funded and relies entirely on donations and membership support to bridge the gap between program expenses and ticket revenue. SmithsonianAssociates.org/levels

The Durbin Rocket, built in 1910

A train navigates the switchbacks on the way to Cass, West Virginia

WALTER SCRIPTUNAS

Bus Tour

Ruffed grouse

Expand Your World: Join Smithsonian Associates

Your Membership Support Will Shape Our Future

Becoming a member of Smithsonian Associates makes you part of the largest museum-based educational program in the world. You’ll be among the first to know about the outstanding programs we bring you every month, and as an insider you’ll have unparalleled access to the Smithsonian’s world of knowledge—and enjoy exclusive benefits.

You might not be aware that unlike the Smithsonian’s museums, Smithsonian Associates is not federally funded. We rely on individual member contributions to help bridge the gap between program expenses and ticket revenues. And that support ensures that Smithsonian Associates can continue to grow and reach even more people—all across the country—with outstanding educational programs.

Please, consider expanding your world by becoming part of ours at: SmithsonianAssociates.org/levels

Membership Levels

Associate ($50) Members-only ticket priority and ticket discounts, free members-only programs, Smithsonian Associates’ monthly program guide, and more.

Champion ($80) All the above and additional benefits: Up to four discounted tickets, priority consideration for waitlisted programs, and more.

Promoter ($100) All the above and additional benefits: The award-winning Smithsonian magazine delivered to you, member discount on limited-edition fine-art prints created for Smithsonian Associates’ Art Collectors Program, and more.

Advocate ($175) All the above and additional benefits: An advance digital copy of the monthly program guide, two complimentary program tickets, and more.

Contributor ($300) All the above and additional benefits: Advance registration for Smithsonian Summer Camp, recognition in the program guide’s annual donor list, and more.

Patron ($600) All the above and additional benefits: Four complimentary tickets to a headliner program, copy of the Smithsonian Annual Report, and more.

Sponsor ($1,000) All the above and additional benefits: Reserved seating at in-person programs, dedicated concierge phone line for inquiries and tickets, and more.

Partner ($2,500) All the above and additional benefits: Invitation for two to attend the prestigious annual Smithsonian Weekend, recognition in the annual report, and more.

Benefactor ($5,000) All the above and additional benefits: Recognition as a sponsor of a selected program, priority seating at all in-person programs, and more.

Bonus: Contributions at the Advocate level and higher include membership in Smithsonian Associates’ Circle of Support.

HELPFUL I NFORMATION

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

Program Planner (New listings in red); (In-person programs•)

Courses, Performances, and Lectures—Multi-Session

Lectures and Seminars—Single Session

HELPFUL I NFORMATION

Program Planner (New listings in red); (In-person programs•)

HELPFUL I NFORMATION

Studio Arts

NOTICE TO OUR PATRONS:

Smithsonian Associates offers our popular online programs, as well as a number of in-person programs. Because our patrons’ well-being remains Smithsonian Associates’ highest priority, all in-person programs will follow current CDC guidelines. For additional information, please contact us at 202-633-3030 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday

To address your concerns, we are providing the most current information on ticket purchasing and policies, membership and audience services, and communicating with our staff.

SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

MEMBERSHIP Depending on your level of support, you will receive special benefits, including significant savings on most Smithsonian Associates program tickets and a monthly Smithsonian Associates program guide, and much more! Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/join for more information. Join today!

TICKETS

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CONTACT US

Email CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org

Mail Smithsonian Associates, P.O. Box 23293, Washington, D.C. 20026-3293

REFUNDS are only issued when a program is canceled or if it sells out before we receive your order.

CREDIT TO YOUR SM ITHSON IAN ASSOCIATES ACCOUNT

Credit for cancellations or exchanges are only available for ticket orders that cost more than $40. If in compliance with the specific guidelines below, credit is issued to your Smithsonian Associates account, not your credit card. Credits are non-transferable.

Important note: Cancelling your program in the Zoom personal link that you received will not entitle you to a Smithsonian Associates credit or refund, unless the cancellation took place at least two weeks prior to the program and you notified Customer Service via email about the cancellation.

All Smithsonian Associates online programs, study tours, and Studio Arts classes: If you wish to cancel or exchange tickets for any ticket order costing more than $40, please contact Customer Service via email at least two weeks before the program date to request a credit. Please note that there is a $10 cancellation fee, as well as a cost adjustment when there is a price difference if you are applying your credit to another program.

Courses: To receive credit to your Smithsonian Associates account for a course, (excluding Studio Arts classes), please contact Customer Service via email at least two weeks before the first session. Credit will also be issued within two weekdays after the first session, provided that Customer Service is contacted within that period. Credit will be prorated to reflect the cost of the first session. No credit will be given after the second session.

CHANGES I N PUBLISHE D SCHE DU LES Smithsonian Associates reserves the right to cancel, substitute speakers and session topics within a course, and reschedule any program, if needed. Occasionally, a time or date of a program must change after it has been announced or tickets have been reserved. Participants are

notified by email. Check our website SmithsonianAssociates.org for latest updates.

MOVING? If you are receiving our print publications, please email or write us with your new information and allow 6 weeks for the change of address to take effect.

MEMBER NUMBER

Viewing Smithsonian Associates Online programs on Zoom

If you have not yet downloaded Zoom go to www.zoom.us/download and download the latest version of the Zoom desktop application.

Because Internet speeds vary, try to use a hardwired internet connection (ethernet cord) to your computer. Limit the number of devices and close other applications in use while viewing, and avoid any high bandwidth activities.

You will receive two emails after registering for a program: The first is an immediate automatic confirmation of your purchase from CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org and a second one from no-reply@zoom.us at least 24 hours prior to the program date with a link to your online program on Zoom.

Click the Zoom link sent to you via email (“Click Here to Join”). It will automatically open a web page asking you to launch the Zoom application. Click “Open Zoom Meetings.”

Once the meeting is open in Zoom, maximize the window by clicking “Enter Full Screen” in the top right corner. Also, make sure your speakers are on.