December at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

PHOTO: Work by Janet Echelman from “Wonder,” at the Renwick Gallery

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Smithsonian American Art Museum December 2015 Programs

Art Talks and Activities

• Italian Holiday Family Festival: Saturday, Dec. 5, 11:30 am - 3 pm
  Celebrate the wonders of the holiday season and Italian culture at SAAM. Enjoy performances by The Italian Fairy, The Flusso Dance Project, seasonal music by The Capital Hearings, and traditional Italian bagpipers, as well as festive craft activities, face painting, café specials, and more. Mention “Buone Feste” and receive a 10% store discount. This program is presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in DC and the Italian Cultural Institute Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Kogod Courtyard Tickets: None

• The Modern Paintings of Awa Tsireh Gallery Talk
  Wednesday, December 9, 5:30 pm Join National Museum of the American Indian’s David Penney as he examines how Awa Tsireh combined traditional Pueblo motifs and American modernist elements to create a unique style.
  Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Meet in F Street Lobby Tickets: none

• Crosscurrents Curator Gallery Talk
  Thursday, Dec. 10, 5:30 pm
  Join Chief Curator Virginia Mecklenburg for an exhibition tour focusing on the exchange between American and European modernists. Mecklenburg examines how these “new” artistic approaches transcended borders and influenced artists on both sides of the Atlantic.
  Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Meet in G Street Lobby Tickets: None

• America InSight: Tours for Visitors who are Blind or Have Low Vision Sunday, Dec. 13, 1:30 pm Join a docent-led tour designed for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Discover highlights of the collection through rich verbal description and discussion.
  Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Meet in F Street Lobby Tickets: None

• WONDER Curator Gallery Talk: Wednesday, Dec. 16, 12 - 1 pm Join Curator Nicholas Bell for a gallery talk about the nine works and artists in WONDER. Location: Renwick Gallery Tickets: None

• America InSight: Tours for Visitors who are Blind or Have Low Vision Thursday, Dec. 17, 3:30 pm Join a docent-led tour designed for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Discover highlights of the collection through rich verbal description and discussion. Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Meet in F Street LobbyTickets: None

• Conversation with artist Chakaia Booker Saturday, Dec. 19, 2 - 3 pm
  Chakaia Booker’s abstract works explore issues tied to race, gender, and the environment. Booker creates a variety of textures and patterns by manipulating used tires into massive sculptures. She and curator E. Carmen Ramos discuss the origins of her process and her installation, ANONYMOUS DONOR, featured in WONDER.Location: Renwick Gallery Tickets: None

Music/Film

• 21st Century Consort: The Passion of Scrooge Saturday, Dec. 5, talk 4 pm, music 5 pm Back by popular demand! Jon Deak’s seasonal classic, The Passion of Scrooge or A Christmas Carol, featuring baritone William Sharp, marks the beginning of the holiday season. This year it is paired with the incomparable music of Paul Schoenfield. This concert is a part of the Smithsonian Holiday Festival.Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center Tickets: None