Home | Calendar of Events | Smithsonian Institution Events
The Smithsonian Institution celebrates Women's History Month with more than forty events - films, performances, talks, tours and demonstrations.
| WASHINGTON, D.C. | |
| Ongoing Exhibition | |
| Location: | S. Dillon Ripley Center |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Ongoing Exhibition, 10 am - 5:30 pm |
| Description: | Graphic Eloquence: Limited-Edition Prints from The Smithsonian Associates Art Collections The Smithsonian Art Collections Program offers signed and numbered screen prints of Janet Fish's Lotus, which exemplifies the artist's interest in lush, saturated color. For more information, call 202.633.3030. |
| February 26 - May 17 | |
| Location: | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Thursday, February 26 - Sunday, May 17, 10 am - 5:30 pm |
| Description: | Louise Bourgeois The Hirshhorn presents the first major survey since 1995 of the work of French-born Bourgeois, who has been associated with most of the avant-garde movements of the twentieth century, from surrealism to conceptual art. She has, however, always stood uniquely apart, has often been at the forefront of contemporary practice, and has continued, even in her nineties, to defy convention. |
| March 1 | |
| Location: | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Sunday, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2 - 5 pm |
| Description: | ArtLab for Teens This workshop is inspired by the work of artist Louise Bourgeois, known for her enormous sculptures of spiders and the room-sized installations called Cells. While unraveling the symbolism of Bourgeois's work, participants explore their own creative process in studio projects led by local artist Nilay Lawson. Recommended for ages 13–17. No previous art experience is necessary. All materials are provided by the Hirshhorn. Register by February 25 at artlab.si.edu. |
| March 1 - March 31 | |
| Location: | Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Sunday, March 1 - Tuesday, March 31, 12 noon on weekdays, 1 pm on Saturdays and Sundays |
| Description: | Walk-In Tour at the Renwick Gallery Throughout Women's History Month, the gallery's hour-long tour features a Katherine Westphal quilt, Unveiling of the Statute of Liberty, which takes off from Edward Moran's 1886 painting of the same name. |
| March 1 - March 31 | |
| Location: | National Museum of the American Indian, Rasmuson Theater |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Saturday, March 1 - Tuesday, March 31, 12:30 and 3:30 pm |
| Description: | Miss Navajo No ordinary beauty pageant, the Miss Navajo Nation competition has showcased aspiring women leaders with talents for sheep butchering, fry-bread making, and Navajo history. Through the stories of past and present contestants, the film examines the Navajo community's struggle to maintain its culture. (60 minutes, 2006) |
| March 5 | |
| Location: | National Portrait Gallery |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Thursday, March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 6 pm |
| Description: | Face-to-Face Portrait Talks: First Ladies In March, the gallery's weekly half-hour talks are devoted to portraits of notable first ladies: Dolley Madison (March 5), Lady Bird Johnson (March 12), Martha Washington (March 19), and Mary Todd Lincoln (March 26). Meet in the F Street Lobby. |
| March 7 | |
| Location: | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Saturday, March 7, April 18, May 9, 10 am - 12 noon (for ages 6-9) and 1 - 3 pm (for ages 10-13) |
| Description: | Artist at Work with Youth: Mary Coble After a tour of the Hirshhorn exhibition Louise Bourgeois, local artist Coble leads participants in workshops inspired by Bourgeois's work. Young aspiring artists explore themes of dreams, the home, and the family as they create their own drawings and sculptures. Participation in all three workshops is encouraged but not required. Register online at hirshhorn.si.edu. |
| March 7 | |
| Location: | Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, Kogod Courtyard |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Saturday, March 7, 1 - 5 pm |
| Description: | Women's History Month Family Day The afternoon includes storytelling by author Yona Zeldis McDonough and folk artist Malcah Zeldis, concerts by the Georgia Tech Glee Club and the a cappella trio Ulali, a dance performance and workshop by Prachi Dalal, stamp designing, craft activities, and a scavenger hunt. In a blast from the past, Clara Barton shares her adventures as founder of the American Red Cross and as a Civil War nurse in the Reynolds Center's historic building. This is the second feature event in the Smithsonian Heritage Month 2009 family-day series, sponsored by Target. The theme is "Living in Many Worlds," which explores the dynamic intersection of family, history, and cultural identity. Participants: National Portrait Gallery, National Postal Museum, and Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies |
| March 8 | |
| Location: | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Sunday, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2 - 5 pm |
| Description: | ArtLab for Teens This workshop is inspired by the work of artist Louise Bourgeois, known for her enormous sculptures of spiders and the room-sized installations called Cells. While unraveling the symbolism of Bourgeois's work, participants explore their own creative process in studio projects led by local artist Nilay Lawson. Recommended for ages 13–17. No previous art experience is necessary. All materials are provided by the Hirshhorn. Register by February 25 at artlab.si.edu. |
| March 9 | |
| Location: | Smithsonian American Art Museum |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Monday, March 9, 16, 23, 30, 12:30 pm |
| Description: | Walk-In Tour: Women in Art This hour-long tour focuses on Lily Martin Spencer, Harriet Hosmer, Mary Cassatt, Helen Lundeburg, Georgia O'Keeffe, Lois Mailou Jones, Deborah Butterfield, and Jenny Holzer. Meet in the F Street Lobby. |
| March 11 | |
| Location: | National Museum of the American Indian, Rasmuson Theater |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 11, 6 pm |
| Description: | Spotlight on Native Women: Hattie Kauffman Hattie Kauffman (Nez Perce), an Emmy-winning correspondent for CBS's The Early Show, discusses her favorite reporting moments. |
| March 12 | |
| Location: | National Museum of American History, Second Floor, Flag Hall |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Thursday, March 12, 12 noon |
| Description: | Soft-Focus, Dreamy, Ethereal, and Romantic Curator David Haberstich discusses images of women from the Washington, D.C., studio of African American photographer Addison Scurlock. |
| March 12 | |
| Location: | National Portrait Gallery |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Thursday, March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 6 pm |
| Description: | Face-to-Face Portrait Talks: First Ladies In March, the gallery's weekly half-hour talks are devoted to portraits of notable first ladies: Dolley Madison (March 5), Lady Bird Johnson (March 12), Martha Washington (March 19), and Mary Todd Lincoln (March 26). Meet in the F Street Lobby. |
| March 14 | |
| Location: | National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center |
| City: | Chantilly, Va. |
| Date: | Saturday, March 14, 10 am - 3 pm |
| Description: | Women in Aviation and Space Family Day Celebrating the accomplishments of Bessie Coleman, Sally Ride, and other pioneers of air and space, the day includes hands-on activities, displays of projects by local Girl Scout troops, and an appearance by Tanya Lee Stone, author of Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. |
| March 14 | |
| Location: | Anacostia Community Museum |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Saturday, March 14, 11 am - 1 pm |
| Description: | Divine Delights: Dishes of Church Ladies: Discussion and Book Signing Author Brenda Rhodes Miller leads a discussion of how church ladies hold their families and communities together with a care and nurturing that spills over into their cooking. The audience is encouraged to bring recipes to share. Books will be available for sale and signing. The program is free, but reservations are required by March 7th as space is limited. For reservations, call 202.633.4875 or e-mail jctolson@si.edu. |
| March 15 | |
| Location: | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Sunday, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2 - 5 pm |
| Description: | ArtLab for Teens This workshop is inspired by the work of artist Louise Bourgeois, known for her enormous sculptures of spiders and the room-sized installations called Cells. While unraveling the symbolism of Bourgeois's work, participants explore their own creative process in studio projects led by local artist Nilay Lawson. Recommended for ages 13–17. No previous art experience is necessary. All materials are provided by the Hirshhorn. Register by February 25 at artlab.si.edu. |
| March 15 | |
| Location: | National Museum of the American Indian, Rasmuson Theater |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Sunday, March 15, 2 pm |
| Description: | Heart of the Sea: Kapolioka'ehukai This documentary is a touching portrait of a pioneer of women's professional surfing, Rell Kapolioka'ehukai Sunn, who founded the first women's pro circuit. Presented as part of the Environmental Film Festival. (57 minutes, 2002) |
| March 16 | |
| Location: | Smithsonian American Art Museum |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Monday, March 9, 16, 23, 30, 12:30 pm |
| Description: | Walk-In Tour: Women in Art This hour-long tour focuses on Lily Martin Spencer, Harriet Hosmer, Mary Cassatt, Helen Lundeburg, Georgia O'Keeffe, Lois Mailou Jones, Deborah Butterfield, and Jenny Holzer. Meet in the F Street Lobby. |
| March 18 | |
| Location: | Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 18, 2 pm |
| Description: | Don't Fence me In A 1916 advertisement for a Wyoming librarian says, "Must be able to get along with Western people, ride and drive, as well as pack a horse, follow a trail, shoot strait [sic], run an automobile, and be able to rough it whenever necessary!" That spirit is still alive, captured in this film celebrating the women and girls of Wyoming in thirteen vibrant stories. A discussion with the filmmakers follows screening. Presented as part of the Environmental Film Festival. (56 minutes, 2008) |
| March 18 | |
| Location: | Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 18, 3:30 pm |
| Description: | Arctic Dance: The Mardy Murie Story The film recounts the adventures of "the grandmother of the conservation movement" with archival footage and more recent interviews with her. A discussion with the filmmakers follows the screening. Presented as part of the Environmental Film Festival. (75 minutes, 2001) |
| March 18 | |
| Location: | Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 18, 7 pm |
| Description: | A Sense of Wonder Rachel Carson was thrust into controversy with the 1962 publication of her book Silent Spring, which alerted the world to the dangers of chemical pesticides and launched the modern environmental movement. In a film shot on location in Carson's cabin on the coast of Maine, Kaiulani Lee portrays the writer during the last year of her life, reprising the role from her critically acclaimed one-woman play of the same name. A discussion with Lee follows the screening. Presented as part of the Environmental Film Festival. (54 minutes, 2008) |
| March 19 | |
| Location: | National Portrait Gallery |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Thursday, March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 6 pm |
| Description: | Face-to-Face Portrait Talks: First Ladies In March, the gallery's weekly half-hour talks are devoted to portraits of notable first ladies: Dolley Madison (March 5), Lady Bird Johnson (March 12), Martha Washington (March 19), and Mary Todd Lincoln (March 26). Meet in the F Street Lobby. |
| March 20 | |
| Location: | Smithsonian American Art Museum, McEvoy Auditorium |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Friday, March 20, 7 pm |
| Description: | Artist Jessica Stockholder and the Legacy of Louise Nevelson A conversation with Stockholder, winner of the 2007 Lucelia Artist Award, follows a screening of the short documentary The Sculpture of Louise Nevelson: Constructing a Legacy. |
| March 21 | |
| Location: | S. Dillon Ripley Center |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Saturday, March 21, 9:30 am - 4:15 pm |
| Description: | The Regency World of Jane Austen This Smithsonian Associates seminar introduces the English Regency period (1790–1830) with an overview of the historical, artistic, and social context of Austen's novels. Resident Associate members, $85. General admission, $131. For reservations, call 202.633.3030. |
| March 22 | |
| Location: | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Sunday, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2 - 5 pm |
| Description: | ArtLab for Teens This workshop is inspired by the work of artist Louise Bourgeois, known for her enormous sculptures of spiders and the room-sized installations called Cells. While unraveling the symbolism of Bourgeois's work, participants explore their own creative process in studio projects led by local artist Nilay Lawson. Recommended for ages 13–17. No previous art experience is necessary. All materials are provided by the Hirshhorn. Register by February 25 at artlab.si.edu. |
| March 22 | |
| Location: | AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center |
| City: | 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md. |
| Date: | Sunday, March 22, 3 pm |
| Description: | Before Tomorrow In this Canadian feature, set in the nineteenth century, an Inuit elder and her best friend take the elder's grandson to a remote island to dry fish. The friend falls ill, and when no one comes to get them, there is fear something terrible has happened at home. For tickets, visit www.afi.com/silver. Part of the Environmental Film Festival. (93 minutes, 2008) |
| March 23 | |
| Location: | Smithsonian American Art Museum |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Monday, March 9, 16, 23, 30, 12:30 pm |
| Description: | Walk-In Tour: Women in Art This hour-long tour focuses on Lily Martin Spencer, Harriet Hosmer, Mary Cassatt, Helen Lundeburg, Georgia O'Keeffe, Lois Mailou Jones, Deborah Butterfield, and Jenny Holzer. Meet in the F Street Lobby. |
| March 26 | |
| Location: | National Portrait Gallery |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Thursday, March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 6 pm |
| Description: | Face-to-Face Portrait Talks: First Ladies In March, the gallery's weekly half-hour talks are devoted to portraits of notable first ladies: Dolley Madison (March 5), Lady Bird Johnson (March 12), Martha Washington (March 19), and Mary Todd Lincoln (March 26). Meet in the F Street Lobby. |
| March 27 | |
| Location: | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Friday, March 27, 12:30 pm |
| Description: | Friday Gallery Talk: Louise Bourgeois Joseph Coddington, senior curator of entomology at the National Museum of Natural History, leads an examination of Bourgeois's sculpted spiders. |
| March 27 - March 28 | |
| Location: | National Air and Space Museum, First Floor, Gallery 102 |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Friday, March 27 - Saturday, March 28, 11 am |
| Description: | Flights of Fancy: Stories for Children Children listen to David Waltzman's Jenny: The Airplane That Taught America to Fly, in which a grandmother recounts her days as a pilot of the Curtiss JN4 biplane, also known as the Jenny. The event includes an art activity. |
| March 28 | |
| Location: | Anacostia Community Museum |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Saturday, March 28, 11 am |
| Description: | Rising Above Limitations: The Spirit of African American Women Inventors Patent agent Patricia Carter Sluby examines the record of African American female ingenuity. The program is free, but reservations are required. Call 202.633.4844. |
| March 29 | |
| Location: | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Sunday, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2 - 5 pm |
| Description: | ArtLab for Teens This workshop is inspired by the work of artist Louise Bourgeois, known for her enormous sculptures of spiders and the room-sized installations called Cells. While unraveling the symbolism of Bourgeois's work, participants explore their own creative process in studio projects led by local artist Nilay Lawson. Recommended for ages 13–17. No previous art experience is necessary. All materials are provided by the Hirshhorn. Register by February 25 at artlab.si.edu. |
| March 30 | |
| Location: | Smithsonian American Art Museum |
| City: | Washington D.C. |
| Date: | Monday, March 9, 16, 23, 30, 12:30 pm |
| Description: | Walk-In Tour: Women in Art This hour-long tour focuses on Lily Martin Spencer, Harriet Hosmer, Mary Cassatt, Helen Lundeburg, Georgia O'Keeffe, Lois Mailou Jones, Deborah Butterfield, and Jenny Holzer. Meet in the F Street Lobby. |
| NEW YORK | |
| March 4 - March 5 | |
| Location: | National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center |
| City: | One Bowling Green, New York City |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 4 - Thursday, March 5, and 25 - 26, 10 am - 12 noon and 1 - 3 pm |
| Description: | Joy Tone Pah Hote Master bead worker Joy Tone Pah Hote (Kiowa/Mayan) demonstrates her techniques and discusses the evolution of Native beadwork. Meet in the Identity by Design Gallery. |
| March 14 | |
| Location: | National Museum of the American Indian, George G. Heye Center, Resource Center/Education Classroom |
| City: | One Bowling Green, New York City |
| Date: | Saturday, March 14, 11 am - 1 pm |
| Description: | Story Time at the Heye Center Children listen to stories about such notable American Indian women as Maria Tallchief and Pocahontas, and then participate in a doll-making workshop. |
| March 19 | |
| Location: | National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Education Classroom |
| City: | One Bowling Green, New York City |
| Date: | Thursday, March 19, 6 - 8 pm |
| Description: | Hands-On Workshop: Cattail Doll Making Ramona Morrow (Yankton Sioux/Chippewa) leads a doll-making workshop based on her "Cattail Collection." Using dyed cattail fluff, cloth, and leather, she creates dolls dressed in traditional Native clothing. Registration is required. Call 212.514.3716. There is a $25 materials fee ($20 for museum members). |
| March 19 - March 21 | |
| Location: | National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center |
| City: | One Bowling Green, New York City |
| Date: | Thursday, March 19 - Saturday, March 21, 10 am - 12 noon and 1 - 3 pm |
| Description: | Ramona Morrow Artist Ramona Morrow (Yankton Sioux/Chippewa) discusses the dolls she makes from cattails, two of which are in the collections of the White House. Meet in the Identity by Design Gallery. |
| March 25 - March 26 | |
| Location: | National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center |
| City: | One Bowling Green, New York City |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 4 - Thursday, March 5, and 25 - 26, 10 am - 12 noon and 1 - 3 pm |
| Description: | Joy Tone Pah Hote Master bead worker Joy Tone Pah Hote (Kiowa/Mayan) demonstrates her techniques and discusses the evolution of Native beadwork. Meet in the Identity by Design Gallery. |
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Photo Gallery
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Equal SaySLIDESHOW: A photographic essay of how women won the vote |

