Weekend Events July 22-24: Forensic Science, a Summer Concert and an Afternoon of Poetry

Friday July 22 Meet the FBI Explosives Unit

Try something different this Friday with a trip to the Natural History Museum for Forensic Friday. Meet in the Forensic Anthropology Lab on the northwest end of the 2nd floor, inside the exhibition Written in Bone, at 10:30. There join forensic scientists from the FBI’s Explosives Unit as they study new cases and those from the past. Listen as they explain the art of the forensic science of improvised explosive devices, incendiary devices and their respective remains. Ask the investigators your own questions and observe the basic methods of their work as you watch them analyze new cases. After, explore the related exhibition, Written in Bone: Forensic Files of the 17th-Century Chesapeake. This event is free and fun for the whole family. Can’t make it at 10:30? Forensic Files is offered again today at 1.

Saturday July 23 Catch a Summer Concert

When the July heat cools in the evening hours, head over to the American Indian Museum this Saturday for a night of music. Meet in the Welcome Plaza outside the main entrance of the museum at 5 for the Living Earth Concert. The concert is in conjunction with the Living Earth Festival and features three performances that are emceed by guitarist Stevie Salas. Tonight’s concert presents the Pappy Johns Band from the Six Nations of The Grand River of Ontario, Canada. The groups music is an infusion of blues and rock ‘n’ roll. Also playing are the family band, Plateros from the eastern agency of the Navajo Nation in Tohajilee, New Mexico. Don’t miss Gregg Analla, Isleta and Laguna Pueblo, musicians from Albuquerque, New Mexico. This free summer concert lasts until 7.

Sunday July 24 An Afternoon of Poetry

This Sunday venture to the Anacostia Community Museum for Gullah Inspirations, an afternoon of interpretation, preservation and community connections. Go to the museum’s program room at 2 for the event, “Composition in Genre and Culture: The Teen Spoken Word.” Listen to some of the most prominent of young writers, participants in the “Composition in Genre and Culture: Summer Teen Writing Workshop,” as they share their poetry and their stories. Listen as they explain their works and give inspirational reflections on the Gullah Culture. After, explore the related exhibition, Word, Shout, Song: Lorenzo Dow Turner Connecting Communities through Language or check out more of the Gullah related programs to explore the Gullah and Geechee culture. This event is free but come early to guarantee a seat.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian Institution events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide.