Fine Arts
The American Art Museum Announces Nominees for Contemporary Artist Award
We help you sort out who's who from the museum's recent announcement, in a series of three posts
August 08, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
The Swimsuit Series, Part 5: Olympic Athletes, Posing
Vintage styles cycle in and out of favor among medal-winning racers
August 08, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Look at the Writing on the Wall: Barbara Kruger Opens Soon at the Hirshhorn
The artist behind "I shop therefore I am" has plastered her monumental statements all over the Hirshhorn
August 06, 2012 |
By Jeanie Riess
Events August 7-9: Sketching, Musical Genre-Bending and Stitching
This week, sketch like a master, catch a concert that blends Native American and Celtic sounds and stitch in the presence of greatness
August 06, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Old-Timey Olympians Show How Things Have Changed
Clendenin's photos evoke the feeling that for all the changes seen by the modern Olympic games, the athletes themselves could easily be transposed across time.
August 01, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Packing List Series, Part 2: An Artist’s Illustrated Guide
With a watercolor sketchbook guide, Adolf Konrad drew on his talents to record his belongings
August 01, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Could a Whale-Powered Bus Be the Future of Transportation?
Visionary postcard artists illustrated around 90 fanciful cards between 1899 to 1910 that imagined what the future held in store for France in the year 2000.
July 31, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Curator Talk at the American Art Museum on African-American Art Exhibition
Virginia Mecklenburg offers a Wednesday lecture on the artists from "Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era and Beyond"
July 31, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Teaching Molecular Biology with Watercolors
Molecular biology professor David Goodsell is just as skilled with a microscope as with a paint brush and creates festive hand-drawn watercolors to illustrate the inner workings of bacteria, viruses and human cells.
July 31, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Olympic Games at the Smithsonian
Before you settle into your couch to watch the Olympics, get down to the Smithsonian for exhibits, games and more.
July 24, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Events July 24-26: Animal Migrations, Belly Dancing and the Invention of Klingon
This week at the Smithsonian, learn how animals find their way across continents, try out belly dancing and pick up a new language with the creator of Klingon.
July 23, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Events July 20-22: Living Earth Festival, Movie Day, Book Signings at Air and Space
This weekend, celebrate Earth, have a movie day and check out some super cool planes at the Udvar-Hazy Center.
July 19, 2012 |
By K. Annabelle Smith
Teen Photographers Win Spot at National Portrait Gallery
Winners of the museum's Teen Portrait Competition discuss their portraits and the stories behind them.
July 18, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
The Swimsuit Series, Part 4: A Competitive Swimmer’s Musings
In Leanne Shapton's Swimming Studies "Bathing" chapter, there's a story behind every suit
July 17, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Five Things Leslie Knope Should See at the Smithsonian
As NBC's "Parks and Recreation" prepares to shoot its season five opener in D.C., we offer up five must-sees for the newest city councilmember of Pawnee, Indiana
July 17, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Events July 17-19: Virtual Caving, Air Force Strings and a Tribute to Thelonius Monk
This week at the Smithsonian: take a virtual tour beneath the earth's surface, see the Air Force Strings perform and honor the genius of Thelonius Monk.
July 16, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Events July 13-15: After Hours at the Museum of African Art, Cranes and Clouds, “Don Juan” Screening
This weekend, hit up the Museum of African Art after hours, create Korean art and view a screening of "Don Juan."
July 12, 2012 |
By K. Annabelle Smith
The Battle in Our Backyard: Remembering Fort Stevens
Historian David C. Ward recounts the short but unprecedented Civil War attack on Washington, D.C. at the Battle of Fort Stevens on July 11, 1864.
July 11, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Smithsonian Gets Google Mapped
Smithsonian and Google Maps launched an easy to use application Tuesday providing step by step directions inside 17 museums and the National Zoo.
July 11, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Amy Henderson: Team USA!
Guest blogger and Portrait Gallery historian Amy Henderson reflects on the Gallery's Olympian collection.
July 09, 2012 |
By Amy Henderson

