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Fine Arts

Ai WeiWei's zodiac animals come to the Hirshhorn plaza.

Ai WeiWei’s Giant Animal Heads at the Hirshhorn Fountain

Chinese artist Ai WeiWei challenges ideas of authenticity with his reproduction of Qing dynasty zodiac animal heads, now on view at the Hirshhorn Museum

Jacob Lawrence, Bar and Grill, 1941 from the new exhibit "African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond."

Events April 27-29: Insight into 20th-Century African American Art, Anacostia River & Jazz Fest, Gamer Symphony Orchestra

This weekend, get some insight into 20th-Century African American Art and hear the Gamer Symphony Orchestra perform arrangements of video game music

Armored Train in Action (1915) by Gino Severini. Italian Futurist paintings adopted a Cubist visual vocabulary but were bolder and brasher.

Futurism Is Still Influential, Despite Its Dark Side

Louis Armstrong embodied stardom in jazz. Photo courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery; gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Willoughby

Amy Henderson: Satchmo at the National Press Club

Guest blogger and Portrait Gallery historian Amy Henderson discusses Louis Armstrong and the meaning of stardom

Musicians from the Marlboro Music Festival perform at the Freer Gallery this week.

Events April 24-26: the Genomics Revolution, Musicians from Marlboro, and Thomas Mobley

The Space Shuttle Discovery arrives at Dulles International Airport

Events April 20-22: Draw and Discover at Dusk, Welcome Discovery, Earth Day Party for the Planet

This weekend learn to draw at the American Art Museum, visit the space shuttle Discovery and celebrate Earth Day with the National Zoo

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Rusty Hassan Talks About John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, and Today’s Jazz Scene

Learn about the jazz legends who transformed American music

Titanic leaving Belfast, Ireland for her sea trials, April 2, 1912

Events April 13-15: Visio-Disco, Royal Mail Ship Titanic Centennial, Insights into Coltrane and Hancock

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Video Games Are More Than Just a Feast for the Eyes

One blind family’s visit to the landmark exhibition brought them closer to their goal—to impact the video game industry

One of the new portraits of Fred Korematsu, circa 1940

Fred Korematsu Joins Civil Rights Heroes in the Portrait Gallery

Two portraits of Fred Korematsu, the face of the Japanese American internment of World War II, have been donated to the National Portrait Gallery

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, travel writer and historian Tony Horwitz is telling tales about his new book on John Brown at the American Art Museum.

Events April 6-8: Kyoto Kimonos, American Pictures: Tony Horwitz, Castle Highlights Tour

This weekend check out the Kyoto Kimono: Spring Trunk Show, American Pictures: Tony Horwitz and take a tour of the Institution’s first and oldest building

As part of the Google Art Project, you can now virtually wander the halls of the American Art Museum and see remarkably detailed reproductions of hundreds of works

The Portrait Gallery and American Art Get the Google Art Project Treatment

As part of the Google Art Project, you can now virtually wander the halls of the museums and see remarkably detailed reproductions of hundreds of works

Shake off winter with a scavenger hunt in the Smithsonian Gardens.

Events April 3-5: Spring Break, Let’s Move! and Baseball Presidencies

Spend spring break at the National Portrait Gallery, explore the Smithsonian gardens, and learn about baseball’s special place in our presidential history

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Hirshhorn’s “SONG 1″ Strikes a Chord With Couple’s Anniversary

For this pair, serendipity was on their side during last weekend’s opening of artist Doug Aitken’s take on the popular tune, “I Only Have Eyes For You”

Young musicians from the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont come to the Freer Gallery this week.

Events March 27-29: 80s Night, Musicians from Marlboro, and American Painting Techniques

Amelia Earhart was a pioneer in women's aviation. Her disappearance during her attempt to fly around the world has perplexed America for nearly 75 years.

The Search for Amelia Earhart Resurfaces, 75 Years Later

With new leads on where she may have landed, the mystery and her legacy continue

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Nature in Focus at the Environmental Film Festival

Environmental Film Festival highlights on view at Smithsonian locations

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Ask Smithsonian: Can Birds Be Identified Just From Their Feathers? Questions from Our Readers

Our new feature, Ask Smithsonian, is all about finding the answers. Do you have a question for our curators?

This weekend kicks off "The Art of Video Games" with GameFest, a three day festival.

Weekend Events March 16-18: Evolution of Video Games, Saint Paddy Party, and Masterworks of Three Centuries

Lady Mary Leiter Curzon by Franz Von Lenbach, 1901

Amy Henderson: “Downton Abbey” and the Dollar Princesses

A curator tells of 19th-century American socialites, who like Cora Crowley, found noble husbands and flushed Britain with cash

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