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Fine Arts

The Art of Video Games exhibit opens at the American Art Museum on March 16.

The Top Five Most Anticipated Exhibits of 2012

Take a look at the five upcoming exhibits we’re most excited about

The American Indian Museum features two daily films through the month of February

Events Jan 31-Feb 2: Draw and Discover, Great Spies of WWII, and February Daily Films

This week, sketch at the Luce Foundation Center, learn about espionage during WWII, and enjoy a Cree film at the American Indian Museum

Dale Nichols, Navigating Icebergs, 1941 oil on canvas panel, 22 x 25, From the Collection of Valentino Chickinelli, Omaha, Nebraska.

Go Behind the Red Barn and Rediscover Dale Nichols

Though snubbed by scholars, the American realist painter produced surprisingly symbolic works, as a striking new exhibition makes clear

Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami's trilogy kicks off with "Where is the Friend's Home?"

Weekend Events Jan 27-29: Iranian Film Festival, Renwick Birthday Party, and Silkscreening Demo

This weekend, the Iranian Film Festival features Abbas Kiarostami, the Renwick Gallery turns 40, and artist Kristina Bilonick leads a silkscreening demo

Leibovitz' 2011 self-portrait

At the American Art Museum: Annie Leibovitz’ Personal Journey

The world-famous photographer takes her career in an entirely different direction with her new show, “Pilgrimage”

A still life from Annie Leibovitz's Pilgrimage, on view at the American Art Museum

Events Jan 24-26: Annie Leibovitz’s Pilgrimage, Profile America Forum, and Flights of Fancy

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Curators, Scientific Adventurers and Book Worms to Watch in 2012

Our top ten picks from the Smithsonian Twitterati and blogrolls

See Alice Waters and her new portrait side-by-side on Friday.

Weekend Events January 20-22: An Evening with Alice Waters, Create Your Own Peacock Room and Dance for the Dying

The newly commissioned Alice Waters portrait

Historian Amy Henderson: Food, Glorious Food

At the Portrait Gallery, Historian Amy Henderson Awaits the Presentation of a New Portrait of Chef Alice Waters

Learn the story behind Dale Chihuly's Blanket Cylinder Series at the Renwick Gallery.

Events January 17-19: The Loving Story, Blanket Cylinder Series and Beat the Blues

Still from Ali Kazma's "O.K.," 2010

The Hirshhorn Turns Labor Into Art with “Black Box: Ali Kazma”

Turkish video artist Ali Kazma captures the actions of a man who seems to be the most efficient stamper of paper ever at the Hirshhorn’s Black Box Theater

See Warhol through an artist's eyes in Talking With Andy on January 11

Events January 10-12: Mission Impossible, Talking about Andy, Webby Talk

This week, experience Mission: Impossible in IMAX, rediscover the iconic work of Andy Warhol, and learn about the most innovative work happening on the Web

Morse's 1837 telegraph receiver prototype, built with a canvas-stretcher

How Samuel Morse Got His Big Idea

On this day in 1838, Samuel Morse publicly demonstrated his telegraph for the first time. But how did he get the idea in the first place?

Come make your own stamp collection at a drop-in workshop at the Postal Museum.

Weekend Events Jan 6-8: “This is Not a Film,” Stamps, Masterworks of Three Centuries

This weekend, watch an Iranian film, attend a stamp collecting workshop or listen to eclectic Baroque chamber music

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More Astounding Modern Art Collectors

Like the Steins, other collectors and patrons influenced 20th-century art by supporting new genres and unheralded artists

The Luce Foundation Center, Smithsonian American Art Museum

Events Dec. 27-29: Winter Break Programs, Camp Kwanzaa

This week, take part in the Portrait Gallery’s special winter break and celebrate Kwanzaa

Learn about writer and art collector Gertrude Stein as part of the Portrait Story Days series.

Weekend Events Dec. 23-25: ArtLab+ Showcase, Portrait Story Days, and Christmas

This week, see young people’s creative works, learn about Gertrude Stein, and have a merry Christmas

A model of Conrad F. Bartling's 1888 fence-building machine

The Return of Patent Models to the Original Patent Office Building

A new exhibition at the American Art Museum features models of a variety of unusual 19th-century devices

Enjoy an acoustic performance by John Davis of the DC-based group Title Tracks.

Weekend Events Dec. 16-18: Happy Feet Two, All About Me in D.C., and Title Tracks Unplugged

This week, see Happy Feet Two in 3D, meet a children’s author, and enjoy an acoustic performance by a local indie frontman

Meet Oglala Lakota Angela Babby, the creator of "Mountain Chief" and other enameled mosaic works.

Events Dec. 12-15: Seasons of Light, The Expert Is In, Day With the Artists, and Holiday Jazz

This week, see a holiday performance, talk to a bird expert, meet a pair of Native artists, and attend a jazz concert

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