April Programs at SAAM

Featured Program
Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with with Tyler Leak
Thursday, April 18, 5 p.m.   

Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th and G Streets NW 
Kogod Courtyard
Free | Registration encouraged

Celebrate a uniquely American art form with Take 5: Jazz at SAAM, a series of free, live performances in the Kogod Courtyard with North Carolina native percussionist Tyler "Lefthand" Leak. Having studied with legendary creatives such as saxophonist Branford Marsalis, percussionist Ali Jackson, and bassist Aaron Mills, Leak has managed to cultivate a lane of his own—one which allows him to float amongst different genres, creating music that is both unique and inspiring. He is based in Washington DC, collaborating with leading musicians locally and worldwide. In the inaugural performance of this year's series, Leak will present a tribute to fellow North Carolinian, jazz composer Max Roach. Attendees can also enjoy playing board games, and refreshments are available for purchase from the Courtyard Café.

Virtual America InSight: Verbal Description Tours
Thursday, April 11, 5:30 p.m. 

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for a docent-led virtual tour designed for participants who are blind or have low vision. Discover highlights from the collection through rich verbal descriptions that invoke a multisensory experience.

Artist Spencer Finch in Conversation
Monday, April 15, 6:45 p.m. 

Join multidisciplinary artist Spencer Finch for an in-person and online conversation with Sarah Newman, SAAM’s James Dicke Curator of Contemporary Art. Finch is best known for his large-scale, site-specific works that explore changing landscapes, such as the Hudson River and Great Salt Lake. Through his work, he touches on the ideas of memory, environmentalism, the passage of time, and perception of experience. In this conversation, Finch will discuss his work and process, as well as the ways in which environmentalism connects to what he does.

This program is presented in partnership with Smithsonian Associates. Please use Smithsonian Associates CODE: 1L0-576 when registering. 

Earth Day Family Day 
Saturday, April 20, 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Smithsonian American Art Museum
Kogod Courtyard
Free | Registration encouraged

Join SAAM and the National Portrait Gallery to celebrate Earth Day! Enjoy musical performances from Bash the Trash and other acts to learn how art and science can help protect the earth. Attendees can also enjoy nature-themed crafts and coloring pages as well as face painting for those ages 12 and under. A scavenger hunt in the galleries features works in both museums’ collections that highlight the natural wonders of earth and the various ways artists contribute to the care of our planet.

Handi-hour
Thursday, April 25, 5:30 p.m. 

Enjoy a night of DIY crafting, drinks, and fun at DC’s original craft happy hour. Learn how to make felt and yarn pom poms to fashion your own strand of garland. Enjoy light food, and beverages provided by ANXO cider. Light snacks, crafting materials, two drinks, and after-hours access to the Renwick Gallery are included in the ticket.

Attendees must be 21+ to attend and show a valid ID at the door. Tickets are $25 and will be available beginning April 11. 

Art Bites Gallery Talk 
Friday, April 26, 12:15 p.m. 

Join SAAM’s research fellows for this lunchtime series of gallery talks as they share new discoveries about artworks on view. Learn the stories behind these objects and how each one tells us about an ever-changing culture in the United States. Elizabeth Fair, Smithsonian Institution Predoctoral Fellow, discusses Kay Sekimachi and Bob Stocksdale’s Marriage in Form at SAAM's Renwick Gallery.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is able to create and share experiences like these thanks to funding from generous supporters like you. Thank you for ensuring that American art is available to all. Donate to support SAAM.

Image Credits:
Tyler Leak; Photo by Darwyn Dave

America InSight; Photo by Mary Tait

Spencer Finch, Lost Man Creek, Installation at MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, New York, Trees, dirt, wood, dimensions variable, 2016

Alma Thomas, Grassy Melodic Chant, 1976, acrylic on canvas, 46 x 36 in. (116.8 x 91.5 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of the artist, 1980.36.5
 
Handi-hour; Photo by Norwood Photography

Kay Sekimachi, Bob Stocksdale, Marriage in Form, 1996, hornet's nest paper and Pacific yew, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jane and Arthur Mason, 2022.43.1A-B   

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