Smithsonian American Art Museum

When painting his “Fighters for Freedom” series in the mid-1940s, artist William H. Johnson bridged the past and the present, looking back on three centuries of history to depict freedom fighters from the American Revolution up to his contemporaries in the 20th century. By linking generations of activists, educators, politicians, and entertainers advocating for racial and social equality, Johnson invited viewers to consider both the progress society has made towards those ideals and the work still left to be done. Eighty years after he created these paintings, the struggle for justice continues. As part of our education plan for SAAM’s exhibition “Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice,” we wanted visitors of all ages to feel welcome and included in the gallery experience, and to represent a diverse range of voices. A key aspect of our interpretive approach was to offer multiple entry points for visitors in gallery—including videos, kiosks, tactile reproductions of paintings, and children’s books—as well as online resources. We also wanted to continue Johnson’s work linking history to the present. How could the exhibition invite visitors to make connections to our world today? One way we did this was through the voices of students. Visitors to the exhibition will encounter a mural and book in the last gallery, featuring the writing and drawing of young people ages 8 to 18 in response to the question: “Who inspires you by fighting for justice today?” https://lnkd.in/ehXZu9FR

Today we remember artist Frank Stella, who died at age 87. Stella first began exhibiting his work in the late 1950s and was soon in the forefront of the Post-Painterly Abstraction group of artists who were reacting to the dominance of Abstract Expressionism. He embraced different shapes, patterns and media in his work, from honeycomb steel to luminous plastic, to achieve his goal of freeing painting from the wall. His paintings, prints and sculpture in a wide variety of styles have been described as ranging from minimalist to "maximalist." Works by Stella as well as portraits and archival items related to his career are in the collections of our Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery and Smithsonian's Archives of American Art. ... 1️⃣ Frank Stella, “Darabjerd III,” 1967. Acrylic on canvas; 120 1/8 X 180 1/4 in. (305.1 X 457.8 cm.) Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1972. © 2024 Frank Stella / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo by Lee Stalsworth. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 2️⃣ Frank Stella, “Arundel Castle,” 1959. Enamel on canvas; 121 3/8 x 73 1/8 in. (308.1 x 186.1 cm.) Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1972. © 2024 Frank Stella / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo by Lee Stalsworth. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 3️⃣ Shopping Bag, Dayton's/Walker Gallery: Frank Stella, 1984; designed by Frank Stella; white kraft paper with electron beam coating; tinted twisted paper handle; 18 5/8 x 16 in (47.3 x 40.6 cm) Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 4️⃣ Frank Stella, "Untitled (Rabat), from the portfolio Ten Works x Ten Painters," 1964, screenprint on paper, image: 18 x 18 in. (45.7 x 45.7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum 5️⃣ Hollis Frampton photograph of Frank Stella, circa 1960. Leo Castelli Gallery records, circa 1880-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Explore more by and about Stella in our collections: https://lnkd.in/d3wcUHWh

The Temple of Invention Augmented Reality Experience  History comes alive in this new augmented reality experience. Before it was an art museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s historic building showcased ingenuity through the display of thousands of patent models and was known as a “temple of invention,” a place for ideas and exploration, creativity and change. Through this augmented reality game produced by Smartify and supported by AT&T, meet some of the fascinating people—including presidents, inventors, soldiers, poets, artists, and architects—who walked the halls. Discover stories behind its many uses, including a patent office where inventors showcased working models, a Civil War hospital, and site of a presidential inaugural ball. A fun, pop-up experience that creates layers of history and activates SAAM’s Luce Foundation Center, a space for community gatherings and innovative programs. You can explore on your own or together with family and friends. Play the game to collect cogs, restore the temple’s heart, and see how this building is still a place where invention and innovation are celebrated.    On July 4, 1836, President Andrew Jackson authorized the construction of a patent office building in Washington, D.C. It is the third oldest federal building in the city, and was designed to celebrate American invention, technical ingenuity, and the scientific advancements that the patent process represents. In 1840, the Patent Office moved into the south wing of what is now the Smithsonian American Art Museum's historical main building. Patent law in the United States in the 19th century required the submission and public display of a model with each patent application. These scale models in miniature illustrate not only the imaginative fervor of the era but also the amazing craftsmanship required to fabricate these often-intricate works of art. Many of the models were constructed by specialized makers in workshops located near the Patent Office. When the building was completed in 1868, about 200,000 models were displayed in cases 9 feet high in the grand galleries on the third floor. The Temple of Invention Augmented Reality Experience connects SAAM visitors to the rich history of this historic building. This free experience is recommended for families with elementary school-age children.

Join us for “Championing Black Art: A Conversation with Myrtis Bedolla” on Sunday Feb. 25 at 2 pm.

On Sunday, February 25th, gallerist, curator, and art advisor Myrtis Bedolla brings her popular “Tea with Myrtis” event to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The series is inspired by a deep appreciation for the transformative power of art and a desire to create a space where meaningful conversations about contemporary art can thrive. A passionate leader and champion of promoting and collecting African American art, Bedolla engages in a lively conversation with art collectors, scholars, and arts professionals. Participants in this rich panel discussion, presented in person and online, include Mel Hardy, art collector and co-founder of DC-based organization Millennium Arts Salon; Leslie King-Hammond, art historian and founding director of the Center for Race and Culture at the Maryland Institute College of Art; Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director of SAAM; and Lowery Stokes Sims, art historian. Championing Black Art: A Conversation with Myrtis Bedolla is presented in person and online; registration is required.

Applications are open to apply for the Betsy James Wyeth Fellow in Native American Art, 2024–2025, a one-year residential fellowship at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) that seeks to foster new scholarship on Native art of the United States.   Deadline to apply: December 1, 2023. Read more and spread the word! 

On October 11, scholar Shirley Reece-Hughes, curator of painting, sculpture, and works on paper at the Amon Carter Museum, discusses her recently opened exhibition “The World Outside: Louise Nevelson at Midcentury.”  Free. Virtual and in-person.

Have you ever read an intriguing label that kept you thinking about a work of art, long after your visit to the museum? So much goes into developing the writing that goes up on the gallery wall. That's why SAAM is convening curators and interpretation specialists from museums across the U.S. to unpack the process.  Join us for this free, online convening on Wednesday, October 25th from 1:00 to 4:30 pm ET  Register now!

“Art speaks of who we are at our very best. And you go into a museum and you can see that over and over again, that divine spark, that humanness, that heart.” —Kay WalkingStick (Cherokee Nation) SAAM teamed up with the digital firm Smartify to create a series of audio tours that deepen the visitor experience, both in our galleries and online. The public can access these tours online or in the galleries either through the mobile site or by downloading the Smartify app. Tours are available in English, Spanish, American Sign Language, and Descriptive Audio for visitors with low and impaired vision. 

Much like the Hippocratic oath taken by doctors to do no harm, conservators are guided by a parallel ethical code in their work. There are instances when addressing the challenges of a conservation treatment fall outside the limits available, and on such occasions, the best solution can only reveal itself over time, with the patience and expertise of professionals and the future development of science and technologies.  Such was the case with the treatment of Morris Louis's monumental painting, "Beta Upsilon." Read how the development of a new laser technology allowed for the successful conservation treatment by SAAM's conservators, allowing the return of this important color field painting to public view.