Smithsonian American Art Museum
Happy Summer, Friends!

Have you looked at the weather report? The thermometer will read near triple digits by week's end! My colleagues in the public programs office are well aware that the indoors beckon once the temperature climbs, so they are busy planning entertaining programs for you in our cool, comfortable museum building. From jazz ensembles to classical piano, acoustic guitar to film noir, our ongoing music and film offerings will make you feel chill in more ways than one.
So hop the Metro, grab a cab, or sweat it out on foot and get here before the seats are gone!

Mandy
Public Affairs

 

 

 

 Steinway Series: James D'Le�n
 Sunday, July 8 │ 3pm

Known as a versatile and outstanding classical pianist, Steinway Artist James D'Le�n will present Thirty-two Variations on an Original Theme in C minor by Beethoven,
Ballade No. 2 in B minor by Liszt, selections from
Iberia by Albeniz, and the Ghost Variations for piano by George Tsontakis in a birthday tribute to Nam June Paik. Free tickets (required) available in the museum's G Street Lobby starting at 2:30pm.

Luce Unplugged: Ren� Moffatt
Sunday, July 15 │ 1:30pm 
Following a staff talk about an artwork he selected, DC singer-songwriter Ren� Moffatt will perform a mixture of folk and pop, including his recently released song about WMATA's route 42 bus.

Love Luce Unplugged? Listen to our "mix tape" of past performers here.

 

Take 5!
Freddie Redd-Butch Warren Quintet
Thursday, July 19 │ 5 - 8pm 
Freddie Redd, piano, and Butch Warren, bass, both consider Thelonious Monk as an influence, friend, and mentor. They display that influence with Redd's interpretation of "Round Midnight," and Warren's "I Remember Monk" and "A Little Chippie." The band features Brad Linde and Brian Settles, tenor saxophone, and Tony Martucci, drums. Relax, grab a refreshment from the Courtyard Cafe, borrow a board game, and enjoy the show! For those with an artistic inclination, ArtJamz will be on site. Visit artjamzdc.com to register in advance.

This summer's Take 5! features the work of Thelonious Monk, one of the most renowned jazz artists of the twentieth century, in conjunction with the exhibition African American Artists: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond.

 

Double-Feature: A Celebration of Dance in DC
Thursday, July 21  
Celebrate the Dance DC Festival with a double-feature of dance films!

Black Swan 

Saturday, July 21 │ 1pm

An emotionally fragile ballerina lands the role of Princess Odette in Swan Lake but slowly begins to come undone as she discovers the dark side of her own nature. Starring Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder, and Mila Kunis, and directed by Darren Aronofsky; rated R (108 minutes; 2010).


Saturday Night Fever
Saturday, July 21 │ 4pm
John Travolta stars as Tony, a hardware store clerk who finds escape from the pressures of his dysfunctional family, racial tension in his neighborhood, and his own dead-end future by spending his weekends as the king of the local disco. Directed by John Badham; rated R (118 minutes, 1997).

 

American Repertoire: The Apartment
Thursday, July 26 │ 6:30pm 
An insurance clerk (Jack Lemmon) secretly lends his apartment to corporate executives for a series of illicit rendezvous in order to climb the corporate ladder. This comedy turns bittersweet when he learns that his smarmy boss has broken the heart of his secret crush (Shirley McLaine). The Apartment was nominated for ten Academy Awards� and won five, including Best Picture and Best Director for Billy Wilder. Not rated (125 minutes; 1960).

 

IMAGES

James D'Le�n, photo by Diana Adams

Ren� Moffatt, photo � 2010 Cameron Whitman

Freddie Redd and Butch Warren

Everett Shinn, The White Ballet, 1904, oil, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the American Art Forum and the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment

Still of Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine in The Apartment
 
All programs free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Need more information?
Visit our online calendar or e-mail us at [email protected].
 
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Smithsonian American Art Museum 

8th & F Streets NW

Washington, D.C. 20004

 

Renwick Gallery

Pennsylvania Ave at 17th Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20006

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