Smithsonian American Art Museum
Ahhhhh August. The month DC clears out and those of us left behind are free to ride Metro, drive the streets, and get through the line at Starbucks without the usual crowds and gridlock. The city is so pleasantly empty, in fact, it's easy to forget that it's also a bajillion degrees in the shade and so muggy that the simple act of breathing becomes laborious. That is why, ladies and gentlemen, we at American Art have a state-of-the-art air conditioning system at your disposal every day. And sometimes at night we spring for live music and film to entertain you. See below for upcoming dates. It's all our way of saying, "we're glad you stayed behind to stick out the summer swelter with us."

Mandy
Public Affairs

 

 

 

American Repertoire



Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Thursday, August 2 │ 6:30pm
When Nick and Honey are invited to George and Martha's home for cocktails, they unexpectedly find themselves witness to a bitter marriage crumbling apart. Starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and directed by Mike Nichols, the film won six Academy Awards�, including
Best Actress for Elizabeth Taylor. Rated PG (129 minutes; 1966).




Luce Unplugged
 Pree

Pree
Sunday, August 5 │ 1:30pm
Join us for an art talk, followed by a performance by DC folk band, Pree. The four-piece group, usually known for their mixture of folk instruments with electronic and digital elements, will play a rare acoustic set. Luce Unplugged invites emerging local musicians to perform after staff-led art talks. Free coffee and tea available.



Take 5!

Thelonius MonkJunior Mance

Junior Mance Quintet 
Thursday, August 16 │ 5 - 8pm 
Relax and Take 5! with free, live jazz in the cool, contemporary Kogod Courtyard. The museum continues its summer celebration of the exhibition African American Artists: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond and its tribute to Thelonius Monk with International Jazz Hall of Fame inductee Junior Mance, a band leader who knew Monk well and shares his birthday. The Junior Mance Quintet features Mance on keyboard, Hide' Tanaka on bass, Kim Garey on drums, Andrew Hadro on baritone sax, and Michi Fuji on violin. The Courtyard Cafe is open with refreshments for sale, and as ever guests are welcome to borrow a board game to play during the concert.

ArtJamz will be on site and offering a painting activity (registration and fee required in advance at artjamzdc.com).

 

IMAGES

Andrea Badami, Portrait of Elizabeth Taylor, late 1960s, oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr.

Pree

Boris Chaliapin, Thelonious Sphere Monk, 1964, oil, National Portrait Gallery, Gift of Time Magazine

Junior Mance

 
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].
 
Photography, jazz, craft, media arts...
what's your pleasure?
Update your email preferences
to receive only the items you want!

Smithsonian American Art Museum 

8th & F Streets NW

Washington, D.C. 20004

 

Renwick Gallery

Pennsylvania Ave at 17th Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20006

Facebook icon  Twitter icon