SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM’S NEW GALLERIES ENCOURAGE LINGERING

The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s (SAAM) modern and contemporary galleries reopened September 22 after a three-year renovation – bringing new installations exploring American art and ushering the return of the iconic?“Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii.”

“American Voices and Visions: Modern and Contemporary Art” will feature over 100 artworks from a range of media pieces that explores the explosion of possibility in American art between the 1940s and today, according to a release from SAAM.

“The redesigned gallery aims to create a more expansive view of American art with history from Asian American, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQ+ and women artists, according to the release,” said Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum Stephanie Stebich.

As part of Congressional Black Caucus Weekend SAAM’s Community Outreach Consultant, Valerie Cooperorchestrated a series of events including SAAM’s Museum Careers Open House on Friday, Sep. 22. There students from the region’s HBCU’s attended and a CBC Networking Reception.? There was also a special reception featuring guided tours of SAAM’s newly opened Alma Thomas and Carrier Mae Weems exhibitions, from 6pm - 8pm.?

?On Wednesday SAAM Director’s Circle members experienced a dinner with Artist Carrie Mae Weems that included a tour of her exhibition in the newly reopened gallery.

?SAAM is a veritable playground of Black art with works by some of the giants of contemporary art includingBasquiat, Nick Cave, Mickalene Thomas, Mark Bradford and Kerry James Marshall. The galleries are bright, open and encourage lingering.? Pigment International’s recommendation is to reserve multiple days to take in everything.?

?You can see a full schedule of SAAM’s upcoming exhibits on the back cover of the current Pigment Magazine.?

?About the Alma Thomas Exhibition?

About the Carrie Mae Weems Exhibition

About SAAM: The Smithsonian American Art Museum, the nation’s first collection of American art, is an unparalleled record of the American experience. The collection captures the aspirations, character, and imagination of the American people throughout three centuries.? The museum is the home to one of the largest and most inclusive collections of American art in the world, including being home to one of the most significant collections of works by African American artists in the world. The African American artists included in SAAM's collection powerfully evoke themes both universal and specific to the African American experience. Many reflect the tremendous social and political change that occurred from the early Republic to the Civil War, through the rise of Industry, the Jazz Age and the Harlem Renaissance, the post-war years, the Civil Rights movement to present day questions of personal identity and racism. SAAM shares the same building as the National Portrait Gallery,? located on 8th and G Streets, NW; with? daily hours 11:30am - 7pm.

Read this week’s full newsletter here.

See our Black Fine Art Month Calendar here.