Celebrate the start of summer with a delicious evening at Gravitas in D.C., a Michelin-starred modern American restaurant by chef Matt Baker dedicated to seasonal cooking and sourcing from local farms and waters. Baker’s four-course menu plus canapes specially designed for the event showcases the summer bounty of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Smithsonian Associates’ favorite sommelier Erik Segelbaum, who leads the popular Wine Adventures series, pairs wines with the courses with a focus on hidden gems. Chef Baker and Segelbaum are on hand to talk about the food and drink.
Get the most out of your digital mirrorless or SLR camera by taking part in this workshop, which provides a solid introduction to these cameras’ features and potential.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s work reflected one central tenet: “To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful and pretty. …There are too many ugly things in life as it is without creating still more of them.” He reveled in lush color that can be seen in his sensual nudes, family portraits, landscapes, and genre depictions such as The Luncheon of the Boating Party. Art historian Bonita Billman showcases selections from his more than 4,000 works as she illustrates why Renoir is one of the most highly regarded—and joyful—artists of his time. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
The radical innovations made by European and American painters and sculptors between 1900 and 1960 forever altered the way we think about visual art. In a richly illustrated course, art historian Nancy G. Heller discusses major works by the period’s seminal painters and sculptors, emphasizing their broader socio-political and aesthetic contexts. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)
There’s nothing "Mickey Mouse" about the impact the Walt Disney Company has had on the entertainment business. Media historian Brian Rose traces how the company evolved from a small cartoon studio in 1923 to one of the most powerful forces in worldwide entertainment today.
Washington, D.C.’s National Mall provides a world-class showcase for a diverse collection of American architectural styles, landscape design and use—and building materials. Join geologist Kenneth Rasmussen on a 3-mile walking tour that views buildings and monuments created from 1791 to the present as he sets the Mall’s evolution in geological context and traces how its vision as public space reflects plans developed over the centuries.
Why do so many readers throughout the world still clamor for the books of Jane Austen? And why is her life the subject of ongoing fascination? Joseph Luzzi, a professor of comparative literature at Bard College, explores the remarkable career and life of a woman who overcame countless obstacles to become a deeply revered author.
