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Quilting and embroidery are deeply personal crafts that weave individual stories, emotions, and memories into every stitch. Often imbued with heartfelt intentions and symbolism, each work reflects the artist’s unique journey. Led by textile historian Alden O’Brien, visit two exhibitions that showcase the power of local artistry. One is at the Maryland Center for History and Culture, and the other is at the American Visionary Art Museum.
Just south of Washington, D.C., two distinctive historic homes stand on the same property, showcasing contrasting architectural styles. One is a 19th-century Federal-style mansion, once part of George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, while the other is a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Join Bill Keene, a lecturer in architecture and urban studies, for an exclusive tour of these architectural gems—the only public Wright house in the Washington, D.C., area and its elegant neighbor, Woodlawn.
Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join Smithsonian Studio Arts instructor Nick Cruz Velleman for a member-only small-group critique focusing on artwork in 2-D media. Be prepared to receive constructive feedback, ask questions, and engage in discussion on art theory and practice.
Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape as naturalist and botanical horticulturist Keith Tomlinson leads a series of virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens on the East and West Coasts of the United States, Morocco, and Germany. Vibrant visuals illustrate how each site takes a unique approach to design and interpretation as they all celebrate plant collections, conservation, education, and the distinctive environments and landscapes in which they bloom. This program highlights South Carolina’s Brookgreen Gardens and Anima Garden in Morocco.
Lecturer and concert pianist Rachel Franklin guides a unique look at the monumental keyboard talents of four great composer-pianists and how their performing virtuosity influenced the piano works we enjoy today. In a 4-session series, she explores the creative minds—and hands—of a quartet of piano pioneers celebrated for their prowess as composers and musicians and concludes each session with a live performance of one of their works.
Karl Gercens, Longwood Gardens’ conservatory manager, explores the world of container garden design, showcasing its wide range of opportunities for decorative container use and displays. He surveys container materials; the wealth of plants that thrive in varied conditions; and offers tips on watering, fertilization, and pest and disease prevention. Photos of displays at Longwood Gardens provide inspiration for your own container gardening adventure.
Over the past five years, the world has struggled to grapple with the realities of living with a global pandemic and its aftermath. COVID-19 has an historical precedent in the Black Death, the hemispheric pandemic that ravaged the 14th-century world. Medievalist Paul B. Sturtevant explores the people and societies who faced it, drawing parallels between the individual and collective experiences of people seven centuries apart.
The works of metaphysical poet John Donne abound with highly unusual similes and metaphors, often from science, engineering, and cosmology. He wrote erotic (and often cynical) love poems as well as religious verse and prose, including what are regarded as the greatest sermons of his era. Humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson draws on and interprets Donne’s timeless poetry and prose as he discusses his life and achievements.
After months of contentious negotiations among American, British, and French delegates, the Treaty of Paris was signed in November 1783, formally ending the War for Independence and creating the United States of America. Historian Richard Bell examines the complex diplomatic evolution of one the most important founding documents in this country’s history—as well as the least well-known and the most misunderstood.
Over the past 2,000 years, Samarkand—located in what is now Uzbekistan—has absorbed the wealth and labors of Sogdian merchants, Manichean priests, Islamic astronomers, Mongol khans, Timurid emperors, Russian czars, and Soviet officials, all of whom attempted to use the city as a base from which to conquer Central Asia. Historian Justin M. Jacobs analyzes the cultural achievements of each of these historical groups.
