What's new this month?

Blues music goes back over 100 years and remains a vital genre of music today—and women blues musicians have been there since the start. Learn about that rich history through conversation and performances as Krystal Klingenberg, curator of music at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, is joined by blues and soul vocal legend Bettye LaVette and a sparkling newcomer, singer/songwriter Adia Victoria, for a discussion of their work in the field and the legacy that they share. (Free program; registration required.)

Plant-based eating has evolved over centuries, creating a base of beloved recipes from around the globe. Food editor and writer Joe Yonan has spent years reporting on and making plant-based dishes, and his new book, Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking, spotlights vegan food as a unique cuisine worthy of mastery. Join him as he discusses the richness of global vegan cuisine and serves up tips for flavorful staples, weeknight meals, and celebratory feasts in your own kitchen.

Filmmaker Céline Cousteau recounts the making of her documentary Tribes on the Edge, which examines the human and ecological threats faced by the Indigenous peoples of the Javari Valley reservation, located along Brazil’s Amazon border with Peru. She examines those aggressive forces—from deforestation to health crises, illegal mining to the dismantling of protections of land and human rights—and why the struggle for survival that played out in the Amazon has implications that reach across the globe.

Discover landmarks, art, and other projects from the New Deal period with author David Taylor during a walking tour in Washington, D.C. Sites visited include Judiciary Square to see the public sculptures and dramatic courthouse bas reliefs there; the Henry F. Daly Building, constructed in the Classical Moderne style; the Federal Trade Commission Building, which features monumental Art Deco sculptures; and the National Mall and Washington Monument, both of which were renovated during the New Deal period.

In celebration of its 50th-anniversary, the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has installed a major survey of artwork made during a transformative period characterized by new currents in science and philosophy, ever-increasing mechanization, and dramatic social change. “Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960” captures shifting cultural landscapes. Marina Isgro, associate curator, offers insights into the exhibition, which comprises rotating artworks in the museum’s permanent collection by 117 artists made during 100 turbulent and energetic years. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Regional historian Hayden Mathews explores the rich heritage of this lovely Eastern Shore town, focusing on both land and sea. The day includes a cruise on a replica of an 18th century vessel, as well as a walking tour of Chestertown’s historic district guided by the town’s mayor.

No presidential election in American history carried stakes as high as the 1864 contest between Abraham Lincoln and former Union General George B. McClellan. In it, Northern voters would decide the holder of the nation’s highest office—as well as the future of the country. Historian Christopher Hamner traces the buildup to November through the experiences of Americans who witnessed the election’s turmoil and for whom its outcome was a frightening unknown.

Music is one of humanity’s oldest medicines, reflected in cultures across the globe that have rich traditions in using sound and rhythm to ease suffering, promote healing, and calm the mind. Neuroscientist, author, and musician Daniel J. Levitin explores the critical role music has played in human biology; why he finds it one of the most potent therapies today; and how it can contribute to the treatment of ailments from neurodegenerative diseases to cognitive injury, depression, and pain.

What can a painted vase tell us about the lives and beliefs of the ancient Greeks? A lot, actually. The human activities and mythological subjects depicted on vessels from the 7th through the 5th century B.C.E. provide invaluable insights into this civilization. Art historian Renee Gondek explores the stories illustrated and highlights the artistry of the best-known painters. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has begun a 20-year mission of observation that promises to revolutionize our understanding of the universe. Kelly Beatty, senior editor of Sky & Telescope magazine, reveals how astronomers are using the telescope’s state-of-the-art instruments and enormous optical system to detect extremely faint infrared objects from both the very near and very distant universe—information that can help in identifying the earliest stars and galaxies to form after the Big Bang and in exploring the planetary systems of other stars.