Eye Level

Eye Level is the blog of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery. Publishing behind-the-scenes museum stories since 2005.

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  The Evolving Styles of William H. Johnson: Paintings in the Luce Foundation Center

  The Luce Foundation Center currently has 22 paintings on view by William H. Johnson (1901-1970), one of America’s foremost African American artists and a major figure in 20th century art. Luce visitors may notice that Johnson’s paintings appear to be done in two very different styles. These two styles can be separated into time periods, 1926-1938 and 1939-1945.

Sneak Peek: Renwick Invitational 2018

Disrupting Craft: Renwick Invitational 2018 opens Friday, November 9, and might be just what you need this week.

Behind the Scenes

Craft and Decorative Arts

Qualification, Exclusion, and the Art of Bill Traylor

Curator Leslie Umberger details the importance of Traylor as one of America's most important artists.

Behind the Scenes

Movies at SAAM: The Art of the Score

Movies at SAAM presents an inside look at Hollywood film scores.

On Between Worlds: The Art of Bill Traylor

An interview with SAAM curator, Leslie Umberger, on the life and art of Bill Traylor.

Testing a New Reality for Museum VR

Noah Kim, Media & Technology intern for summer 2018, describes his experiences helping with the virtual reality project, "Beyond the Walls."

Technology

Art Bites: Nocturnal (Horizon Line)

Susana Rodriguez, a Visiting Student at SAAM and NPG, discusses Teresita Fernández's work, Nocturnal, (Horizon Line), 2010.

Research and Scholarship

Art Bites: Gold Mining, Cripple Creek

The author looks at Ernest Lawson's painting, "Gold Mining, Cripple Creek," with the environment in mind.

Research and Scholarship

Conservation: A Tale of Two Summers

CIBA intern Matthew Fields describes his work conserving a diorama from 1940.

Conservation

Beyond the Studio with Lily Cox

A Luce Foundation interview with Lily Cox about her upcoming Beyond the Studio workshop where she'll be demonstrating the art of kokedama

Luce Foundation Center

Between Worlds: The Art of Bill Traylor opens today

Bill Traylor (ca. 1853–1949) is among the most important American artists of the twentieth century.

Behind the Scenes

More Pepper, Please!

Scanning... Scanning... Pepper the robot has a few surprising special skills to share at Technology Family Day.

Behind the Scenes

Technology

Through the Eye of the Needle: Treating a 1940 Diorama

CIBA conservator Tamara Dissi talks about her work conserving a diorama from 1940.

Conservation

Luce Unplugged: Rob Stokes

Luce interview with musician Rob Stokes on his art and inspiration.

Luce Foundation Center

Back to School with SAAM

While many of us are planning one last beach getaway, teachers and students in several places around the country have already headed back to the classroom. You might be surprised, however, to hear some of the ways artworks in SAAM’s collection will be showing up with them!

Education

Road Trip: Burning Man

SAAM director Stephanie Stebich recounts some of her experiences at Burning Man, 2017.

From the Director

A Woman Deserving our Attention and RESPECT

In honor of the Queen of Soul, the iconic singer and songwriter, Aretha Franklin.

The Face of the Madonna and the Eyes of a Child: On Sargent's "Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler"

Taking another look at John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler.

Road Trip: Painted Deserts

August is for staff Artful Road Trips. Libby shares her journey to Arches National Park, Utah.

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