On Saturday, July 9, SAAM presented America Now: America Particpates, an opportunity to incorporate creativity with citizen democracy through art, music, storytelling, and service. Visitors were able to pick up a brush and help make a 20-foot community mural about what America means to them and pose in front of our greenscreen photobooth which placed them in front of paintings from our collection. They wrote letters to our active military service members and veterans, participated in a Wikipedia edit-a-thon, and registered to vote, in participation with Rock the Vote. And, more than 2,000 turned-out to enjoy performances by D.C. hip-hop artist Tarica June, and bluegrass bands Steep Canyon Rangers and Seldom Scene.
Below are some photos of some of the activities that day. All photos, except final photobooth images are by Paul Morigi. (Click on each photo to see a larger version.)
America Now is a three-museum collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of American History, and Smithsonian American Art Museum. It is made possible by the generous support of the Robert and Arlene Kogod Family Foundation.
