SAAM Stories

A close up of a woman of color's face on a stamp.
01/21/2022
Explore the life and work of this groundbreaking American sculptor
Amy Fox
Social Media and Digital Content Specialist
An illustration of an inclusive girl band.
Noel Schroeder and Shady Rose, Co-Executive Directors of Girls Rock! DC, discuss their approach to collaborative creative experiences.
Anne Wilsey
Program Specialist for the Luce Foundation Center
A black and white photograph of Edith Massey standing in front of her store.
Exploring the spirit of one American neighborhood in a time of change
Headshot of a woman with brown hair wearing a gray jacket
Krystle Stricklin
NEA Curatorial Fellow
Detail of a quilt featuring images of Martin Luther King Jr.
01/14/2022
While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech was a pivotal moment in U.S. history, there’s more to his life and legacy than that single story. Smithsonian educators share approaches to expand classroom lessons and student understanding of this great civil rights leader.
A photograph of Phoebe Hillemann
Phoebe Hillemann
Teacher Institutes Educator
Candra Flanagan
Eden Cho
Two panels of an illustrated comic. On the left, the artist is sculpting marble while people look on in the foreground. On the left, she stands in front of the finished artwork "The Death of Cleopatra."
01/13/2022
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work
Cover of a 1976 calendar featuring a graphic scene of Mexican people with food.
Exploring tradition, place, and social justice through food
Headshot of woman with black hair
Rebekah Mejorado
Public Relations Specialist
Two glass goblets side by side. The left has serpents on the stem, the right is a floral design.
Take a closer look at four fabulous glasses to inspire a virtual celebratory toast to 2022
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
A holographic figure in a dark room behind a velvet rope and drapes.
Ten artworks we are excited to add to SAAM’s collection
SAAM
Image of two people looking at Mastodon bones
12/28/2021
Discover how one local teacher is inspired by the world of Alexander von Humboldt
Visitor image from New Glass Now
Stop scrolling and discover the sparkling, flashing sights of New Glass Now
A large-scale throne made of found objects.
12/16/2021
Our video series American Art Moments takes a closer look at a powerful yet enigmatic installation in SAAM’s collection by a self-taught artist
Musician Drew Dave sits on a porch wearing a black hat and black t shirt.
Producer Drew Dave discusses his approach to making beats and how working with one of his heroes changed his self-image.
Anne Wilsey
Program Specialist for the Luce Foundation Center
A Byzantine necklace
Uncovering the secrets of one of SAAM’s treasures
A photograph of a woman standing in an art gallery with busts behind her.
Ariel O'Connor
Objects Conservator
Sarah Montonchaikul
Portrait of a woman with blood dripping form her head.
11/30/2021
Learn about the legacy of groundbreaking artist Ana Mendieta and how she examined urgent political, personal, and artistic questions through her artwork
This is a photograph of curator Saisha Grayson
Saisha Grayson
Curator of Time-Based Media
Dark starry night sky
11/26/2021
Not to be shady, but sometimes the cure for Black Friday stress is art
Amy Fox
Social Media and Digital Content Specialist
Large scale installation of fabric made of woven linen with madder dye, on a wodden board.
Examining historical imbalances and the roots of racial injustice through fiber art
Photograph of Nora Atkinson by Libby Weiler.
Nora Atkinson
The Fleur and Charles Bresler Curator-in-Charge, Renwick Gallery
A close up crop of a screenprint of Frida Kahlo's face.
Museum educators share Chicanx posters with teachers around the world
A photograph of Anne Showalter in front of Superhighway.
Anne Showalter
Digital Interpretation Specialist
Landscape of mountains with Native motifs overlayed.
A look at three paintings that represent three different decades of the artist’s vibrant career
A photograph of Melissa Ho by Jeff Elkins
Melissa Ho
Curator (20th-Century Art)