SAAM Stories

A painting of a cake
11/05/2020
Cake It Easy: Celebrating Wayne Thiebaud’s 100th Birthday
We knead your help celebrating this iconic American artist’s centenary!
SAAM Staff
A painting of three men shaking hands
Conservation
11/02/2020
Unpacking and Preserving William H. Johnson’s Fighters for Freedom Series
Explore William H. Johnson’s powerful “Fighters for Freedom” series through the lens of a conservator.
Keara Teeter
A photograph of a gallery with headphones on colorful benches
New Acquisitions
10/29/2020
New Sounds at SAAM 
Christine Sun Kim Acquisition adds Sound Art to SAAM’s Collection
This is a photograph of curator Saisha Grayson
Saisha Grayson
Curator of Time-Based Media
A photograph of a woman sitting down on the ground installing bugs to a pink wall in an art gallery.
10/27/2020
Twelve Classic Halloween Movies Paired with Boo-tiful Artworks
This October we are re-watching some old, classic creepy movies and finding a similar mood in artworks from the museum’s collection.
A photograph of Sara Snyder
Sara Snyder
Head of External Affairs & Digital Strategies
Three people looking up at an art installation inside the Renwick Gallery.
From the Director
10/19/2020
Second Nature
Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director, takes a closer look at the exhibitions on view at the Renwick Gallery that explore our relationship with nature
 Stephanie Stebich, SAAM's Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
The Margaret and Terry Stent Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
An installation inside an art museum
Craft and Decorative Arts
10/09/2020
Forces of Nature
The 2020 Renwick Invitational offers an inspired vision of nature
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
An animation of a man holding a telescope
Exhibitions
09/30/2020
Jeopardy! Champion Ken Jennings on Lessons Learned from Alexander von Humboldt 
“I’ll take Alexander von Humboldt for $500, Alex.”
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
A photograph of people inside an art gallery with masks on.
From the Director
09/18/2020
Opening Doors
Welcome back: On the museum's reopening and embracing encounters with art.
 Stephanie Stebich, SAAM's Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
The Margaret and Terry Stent Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
A painting of Morocco with a man and a mule walking in the street.
09/02/2020
Road Trip: Morocco on my Mind
SAAM's artworks transport the author back to her beloved Morocco without having to leave home.
Libby Weiler
IT Specialist - External Affairs and Digital Strategies
A painting of three sandwiches
Luce Foundation Center
09/01/2020
Comfort Food in the Luce Foundation Center
For your viewing pleasure, a menu of tasty works of art from the Luce Foundation Center.
Anne Wilsey
Program Specialist for the Luce Foundation Center
A circle with a drawing inside.
Craft Making Activities
08/20/2020
“Who Run The World?” Celebrating the 19th Amendment Centennial
A special Handi-hour program that explores the connections between craft and suffrage.
An image of Gloria Kenyon.
Gloria Kenyon
Public Programs Coordinator
A video game display
Conservation
08/14/2020
Level Up: Playing to Document and Preserve Video Games
Ever wonder what it takes to conserve and preserve video games? Our collections care initiative fellow at SAAM tells us how.
Shu-Wen Lin
an artwork of a bar with people inside
08/13/2020
Living History, Changing History
Inspired by the late politician and Civil Rights Activist, John Lewis, and his call for "good trouble."
 Stephanie Stebich, SAAM's Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
The Margaret and Terry Stent Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
An artwork of a figure with small figures climbing on it.
Luce Foundation Center
08/04/2020
Fire, Cloud, Earth: Native Women Artists at SAAM
A closer look at three Native women artists in SAAM's collection
A photograph of a woman with blonde hair and glasses.
Karen Canova
Luce Foundation Center Volunteer
A black and white photograph of a woman with long hair.
SAAM Arcade
07/31/2020
SAAM Arcade: Focus on Women in the Video Games Industry
Five Questions with Renee Bates, visual development artist and professor at Ringling College of Art & Design
This is an image of Lauren Kolodkin.
Lauren Kolodkin
External Affairs and Digital Strategies Assistant
A photograph of three women playing video games
SAAM Arcade
07/28/2020
SAAM Arcade: Game Changers
Celebrating the ratification of the 19th Amendment by highlighting women’s narratives and contributions to the video games industry
This is an image of Lauren Kolodkin.
Lauren Kolodkin
External Affairs and Digital Strategies Assistant
A photograph of a purple hanging mobile.
Craft Making Activities
07/22/2020
Getting Crafty: Make an Alexander Calder-inspired Mobile
An Alexander Calder mobile in time for the artist's 122nd birthday.
An image of Gloria Kenyon.
Gloria Kenyon
Public Programs Coordinator
A still photo of a video screen.
Programs
07/09/2020
Additional Reflections on Arthur Jafa’s Love is the Message, The Message is Death
Highlighting the voices of Black people and people of color within our local arts and creative community.
A photograph of a woman with a green blazer and brown hair.
Kayleigh Bryant-Greenwell
Community Engagement Specialist