SAAM Stories

A photograph of the facade of the Smithsonian American Art Museum at night with blue lights honoring healthcare workers.
From the Director 11/22/2020
Time to Hibernate
SAAM's director, Stephanie Stebich, talks about closing the museum due to Covid 19 and the online offering we continue to produce during this time.
 Stephanie Stebich, Former Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
Former Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum
A drawing of over ten cakes lined up in a store front.
11/15/2020
Happy Birthday Wayne Thiebaud!
Reflecting on the artist’s “light and color and joy and humor,” and his nudge to look closer and think harder about the world that surrounds us
This is a photograph of Virginia Mecklenburg in front of an Edward Hopper painting.
Virginia Mecklenburg
Senior Curator
A photograph of a man in a hat with a mustache
Chicano Graphics Exhibitions 11/13/2020
¡Printing the Revolution! at SAAM Celebrates Chicanx Voices
The groundbreaking exhibition explores how Chicanx artists have linked innovative printmaking practices with social justice
Headshot of woman with black hair
Rebekah Mejorado
Public Relations Specialist
A photograph of three people standing next to each other.
Luce Foundation Center Five Question Interviews 11/06/2020
Luce Listening Party: Lotion Princess
Sasha Snoad shares thoughts on making music and creative life in DC in a conversation hosted by Paul Vodra of Hometown Sounds.
Anne Wilsey
Program Specialist for the Luce Foundation Center
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
Former 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, Former Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
Former Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum
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, Former Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
Former Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum
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, Former Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
Former Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum
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