SAAM Stories

A man wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a scarf taking a selfie in the desert. A pyre is in the distance.
Exhibitions Behind-the-Scenes 08/18/2023
Embrace the Dust: A Burning Man Journal
A personal journal by museum educator Geoffrey Cohrs
A picture of a man with a green shirt and tie on standing inside a room.
Geoffrey Cohrs
Docent Coordinator
A woman with brown skin and short hair stands holding an African-inspired mask close to her face, covering one eye. In the background are bright, geometric shapes in red, blue, and yellow.
Women Artists 08/03/2023
Drawn to Loïs Mailou Jones
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Two off-white, beaded bonnets on display in a glass case. In the background is a large painting.
Exhibitions 07/28/2023
The American West Comes East
Many Wests brings a reimagining of this iconic region to SAAM
Headshot of woman with black hair
Rebekah Mejorado
Public Relations Specialist
An illustrated portrait of a woman standing in front of a painting. She has medium brown hair, is wearing a brown jacket, and holding paintbrushes.
Women Artists 07/27/2023
Drawn to Kay WalkingStick
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work.
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Two traditional robes with traditional Alaskan Native designs side-by-side on mannequins in a gallery.
Contemporary Craft Exhibitions 07/20/2023
Chilkat and Ravenstail Weavings: Honoring Traditions
An in-depth look at Lily Hope and Ursala Hudson’s work and the traditions behind Chilkat weavings
SAAM
A screenshot of a video game with two people on top of a moving train in the desert with the sun in the background.
SAAM Arcade 07/19/2023
Move Your Body to the Beat: Music and Video Games
How do video game developers use "musical thinking" to create fun ways to play?
This is an image of Lauren Kolodkin.
Lauren Kolodkin
External Affairs and Digital Strategies Assistant
A photograph of a woman in front of artwork
From the Director 07/07/2023
Director's Letter: Voices, Visions, and Visitors
SAAM's director on current exhibitions, acquisitions, and the newly reimagined and reinstalled modern and contemporary galleries
 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 illustration of two hands holding a miniature portrait of a woman in an oval frame.
Women Artists 06/29/2023
Drawn to Sarah Goodridge
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
A group of students at a rural school sit around the table with colored trips assembling a color wheel.
Education 06/20/2023
Expanding our REACH: Rural Engagement in Art, Culture and History
SAAM's REACH program allows educators to reach out to remote learners....no matter where they are
Carol Wilson
Detail of blown glass artwork. It is circular with a face in the center.
Contemporary Craft 06/15/2023
Contemporary Craft in Focus: Ohio Goza y Más
Brothers and collaborators Einar and Jamex de la Torre bring together carefully chosen objects and humor to craft multifaceted blown glass sculptures
SAAM
A close up detail of a knitted artwork
From the Collection Pride 06/02/2023
Celebrating Pride: LGBTQ+ Artists To Know
As June begins and Pride celebrations around the world commence, here is one way to connect with a few LGBTQ+ artists whose work is included in SAAM’s collection.
SAAM
Collage artwork with photographs
From the Collection Women Artists 05/26/2023
Going Rogue in the Archives with Artist Stephanie Syjuco
The contemporary artist creates works that address the Filipinx American experience
Headshot of a woman with brown hair wearing a gray jacket
Krystle Stricklin
NEA Curatorial Fellow
Detail of quilted portrait showing three African American soldiers
Education 05/24/2023
Unpacking the Stories Behind Artist Bisa Butler’s Portrayal of the Harlem Hellfighters
Tips for teaching the layered World War I history of the 369th Infantry Regiment on their return from France
Ben Brands
A photograph of Phoebe Hillemann
Phoebe Hillemann
Teacher Institutes Educator
A procession of women walking through the desert. The woman in front holds a radio on her shoulder.
Exhibitions 05/19/2023
Discovering the Intersection Between Moving Image and Sound in Video Art
Exhibition invites viewers to discover the intersections and influences of video and sound, through works by some of today’s leading contemporary artists
This is a photograph of curator Saisha Grayson
Saisha Grayson
Curator of Time-Based Media
An illustrated portrait of a woman with short brown hair. The background is red with a yellow pattern.
Women Artists 05/10/2023
Drawn to Tiffany Chung
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Detail of painting showing the roofs of building and clouds floating over them.
From the Collection Women Artists 05/01/2023
Historic New Acquisitions by Two Trailblazing Japanese American Painters
A look at historic new acquisitions of art by two trailblazing Japanese American painters
A photograph of Melissa Ho by Jeff Elkins
Melissa Ho
Curator (20th-Century Art)
An abstract black and white photograph.
Technology 04/27/2023
Alternative Futures: What Does AI Mean for Artists?
We revisit a panel discussion from 2018 with Trevor Paglen, who incorporates questions around AI into his artistic practice
Amy Fox
Social Media and Digital Content Specialist
A person in a black and white checkered sweater stands holding headphones. They are also black and white, woven with an Indigenous motif and have long white fringe.
Contemporary Craft Exhibitions 04/27/2023
Six Artists from Indigenous Nations On Sharing Honors and Burdens
Go in-depth for a look at the themes of Sharing Honors and Burdens at the Renwick Gallery
Lara Evans