Eye Level

Eye Level is the blog of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery. Publishing behind-the-scenes museum stories since 2005.

Diane Arbus with her photograph, Identical Twins

Diane Arbus: a box of ten photographs Opens April 6

In 1972, Diane Arbus became the first photographer to have her work exhibited at the Venice Biennale. These pivotal works will be featured in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s exhibition, Diane Arbus: a box of ten photographs, opening at SAAM on Friday, April 6, and remaining on view through January 21, 2019

Press - No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man

Discover the Art of Burning Man at the Renwick

"No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man" brings the large-scale, participatory work from this desert gathering to the nation’s capital for the first time.

Behind-the-Scenes

Craft and Decorative Arts

Sneak Peek: Burning Man's Temple at the Renwick

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, opens on Friday, March 30, and features large-scale installations--the artistic hallmark of Burning Man--at the core of the exhibition. These include a temple designed for the Renwick's Grand Salon by David Best.

Behind-the-Scenes

Craft and Decorative Arts

Luce Unplugged: Five Questions for Antonia

The Luce Foundation Center's interview with experimental pop artist, Adriana-Lucia Cotes, as Antonia. She performs as part of the Luce Unplugged series on March 23, 2018.

Luce Foundation Center

Who Wore it Better? Burning Man Dresses up the Renwick

In addition to the large-scale artworks currently being installed at No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, opening at the Renwick Gallery of Art on March 30, the exhibition features hand-made jewelry and clothing such as Iranian-born designer, Gelareh Alam's "warrior chic."

Behind-the-Scenes

Craft and Decorative Arts

Luce Unplugged: Five Questions for Governess

The Luce Foundation Center interviews the band Governess in advance of their performance on March 23, 2018.

Luce Foundation Center

Five Question Interviews

Sneak Peek: Burning Man Unfolds at the Renwick

What's going on behind-the-scenes at the Renwick Gallery? While the Renwick is closed, it's far from dark: artists are installing the large-scale works that will be a part of No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, opening on March 30.

Sculpture

Behind-the-Scenes

Craft and Decorative Arts

blog-no-spectators-flatmo-dragon-installing

Here Be Dragons

Duane Flatmo's mutant vehicle, "Tin Pan Dragon," is not your average ride.

Craft and Decorative Arts

From the Director: Be Astonished

In her poem, "Sometimes," Mary Oliver writes, "Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be Astonished. Tell About it."

From the Director

Movies at SAAM: Five Questions for Pamela Tanner Boll

In honor of Women's History Month, Movies at SAAM will present the 2008 documentary Who Does She Think She Is? on

Five Question Interviews

Perhaps a Pose with a Panda?

Even if you're not familiar with her name, you’ve probably seen muralist Kelsey Montague's art. Kelsey’s interactive street murals can be found throughout the country and around the globe, as well as on the Instagram accounts of multiple celebrities.

Luce Foundation Center

The Renwick’s New Touch Cart is a Work of Art

Being invited to touch objects in a museum is a rare and thrilling experience. Renwick visitors will now have the opportunity to explore tactile connections thanks to a new mobile touch cart.

Submit your work for SAAM Arcade 2018: Game on!

It’s that time again! The Smithsonian American Art Museum is inviting all independent video game developers to submit their work to the museum's fourth annual SAAM Arcade.

Games

Exhibition - Kara Walker, Alabama Loyalists Greeting the Federal Gun-Boats

Two Artists, One Vision: Kara Walker and Spike Lee

Kara Walker’s series Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War (Annotated), currently on view at SAAM through March 11, and Spike Lee’s 2000 film Bamboozled, are two great examples of how art has the power to tackle sensitive and important matters. Although these works are very different, they discuss the same things: history, race, gender, and stereotypes.

Education