News
Republican Senator Blocks Votes to Establish Smithsonian Museums for Latino Culture and Women
On the evening of the vote, Senator Mike Lee of Utah said the US does not need “separate but equal” museums.
Washington DC
Opinion
One Nation Under a Groove: Why We Danced in the Streets
Public protests once filled the same streets now transformed into block parties. Photojournalists captured the impromptu gatherings and spontaneous joy that emerged in the distinct style of each city.
News
As COVID-19 Cases Climb, Museums Across US Announce Closures
Minneapolis museums and the Smithsonian are some of the first to announce their second closures, starting this weekend.
News
The First National Memorial to Native American Veterans
Indigenous people serve in the US Armed Services at a higher rate than any other group, but their contributions are often diminished. A new memorial in Washington, DC, hopes to change that.
News
National Endowment for the Humanities Allocated $120K to Restore and Build Monuments
One grant will fund the restoration of a Christopher Columbus statue rolled into the harbor by protesters; another will fund the creation of a Frederick Douglass monument.
Interview
Buttons, Badges, and Delegate Hats: How Election Memorabilia Reflect the Democratic Process
In anticipation of an unusual election night and beyond, curators Lisa Kathleen Graddy, Claire Jerry and Jon Grinspan discuss their new (slower) practice of collecting political ephemera.
News
Black Artists Paint Biden-Harris Murals in Cities Across US
The Democratic presidential nominees commissioned eight Black artists to create murals in their communities that urge participation in the upcoming election.
News
In the Wake of Severe Criticism, Postponed Philip Guston Exhibition Moved to 2022
Last month, four museums announced that they would postpone the retrospective to 2024, citing the need to better contextualize KKK imagery in Guston’s work.
In Brief
374 Native American Treaties Have Been Digitized and Made Available Online
Beyond their historical and educational value, these treaties are used by tribal advocates in court to protect their rights in land and water disputes.
Art
Revisiting the Question “What Is Feminist Art?”
Building on an influential 1977 feminist exhibition, the Smithsonian’s updated edition takes a more inclusive approach, adding further nuance to the question of how and who gets to define feminist art.
News
Trump Likened to Mussolini After Appearance on White House Balcony
Many have likened Trump’s photo-op to the famous balcony speeches of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
News
Two Years After His Murder, Jamal Khashoggi Images Projected Onto DC Buildings
Images of the murdered journalist and other political prisoners were projected onto the Saudi Embassy, Trump International Hotel, Washington Post headquarters, and more.