Calendar of Exhibitions and Programs September 2017
Editor’s Note: All programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Visitors should be prepared for a security check upon entrance to the museum. Program attendees should arrive 30 minutes in advance. For a complete schedule of activities check: https://americanhistory.si.edu.
September
Featured Event
Innovative Lives: Rodney Mullen and Steven Sebring 360
Thursday, Sept. 7, 6:30 p.m.
Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza
Free registration required: https://lcinnovativelives.eventbrite.com
Rodney Mullen is an influential skateboarder, creating and performing some of the most difficult tricks in the skateboarding world. Steven Sebring is a photographer, filmmaker, multi-media artist, inventor and entrepreneur who has pushed creative and technological boundaries to explore the human form from new perspectives. In 2016, the two combined their respective disciplines on a photography project called Liminal that used 100 lenses of Sebring’s 360 camera system to capture Mullen performing never-before-seen tricks in a small geodesic dome, a hemispherical thin-shell structure. See a screening of the project and hear from Sebring and Mullen about what inspires them to imagine and create new things.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Ceramics from the U. S. – Mexico Borderlands
Sept. 11 – May 2018
“American Stories” Exhibition, Second Floor, East Wing
The museum’s “American Stories” exhibition will add artifacts related to different Latina/o traditions celebrating life and death. From a tree of life reflecting Mexican music and dance traditions to a miniature ofrenda to honor deceased loved ones, these objects demonstrate the belief of many Latino communities in the U.S. – Mexico borderlands and throughout the country that life and death are interconnected; death is simply seen as part of the journey of life.
Selena Artifacts Highlight Hispanic Advertising History
Sept. 12 - TBD
“American Enterprise” Exhibition, First Floor, West Wing
The museum’s “American Enterprise” exhibition adds a display exploring advertising history through the lens of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez (1971 – 1995). A black leather jacket with a black satin bustier worn by Selena during performances, between 1990 and 1995, and a selection of never-before-seen advertising photos taken for a 1994 Coca-Cola ad developed by the Sosa, Bromley, Aguilar & Associates advertising agency will go on view in the museum’s business exhibition highlighting that agency’s contributions to advertising history. The display also includes materials related to HIV/AIDS awareness developed for the Hispanic market. The case explores the transition from mass market advertising to marketing that targets specific demographic groups.
Cooking Up History: Hispanic Food Migrations
Saturday, Sept. 16; 2 - 3 p.m.
Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, Demonstration Kitchen
To celebrate Hispanic heritage month, “Cooking Up History” will explore Hispanic food migrations with guest chef Sandra A. Gutierrez, author of the cookbook, “The New Southern-Latino Table: Recipes That Bring Together the Bold and Beloved Flavors of Latin America and the American South.”
“Cooking Up History” showcases a guest chef and a Smithsonian host preparing a recipe while discussing its ingredients, culinary techniques and history. After a 45-minute demonstration, visitors will have the opportunity to purchase a dish inspired by the demonstration in the museum’s Stars & Stripes Cafe.
About the Museum
Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History explores the infinite richness and complexity of American history. It helps people understand the past in order to make sense of the present and shape a more humane future. For more information, visit https://americanhistory.si.edu. The museum is located on Constitution Avenue, between 12th and 14th streets N.W., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.
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