A Native doll by Juanita and Jess Rae Growing Thunder. Three women from three different generations of the Growing Thunder family are at the American Indian Museum on Friday to discuss their work and people. Photo courtesy of the American Indian Museum

Friday, April 19: Native Artists: Doll Makers

Far more than toys, Native dolls embody the traditions, beliefs and rich cultural heritage of their Native makers. This weekend, a three-generation family of craftswomen, Joyce, Juniata and Jess Rae Growing Thunder, will discuss their art and share the stories of their Assiniboine-Sioux people. Their figures, which are made of buffalo hair, hide, porcupine quills and shells, are currently on display in “Grand Procession: Dolls from the Charles and Valerie Diker Collection” Free. 11 a.m. to 1 am and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (repeats Saturday). American Indian Museum.

Saturday, April 20: Time and Navigation Family Day

Sea captains once relied on chronometers to calculate where they were. Today, we use satellites, and anyone can tap the Global Positioning System’s satellite-borne clocks with their cell phone to figure out exactly where he or she is or how to get somewhere. “Time and Navigation: the Untold Story of Getting from Here to There,” a new exhibit at the Air and Space Museum, traces how revolutions in timekeeping over the past three centuries have helped us find our way. Head over to the museum today for a family day that celebrates the exhibit’s opening. Free. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Air and Space Museum.

Sunday, April 21: Juvenile Offender

In director Kang Yik-wan’s award-winning Juvenile Offender (2012, Korean with English subtitles), a troubled 16-year-old (played by the youngest person ever to win the Tokyo International Film Festival’s Best Actor award) winds up in a juvenile detention facility, where he is contacted by the mother who gave him up for adoption when he was born. The film is about the pair’s attempt together to pick up the pieces of their broken lives. If the trailer is any indication, you’ll want to make sure you bring some tissues. Free. 2:30 p.m.  Freer Gallery.

Monday, April 22: Reclaiming the Edge on Earth Day

What can we do to help the environment? How do we cut down on emissions, promote ecology and leave smaller carbon footprints? In celebration of Earth Day today, the Anacostia Community Museum is telling stories, running hands on-exhibits, giving river tours, planting trees and holding recycling demonstrations to teach us how to be better stewards of our planet. Free. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anacostia Community Museum.

Also, check out our Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.

Secretary G. Wayne Clough testified before Congress today about the effects of sequestration on the institution. Photo by Ken Rahalm, courtesy of the Smithsonian

On April 16, Smithsonian Institution Secretary G. Wayne Clough testified before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about the impending effects of sequestration. Though the Obama administration had sought a $59 million budget increase for the Institution in fiscal 2014, this year Clough has to contend with a $41 million budget reduction due to sequestration. Gallery closings, fewer exhibitions, reduced educational offerings, loss of funding for research and cuts to the planning process of the under-construction National Museum of African American History and Culture were listed among the impacts of the sequestration.

Clough began his testimony: “Each year millions of our fellow citizens come to Washington to visit—for free—our great museums and galleries and the National Zoo, all of which are open every day of the year but one. Our visitors come with high aspirations to learn and be inspired by our exhibitions and programs.”

“It is my hope,” Clough told the committee, “that our spring visitors will not notice the impact of the sequestration.” Perhaps most noticeable would be the gallery closures, which, while they would not close entire museums, would restrict access to certain floors or spaces in the museums, unable to pay for sufficient security. Those changes would begin May 1, according to Clough.

Clough warned, however, that while these short-term measures will save in the near future, they might also entail long-term consequences. Unforeseen costs may arise in the form of diminished maintenance capabilities, for example. “Any delays in revitalization or construction projects will certainly result in higher future operating and repair costs,” Clough said.

This also threatens the Institution’s role as steward of thousands of historic and valuable artifacts–”Morse’s telegraph; Edison’s light bulb; the Salk vaccine; the 1865 telescope designed by Maria Mitchell, America’s first woman astronomer who discovered a comet; the Wright Flyer; Amelia Earhart’s plane; Louis Armstrong’s trumpet; the jacket of labor leader Cesar Chavez,” to name a few.

Around the Mall will keep the issue updated and tweet significant closures.

Learn how to knit! Classes run by Smithsonian Associates start on Tuesday. Photo by terribomb, courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Tuesday, April 15: Pottery and Knitting Classes

Kick start spring with some beautiful crafts to show off to guests when they visit on sunny days. Smithsonian Associates runs a whole variety of art classes that start this evening. Drawing and photography are sold out (click links to join the wait list), but there’s still space for pottery and knitting. Make some fantastic presents for your friends and family, or something for yourself to satisfy that creative itch. Prices vary, see links. Pottery: Tuesdays from April 15 to June 4, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Knitting: Tuesdays from April 15 to June 4, 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Ripley Center.

Wednesday, April 16: Wash, Wring, Repeat: 19th Century Laundry

If you think loading up your washing machine is a pain, wait until you see all the steps families had to take in the 19th century to keep their clothes clean! Before you run away screaming from this hands-on demonstration, though, think of how much easier your laundry at home will be once you figure out how much of a task it used to be. After the wash, you can learn more about 18th century domestic life in Within These Walls . . ., an exhibit that features a full-size, partially reconstructed Georgian-style house. Free. 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. American History Museum.

Thursday, April: 17: Peacock Room Shutters Open

Want a taste of luxury? The Freer Gallery’s Peacock Room, once an opulent British dining room, now hosts more than 250 ceramics from Egypt, Iran, Japan, China and Korea that museum founder Charles Lang Freer collected on his travels. At noon, the museum opens the room’s shutters to bathe the collection in sunlight, and the room glows blue, green and gold. The shimmering colors won’t fade any time soon, either; special filtering film on the room’s windows prevents the sun’s effects on the ceramics. Free. Noon to 5:30 p.m. Freer Gallery.

Also, check out our Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.

Nam June Paik’s “Video Flag” (1985-96). Celebrate the avant-garde artist’s life and work on Sunday with a symposium and performance organized by some of his most prominent contemporaries. Photo by Jill, courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Note: If you’re going to be around the Mall this weekend, watch out for a handful of road closures between Saturday and Sunday due to the Japanese Street Festival, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and Race to Stop the Silence. See these events’ websites for details. 

Friday, April 12: Experimental Film from Korea

Instead sitting down to another conventional Friday night popcorn flick, how about tackling some of the past few years’ most inventive short films? Fresh from the Experimental Film and Video Festival in Seoul, North Korea, a selection of unique and groundbreaking works will be introduced in person by Park Donghyun, the festival’s director, this evening at the Freer Gallery. The batch of films explores the experience of time, tensions between North and South Korea and the sibilant character [ ∫ ]. The showing is part of the 2013 Korean Film Festival. Free. 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Freer Gallery.

Saturday, April 13: Super Science Saturday: How Things Fly

Think you’re an expert on flight? Seen everything the Air and Space Museum has to offer? Then take a trip out to the Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport, where thousands of aviation and space artifacts that take up too much room to be exhibited on the Mall are on display. On the second Saturday of each month (that’s today!), the museum holds demonstrations and hands-on activities that teach visitors about aviation and space exploration. Free. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center.

Sunday, April 14: Nam June Paik: Art & Process

Nam June Paik (1932-2006) was an avant-garde musician, installation master and the world’s first video artist. The American Art Museum opened a retrospective of his career earlier this year (see some of his work at his website), and today five of the most prominent scholars and artists who studied and worked with him are coming together in a symposium to discuss his legacy. After a subsequent gallery talk and break, prominent composers who knew Paik will premiere a performance of his film and music. Free tickets distributed beginning at 12:30 p.m. for the symposium and concert, and again at 6:30 p.m. for the concert. Symposium: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery Talk: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Concert: 7 p.m. American Art Museum.

And all weekend: Cherry Blossoms!

It’s the prettiest time of the year in DC, and there are many around the Mall this weekend to celebrate the city’s favorite flowers as they hit their peak. After you enjoy the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and Japanese Street Festival on Saturday, head over to the Sackler Gallery to check out National Cherry Blossom Festival Anime Marathon, a showing of all 26 episodes of Shinichiro Watanabe’s landmark animated television series Samurai Champloo. And if you want a sneak peak at the beautiful scenery down by the water, take a look at our new slideshow of the cherry blossoms in all their glory!

Also, check out our Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, a National Historic Landmark, was designed in the 1870s by Calvin T.S. Brent, Washington, DC’s first black architect. Learn more about famous black architects and how they shaped the city in “Master Builders”at the Anacostia Community Museum on Sunday.

Friday, April 5: Japanese Design Weekend

Get a taste of Japan’s rich artistic history this weekend with a three-day celebration of the country’s art and design. Exhibits like , tours and a lecture by acclaimed Japanese printmaker Ayomi Yoshida set the stage for numerous hands-on activities, including Japanese bookbinding and chance to help create an audiovisual Japanese lantern installation with students from Virginia Tech. And bonus: The Tokyo in the City food truck and Mr. Miyagi’s Food Truck will be outside the museums from 11 am–3 pm on Saturday. Free. Through Sunday. Freer and Sackler Galleries.

Saturday, April 6: Poetry Month Family Day

Celebrate today:
National Poetry Month.
Tours and open mics!

That’s our haiku for National Poetry Month, which the National Portrait Gallery kicks off today with poetry workshops, a DC Youth Slam Team performance, tours of  Poetic Likeness: Modern American Poets and a short open mic session for children. Stop by to see if you can be a better poet than we are! Free. 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. National Portrait Gallery.

Sunday, April 7: Master Builders: A Documentary Featuring African American Architects in the Nation’s Capital

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 15th and Church streets, Sterling Brown’s house, Rock Creek Baptist Church—many prominent and historical buildings in Washington, DC were built by African-American architects, who helped to shape the city as we know it today. Master Builders, by filmmaker Michelle Jones, tells the untold story of past and present African-American masters’ contributions to the city. A panel discussion will follow the film with Jones, NoMa historian Patsy Fletcher, former dean of Howard University’s School of Architecture Harry G. Robinson III and others. Free. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Anacostia Community Museum.

Also, check out our Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.

These flowers are always in bloom at the American Art Museum. Courtesy of the museum

Though you might not know it judging from the forecast most places, spring has indeed arrived. And despite the unpredictable D.C. weather, the snow, sleet, cold rain and wind hasn’t kept the tourists away. Crowds are gathering in the nation’s capital for the first glimpses of the cherry blossoms. For those of you interested in making the most of your visit, the editors over here have released two new spring-themed tours to help showcase the seasonal delights both inside and outside along the Mall.

The Gardens tour will take you to our many well-maintained plots around the Mall to see more than just a few pink blooms by the Tidal Basin, including heirloom plants, geometric splendors reminiscent of the grandest of European gardens and even a Victory Garden.

The Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden provides an iconic backdrop for your family vacation photo. Courtesy of Smithsonian Gardens

The courtyard at the Freer Gallery of Art is as beautiful as the museum’s collection inside. Courtesy of Smithsonian Gardens

The winding paths of the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden provide a quiet retreat. Courtesy of Smithsonian Gardens

What would spring be without the crack of bat? Pay homage to some of the game’s greats at the National Portrait Gallery. Courtesy of the museum

In case the sun forgets to show up, head inside for a dose of paradise in the Butterfly Pavilion. Courtesy of the Natural History Museum

Spring in space could mean a few things, but in this instance, we’re talking about a clever spring made of two metals that heat and cool at different points, which was essential to the Lunar Rover Vehicle from the Apollo missions. Courtesy of the Air and Space Museum

The birds and blooms from this Japanese painting were actually borrowed symbols from China, likely to mark an auspicious occasion. Courtesy of the Freer Gallery

Head here to download the visitor’s app and get your step-by-step directions, custom postcard feature and greatest hits from the museums.

Chahārshanbe-Sūri, Iran’s Festival of Fire, falls on the Wednesday before the Persian New Year. Join in celebrating Iran’s unique New Year traditions this Saturday at the Freer and Sackler Galleries.

Friday, March 15: Movie Night!

Tired of $10 movie tickets? Smithsonian has three free films on tap tonight. Rebels with a Cause (2012, 72 min, USA, directed/produced by Nancy Kelly and Kenji Yamamoto; trailer here) tells the story of pioneer environmental activists who saved California’s coastline from suburban development in the 1950s. Market Imaginary (2012, 54 min, USA, directed by Joanna Grabski; trailer here) investigates Dakar’s Colobane Market, a major market in the West African city that is deeply embedded in the local economy and culture. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002, 129 min, Korea, directed by Park Chan-wook, Korean with English subtitles; trailer here), follows a hearing-impaired factory worker who turns to an illegal organ-trafficking ring to get a new kidney for his dying sister, then goes on a quest for vengeance when he is cheated. All films free. In respective order: 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Anacostia Community Museum, African Art Museum and Freer Gallery.

Saturday, March 16: Persian New Year Celebration

When Americans celebrate their new year, they watch a ball drop. Persians jump over fire. Chahārshanbe-Sūri, the Festival of Fire, preludes Nowrūz, the Persian New Year, which welcomes the beginning of spring. Today, learn about Iran’s exciting new year traditions while enjoying Persian songs, dances, games and food. You can even practice some (fake) fire jumping of your own! Fun for the whole family. Free. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Freer and Sackler Galleries.

Sunday, March 17: Hok-Noth-Da Story Time for Families

Hok-Noth-Da–Did you hear? People often remember stories their parents told them for their entire lives. Because they make such an impression, stories are ways for families and cultures to pass down important lessons for generations. Today, a Native museum staff member passes down lessons from different Native communities throughout the Western Hemisphere by reading children’s stories by or about Native people. Open to children ages 4 to 8. Free. 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. American Indian Museum.

Also, check out our Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.

Smithsonian in snow, circa 1977. Photo by Smithsonian Institution

Looking for something to do today, while the snowy weather conditions persist? The Smithsonian museums will be open for business today. But the National Zoo will be closed Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

Plan your visit, using our convenient Tours app, a free download is available here.

Naseer Shamma, world-renowned ‘ud (lute) player, performs at the Freer Gallery this with the Al-Oyoun ensemble Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Photo by Ahmed Abd El-fatah, courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons.

Tuesday, March 5: Is This Art?

Contemporary art isn’t always the easiest to understand. What does an odd-shaped sculpture or a painting of a bunch of lines say about the world, and why should we care? This series of gallery talks, facilitated by museum staff members, introduces viewers to some of the American Art Museum’s provocative contemporary works and explores different ways of interpreting them. Debate encouraged! Free. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. American Art Museum.

Wednesday, March 6: Le Cuisine de Quebec: Exploring the Passion and Depth of Québec’s Emerging Microbreweries

Québec, home to more than 100 microbreweries, has risen to international fame in the beer world in recent decades. The city’s brews are known for their diverse styles and fusion of disparate European traditions. Sylvain Bouchard has helped the city win this reputation; as head sommelier at the city’s most iconic brewery, Unibroue, for more than a decade, he has pioneered the use of ancient brewing European methods to produce new flavors. This evening, as part of the 2013 Francophonie Cultural Festival, Bouchard explains Québec’s burgeoning microbrewery movement and introduces the range of its products. A tasting and pairing of cheeses and other Québec treats follows his presentation. $30 general admission, $25 members. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Natural History Museum.

Thursday, March 7: Naseer Shamma’s Al-Oyoun Ensemble concert

Naseer Shamma, one of the Arab world’s ‘ud (lute)-playing superstars (see him in action here), returns to America for the first time in ten years this evening to perform new arrangements of classical Arab music. Shamma is a native of Iraq and a devoted teacher; he developed a method of playing the ‘ud with one hand for children wounded in the Iraq War. He will be accompanied by the Al-Oyoun ensemble, a cairo-based orchestra that includes violins, flutes, bass and percussion. Free tickets required. 7:30 p.m., with a museum tour of the “Arts of the Islamic World” at 6:45 p.m. Freer Gallery.

Also, check out our Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.

This weekend is the 100th anniversary of the 1913 woman suffrage parade. Join the American History Museum in celebrating Women’s History Month with a family festival on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Friday, March 1: Stoker

Add a little fright to your Friday night with Stoker, a new mystery thriller starring Mia Wasikowska, Dermot Mulroney and Nicole Kidman. In the film, a girl named India (Wasikowska) loses her father in a car accident, after which her uncle (Mulroney) moves in with her emotionally unstable mother and her. His intentions are unclear. If the scary images, dark chase scenes and guns in the trailer are any indication, though, they certainly aren’t good. The film is directed by Park Chan-wook and part of DC’s Korean Film Festival. Free. 7 p.m. Freer Gallery.

Saturday, March 2:  Vote! Women’s History Month Family Festival 

Happy Women’s History Month! To celebrate, Smithsonian is holding a family festival in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the historic suffrage parade. Eight thousand women marched down Washington, DC’s Pennsylvania Avenue in 1913 led by a woman in a white horse and against the jeers of male onlookers to demand the right to vote. Today’s festival includes arts, crafts, singing, oral history interviews and historical figure reenactments to capture the pro-suffrage spirit. Free. 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. American History Museum.

Sunday, March 3:  She’s Not In Your History Book: An Afternoon of Storytelling with Joy Jones

Queen Hatshepsut (1508–1458 BC) is considered one of Egypt’s most successful pharaohs, and one of the earliest (if not the first) powerful and influential women on record. Of course, you may not heard of her, because America has a sad tradition of leaving many exceptional African and African American out of its history books. Washington, DC-based writer and teacher Joy Jones gives many of these women the recognition they deserve by telling their stories this afternoon. Performance poetry included! Free. 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Anacostia Community Museum.

Also, check out our Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.

On Wednesday, legendary Taiko drummer Kenny Endo performs a mix of traditional Japanese music and original jazz with Japanese flute player and drummer Kaoru Watanabe.

Tuesday, February 26: Let’s Move! with Smithsonian Gardens

Here’s a fun way to get active now that the weather’s taking a sunny turn: a scavenger hunt around the Mall. Smithsonian Gardens, which maintains the Mall’s lovely flora, provides free “Hunt Guides” at Smithsonian’s various museums (also available for download here). The guide has maps, challenges and a checklist that take you around the different gardens while giving mini-lessons about gardening and fitness. Get outside and make Michelle Obama proud! Free. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., brochures available until October. Smithsonian Gardens.

Wednesday, February 27: Rhythms of Japanese Drums and Flutes

Ba-da-da-da-dum! Japanese drums! Two of the world’s best Japanese drummers, Kaoru Watanabe of renowned drumming ensemble Kodo and taiko superstar Kenny Endo, rock the museum tonight with a medley of traditional beats, kabuki classics and original jazz-influenced compositions. Both drummers were born in America and grew up with jazz and spent a decade abroad  honing their traditional Japanese drumming and flute chops. Having difficulty imagining what jazz sounds like on a flute accompanied by a giant drum? Check it out. Free tickets required. 7:30 p.m. Freer Gallery.

Thursday, February 28:  The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Taylor Branch is in the house this evening to talk about The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement, an abridged version of his famous historical trilogy under the same header that chronicles the Civil Rights era from 1954 to 1968 with a focus on Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch, a MacArthur Fellow who has written for a variety of prominent publications and published nine books, will sign books following his discussion. Free, registration requested. 7 p.m. American History Museum.

Also, check out our Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.

Birds were a popular part of Japanese art during the Edo period. Eagle hanging scroll by Kishi Ganku, ca. 1802. Courtesy of the Freer Gallery

Two new exhibits at the Freer Gallery explore the riches of the Japanese art collections and reveal how pieces of everyday life make appearances in works of art. Together, “Arts of Japan: Edo Aviary and Poetic License: Making Old Worlds New” show how artists of the Edo period (1603 to 1868) were influenced by a growing field of natural history, as well as evolving literary traditions and practices.

Selections from the exhibits, depicting some of these elegant representations of birds and bards, are featured here.

Poetic License

The Edo period (Edo was the former name of today’s Tokyo) was remarkably peaceful and stable. Japan was largely closed off to the rest of the world during this period. Though isolated, the country was still able to foster local cultures and take advantage of the new printing technologies. Everything from poetry to popular literature was printed and circulated and artists, in turn, incorporated themes of the day into their works.

One scene (below) referenced the well-known Tale of Genji, the 11th-century novel by lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu. The story follows an emperor’s son and his romantic life after he is given “commoner status” for political reasons.

The romantic adventures of a good-looking emperor’s son proved popular artistic material as well. Kemari Scene from the Tale of Genji by Reizei Tamechika,1850-1855. Courtesy of the Freer Gallery

Poetry was also popular at the time, and few poets were more popular than Ono no Komachi, renowned for her beauty during her lifetime in the ninth century.

Six Immortals of Poetry: Ono no Komachi Hanging scroll by Katsushika Hokusai; Japan; ca. 1806-1808. Courtesy of the Freer

Another one of the six great poets of the ninth century, Ariwara no Narihira was of noble blood but scandals kept him from higher rank.

Ariwara no Narihira by Sumiyoshi Gukei, Late 17th-early 18th century. Courtesy of the Freer Gallery

Edo Aviary

In part, the spread of Neo-Confucianism during the Edo period allowed for a more secular point of view. Interest in the natural world was informed not just from a spiritual realm but also from a more scientific understanding.

Curator James Ulak says, “The rooster was thought to embody the Five Virtues: martial spirit, literary accomplishment, loyalty, courage and virtue. The 18th century, in particular, witnessed a number of Japanese painters issuing quite spectacular renderings of these creatures.”

In the case of artist Kishi Ganku, however, the rooster become a tool for social critique. Ulak says this painting from Ganku, “offers the artist’s characteristically jaded view of an icon held in high esteem.” By transforming the rooster into “an elongated and threatening creature,” Ganku suggests something ominous about the esteemed bird. “The most telling episode in the composition is the feeding process; a hen passes a dragonfly to a ravenous chick. The dragonfly’s eyes imply horror and this brilliant, minuscule touch conveys Ganku’s skill at suggesting the darker side of the ostentatiously regal.”

Rooster, Hen and Chicks Hanging scroll by Kishi Ganku, late 18th, early 19th century. Courtesy of the Freer Gallery

Other artists, like Yamaoto Baiitsu, used birds to captures scenes of the changing seasons.

Plum, Narcissus, and Bamboo with Magpie Hanging scroll by Yamamoto Baiitsu, ca. 1832-1852. Courtesy of the Freer Gallery

More exotic birds also populated Edo period paintings. Parrots, for example, were rare in real life but found their way to paintings. The birds were first imported for the Imperial Court around the ninth century, according to the British Museum. They remained rare during the Edo period but could be found at entertainment stalls in some cities.

Parrot on a branch Hanging scroll by Kusumoto Rin, early 19th century. Courtesy of the Freer Gallery

 ”Arts of Japan: Edo Aviary and Poetic License” both run through August 4, 2013 at the Freer Gallery.

Artist Lauren Boilini offers sketching lessons Friday night—no artistic experience required. Photo by Dorret, courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons.

Friday, February 15: Drawing at Dusk!

Loosen your tie, roll up your sleeves and let your creative side shine this evening with the latest installment of Smithsonian’s Draw and Discover series. Guest instructor  Lauren Boilini, an award-winning artist, gives a brief sketching lesson, then lets you doodle to your heart’s content. Drawing materials provided. Open to all artistic abilities. Make something you can be proud to hang on your wall this weekend. Free. 5:30 p.m. American Art Museum.

Saturday, February 16: New Sounds from Arab Lands

Tonight: a trip between worlds. Your guides: Kinan Azmeh, Basel Rajoub, Jasser Haj Youssef, Feras Charestan and Khaled Yassine. The vehicle: music. These five young performer-composer from Syria and Tunisia infuse Western classical and jazz with an Arab flair, producing sounds simultaneously deeply rooted in tradition and profoundly new. You’ve never heard a clarinet rock out like this before. Free tickets required. 7:30 p.m. Freer Gallery.

Sunday, February 17: Book Signing: Lane Smith

Abraham Lincoln was haunted by his dreams. Caldecott award-winning children’s book author Lane Smith told NPR in a recent interview that the 16th president often dreamed he was aboard a vessel moving towards an indistinct shore while asleep, a recurring dream that frightened him on nights before major events during the Civil War and even the night before his assassination. Smith, however, has imagined a very different kind of dream for the national hero. In his new Abe Lincoln’s Dream, Lincoln’s troubled ghost drifts through the present-day White House and comes across a young girl, who shows him how America has moved towards unity and equality since his death. Today, Smith is available to sign copies of his book, which can be purchased in the museum gift shop.  Free. 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. American History Museum.

Also, check out our Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is also packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.

The sister-in-law of a Chinese farm owner in Zambia. China’s growing presence in Africa is documented in the 2010 film “When China Met Africa,” showing on Wednesday at the Freer Gallery. Photo © Marc Francis.

Tuesday, February 12: Women in Sustainability

Brilliant women are paving the way to responsible environmental stewardship with sustainable designs, innovative education ideas and progressive policies. This evening, hear from a panel of female sustainability rock stars on their push at local and national levels to make the world a cleaner, better place. Panelists include Ellen Cecile McBarnette of Urban Solar Solutions, Kara Davis of Green Living DC, Sharon Bradley of Bradley Site Design, Acacia Bamberg Salatti of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and Edith Hancock of DC EcoGreen. Free. 7 p.m. Anacostia Community Museum.

Wednesday, February 13: When China Met Africa

In the movie trailer for When China Met Africa, an African man driving in his truck down a dirt road says to the camera, “I was here six months ago. It was a bush.” The truck turns a corner, and the framework of a monolithic, under-construction factory appears. “It just gives you a sense of the pace at which these guys are able to deliver,” the man says. The 2010 film, an award-winning documentary directed by Marc and Nick Francis, tells the story of China’s growing presence in Africa by following a Chinese agricultural entrepreneur, a Chinese manager in charge of a highway expansion project in Zambia and Zambia’s trade minister, who seeks to secure China’s investment in his country. A Skype question and answer session with co-director Nick follows the film. Free. 7 p.m. Freer Gallery.

Thursday, February 14: To the Mountaintop: Voices of Emancipation

Local actors London Edgerton and Xavier Carnegie celebrate Black History Month and the 150-year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation today with a multi-media theater performance. The show incorporates songs, images and the words of prominent black leaders to convey the monumental importance of emancipation in our nation’s history. Free. 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturdays in February. American History Museum.

Also check out our specially created Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is also packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.

Leila Hatami in her latest film, The Last Step.

Friday February 8: The Last Step

Catch one of Iran’s biggest stars, Leila Hatami, in her latest film, The Last Step. Directed by her husband, the movie focuses on a grieving widow whose successful acting career put a strain on her marriage before her husband (acted by Hatami’s real-life husband, Ali Mosaffa) died under mysterious circumstances. Part murder mystery, part love triangle, the film showcases some of the greatest talents in Iran now. Free. 7 p.m. Freer Gallery.

Saturday, February 9: Valentine’s Workshop

Once upon a time, Valentine’s Day meant hand-crafted lacey, paper hearts and stickers galore for every kid in the class. Then that one too-cool-for-school kid throws in a few Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cards and pretty soon everyone’s out buying pre-mades. Well no more. Reclaim the day in the name of craft with the National Postal Museum’s Valentine’s workshop. The museum will be stocked with papers and stamps, you just have to bring the creativity. And, because it’s the Postal Museum, you can even mail them right then and there. Free. 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. National Postal Museum.

Sunday, February 10: Steinway Series

Your weekly dose of chamber music comes to you courtesy the American Art Museum’s Steinway Series this week, with your favorite Russian renditions. Members of the National Chamber Ensemble, including Leo Sushansky, violinist and artistic director; Kathryn Brake, pianist, and Lukasz Szyrner, cellist will perform works by Myaskovsky, Prokofiev and Arensky. Free tickets are available in the G Street lobby thirty minutes before each program. 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.  American Art Museum.

Also check out our specially created Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is also packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.