For Immediate Release:
July 27, 2010


                                        Top Exhibitions You Can’t Miss This Fall


With all of the great cultural options that DC has to offer, it’s hard to know where to begin your museum expedition. Here are our picks for exhibitions not-to-be-missed:

Thru Sept. 26, 2010: Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Remembering the Running Fence – American Art Museum
World-renowned artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude teamed up in the 70’s to design and construct a 24 ½ mile long, 18-foot high fence (and public art project) in Western California, with one end dropping into the Pacific Ocean. The structure took 42 months of work and was made of 240,000 square yards of heavy nylon fabric, 90 miles of steel cable, 2,050 steel poles, 350,000 hooks and 13,000 anchors. It stood for only two weeks, but its legacy lives on 33 years later. Through 350 objects (sketches, photographs and more), the exhibition reveals the complex process of building the fence and also sheds light on the perseverance of two famous artists.

Thru Sept. 26, 2010: From FDR to Obama: Presidents on Time – National Portrait Gallery
Since its birth in 1923, Time, one of America’s oldest, most renowned news magazines, has placed all of the United States presidents excluding Herbert Hoover on its cover. Around 30 presidential covers in different mediums, ranging from oil paintings to a sculpture of Richard Nixon made out of bits of newspaper are showcased at the National Portrait Gallery, starting with Franklin D. Roosevelt and ending with Barack Obama.

Jun. 23 – Nov. 28, 2010: Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art – The African Art Museum
The continuing contribution of African peoples and their cultures to American life in the southern U.S. is a story told by a beautiful coiled basket on two continents on display at the African Art Museum. The Grass Roots exhibit displays around 200 baskets, African sculptures and paintings from the Charleston Renaissance as well as historical photographs and videos.

Thru Jan. 2, 2011: Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture – National Museum of the American Indian
Contemporary music has been influenced and contributed to by Native people for almost a century. Nearly every form of popular music has had Native artists such as Russell “Big Chief” Moore (Gila River Indian Company) and Rita Coolidge (Cherokee) who have held successful and influential careers in the industry. “Up Where We Belong” offers visitors a chance to hear the music of these Native artists, their histories and their stories. Also, discover the inspiration that led to the success of these artists, and learn which artists are out there to look for and listen to today.

Thru Jan. 2, 2011: Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas – Smithsonian American Art Museum
Two of America's best-known modern filmmakers—George Lucas and Steven Spielberg—recognized a kindred spirit in artist Norman Rockwell and over many years, formed in-depth collections of his work. Their private collections, featuring many pieces rarely seen by the public, are coming together this summer when more than fifty of Rockwell’s paintings and drawings go on view in this exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The exhibition will reveal, for the first time, the connections between Rockwell's iconic images of American life and the movies.

Thru Jan. 2, 2011: American Modernism: The Shein Collection – National Gallery of Art
A century ago, a group of American artists challenged the norms of art at the time by delving into their own unique and innovative styles. This exhibition features twenty paintings, sculptures and drawings that explore the advent of modernism. Works by artists such as Stuart Davis, Georgia O’Keeffe, Max Weber, Arthur Dove are included, showcasing the best of the American avant-garde movement.

Thru Mar. 20, 2011: Celebrating 100 Years at National Museum of Natural History – National Museum of Natural History
In celebration of the NMNH’s 100th anniversary, this exhibition will highlight the museum’s people, collections, exhibitions and outreach throughout the years. Visitors will explore the Museum's history through documentary photographs of important milestones—from laying the cornerstone for the building to modern DNA and genomic research. The photographs capture the incredible diversity of the museum’s efforts including science, research and education

October 2010: Designing Tomorrow: America’s World’s Fairs of the 1930s
National Building Museum
During the 1930s and 40s in America, architects and designers occupied World’s Fair grounds with visions of a bright future and economic recovery due to the rise in consumerism, science and technology. This one-of-a-kind exhibition showcases 200 artifacts – from film footage, furniture and drawings to building models, an original RCA-TRK 12 TV and a talking robot. The focus on factory production, technology and speed brought about innovative designs for the 1930s and years to come.

October 8, 2010 – February 26, 2011: “A True North Britain:” The Furniture of John Shearer 1790 – 1820
DAR Museum
15-20 pieces of craftsman John Shearer’s 18th – 19th century furniture from the backcountry of Virginia and Maryland will be on display at the DAR Museum. Guest Curator Betsy Davison will explain Shearer’s unique inscriptions on his pieces, as well as his appeal to the local market and his decorative style.

Oct. 16, 2010 – March 13, 2011: Colors of the Oasis: Central Asian Ikats – The Textile Museum
For the first time ever, 148 brilliant, vibrant ikats from Central Asian oasis towns will be on display at the Textile Museum. In oasis towns of Central Asia, where a man’s clothing was the sign of his social status and wealth in society, and the richest textiles were on display for family ceremonies, artists and weavers crafted stunning works of bold graphic designs and rich, deep colors that form ikats. Ikats on display at The Textile Museum will be men’s coats, women’s dresses and pants along with hangings and cradle covers and fragments of fabric, all given by Murad Megali, a collector, in 2005.

Nov.10, 2010 – Apr. 17, 2011: Discovering the Civil War: Consequences – National Archives
Part II of a two-part exhibit at the National Archives will present letters, maps, diaries and other historical artifacts to reveal a hidden side of the Civil War. New perspectives on the Civil War will be revealed, while a section from the Original Freedman’s Bureau records and the two different 13th Amendments proposed by U.S. Congress to be part of the Constitution will be on display. This exciting new exhibit will explore many uncharted territories in the history of the Civil War.