Smithsonian American Art Museum - Exhibition Podcasts

The artist William T. Wiley has made music and musical references persistent features of his art, whether in performance or in visual references and titles. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is proud to release lyrical works by artist William Wiley on the occasion of the artist's retrospective, What's it all mean: William T. Wiley in Retrospect.

Taking three objects now on display at the American Art Museum explore not only the role music has played in the creation visual art but the inspiration art has been to composers.

In this illustrated presentation, Co-Curator Anne Wagner discusses the Public Works of Art Project and its impact on artists working during the Great Depression. She touches on the federal government and its program to support artists, the artist's lives working on the federal pay roll, and select paintings from the exhibition 1934: A New Deal For Artists.

Learn about the magnificent building that houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Built in the mid-nineteenth century in the the Greek tradition of the Parthenon, the museum's building was one of the first three federal buildings in Washington, DC.

Following a short introduction by the American Art Museum's Curator of Photography, Toby Jurovics, Photographer Frank Gohlke discusses his body of work spanning more than 30 years. He describes the methodology and approach when photographing the American lanscape. From his hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas; the grain elevators that punctuate the vast spaces of the Midwest; the effect of the 1980 volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington; or the neighborhoods of Queens, NY, Gohlke deftly captures the tension between humanity and the natural world, exploring how people adapt to the forces of nature both great and small, even within the confines of their own backyards.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum presents this audio companion to the exhibition Natural Affinities, Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams. Chief Curator Eleanor Harvey and Curator of Photography Toby Jurovics discuss the paintings of O’Keeffe and the photography of Adams, as well as the personal and professional relationship between these two giants of American modernism.

The American landscape has always been a rich subject for photography. American Art's photography curator, Toby Jurovics talks about his favorite photographs at the museum, including Lee Friedlander and William Christenberry. In addition Jurovics discusses the "deadpan" dog photographs of William Wegman while Conservator Kate Maynor talks about how the museum protects photographs while on exhibition. And finally we take a look at a recent show here called "We the People."

Explore how curators and exhibition designers decide which sculpture to display and how. Learn about specific pieces of 19th century and contemporary sculpture in our collection. And hear from one artist whose work is more than it appears to be on its surface.

At the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Lunder Conservation Center visitors have the unique opportunity to see conservators at work in five different laboratories and studios. The Center features floor-to-ceiling glass walls that allow the public to view all aspects of conservation work— work that is traditionally done behind the scenes at other museums and conservation centers.

Take a private tour of the prints of internationally acclaimed artist Sean Scully. The geometric elements of his compositions, rectangles, strips and squares, are abstractions that express emotion and atmosphere. This podcast explores the concepts conveyed by the works and the special collaborative relationships Scully has with master printers around the world.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery collects, interprets, and exhibits work in American Craft. Jane Milosch, curator at the Renwick, discusses some of the works at the Gallery; high school students create podcasts about works at the Renwick; Ruth Duckworth discusses her art, a recent exhibition at the Gallery.

The American South is a region rich in artistic tradition. In this podcast we will discuss the work of contemporary artist William Christenberry. We will also explore the world of James Hampton and his artwork "The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly." Finally, we will look at other southern artists from our museum's folk art collection.

In this Podcast, travel back with us to the early days of the American West in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. Hear from our curators about the doctor who kept their expedition healthy and a painter who followed their trail to document Native American tribes.

In this Podcast, we explore the early twentieth century art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. From William H. Johnson’s Harlem to Alexandre Hogue's Dust bowl, gain insights from Chief Curator Eleanor Harvey and Senior Curator Virginia Mecklenburg, on why these artists tell such important stories about the American art from both rural and urban spaces.

We're excited to introduce the first in a series of podcasts. In our inaugural podcast, we celebrate the opening of our historic building with reflections from Chief Curator Eleanor Harvey and Senior Curator Virginia Mecklenburg, and features on several popular paintings in the collection. Hear about our famous Edward Hopper paintings, on display at the entrance to our galleries, and summertime favorite, Baseball at Night.