The Watermen of Chesapeake Bay and More Captivating Programs in December

Smithsonian Associates offers innovative, engaging learning experiences for people of all ages. Hundreds of livestreamed and in-person lectures, seminars, performances, studio arts classes, study tours and children’s programs are offered annually. To view the Smithsonian Associates digital program guide, visit smithsonianassociates.org.

Saturday, December 2

The Art of Gandhara: Where India Met Greece: Spend a full day with art history professor Robert DeCaroli as he explores the art and influences of the fascinating Gandhara region, once situated between India Persia and the Greco-Roman world. From the early empires to the modern era, DeCaroli examines the origins of the region’s material culture, displays of religious power and the role of trade through the centuries. Participants enrolled in the Smithsonian World History Certificate program will earn 1 credit. This program is presented on Zoom from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. $80-$90

 

Sunday, December 3

Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra presents Thad Jones: A Centennial Celebration: Maestro Charlie Young and the full Jazz Orchestra pay special tribute to the great Thaddeus Joseph Jones in this in-person concert at Baird Auditorium at the National Museum of Natural History. 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET. $25-$30

 

Monday, December 4

How Infrastructure Works: Inside the Systems That Shape Our World: Join engineering professor and author Deb Chachra as she reveals how reservoirs, transformers, sewers, cables and other essential utilities work. Learn how we can transform our shared infrastructure to be not just functional, but also equitable, resilient and sustainable. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Tuesday, December 5

America's First Women Astronauts: Drawing on her new book, The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts, journalist Loren Grush tells the remarkable true story of the extraordinary women who made history as they orbited aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle. Featuring Sally Ride, Judy Resnik, Anna Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid and Rhea Seddon. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Navigating The Waste Land: Public humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson leads a lively discussion about this intimidating landmark poem and reveals some of its creative strategies and meaning.  Jenkinson recommends reading the poem in advance, and invites participants to bring their questions, comments and puzzlements. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET. $30-$35

 

Friday, December 8

Chesapeake Bay: Working the Water: While shooting for his book Working the Water, photographer Jay Fleming traveled up and down the Chesapeake documenting all facets of the region’s commercial fisheries and the people and businesses that depend on the harvest. Join him for a vividly illustrated program that brings the bay's iconic seafood industry into focus. 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. $25-30

The Christmas Truce of 1914: Just months after World War I began, hundreds of soldiers in Flanders spontaneously stopped fighting one another, left their trenches and shook hands in no man’s land. Historian and battlefield guide Simon Jones reveals what really happened in Flanders in an engrossing afternoon program, presented on Zoom from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Monday, December 11

The American Civil War and the World: In this fascinating presentation, Paul Quigley, director of the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies and the James I. Robertson, Jr. associate professor of Civil War history at Virginia Tech, explores international perspectives on the Civil War, ranging from ideological affinities to economic calculations to strategic considerations. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Something To Laugh About: TV Comedy, From Milton Berle to David Letterman: Join Media historian Brian Rose  as he surveys the extraordinary landscape of American TV comedy, examining how comedy evolved from vaudeville shtick to the social satire of “Saturday Night Live,” and the self-reflexive absurdities of David Letterman and “The Simpsons.”  This program is presented on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Tuesday, December 12

Brutalism: Masterpieces or Monstrosities?: In a richly illustrated lecture, Bill Keene traces the spread of the style and examines in detail its many facets, including some surprising twists to stereotypical structures. Keene also brings Brutalism up to date as he looks at a revival of interest in the style during this century. Participants enrolled in the Smithsonian World History Certificate program will earn 1/2 credit. This program is presented on Zoom from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET. $25-$30

Wednesday, December 13

Picasso’s War: How Modern Art Came to America: Drawing from his book Picasso’s War, author and editor Hugh Eakin reveals the never-before-told story of how Picasso’s groundbreaking exhibition launched the artist into America, shifted the art world from Paris to New York, changed American taste and also saved dozens of the 20th century’s most enduring artworks from the Nazis. Participants enrolled in the Smithsonian World History Certificate program will earn 1/2 credit. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Thursday, December 14

The Smithsonian Museums: Tracing the Arc of American Architecture: Investigate the styles, designs, controversies and fascinating backstories behind the celebrated Smithsonian museums with Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours. Participants enrolled in the Smithsonian World History Certificate program will earn 1/2 credit. This program is presented on Zoom from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. $25-$30

Romeo and Juliet: High School Classics Revisited: In this online presentation, Joseph Luzzi, professor of literature at Bard College, takes a fresh look at this classic tragedy. Luzzi examines Shakespeare’s use of language and his ability to capture the inner lives of his characters. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET. $30-$35

Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans: Big Mal was a long-time roadie, personal assistant and devoted friend of the Beatles’, yet his life and death have always been shrouded in mystery. Through his diaries, manuscripts and memorabilia, Beatles’ scholar and author Kenneth Womack reveals the missing puzzle piece in the Fab Four’s incredible story. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Friday, December 15

California Dreaming Fall Wine Adventures: A Top Sommelier’s Guide: Spend a fascinating evening expanding your knowledge of wine with sommelier Erik Segelbaum and discover some of the most exciting expressions of California wine through this delicious tasting designed to warm your soul with whites and reds that will wipe away the winter blues. This program is presented on Zoom from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Please note this program includes a wine tasting kit as part of its ticket price that must be picked up from a local Washington, DC wine bar. $65-$75

Three Pillars of Chinese Culture: Architecture, Film, and Ideology: This lecture series examines one of the enduring and most resilient hallmarks of Chinese culture as represented in silent films of the early 20th century. Moving into the second half of the 20th century, the series delves into the sweeping cultural changes enacted under the new political ideology of communism. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET $25-$30

 

To view the Smithsonian Associates digital program guide, visit smithsonianassociates.org.

 

Lisa K. Friedman | READ MORE

Lisa K. Friedman is an author and essayist living in Washington, D.C.