AT THE SMITHSONIAN

Events December 11-13: The Interviewer, The Conservator and the Provocateur

This week, talk with artist Lincoln Schatz about his new video portrait, conservators for the Smithsonian, and artist Barbara Kruger

Leah Binkovitz
The artist who transformed the Hirshhorn will be in the building Thursday to explain why.
The artist who transformed the Hirshhorn will be in the building Thursday to explain why. Courtesy of the museum

Tuesday, December 11: Gallery360 with Lincoln Schatz

Join Chicago-based artist at the premier of his newest project, “The Network,” which features his signature “generative portrait” by randomly recombining clips from interviews with 89 D.C. movers and shakers. What do Nancy Pelosi, Karl Rove and Cokie Roberts have to say to each other? Apparently, quite a bit. Instead of the usual partisan bickering, the piece highlights the common ground many of these high-profile people share. The new work goes on view at the National Portrait Gallery. Free. 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. National Portrait Gallery.

Wednesday, December 12: Behind-the-Scenes Conservation at the Smithsonian

The Lunder Conservation Center provides support for both the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum, conserving and protecting the many treasures of the two museums. Not only will you get the chance to learn more about how the team of conservators goes about saving America’s most cherished art, but you’ll also get to see some of that work up close. The event has limited space so you have to register at the Luce Foundation Center information desk (3rd floor, west wing, mezzanine) before 3 p.m. on the day of the program. Free, registration required. 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lunder Conservation Center.

Thursday, December 13: Artist Talk with Barbara Kruger

An iconic artist who left her stamp quite literally on the Hirshhorn (floor-to-ceiling black and white phrases all over the lobby and bookstore), Barbara Kruger will be in the very building she transformed to talk about this and other works. Known most for her phrase, I Shop Therefore I Am, her piece in the Hirshhorn bears the title “Belief+Doubt,” perhaps reflecting the political D.C. dialogue happening all around the Mall. Free. 7:00 p.m. Hirshhorn Museum.

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Leah Binkovitz

Leah Binkovitz is a Stone & Holt Weeks Fellow at Washington Post and NPR. Previously, she was a contributing writer and editorial intern for the At the Smithsonian section of Smithsonian magazine.