Events July 31-Aug 2: X-Ray Fish, Imperial India and Club Native

Tuesday July 31  X-Ray Vision: Fish Inside Out

Get the first peek at exciting research being done by the researchers at the Natural History Museum starting Tuesday. For a limited time, visitors can view striking images of a variety of fish taken with X-ray technology. More than beautiful, these images help tell the story of each species’ evolution. Get a new look at the teeth, skeletons and fin spines of our deep sea neighbors with the cutting edge technology that allows us to interpret the past with new methods. Free. Through August 5. The Sant Ocean Hall Gallery, Natural History Museum.

Wednesday August 1 Points of View

Join Sackler Gallery curator Debra Diamond to learn more about the 50 folios and paintings that comprise the gallery’s new exhibition, “Worlds Within Worlds: Imperial Paintings from India and Iran.” From ornate manuscripts to imperial portraits, the collection reflects a time of cultural exchange and expansion. Learn about how the presence of Persian emigres influenced the empire’s arts and how one emperor, Akbar, could leave such a lasting impact. Free. 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sackler Gallery.

Thursday August 2  Club Native

Far from casual, membership in a Native tribe has stringent requirements governed by the idea of “blood quantum.” Though plenty of people claim Native heritage, tribes demand well-documented lineages to any individuals seeking membership. The 2008 film Club Native takes this seemingly bureaucratic topic and illuminates the human side of these policies. Filmmaker Tracey Deer provides intimate portraits of four Mohawk women caught in the context of this struggle for identity. Free. 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Rasmusen Theater, American Indian Museum.

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

Leah Binkovitz | | READ MORE

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.