Weekend Events Sept 23-25: Heart and Soul, Chalk4Peace, and Nature’s Best Photography

Friday, September 23 Heart and Soul

Kadir Nelson, an award-winning artist whose works have appeared in major museums and private and public collections, including the U.S. House of Representatives and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His latest work Heart and Soul, a chronicle for young readers of the African American story from the colonial days through the civil rights movement, has been called “a riveting tale” by the School Library Journal. Come meet Nelson and have a copy of the book signed. Find Nelson’s book for sale at the museum store. Free. 2 to 3 p.m. American History Museum, Outside Museum Store

Saturday, September 24 Chalk4Peace Festival

Murals of Baltimore is a non-profit organization that specializes creating public art, including frescos and sculpture for municipalities both nationally and internationally. Fine artist and founder of the company Michael Kirby will be on hand working with visitors to put their own mark on a site-specific mural at the F Street entrance outside the American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. Organized in affiliation with Chalk4Peace, which provides a platform for young people of all ages to make sidewalk art, this day of chalk art, entertainment and other activities is sure to be fun for the whole family. Free. 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. F street between 7th and 9th streets NW, outside American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery

Sunday, September 25 Forensic Anthropology Lab

Let the bones be your guide. At the Natural History Museum’s Forensic Anthropology Lab,  families learn that forensic science is far more mysterious and engaging than forensic fiction. In this incredibly real-world hands-on classroom, visitors use real human bones to solve cases, identify people from the past and draw conclusions about their lives. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Natural History Museum, “Written in Bone,” 2nd floor, west.

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

Joseph Stromberg | | READ MORE

Joseph Stromberg was previously a digital reporter for Smithsonian.