Current Programs

All programs, unless noted otherwise, are free of charge and open to the public, and held at 1901 Fort Place SE.

Accessible to people with physical disabilities.

February 2012 to May 2012 Calendar - PDF Format

Calendar Shortcuts:
March
April
May

February

5 Sunday, 2:00 p.m.
VIDEO AND DISCUSSION
Enslavement to Emancipation
This video is presented in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the passage of the District of Columbia’s Emancipation Act in 1862. Discussion topics include the personal lives of enslaved and free people of color, the Civil War, laws governing slavery, the abolitionist movement, and noteworthy institutions. The video ends with the civil rights work of such early 20th century figures as W.E.B. Dubois and A. Philip Randolph. This program is offered in collaboration with the Executive Office of the Mayor, Government of the District of Columbia.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

9 Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
What a Face!
Artist and special educator Jay Coleman leads a school outreach portraiture workshop. Participants will be introduced to proportion, arbitrary color and other concepts in order to gain perspective on rendering the human figure. The program is designed to empower children with varying abilities by encouraging introspection, self-esteem and the nurturing of their own individual artistic voices.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

11 Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE
Da'Originalz featuring "Beat Ya Feet"
This "Beat Ya Feet" dance form workshop continues by popular demand. Based on an original D.C. dance form learnhow to create your own movements. This is a three session workshop providing demonstration and group practice supervision by Da’Originalz. If self-expression through movement is your preference, then "Beat Ya Feet" is for you.
Please RSVP 202.633.4844 as group size is limited.

11 Saturday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
A Young Artist's Vision
Gabriella J. Williams, a child entrepreneur, will discuss the motivation and process of becoming a jewelry designer. Join Gabriella and a representative from Beadazzled©™ in this lively discussion about the jewelry business and book signing.
For reservations, call 202.633.4866.

12 Sunday, 2:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
LECTURE
All about Body Art
Artist and educator Jay Coleman will take you on an exploration into urban tattoo consciousness, reasoning, and subject matter. Explore the history of tattooing as well as the cultural, diplomatic, and social importance of the art form. You will also learn about the health risks and myths about tattoos. Recommended for ages 13 to adult.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844

18 Saturday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
WORKSHOP
Poetry Workshop for Educators
Join us for an afternoon of poetry and lyrics with artist Messiah Ramkissoon, a 3-time winner of Showtime at the Apollo. Messiah has performed with Russell Simmons Def Poets and various well-known artists. Educators and the poetically-inclined will be entertained and enlightened with his poetic techniques on how to engage youth with poetry by hosting poetry slam.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

18 Saturday, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
PERFORMANCE
Old School House Party
Looking for a memorable evening? Bring your best Five No Trump and wear the best shoes for hand dancing! Join DJ Lady Z and the ACM museum staff for an evening of elegant entertainment and a trip down memory lane. Also, our latest exhibit featuring photographer Steven Cummings and an installation by the members of CreativeJunkfood will be open for tours. $25.00 per person. Space is limited.
For reservations, call 202.633.4866.

19 Sunday, 2:00 p.m.
EXHIBITION TOUR AND DISCUSSION
Artuaré
Photographer Steven M. Cummings will lead you on a tour of the exhibition Artuaré, which is on view at the Anacostia Community Museum. Cummings will discuss an array of images—of people, objects, and city scenes—that are uniquely colored and skillfully designed.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

21 Tuesday, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
LECTURE
All about Body Art
Artist and educator Jay Coleman will take you on an exploration into urban tattoo consciousness, reasoning, and subject matter. Explore the history of tattooing as well as the cultural, diplomatic, and social importance of the art form. You will also learn about the health risks and myths about tattoos.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

23 Thursday, 11:00 a.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES/OUTREACH
PERFORMANCE
Spoken Word/Poetry
Ty Gray-El will perform poems from his latest book, Breath of My Ancestors. Take this journey of elation and sorrow as you embrace the spoken word.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

24 Friday, 10:30 a.m.
VIDEO AND DISCUSSION
Enslavement to Emancipation
This video is presented in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the passage of the District of Columbia’s Emancipation Act in 1862. Discussion topics include the personal lives of enslaved and free people of color, the Civil War, laws governing slavery, the abolitionist movement, and noteworthy institutions. The video ends with the civil rights work of such early 20th century figures as W.E.B. Dubois and A. Philip Randolph. This program is offered in collaboration with the Executive Office of the Mayor, Government of the District of Columbia.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

25 Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
FAMILY ACTIVITY
Mardi Gras Family Day
A day of fun for the family with arts and crafts workshops, Zydeco music, an adornment workshop, storytelling, and more. Attendees of all ages should dress in their best festive attire and will be judged on their costumes. Winners receive a prize and will be highlighted in our Marche-newsletter.
For more information, call 202.633.4875 or email ACMinfo@si.edu.

26 Sunday, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
About Face!
What do you consider when creating a portrait? Learn portraiture techniques—perspective, modeling, proportional rendering—from Jay Coleman, one of the city’s premier portrait artists. Explore local and arbitrary color applications to create self-portraits in a variety of media.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

29 Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to noon
WORKSHOP
Introduction to Graffiti Piecing
Artist Tim Conlon offers an introductory lesson on graffiti writing. Learn the history and tradition of graffiti piecing through discussions and a slide presentation of styles as they exist throughout the world. You will work on your own graffiti sketches before painting. During the workshop, you will learn about color schemes, letter concepts, and perspective. A special interest for teens.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

March

2 Friday, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES/OUTREACH
PERFORMANCE
Spoken Word/Poetry
Ty Gray-El will perform poems from his latest book, Breath of My Ancestors. Take this journey of elation and sorrow as you embrace the spoken word.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

3 Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE
Da'Originalz featuring "Beat Ya Feet"
This "Beat Ya Feet" dance form workshop continues by popular demand. Based on an original D.C. dance form learnhow to create your own movements. This is a three session workshop providing demonstration and group practice supervision by Da’Originalz. If self-expression through movement is your preference, then "Beat Ya Feet" is for you.
Please RSVP 202.633.4844 as group size is limited.

4 Sunday, 2:00 p.m.
DISCUSSION
HEADS UP!
Anthropologist and artist Dr. Diana Baird N’Diaye and aesthetic surgeon Dr. Monte Harris lead a community discussion on hair, health, heritage, identity, and the "will to adorn." Participants are invited to share snapshots tracing their own cultural journeys through hairstyles. Dr. Diana Baird N’Diaye is a curator at the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Dr. Monte Harris is director of the Center for Aesthetic Modernism and head of the “Do Good Hair” initiative.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

8 Thursday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
Appreciation and Reflection through the Arts
Are you feeling the need to be creative? If so, you are invited to be inspired in this 4-hour reflective workshop drawing upon the works of writers Maya Angelo, Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, and Alice Walker. Elva Anderson, artist and art therapist, will lead an interactive session on artmaking, therapeutic movement, and reflective writing. Please come dressed comfortably. Open to adults. Seating is limited.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

10 Saturday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
What's Your Story?
Barbara El Wilson, a graduate of Howard University’s Fine Arts Department, former teacher at Duke Ellington School, and past nominee for the Helen Hayes Award, is the creator and owner of Sugarfoots, a doll company. This workshop focuses on the art of telling a good story. Join in this afternoon of fun for the budding thespian. Recommended for ages 11 to adult.
For registration, call 202.633.4844.

11 Sunday, 2:00 p.m.
EXHIBITION TOUR AND DISCUSSION
Artuaré
Photographer Steven M. Cummings will lead you on a tour of the exhibition Artuaré, which is on view at the Anacostia Community Museum. Cummings will discuss an array of images—of people, objects, and city scenes—that are uniquely colored and skillfully designed.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

13 Tuesday, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY FORUM
Public Murals in Southeast DC: Community Heritage or Stigma
This panel discussion will explore varying views on the merit of public murals. The discussion will include a history of public art in SE Washington; challenges posed to renewal activities; new pop-up art activities; and efforts to retain current public art and create new public art. This community forum is part of the museum's project Call and Response: Community and Creativity, which explores creativity east of the Anacostia River.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844

17 Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
National Quilting Day—with the Daughters of Dorcas & Sons
For this year’s first Block Party, the Daughters of Dorcas & Sons Quilt Group returns with their popular program—and NEW block patterns with themes that inspire and celebrate heritage! Learn basic hand-quilting techniques, complete some small projects, and add new quilt blocks to your personal collection. No experience needed!
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

17 Saturday, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL
Sea the Truth (The Netherlands, 2010, 60 min.)
Join us for a viewing and discussion of Sea the Truth, a film about earth's oceans and seas. It focuses on the issue of “sustainable fishing” (an oxymoron as it is practiced today). This promises to be a lively afternoon as we consider a global condition in connection with our local waterways. Space is limited.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

20 Tuesday, 10:30 to noon
EXHIBITION TOUR AND DISCUSSION
Artuaré
Photographer Steven M. Cummings will lead you on a tour of the exhibition Artuaré, which is on view at the Anacostia Community Museum. Cummings will discuss an array of images—of people, objects, and city scenes—that are uniquely colored and skillfully designed.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

21 Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
VIDEO AND DISCUSSION
Pray the Devil Back to Hell (USA, 2008, 72 min.)
Pray the Devil Back to Hell is the story about a group of courageous and visionary women who demanded peace for Liberia, a nation torn to shreds by a decades-old civil war. The story is told through contemporary interviews, archival images, and scenes of present-day Liberia. Leading a discussion about the video will be Emira Woods, co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

22 Thursday, 10:30 a.m.
COMMUNITY HISTORY SERIES
LECTURE
City of Glenarden, Maryland
Historian Laurence Winston, president of the Glenarden Historical Society, talks about the third oldest predominately African American town in the state of Maryland. Established in 1919 and chartered on March 30, 1939, Glenarden became a city in April 1994.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

24 Saturday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Metro Mambo
DISCUSSION
Metro Mambo International
Join Jim Byers, radio personality from WPFW 89.3FM’s “Latin Stream,” as he hosts a panel of speakers including Didier Prossaird, bandleader for Sin Miedo, and others from diverse, disparate
cultures who have found their way to Latin music. A panel of musicians and dancers who now call Washington, D.C., their home will discuss their own personal paths to immersionin Latin music. This program received Federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.
For reservations, call 202.633.4866.

24 Saturday, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL
Semper Fi (USA, 2011, 75 min.)
This film focuses on drinking water contamination on a U.S. Marine Corps base and the resulting lifelong health problems for hundreds of persons affected. Join in the discussion of water contamination issues and their relation to our local community. Space is limited.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

25 Sunday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Rhythm Café
PERFORMANCE
Women in Jazz: Saluting the Life and Music of Abbey Lincoln
Pianist Amy K. Bormet and Jessica Boykins-Settles, Howard University jazz voice professor, will present and perform material by one of the jazz greats—vocalist, songwriter, and actress Abbey Lincoln. Space is limited.
For reservations, call 202.633.4866.

27 Tuesday, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY FORUM
Faith Communities and the Environmental Activism on the Anacostia River
This panel discussion will explore the role of the houses of worship in fostering environmental activism as it related to the Anacostia River. Panelists will represent churches east of the river as well as other congregations and organizations within the watershed. This forum is part of Anacostia Community Museum's educational initiative that focuses on urban waterways, especially rivers, their watersheds, and associated creeks and streams. The project explores, among other things, social conditions, environmental burdens, citizen concerns and involvement, and cultural and recreational traditions associated with urban rivers. The Urban Waterways Project is supported through Grand Challenge funds from the Office of the Undersecretaries of the Smithsonian.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

31 Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
Jewelry Workshop
Art instructor, author, and jewelry designer Kathleen Manning of Beadazzled™® will lead this first of three workshops. Focus will be on multi-strand necklaces using semi-precious stones. A minimum of 8 persons is needed for the class to be held. Fee is $75.00 with your own tools. Tools can be purchased on-site for $25.00.
For more information and reservations, call 202.633.4866.

April

7 Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
Easter Crafts Workshop
Join artist Tamara Thomas in this exciting Easter crafts workshop. Let your creative juices flow as you design, build and decorate your favorite take-away. Free but space is limited.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

10 Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. to noon
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
What a Face!
Artist and special educator Jay Coleman leads this portraiture workshop. Participants will be introduced to proportion, arbitrary color, and other concepts in order to gain perspective on rendering the human figure.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

12 Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to noon
WORKSHOP
Introduction to Graffiti Piecing
Artist Tim Conlon offers an introductory lesson on graffiti writing. Learn the history and tradition of graffiti piecing through discussions and a slide presentation of styles as they exist throughout the world. You will work on your own graffiti sketches before painting. During the workshop, you will learn about color schemes, letter concepts, and perspective. A special interest for teens.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

14 Saturday, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
This is My Story, This is My Song
Keith Childress, songwriter and vocalist, leads this workshop on how to create a song by presenting the various components of songwriting. Lyrics are the words that tell the story, convey the emotion, and communicate the information from the writer to the listener. Childress, whose songs include “We Lift You Up” and “The Road to Change,” will also share his experiences as a songwriter, recalling the highs and the lows of the creative process.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

15 Sunday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Rhythm Café
DISCUSSION AND PERFORMANCE
Jazz Appreciation Month: Insights into Coltrane and Herbie
Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) with the Anacostia Community Museum and the National Portrait Gallery as we feature the lives and music of John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock. Join WPFW radio host Rusty Hassan in a discussion of the life and contributions of both musicians. Then, the award-winning Howard University Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Professor Fred Irby III will perform memorable works by both Jazz Giants. This JAM program will be held at the National Portrait Gallery’s McEvoy Auditorium, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington DC, and is a memorable annual concert for jazz lovers of all ages.
For reservations, call 202.633.4866.

17 Tuesday, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY FORUM
Encouraging the Growth of the Creative Community in SE Washington:
What We Have, What We Need, and How to Get It
This panel discussion focuses on expanding the opportunities to create centers of creative activities in SE Washington. The discussion will explore existing hubs of activity, current signature events and possible new activities, efforts to encourage affordable housing studio/space for artists, and possible short-and long-term collaborative efforts to continue to promote SE as a nexus within creative Washington.

This community forum is part of the museum's project Call and Response: Community and Creativity, exploring creativity east of the Anacostia River.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

19 Thursday, 11:00 a.m.
EXHIBITION TOUR AND DISCUSSION
Artuaré
Photographer Steven M. Cummings will lead you on a tour of the exhibition Artuaré, which is on view at the Anacostia Community Museum. Cummings will discuss an array of images—of people, objects, and city scenes—that are uniquely colored and skillfully designed.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

21 Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
DISCUSSION
What's in Your Closet?
Bring or wear your favorite clothing, headgear, ties, scarves, or other textile items and share their history. The Anacostia Community Museum’s Josh Gorman, collections manager, will share information about the museum’s collection. He is joined by The Textile Museum’s Tom Goehner, curator of education, and Maria Fusco, associate conservator for collections, who will discuss their collections and share how they care for and preserve a variety of textiles.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844

22 Sunday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
PERFORMANCE
What's Your Story?
Immerse yourself in this participatory story/theatre performance by Sugarfoots, Barbara El Wilson's doll and theatrical company. This is a highly entertaining presentation celebrating black history through folklore.
For reservations, call 202.633.4866.

25 Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
Bookmarks and Fans
Create your own bookmark and fan from a variety of crafts materials—beads, feathers, colored paper, and fabric. Artist Tamara Thomas facilitates the workshop.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

26 Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
LECTURE
Thomas Mobley Talks Filmmaking
Emerging filmmaker Thomas Mobley, contributor to the CreativeJunkFood installation Conversations in the Contemporary, now on view at ACM, provides insight into the filmmaking process, its concepts, and some of its fundamentals.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

28 Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE
Da'Originalz featuring "Beat Ya Feet"
This "Beat Ya Feet" dance form workshop continues by popular demand. Based on an original D.C. dance form learnhow to create your own movements. This is a three session workshop providing demonstration and group practice supervision by Da’Originalz. If self-expression through movement is your preference, then "Beat Ya Feet" is for you.
Please RSVP 202.633.4844 as group size is limited.

28 Saturday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Metro Mambo
DISCUSSION
Mambo Moderno
Join Jim Byers, radio personality from WPFW 89.3FM’s “Latin Stream,” as he hosts this portrayal of Latin dance. Today, popular Latin dance is often promoted with images rooted in rural themes. However, in the 1950s, mambo was closely associated with all that was modern, progressive, and edgy—from technology and racial integration to fine art and film. The band Orquesta La Leyenda will perform a range of Afro-Cuban jazz and mambo classics. This program received Federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.
For reservations, call 202.633.4866.

29 Sunday, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
WORKSHOP
About Face!
What do you consider when creating a portrait? Learn portraiture techniques—perspective, modeling, proportional rendering—from Jay Coleman, one of the city’s premier portrait artists. Explore local and arbitrary color applications to create self-portraits in a variety of media.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

May

5 Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
DISCUSSION AND DEMONSTRATION
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mask Making
Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla on the fifth of May, 1862. The celebration is observed with parades and concerts, musical entertainment, dancing, and traditional foods. This mask making program, led by artist Teresa Grana, offers an introduction to the May 5th celebration
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

6 Sunday, 2:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY ARTS SERIES
LECTURE AND DEMONSTRATION
Introducing the Electric Guitar
What do you know about the electric guitar? Josh Walker gives a lecture on the history of "America's instrument— the electric guitar," that traces the development of the instrument from it's early designs and seminal players to today's technical advances musical innovators. Walker is a noted guitarist, composer, educator, and winner of Downbeat Magazine's award for "best blues, pop, or rock solo by an instrumentalist at the graduate college level for 2011." The lecture will also feature live performance demonstrations by the Josh Walker Trio.
For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

12 Saturday, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
PERFORMANCE
Grandma's Cautionary Tales
Grandma Sally Kathryn Mims tells an entertaining mix of ghost, folk, and cautionary tales found in African, African American, and Caribbean literature. Grandma Mims tells ghost stories just for scary fun and the folk and cautionary tales that helped her learn how to think before acting and to listen to parents. The stories promise to engage you in an entertaining and interactive manner. The program ends by reinforcing the adage that children can use positive thinking and action to overcome a bad situation.

This program will be held at:
Anacostia Neighborhood Library, Meeting Room 3
1800 Good Hope Road SE, Washington, DC.

For reservations, call 202.633.4844.

19 Saturday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Metro Mambo
La Vida En Black
Join Jim Byers, radio personality from WPFW 89.3FM "Latin Stream," when he hosts Emmy Award-winning DC metro area-based documentary filmmaker Mimi Machado-Luces, as she discusses and shares excerpts from her latest work La Vida En Black. This program received Federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center. This program will be held at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC.
For reservations, call 202.633.4866.