Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Smithsonian

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Smithsonian

Washington, DC- From Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, the Smithsonian celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of performances, lectures, exhibitions, family activities and tours at various museums around the Institution. All programs are free, unless otherwise indicated. For a full calendar of events, visit www.smithsonianeducation.org/heritage.Feature Event

The Smithsonian will present “Living in Many Worlds: Hispanic Heritage Month Family Day” Saturday, Sept. 13, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the

Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The family day will include crafts and art activities, music and dance performances, storytelling and bilingual tours. Children will be able to create posters in the style of those in the exhibition “Posters from the Division of Community Education (DIVEDCO) of Puerto Rico, 1949-1989,” on view at the S. Dillon Ripley Center from Sept. 17 through Jan. 18, 2009.
This is the first event in the Smithsonian Heritage Month series “Living in Many Worlds,” which explores the dynamism of family, history, heritage and identity. The event also is part of the program series ”

Puerto Rico at the Smithsonian.”
Performances

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian will present “Mestiza Power,” a play that sheds light on the everyday lives of contemporary Mayan women, Friday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. in the museum’s Rasmuson Theater. The play will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery will present “Dance D.C.-Pan American Symphony Orchestra” Sunday, Sept. 28, at 3 p.m. Founded and conducted by Sergio Alessandro Buslje, the Pan American Symphony Orchestra has enlivened Washington’s music scene for more than a decade. As part of the Dance D.C. Festival, the Pan American Symphony Orchestra will perform traditional Latin music infused with contemporary influences.

Film

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian’s George Gustav Heye Center in New York City will present “The Last Conquistador” (2007, 52 minutes) Thursday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. This documentary follows the story of sculptor John Houser and his plans to erect the largest bronze equestrian statue in the world, a monument to the conquistador Juan de Oñate, in

El Paso, Texas.
Lecture

Artist Jesús Moroles will take part in a discussion of Latino contributions to American history, art and culture. “Artists Roundtable and Festival,” held Saturday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 7 p.m. will feature performances by Trés Raices Art Collective, Trio Caliente and Raices de Borinquen. The lecture and festival will be held in the McEvoy Auditorium and Kogod Courtyard at the

Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.
Family Activities

The Smithsonian’s

National Zoological Park will host “Fiesta Musical,” its annual all-day fiesta, Sunday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event for the whole family includes costumed dancers, Latino music and food, traditional crafts and animal demonstrations. In addition, Zoo scientists will be on hand to discuss field research in Latin American countries. This event will be held rain or shine.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 5 p.m., the Smithsonian’s

National Postal Museum will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the tropical rhythms of Latin jazz. The afternoon includes interactive percussion demonstrations and presentations of oral histories of jazz. Participants will learn the story behind a recently released

U.S. stamp honoring Latin jazz and then design their own stamps. This activity is recommended for all ages.

Tour

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the

Smithsonian American Art Museum‘s Renwick Gallery will offer daily docent-led tours highlighting the work of Hispanic artists. The tours will take place weekdays at noon and weekends at 1 p.m. from the Information Desk.
Workshop

The

Smithsonian American Art Museum will present “Hispanic Heritage Month Teacher Workshop” Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. This workshop will provide teachers with resources and ideas for Hispanic Heritage Month programming. Participants will explore the

Smithsonian American Art Museum galleries and come away with a “Latino Art and Culture Kit” for the classroom. Register online at  americanart.si.edu/education/programs/pdw_form.cfml.
Exhibition

The Smithsonian Latino Center will present “Posters from the Division of Community Education (DIVEDCO) of Puerto Rico, 1949-1989″ from Sept. 17 through Jan. 18, 2009, at the S.

Dillon Ripley Center‘s Concourse. This exhibition highlights posters produced by artists enlisted by a government agency known as DIVEDCO, and illustrate the connection between art and social policy during one of Puerto Rico’s most culturally defining decades-the 1950s-and into the 1980s. Representing the work of some of

Puerto Rico‘s best graphic artists, the exhibition will include rich educational programming and a film series of short and feature length films.
This information is subject to change. For more information on the Hispanic Heritage Month programs, call (202) 633-5299 or e-mail heritagemonths@si.edu. For general Smithsonian information, call (202) 633-1000 or (202) 633-5285 (TTY).

# # #