First Saturday: May

Fun for kids

Storytime

East Building Atrium, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Let’s play together while reading aloud the children’s book We Are Water Protectors/Somos guardianes del agua by Carole Lindstrom in English and Spanish. We welcome all ages, especially our youngest visitors and nursing parents.

Fun for Kids

Face Painting

Education Studio, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Become a work of art! Stop by the Cascade Café to get your face painted from The Face Paint Lady Inc. 

Focus: Exhibitions

Screening of Talks by Woven Histories Artists Ann Hamilton and Zoe Leonard

East Building Auditorium, 11:30a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

In conjunction with the Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction exhibition, we will be sharing two recorded talks by exhibition artists Ann Hamilton (2011) and Zoe Leonard (2018). These presentations were part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Lecture Series, which provides a forum for distinguished artists to discuss the genesis and evolution of their work in their own words.

Fun for Kids

Pop-Up Library

East Building, Ground Floor - Library, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Curious to know more about the works of art in the museum? Leaf through pages of an exhibition catalog or settle in to read a whole chapter about an artist, movement, or theme, along with quiet activities for kids. 

Fun For Kids

Drop-In Artmaking

East Building Atrium, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All ages welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult.
First come, first served

Drop-in artmaking is a great way to try your hand at creating art in an informal, relaxed environment. Artmaking activities are designed for all ages and abilities.

Fun for Kids

Kids' Play Space

East Building Atrium, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.
First come, first served

Designed for our littlest art lovers. Play, build, sort, and stack in a hands-on space.

Fun for Kids

Sketching Lab

East Building Atrium, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Visit our sketching lab to activate your imagination and ideas.

Drawing activities are designed for all ages and abilities; children must be accompanied by an adult.

Break for Art

Goldsworthy and Loper

East Building Atrium, 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.

Join us for 30-minute gallery talks with National Gallery interns. This session includes dynamic presentations reflecting our interns’ diverse artistic interests and passions: Edward Loper’s Quarry (c. 1939/1940), and Andy Goldsworthy’s Roof (2004-2005).

Guided Tour

Exhibition Tour: Woven Histories

East Building, Ground Level - Art Information Desk, Multiple Times

This tour of Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction reveals the myriad ways textiles intersect with and influence modern artists and movements, exploring the overlap between abstract art, fashion, design, and craft. Learn about dynamic moments when social and political issues have activated textile production and artmaking—from oil painting to weaving, basketry, netting, knotting and knitting.

Short Film Program

Woven Histories

East Building Auditorium, 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Through original documentary and experimental strands, this eclectic program of short films explores the labor and politics of textile production, clothing, and identity through contemporary media art. 

Break for Art

Galizia and Fontana

East Building Atrium, 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Join us for 30-minute gallery talks with National Gallery interns. This session includes dynamic presentations reflecting our interns’ diverse artistic interests and passions: Fede Galizia’s Still Life with Apples, Pears, Cucumbers, Figs, Plums, and a Melon (c. 1625-1630), and Lavinia Fontana’s Lucia Bonasoni Garzoni (c. 1590).

Film Program

Drylongso

East Building Auditorium, 3:00 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.

Cauleen Smith’s feature debut Drylongso takes an incisive look at racial injustice, intertwining buddy movie, romance, and mystery genres. Alarmed by the rate at which the young Black men around her are dying, brash Oakland, California, art student Pica (Toby Smith) attempts to preserve their existence in Polaroid snapshots.

Preceded by Songs for Earth and Folk, a short composed entirely of 16 mm and Super 8 found footage. Structured like a blues song, this work features a live-improvised electro-organic soundtrack created by Chicago-based band the Eternals. 

Break for Art in Spanish

Pausa para el Arte

East Building Atrium, 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Acompáñanos durante 30min a las charlas de galería con los pasantes de la Galería Nacional. Esta sesión incluye presentaciones dinámicas que reflejan los diversos intereses artístiscos y la pasión de nuestros pasantes: Tres Figuras (1968) de Dino Aranda y Génesis (1942) de Matta.