May 3, 2019
7–9 p.m.

Come share your style as we celebrate the Senegalese concept of sañse—the practice of dressing up, or looking and feeling good. Tour the exhibition Good as Gold before six fashion designers from the DC Fashion Foundation showcase their creations.

Designers
Mertine Moore Brown
Shantae Flowers
Nikki Hendricks
Shari Henry
Khrys Kelly
Almira Wilson

Presented in conjunction with Good as Gold: Fashioning Senegalese Women
This program is produced in partnership with the Crafts of African Fashion initiative of the Smithsonian’s Center For Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Free and open to the public. Please register here.

April 28, 2019
1:30–3:30 p.m.

Come celebrate good neighbors with African Art. Mimouna is a festival based on Moroccan narratives of unity, commemoration, goodwill, and friendship. Enjoy Gnawa music—a mix of classical Islamic beats and traditional African rhythms—performed by Ismail Bouzidoune and the Ensemble Fanaa. The Gnawa were brought to Morocco from sub-Saharan Africa in the 11th century. Light Moroccan treats provided.

Presented in partnership with the Sephardic Heritage International DC (SHIN DC)

Free and open to the public. Please register here.

The 37th annual Smithsonian Craft Show is a juried show of fine American crafts that features works from 121 artists representing all facets of contemporary craft and design—basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art and wood. The works will be on display and for sale; serious collectors and casual visitors will find one-of-a-kind works of art in a variety of price ranges.

Produced by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee, the show supports yearly grants to the Smithsonian’s 19 museums and libraries, nine research facilities, traveling exhibits and the National Zoo. This year, NMAfA’s conservation department received one of these grants to help support the conservation treatment of six works of art on paper by Sudanese artists influential in the Khartoum School.

The four-day show and sale will take place April 25–28 at the National Building Museum, located at 401 F St. N.W. in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, April 25, from 6 to 7 p.m., the Craft Show’s “Convo with the Visionary” will feature this year’s Smithsonian Visionary Artist Award-recipient, Joyce J. Scott. Admission is $20 at the door, but discounted tickets are available online. For more information, visit www.smithsoniancraftshow.org.

May 15
@ 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
First come, first served

Discover the incredible diversity and richness of Africa’s textiles and symbols. Then, select a symbol to create a pattern for your one-of-a-kind design. You can even add a favorite keepsake to our creation.

This workshop is presented as part of the museum’s series of Workshop Wednesdays. Every first and third Wednesday of the month, stop by the museum for drop-in classes from trained teachers. Stay for as long as you like to complete your masterpiece. All skill levels and ages welcome; participants under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Workshops are on a first-come, first-served basis.