Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

The Jacquard Loom: Recent Experiments

See a variety of fabrics produced by contemporary fiber artists on the Jacquard loom, a standard industrial machine in use since the early 19th century.

May 18, 1982 – August 22, 1982

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

Reflections on a Fossil Lake (Fossils from Colorado)

See fossils originally found in northwestern Colorado, including specimens of flowers, bird feathers, fish, and other organisms that lived in the region 40 to 50 million years ago.

April 15, 1981 – August 22, 1982

Natural History Museum

Button, Button

Consider the decorative and functional uses of the button in an exhibit of more than 1,000 examples from around the world.

June 22, 1982 – August 22, 1982

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

Tropical Images: The Struggle Between Man and Nature

Explore the problem of deforestation in tropical areas and its threat to the survival of man and the ecosystem in 32 photographs and accompanying text from Dr. Ken Green, NZP research scientist.

August 1, 1982 – August 22, 1982

National Zoo

Basketry: Tradition in New Form

See contemporary adaptations of traditional basketry created by 10 artists from various parts of the U.S.

June 8, 1982 – August 22, 1982

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

The Column: Structure and Ornament

Consider columns as architectural elements and as ornamental forms in this wide-ranging exhibit, covering many periods and cultures.

June 8, 1982 – August 22, 1982

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

Selections from the NPG Photography Collection

View 61 images selected to reflect the scope, diversity, and quality of NPG's photography collection. I

July 9, 1982 – August 22, 1982

Portrait Gallery

The Quest for Peace

See medals and prizes given to those who have furthered the cause of world peace.

May 15, 1982 – August 27, 1982

American History Museum

Modern Indian Paintings from the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

View 50 works by 47 Indian artists of the 20th Century, in an exhibition honoring the Washington visit of Indira Gandhi.

August 1, 1982 – August 29, 1982

Hirshhorn Museum

Photographs by Berenice Abbott: The 20s and 30s

Follow approximately 100 vintage prints that highlight the most significant work of the renowned photographer, including images from Changing New York, done in the U.S. for the WPA's Federal Arts project.

June 4, 1982 – August 29, 1982

American Art Museum

Contemporary Crafts from Utah

Admire and purchase decorative objects of porcelain, stoneware, fiber, metal, earthenware, and wood created by 12 artists from the western state.

June 3, 1982 – August 29, 1982

Renwick Gallery

Public Health in New York City

Examine 3 areas of the New York City Health Department's history: laboratory research, public health nursing, and the fight for pure milk.

May 1, 1982 – August 31, 1982

American History Museum

A Selection of Korean Ceramics, Metalwork and Painting from the Freer

See approximately 60 pieces, spanning the 3rd century B.C. through the 19th century.

June 1, 1982 – August 31, 1982

Asian Art Museum Freer Gallery

The Stranger Among Us

View masks, textiles, and sculpture by traditional African artists in this exhibition tracing African encounters with outside influences.

March 24, 1982 – September 6, 1982

African Art Museum

Thinking With Animals: African Images and Perceptions

View portrayals of animals as reminders in African art of man's dependence on the animal world for physical and emotional well-being.

March 24, 1982 – September 6, 1982

African Art Museum

Variations on a Musical Theme: Selections from the Museum's Collection

See some 30 works including paintings, sculpture, and works on paper, ranging from still lifes of instruments to abstract works with musical titles.

July 22, 1982 – September 6, 1982

Hirshhorn Museum

Recent Acquisitions: 20th-Century Painting and Sculpture

Among the dozen paintings and sculpture on view are works by Leon Berkowitz, Sam Gilliam, Mervin Jules, Sandor Klein, Abraham Rattner, Sandy Walker, and Isaac Witkin.

April 9, 1982 – September 6, 1982

American Art Museum

Perfect in Her Place: Women at Work in Industrial America

Photographs, woodcuts, and other representations feature women working at a variety of tasks, from unpaid housework to factory labor.

July 22, 1981 – September 7, 1982

American History Museum

Festival of American Folklife Related Exhibit

Learn about the craftspeople and musicians who were honored with 1982 National Heritage Fellowships.

June 24, 1982 – September 7, 1982

American History Museum

Animal Extinctions

Learn from 10 posters that deal with endangered species or extinct species from various sources.

August 1, 1982 – September 13, 1982

National Zoo

Circus

Enjoy circus toys and advertisements, surmounted by a large circus poster, coinciding with the Spring Celebration (April 23-25, 1982).

April 22, 1982 – September 16, 1982

American History Museum

The Solar Challenger

Visit the solar-powered Solar Challenger.

June 4, 1982 – September 22, 1982

Air and Space Museum

Bowl #804

See a work by June Schwarcz, a leader in experimental enameling, who uses the electroplating technique to achieve a bold texture.

July 3, 1982 – September 26, 1982

Renwick Gallery

Mary McLeod Bethune and Roosevelt's "Black Cabinet"

In commemoration of the centennial of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s birth (1882), learn more about the contributions of world-renowned educator Mary McLeod Bethune to FDR’s New Deal administration.

January 24, 1982 – September 30, 1982

Anacostia Community Museum

Anna J. Cooper: A Voice from the South

Dr. Anna J. Cooper (1858-1964) was a pathbreaking educator, scholar, writer, community organizer, and civil rights activist in Washington, DC. Photographs, artifacts, and recreated home and classroom settings document her life and achievements.

February 1, 1981 – September 30, 1982

Anacostia Community Museum