Smithsonian American Art Museum Celebrates 2014 National Cherry Blossom Festival with Family Activities

The Smithsonian American Art Museum will host a day of activities for children and families Saturday, April 12, in honor of Washington, D.C.’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The Cherry Blossom Family Celebration will include crafts, live music, a gardening demonstration by Smithsonian Gardens, an interactive scavenger hunt exploring how Japanese art and culture have influenced American artists, as well as a “tea talk” on Japanese tea ceremonies and contemporary teapots in the museum’s collection. The Cherry Blossom Family Celebration is part of the museum’s popular “Family Festival” series of monthly programs for children and their families designed to spark learning, creativity and appreciation for the arts.

The family program will be held in the museum’s Kogod Courtyard from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 12, and is free of charge. The “tea talk” will be held in the museum’s Luce Foundation Center on the third floor. Visit americanart.si.edu/calendar for more information and for a schedule of the activities planned throughout the day.

“The Smithsonian American Art Museum is pleased to participate once again in one of Washington’s most beloved celebrations, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and to offer local and visiting families a way to enjoy the festivities from an art-based perspective,” said Jo Ann Gillula, the museum’s chief of external affairs.

A selection of products featuring cherry blossom-themed artworks from the museum’s permanent collection will be for sale in the museum store.

About the Smithsonian American Art Museum

The Smithsonian American Art Museum celebrates the vision and creativity of Americans with artworks in all media spanning more than three centuries. Its National Historic Landmark building is located at Eighth and F streets N.W., above the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metrorail station. Museum hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, except Dec. 25. Admission is free. Follow the museum on Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, iTunes U and ArtBabble. Museum information (recorded): (202) 633-7970. Smithsonian Information: (202) 633-1000. Website: americanart.si.edu.

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SI-77-2014