Smithsonian Associates Presents July Program Highlights

The July issue of the Smithsonian Associates’ program guide features a variety of educational and cultural programs, including seminars, lectures, studio arts classes, performances for adults and children and local and regional study tours. Highlights this month include:

The Secret History of Food

Wednesday, July 13; 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center

Every ingredient has a backstory. Knowing these histories may not translate into better pies, soufflés or roasts, but it certainly makes for a more interesting and enlightened cooking experience. Joel Denker, Washington-based food historian and author of the recent book, The Carrot Purple and Other Curious Stories of the Food We Eat, shares stories of ingredient’s origins.

Cultural Diplomacy: The State Department’s Art in Embassies Program

Thursday, July 14; 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center

The U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies program (AIE) is a public–private partnership engaging more than 20,000 participants globally, including artists, museums, galleries, universities and private collectors, and encompasses more than 200 venues in 189 countries. Virginia Shore, AIE’s acting director and chief curator, provides an overview of how art is chosen for the program and how using art in diplomacy can transcend national borders and foster international connections.

Costume Designer Daniel Lawson on Dressing The Good Wife

Wednesday, July 27; 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center

Daniel Lawson, the Emmy-nominated costume designer for the CBS hit series The Good Wife, discusses his approach to designing with Kate Bennett, White House correspondent for the online Independent Journal Review and co-author of The Political Edit, its digital newsletter. Lawson will share how he views his work as a form of storytelling and how he developed unique looks to convey each character’s storyline.

PostSecret Revealed: A Party at the Postal Museum

Friday, July 29; 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum

SMITHSONIAN at 8 presents an evening with Frank Warren for an inside look at the PostSecret phenomenon. More than a million postcards from around the world have filled Warren’s mailbox since he started the wildly popular PostSecret project in 2004. The anonymous confessions—silly, moving, provocative and sometimes disturbing—have already provided the material for six books. The Postal Museum’s exhibition “PostSecret: The Power of a Postcard” is the perfect reason for a party. Guests will enjoy cocktails, music by DJ Alkimist and have the chance to craft their own mail art.

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