ri o THE SMITHSONIAN TORCH Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. December 1976 Gold earrings from SITES' exhibition, "Treasures from Cyprus." See story, page 6. No. 76-11 Smithsonian Plans Varied Holida Festivities By Kathryn Lindeman Santa also will make his annual appearance at the Museum of History and )r5if Holiday activities and decorations will be Technology. At the Constitution Avenue highlighted by Secretary and Mrs. Ripley's entrance the jaunty gentleman will once annual party for all Smithsonian employees again sit, surrounded by gifts, in his favorite to be held in the National Air and Space old time car. Museum, December 20 from 3 to 5:15 p.m. The Renwick Gallery will have a musical Other special events planned for offering for this holiday season. A "Concerto December involve every area of the Institu­ for Christmas" will be the fourth work in an tion. evening of music presented by the American A live tree nearly 20 feet tall and trimmed Camerata for New Music in conjunction with Victorian and modern decorations will with "The Object As Poet" exhibition. Never be the centerpiece of seasonal decorations in before performed in Washington, the con­ the Castle's Great Hall. A trimming party certo was composed in 1956 by Luigi during the Resident Associates' "Christmas Dallapiccola for chamber orchestra, with a at the Smithsonian" weekend, December 10- Latin text to be sung by soprano Elizabeth 12, will get the decoration underway, as each Kirkpatrick. participant will be asked to bring a hand­ For the December 19 performance, the made or purchased, regional or exotic tree Gallery's Grand Salon will be festive, with decoration, which will become part of an SI two decorated trees adding holiday touches. collection. The doors will be decorated with plaques of The Office of Horticulture will add fresh greens and swags will festoon the finishing touches of fruits, pods, pine cones, Grand Staircase. horse chestnuts, and other natural Around the Arts and Industries Building decorations in 19th-century style, as well as fountain and rotunda will be a display of glass balls of the type fashionable during the poinsettas and other holiday plants. Victorian period. The A&I Building will ring with the sound Topiary animals and other amusing ob­ of Christmas carols played by volunteer jects for children will also be displayed in the Dorothy Wortman on an organ in the 1876 Great Hall. exhibition, Sunday, December 19, from 2 to Decorations for administrative areas 4 p.m., and Wednesday, December 22, from are planned as well. Wreaths and swags 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Passers-by will be en­ of natural dried cones, pods, and fruits, couraged to sing along. ribbons, and some fresh greenery, will be The Nicolo Marionettes will mark the hung throughout the Castle. season with two popular classics, "The The rotunda of the Museum of Natural Sorcerer's Apprentice" and "Peter and the History will assume the look of a winter Wolf." Perfo rmances will be held in the wonderland with large live trees decorated Smithsonian Puppet Theater Wednesdays and sprayed with white flocki ng for the sixth through Sundays, December I through annual dinner-dance of the Women's Com­ lanuary 2. -Fo-r----information ana resel'-­ mittee of the Smithsonian- Associates. vations, call the SI Central Box Office on Proceeds of the event, to be held Friday 381-5395. evening, December 10, will assist a wide variety of SI educational projects sponsored "A Victorian Christmas" will be a slide­ by the Women's Committee. In the past, the illustrated lecture and demonstration of a projects have included development of slide­ Victorian family's holiday preparations. Lec­ tape lectures, the Free Film Theater, and turer Sunny O'Neil will show how to make Great Hall Christmas tree, 1975 Victorian decorations with today's services to the handicapped. Christmas trees for their offices. Mr. Ault also said that packages brought materials. Ms. O'Neil created the dried and At the Hirshhorn Museum, magicians, Recommended for offices are artificial, fire­ into Smithsonian buildings during the holi­ pressed flower exhibit in the A&I Building. mimes, and treasure hunts will highlight "A resistant trees, but if live trees are used, they day season will be sealed and identified by Hirshhorn Holiday," a series of activities for This Resident Associates Program lecture must include roots and soil in a fabric bag. building guards. When employees leave the children and their parents, to be sponsored is scheduled for Monday evening, December Cut trees are permitted only with approval of building, their packages will be passed by the by the Women's Committee on Saturday, 6, in MNH's Baird Auditorium. Fee for the Office of Protection Services. guard provided the seals are not broken. December 4. Also featured will be a 10-foot members is $2; nonmembers, $3. As a safety precaution, and in keeping However, a broken seal will necessitate tree trimmed with handmade decorations Most Smithsonian holiday decorations with the energy conservation effort, tree reinspection of the contents and presentation donated by area art students. will be coordinated by the Office of Hor­ lights should not be used. of a properly authorized property pass. Santa Claus is one of the best parts of the ticulture, under the direction of SI Hor­ Tree locations should be carefully con­ lay Chambers, chief of the Protection holiday scene. This year a black Santa Claus ticulturist lames Buckler, to insure that they sidered to avoid safety hazards, and all Division, suggested that employees take will zoom into the Anacostia community by meet necessary safety requirements. manufactured decorations on trees or advantage of the coin-operated lockers helicopter on Monday, December 13. Arriv­ Staff members were reminded of safety by elsewhere in offices should be flameproofed, available in most of the museums. ing at 10 a.m., he will be escorted to the Richard Ault, director of support activities, Mr. Ault noted. Protection Division personnel also Savoy Elementary School at 2400 Shannon in his October· 28 memo requesting that Lighted candles are not permitted for any reminded employees that it is not a good Place by a marching band and hundreds of employees be particularly careful about holi­ decorative purposes, and no office practice to store packages in the office youngsters. His visit will be sponsored by the day decorations and that simple safety decorations should be kept for more than ten overnight, even if you are trying to keep them Anacostia Neighborhood Museum. precautions be observed when considering days. hidden from the inquisitive eyes of children. Historic Preservation Award Archives Opens The Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building has won an Historic Preservation Midwest Home Award from the Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the American Institute of Coleman Young, Mayor of Detroit, of­ Architects in ceremonies held October 27 in ficiated at the fall dedication of the midwest the National Gallery of Art Cafe. center of the Archives of American Art in A plaque, which will be affixed to the Detroit. One of five regional centers for building exterior, and four certificates for collection and research of archival materials, achievement of excellence in historic preser­ the one-room office contributed in 1954 by vation were awarded to Assistant Secretary the Detroit Institute of Arts has been ex­ for Museum Programs and Director of the panded to include eight rooms of offices, A&I Building Paul Perrot, who accepted the reading rooms, and exhibition areas. award on behalf of Secretary Ripley and the Supported by the Detroit Committee of Institution; the Smithsonian's Office of the Archives, the new quarters were in­ Facilities Planning and Engineering Services augurated by a reception, dinner, and exhibi­ (OFPES); Hugh Jacobsen, consulting tion of documents and photographs from the architect; and the Grunley-Walsh Construc­ Archives collection. tion Company. The Archives of American Art has been Smithsonian personnel cited for their con­ affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution tributions to completion of the project were since 1970, but its founding dates back to Mr. Perrot, OFPES Director and Program 1954 in Detroit where it began as a small, Manager for the A&I project Phillip Reiss, private organization dedicated to and OFPES staff members James Murphy stimulating and encouraging research in all and William Thomas, who together super­ areas of American art history. vised the project drawings and contract In its 22 years, the Archives has become specifications. the largest repository of manuscript One of two first award winners, the Arts materials on the history of art in the United and Industries Building was selected along States and is recognized as the major source Prizewinning Arts and Industries Building with the U.S. Capitol from among 15 entries. of American art information in this country. Page 2 THE SMITHSONIAN TORCH Oacember 1976 Foreign Press NASM IDummies' Tailored to Fit Has Day at SI "Whenever the authorized version differed from the adapted uniform, as in the case of By Joseph Sadlik the 50-mission caps, we opted for the actual Mort: than 30 foreign correspondents style," Mr. Sweeting said. stationed in Washington and New York "Another example was our research of the spent a day visiting the Smithsonian on collar brass of World War II Navy officers to Friday, November 12. see if the men actually moved their rank Although no headline-making events were insignia from shirt collars to their outer coat scheduled for the day, no exhibition as required by the Navy manual," he noted. previews, and no major speeches planned, it was a significant event for the Smithsonian's "Photos and veterans confirmed our relationship with foreign newswriters. suspicions: it was too much trouble to move Organizations represented included Iz­ them, so most men continued to wear brass vestia, the Manchester Guardian, the Lon­ on the shirt collars, and that is the way we don Times, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Rude portray them here." Pravo, Neues Deutschland, Rabotnichesko Research and investigation were con­ Delo, Neue Zuercher Zeitung, Hindustani ~ ducted by Mr. Sweeting who had a 30-year Times, Diarios, Tokyo Shimbun, and both .:: headstart on the project. As a child, he took channels of West German Television. ~ an interest in military uniforms and ac­ Planned and conducted by the Office of ~ coutrements, and he continued his research Public Affairs, "A Day at the Smithsonian" ~ throughout his 20 years in the U.S. Air Force was designed to provide the foreign press ~ and his travels overseas. Before coming to corps with an overview of the Institution's Q':; the Smithsonian in 1970, he was curator of current activities, with emphasis on the sites, Observed by a future 'customer,' mannequin surgeons Richard Marshall (left) and Glenn the Air Force Space Museum at Cape collections, and shops which are not accessi­ Sweeting perform a partial foot amputation. Canaveral, Fla. For others interested in research in the ble to the general public. By Linda St. Thomas we would give to an ancient document," Mr. Following an introductory briefing in the history and uses of various civil and military Sweeting said . aviation accessories and uniforms, there is a Castle by Paul Perrot, assistant secretary for Just as in any fitting, the suit was donned, "The dummies were totally covered with museum programs, the guests met with study collection in the Smithsonian;s Silver the collar smoothed, and the jacket but­ T-shirts and pantyhose so that the uniforms Hill facility in suburban Maryland. George Packard, deputy director of the toned. But at this "tailor shop," it was the would not touch their plastic 'skin.'" Woodrow Wilson International Center for Work on the mannequin project con­ body that was adjusted to fit the suit. Mr. Sweeting and Mr. Marshall had to tinues, with staff making weekly inspections Scholars. The clientele at the National Air and resist endless temptations to take a little tuck In the Arts and Industries Building, to insure that problems are caught before Space Museum workshop are mannequins, in the back of a jacket or hem a pair of pants they become serious. Uniforms will be William Miner, designer and director of the and their suits are the uniforms and flying because, as artifacts, the uniforms had to 1876 Centennial Exhibition, explained the rotated occasionally, and others will be outfits of American and foreign aviators. remain intact. added to the collection, including that of effort and ideas that went into the building'S One hundred and one male and female They also had to resist the staff jibes when current displays. Emily Howell, the first American woman mannequins were brought here to be dressed Louis Purnell, project coordinator, ordered pilot for a scheduled commercial airline Brooke Hindle, MHT director, then in clothing ranging from 1918 uniforms to the first batch of supplies: 100 T-shirts, 100 received the correspondents, who toured the flight. Apollo spacesuits before they appeared to pairs of pantyhose, a steam iron, and hair Donations continue to come in, but few Museum's collections of Presidential the public in NASM exhibits. curlers. memorabilia with Associate Curator will be so dramatic as those from Wilber E. "Our mannequins' uniforms and Several of the finished mannequins had to Goodhart of Shippinsburg, Pa. Sgt. Herbert Collins, and visited the Museum's accessories are all historically accurate, right be installed in aircraft that already were restoration workshop. Goodhart, an enlisted mechanic in the U.S. down to the last thread," said Charles suspended from ceilings in the galleries. Mr. Army Air Service, gave NASM his World Secretary Ripley gave a luncheon in the "Glenn" Sweeting, assistant curator of Sweeting and Mr. Marshall rode on lifts and reception suite of MHT and briefed the War I uniform. Later he donated the British aeronautics. "cherry pickers" to reach the doors or Royal Air Force uniform of his wife, the late journalists on the Institution's international Even the thread and buttons used to repair cockpits of the planes, and position the programs. Mildred Goodhart, whom he met in 1918. military uniforms came from World War I mannequins inside. It is no coincidence that the mannequins Mary Ann Tighe, education specialist, and II soldiers' sewing kits, Mr. Sweeting Unfortunately, not every mannequin had with Mr. and Mrs. Goodhart's uniforms gave a tour of the Hirshhorn Museum, said, while agreeing that most visitors will a complete outfit. Many of the donor's stand side-by-side in the World War I Robert Angle, manager of the National never notice such details. uniforms lacked shoes and shirts. A viation Gallery, just outside the "airfield" Associate Program, described that group's But, he added, "They come to the Smith­ "Proper shoes became a rare commodity current activities, and NASM Deputy Direc­ exhibit. sonian expecting to see things as they really because many people would pack away their "It was really an emotional experience for tor Melvin Zisfein showed the visitors were and that's exactly what we give them." uniforms, flying suits, and memorabilia, but through the Museum. everyone when Goodhart came to the Such attention to detail is noted by the continue to wear the shoes until they com­ Museum with Walter Kohl, director of the Washington toughest critics, the uniform donors and pletely wore out," Mr. Sweeting explained. Foreign Press Center, said, "The Smithso­ uniforms, and found them displayed other veterans who stop to inspect the By contacting collectors, veterans, and air together," said Mr. Sweeting. "He nian is such an omnipresent phenomenon on uniforms on their trips to the Museum. crews around the world, they located shoes, the Washington scene that most of us in­ proud to be a part of the Preparing the mannequins for the NASM boots, and other accessories to go with each Institution." volved mainly in political reporting simply opening took the better part offour months. uniform on display. go by it. As a result of this visit, I'm sure, Regular adult mannequins were ordered - 5 "To be sure we had properly dressed the many foreign reporters will be coming back feet 10 inches and 5 feet 8 inches for men and mannequin, we checked manuals, photos, to the Smithsonian with specific ideas and two sizes for women. To approximate the and correspondence from donors," said Mr. questions." smaller World War II Japanese pilots, a Sweeting. "We also talked with the people Joseph Sadlik is on special assignment shipment of male teenage mannequins, themselves." from USIA in the Office of Public Affair measuring 5 feet 6 inches, was added. At one point, the men became confused by "Even the stature of American males has the leg wrapping of a World War II Japanese changed since World War I and we had to flying cadet uniform. No manuals were Original Smokey adjust the mannequins accordingly," said available; so they consulted a Japanese Dick Marshall, NASM exhibits specialist, veteran who was able to wrap the legs in Dies at the Zoo who acted as "chief of mannequin surgery" precise military fashion. during preparations for the opening. Old photos and discussions "\ . ,(h flyers Well-qualified for that role, Mr. Marshall were invaluable, since not all uniform styles had been constructing dummies at the conformed with military manuals, according Museum of History and Technology for to Mr. Sweeting. The "50-mission" crush cap eight years. He designed and helped build the favored by World War II pilots never made mannequins that are suspended from the the manuals, but it has achieved status on a ceiling in MHT's Underwater Exploration velvet cushion in NASM's World War II Gallery. Aviation Gallery. Mr. Sweeting adjusts the costume before Mr. "Adjusting" the mannequins meant The official cap had a brim and stifffacing Marshall adds a finishing touch. everything from performing major surgery, to maintain the cap's shape. But Army and padding and cutting the dummies, to styling Air Force flight crews found their own SMITHSONIAN TORCH the hair. symbol by removing the stiffening so that a December 1976 "Preparing each mannequin really taxed radio headset could be worn comfortably. A Published fo r Smithsonian Institu­ our imagination - and our knowledge of badge of many combat flight hours, it tion personnel by the Smithsonian human anatomy," Mr. Marshall confessed. became progressively more crushed with use Office of Public Affairs, Susan Bliss, If an arm was too long, then an inch had to be and storage in military flight bags. Editor; Kathryn Lindeman, Assistant. cut from the forearm and a corresponding inch from the upper arm to keep the propor­ The original Smokey Bear, who . was tions correct. Press' 'Zoo Book' Makes Hit brought from New Mexico in June of 1950 to Putting on high, tight-fitting boots was The Smithsonian Institution Press has hibited were: "Blue Mystery: The Story of serve as the first living symbol of the Smokey not possible with an inflexible mannequin, received more than 8,000 orders for the the Hope Diamond," by Susanne Steinem Bear forest fire prevention program, died last and delicate surgery, usually toe or partial recently published "Zoobook," written by Patch; "America As Art," by NCFA Direc­ month in his retirement cage at the National foot amputation, had to be performed. Emily Rudin and Judy White ofthe National tor Joshua Tayor; "The Indian Legacy of Zoo. The dummies also had to be placed in Zoo's Office of Education and Information. Charles Bird King," by Herman Viola, MNH Smokey served for 25 years at his post different positions which meant that the Designed by Bob Mulcahy, chief of NZP's anthropologist; ~ 'The Golden Door: Artists­ before being retired and replaced by a similar limbs had to be bolted and then held in place Office of Graphics and Exhibits, it is il­ Immigrants of America, 1876-1976," by bear at NZP ceremonies in May 1975. with pins or epoxy. lustrated with Jan Skrentny's color Smokey Bear was buried at the Smokey HMSG Curator Cynthia McCabe, and "The A few pounds at the waistline or width at photographs of white tigers, pandas, oryx, Federal City: Plans and Realities," by Bear Historical Park in Capitan, N. Mex., the shoulders were easily added with padding not far from where he was found in 1950 as a and crowned cranes, as well as the more Frederick Gutheim and Wilcomb of rolled cotton attached under a T-shirt to familiar zebras, elephants and monkeys. cub, badly burned from a forest fire that Washburn, director of the Smithsonian Of­ make a uniform fit snugly. swept through a portion of the Lincoln Extremely popular as a holiday sales item, fice of American Studies. Space suits presented special problems according to Ted Rivinus, acting director of BOOK SHOW - The Association of National Forest. because of the small aperture through which the Press, the book is available through the American University Presses will display its During his 25 year reign as the living the astronaut entered the bulky suit. The Press, commercial shops, NZP's Friends of 1976 traveling book show at the Smithsonian symbol of fire prevention, the original unbending mannequins had to be dismantled the National Zoo gift shop, and several of the Institution Press December 13 through 24. Smokey played host to millions of visitors at and reassembled piece by piece inside the Museum Shops on the Mall. Representing some of the best examples of NZP. During his retirement he had a relax-. suit. Cost is $3.95, with a 20 percent discount to design and production work by university ing life in seclusion, and was away from the Before and during the adjustments, the SI employees. presses, the show will include a Press daily hustle and bustle of photographers, TV mannequin required fittings. "Most of our "Zoo book" was among five other SI Press publication, "Official White House China: cameras, and people who wanted to inter- . him. uniforms are artifacts donated to the volumes displayed at the National Press 1789 to the Present," by MHT Curator Smithsonian, so they needed the same care Club Book Fair in November. Also ex- Margaret Klapthor. December 1976 THE SMITHSONIAN TORCH Page 3 MHT Receives Freer Collection TV Debate Set By Linda St. Thomas In American Art The presidential candidates had barely finished their third debate before the Shows Delicacy podiums and chairs were being dismantled and packed into a truck enroute to the By Susan Hobbs National Museum of History and "A Connoisseur's Vision: Selections from Technology. Charles Lang Freer's American Art Collec­ "We began negotiating with the League of tion" opened in November at the Freer Women Voters during the first debate in Gallery. Including over one hundred pain­ October," said Herbert R. Collins, associate tings, watercolors, pastels, and etchings, the curator of political history at MHT. exhibition focuses on Freer's distinctive taste "Initially, the League wanted to sell the as a collector of turn-of-the-century historic furnishing for $10,000 to help defray American art. the cost of the debates. But the League's Freer's patronage was unusual in several Gladys Sheer informed us later that all respects. When he began purchasing works furnishings would be donated to the of art in the mid-1880's, he limited his Smithsonian by the manufacturer, Herman acquisitions to works by James McNeill Miller Furniture, Inc., of Zeeland, Mich." Whistler, Dwight William Tryon, Abbott Taken apart and trucked between cities Handerson Thayer, and Thomas Wilmer Dewing. Only later, after 1900, did he add by the Clark Transfer Trucking Co. of preseolted the ury further dimension to the collection with Bennington, N.J., the shipment was brought Medal to Robert Mayer White, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric paintings by eleven other American artists. to MHT by Clark the morning after the Administration during ceremonies at the Kennedy Center in September. Citing Dr. White for Freer sought out works which were final debate, with all shipping paid by his distinguished contributions in underwater ocean science, the Smithsonian award was delicate and refined in tone and subject the donor. made in conjunction with the opening of "The United States in the World," which was matter - qualities which he considered Eventually, the chairs and semicircular coordinated by the Office of Symposia and Seminars. podiums will be placed in the "We the complementary to his oriental objects, some People" exhibit, Mr. Collins said. of which were acquired with Whistler's The gift also includes a 12-foot birch C-H Plans Series on Antiques encouragement in the early 1880's. panelist table, an off-white backdrop, and By Herman Stein membership of the Smithsonian National Among the pieces on view are many which blue carpeting, as well as two Charles Eames A series of books planned by the Cooper­ Associates, the Book-of-the-Month Club, may be considered some of the artists' best "Shell" chairs which the candidates used and Hewitt Museum, the Smithsonian's National and smaller groups. The books will be works. "Portrait of a Girl," by Thomas four brown leather "Ergon" chairs which Museum of Design, in cooperation with the available only by mail order. Wilmer Dewing, for example, is notable for the panelists used. Book-of-the-Month Club, will serve to help Editor of the series is Brenda Gilchrist, the strength of the model's personality, To enhance the debate collection, the people understand the art of collecting an­ who recently joined the Smithsonian's which is conveyed through a subtle combina­ political history division will seek in­ tiques. National Museum of Design after ten years tion of irregular features and dignified bear­ vitations, announcements, and pUblicity Aimed at new collectors just "getting into at Praeger Publishers in New York, where ing. material related to the debates, newspapers antiques," the 12 to 15 illustrated hardcover she was senior editor in charge of art and Today the Freer Gallery has a large from the four cities, blueprints of the stage books will serve as a "home study" course in illustrated books. Earlier, she worked for the collection of paintings and etchings by setting and photos of the candidates at their collecting. American Heritage Publishing Company, Whistler as well as an important group of podiums. The first book, to be issued sometime in Show magazine, and the Museum of works by Tryon, Thayer, and Dewing. Many 1978, will be on the subject of porcelain, to be Modern Art. are included in this exhibition along with MNH Exhibits Rare followed by a new book each month covering "Our first volume will be 130 pages, with important oils by John Singer Sargent, such subjects as furniture, pottery, silver, about 140 illustrations," said Ms. Gilchrist. Albert Pinkham Ryder, Winslow Homer, Bicentennial Gem glass, jewelry, metalwork, textiles and "We plan to get the best authorities ir John Henry Twachtman, Childe Hassam, By T-homas Harney needlework, toys and games, rugs and various areas of antiques to write the text Willard Metcalf, Gari Melchers, George de "The Star of Independence" is a 76-carat carpets, and clocks and watches. portions of the books." Forest Brush and John Francis Murphy. diamond named in commemoration of the Written by experts in the various subject The first volume is being written by Jerry Freer knew many of these artists personal­ U.S. Bicentennial. Said by gem authorities to areas, the bQoks will be illustrated with color Patterson, a contributing editor of Art News ly, and in several cases he was their intimate be one of the largest, least flawed, and most and black-and-white photographs of objects and the author of several books. friend. He had met Whistler, for example, exquisite diamonds cut in the 20th century, in Smithsonian and other museum collec­ Mr. Patterson was formerly a vice pres­ during the winter of 1889-90; despite its first public showing, in the Gem Hall of tions. ident of Parke-Bernet Galleries in New differences in temperament, their friendship the Museum of NaturaL History, ended grew into one of mutual trust and admira- The idea for the project comes from York. Later, he served as the United tion. - ---- December l. Cooper-Hewitt Director Lisa Taylor, who States representative for Christie's of "A Connoisseur's Vision" continues at the Destined to be recorded in gem lore as one said that thousands of antique-lovers would London. Freer Gallery through January 1977. of the great diamonds of the world, its superb welcome this kind of moderately-priced, All books in the series will be designed by quality, beautiful cut, and large size are very visually appealing volume. Joseph Del Valle, who has acted as design rare, according to Paul Desautels, curator of David Soskin, vice president of marketing consultant for the Whitney Museum of Susan Hobbs is curator oj American Art at gems. for the Book-of-the-Month Club, said that American Art and has designed numerous the Freer Gallery. The spectacular diamond was cut from a the project has a potential audience of musuem catalogs and art books for leading 204.10-carat rough stone found early in 1976 2,800,000, representing the combined publishers. in Sierra Leone and purchased shortly afterward on the international market by SI in the Media New York gem dealer Harry Winston. Mr. Winston has been the owner and cutter of ten of the world's great diamonds, and has donated a number of important gems to the Critics Praise Art Exhibits; Smithsonian, including the legendary 45.5- carat Hope Diamond. Zoo Earns Four Awards "The Star of Independence" was sold to an By Johnnie Douthis of NZP's 50 pygmy hippos bred over the unnamed party for an undisclosed price Critics View Hofmann, Rauschenberg years, and the first prize in films for the shortly after its cutting, but its public show­ Baltimore Sun art critic Lincoln Johnson production of "Tiger." ing at the Smithsonian was made one of the described HMSG's Hans Hofmann show as SI People Make News conditions of the sale. "visually exciting, full ofthe energy, vitality, The Washington Post described MHT The cutters did not originally plan to exuberance, sensitivity, and inventiveness curators who located items of the Museum's fashion the 76-carat size from the rough that is associated with Hofmann." The permanent collection as a "dedicated group stone. The main consideration was to cut it in Washington Post suggested that the "best of scholarly detectives." such a way as to obtain a single stone of way to explore this show is to stand before In the Post "Federal Diary," writer Mike absolute perfection regardless of size, said a one picture for a while, and let it do its Causey noted that the "Smithsonian In·· spokesman for the Winston firm. But as the work." stitution's bone-polishers did the Mean cutting progressed over a three-month The Robert Rauschenberg show at NCF A Machine in the other day in the mud at East period they saw that it was going to be .... "')'" OJ brought the following critique from the Potomac Park." Could it be that Mr. Causey "The Thames on Ice," (1860) by James possible to closely approach the 76-carat Washington Star: "The surprises in his show read about our football team in last month's McNeill Whistler is a selection from the mark, with an exact weight of 75.52 carats. of all types, and they come in all shapes Torch? Freer's current exhibition. Because it rounds off to 76 carats, Ronald sizes .... There are things seen previous­ "Certainly God continues to have a corner Winston, son of Harry Winston, thought ly only in reproduction that fairly bark at on creating trees, but a team of clever tree­ it was appropriate to name the gem 10 h you with authentic life when seen in the builders is running the Almighty a close SI Women's Council of the Bicentennial. flesh." The Washington Post saw the second by fabricating a forest for the Rauschenberg show as "the most ex­ Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History" Elects NewMembers hilarating one-man show seen in began an American Forestry article on Following its recent Institution-wide Washington in years." Newsweek reported MNH's exhibit, "Our Changing Land." balloting, the Smithsonian Women's Coun­ that the exhibition, coming at the end of a And an article in the Winston-Salem cil has announced election of the following bland and celebratory Bicentennial year in (N.C.) Journal reports that Joseph H. officers, members, and alternates for the year art, "will put Rauschenberg right back where Hirshhorn received an honorary degree on 1976-1977: Diane Walker, chairperson; he used to be - at the center of the art October 20 from Wake Forest University. Penelope Packard, vice-chairperson; public's attention." Programs, Museums Applauded Rosemary Da Rosa, secretary-treasurer; Smiles Greet Zoo Award The Chronicle oj Higher Education, Deborah Jennings, assistant secretary; Bar­ "Zoo's Breeding Camel Lacks reporting on "The U.S. in the World," wrote bara Newfield, historian. Qualifications," "Dromedary Dud," and that foreign educators liked what American Other members and alternates are "Humphrey Has a Problem," were headlines education stands for, "quality of opportuni­ Deborah Bretzfelder, Kathleen Brooks, Bar­ about NZP's Bactrian camel, Humphrey. ty, comprehensiveness, experimentalism, bara Coffee, Marilyn Cohen, Brenda Coley, Theodore Reed, director of NZP, recently and pragmatism, but they feared the in­ Benjamin Franklin, Eleanor Haley, accepted the Goof of the Year Award from fluence that American ed ucation and culture Catherine Harris, Claretta Jackson, Barbara the American Association of Zoological could have on their own societies." Keville, Edith Martin, Delores Mortimer, Parks and Aquariums because Humphrey is The popular new Air and Space Museum Mary Quinn, Clara Simmons, and Carolyn not equipped to produce little camels. Dr. continues to receive praise. The News and Wood. Reed also received three other awards from Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) stated, "The All are welcome to attend Council the AAZP: the Edward Bean Outstanding museum is, in a word, magnificent . . " meetings, which are held the first Tuesday of Birth Award for the kiwi born here last year, Mechanix Illustrated described it as a each month from 12 to 2 p.m. Contact any a Special Achievement Award in recognition "museum of bravery and imagination." member for meeting locations. Page 4 THE SMITHSONIAN TORCH December 1976 December at the Sm

EXHIBITION: A Touch of the Poet: Portraits from the POET/ PAINTER DIALOGUE: Kenneth Koch , dis­ HIRSHHORN FILM : Poet - feature film by Pip Benveniste 1 Permanent Collection. In conjunction with the city-wide tinguished poet and Larry Rivers, modem master painter, that captures poets as they read to themselves. 12 noon and WED celebration of poetry and the visual arts, the National share the experience of their collaboration in works of art 7 p.m. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. FREE . Portrait Gallery will exhibit the portraits of 16 poets in­ that began in 1960 with a series of dynamic poem/ cluding, among others, Longfellow, Sandburg, e. e. paintings. Moderator: Abram Lerner, Director, Hirshhorn NMHT TUESDAY FILM : A Williamsburg Sampler; and cummings, W. H. Auden, and Langston Hughes. Through Museum and Sculpture Garden. Second of three programs The Engraving of Fire Arms. 1 p.m. Cannichael Audi­ December 31. as part of a city-wide festival celebrating the collabora­ torium, History and Technology Building. FREE . tion between poetry and the visual arts. 8 p.m. Baird KWANZA V{O~SHOP : Slides, demonstrations and Auditorium, Natural History Building. $6 .• activities are used to explore the Afro-American adaptation POETRY READING: Hello Earth . Col. Alfred M. Worden, of the African harvest festival. Workshop participants 4 THE NATURALIST CENTER. Designed for unhurried and fonner Apollo 15 astronaut will read as stars, planets, should bring old newspapers and a small piece of white detailed study of a wide assortment of natural history and color images of Apollo IS's journey to the lunar high­ cloth. Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, 2405 Martin SAT specimens, with reference books and equipment available lands are projected in the Spacearium of the National Luther King Avenue, S.E. Call 381-6731 for attendance for the use of the serious amateur naturalist. The Center's Air and Space Museum. He will also discuss the feelings iruonnation. collections will include plants, invertebrates, vertebrates, and emotions he experienced as an astronaut that led him anthropological material, minerals and rocks. It is designed to compose each work. 8 p.m. Tickets required; call 381- FREE FILM THEATRE: The Crooked Beak of Heaven - as an aid to individual self-development and therefore is 4157 for lnfonnation. FREE . the totem poles of _the Northwestern Indians in North not open to organized groups. 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. America, are read for tribal myth, family history, symbols Wednesday through Saturday; 12 noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. LECTURE: The Big Birthday. Historian Milton M. Klein of property, aristocracy and divinity. These and ceremonial Admission is handled by the Mall Infonnation Desk. compares the nation's Bicentennial with earlier national observances are discussed by David Attenborough, Museum of Natural History. FREE . birthday celebrations - the Centennial of 1876 and the narrator. First showing in The Tribal Eye, a seven-part Sesquicentennial of 1926, as well as the drinking bouts of BBC series on tribal cultures. Each Wednesday film is A HIRSHHORN HOLIDAY: Activities for children and the 1930's and internationalization of the American force repeated the following day. 1 p.m. (note change of time their parents. With films, magicians, mimes, tours and in the World War II era . 8 p.m. Carmichael Auditorium, Dec. 1 only). Cannichael Auditorium, History and Tech­ treasure hunts, the theme of visual illusion is explored. History and Technology Building. $4 .• nology Building. FREE. Music and holiday decorations add to the seasonal spirit. 10 a .m. to 2 p.m., Hirshhorn Museum. Children must be RECITAL. European and Colombian music presented by accompanied by an adult. FREE. 8 FREE FILM THEATRE: Behind the Mask. The carvings soprano Carmina Gallo of Colombia, including works by and other sacred objects from the remote desert shrines composers Jose Rozo Contreras and Jaime Leon, 5 THE AMERICAN DREAM: MOVIES U.S.A. Executive WED of the Dogon people of Nigeria. 12:30 p.m; Cannichael Beethoven, Verdi and Puccini. Miss Gallo, professor of Suite, starring William Holden and Walter Pidgeon. 5 Auditorium, History and Technology Build.ing. The Tribal singing at the National Conservatory of Colombia, will SUN p.m. Cannichael Auditorium, History and Technology Eye series. FREE . appear in conjunction with the current exhibition Building. Continuing series of films showing the success Americas: The Decorative Arts in Latin America in the and defeats of American Industry. Each film introduced HIRSHHORN LECTURE: The Artist, the Critic and the Era of the Revolution. 8 p.m. The Renwick Gallery. FREE. by Carl Colby, Georgetown University. $3. * Public. Speaker: John Canaday, fonner art critic, New York Times. 8 p.m. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture EXHIBITIQNS: Peter Plagens: Works on Paper - mixed JAZZ HERITAGE CONCERT: Small-Group Ellington. Garden. FREE . 2 media and pastel works by West Coast artist and author; An evening of Ellington classics perfonned by the New THU e. e. cummings: The Poet as Artist - drawings, water­ York Jazz Repertory Company, directed by Bob Wilber, colors and oil painting by the American poet. Both exhibits Clarinetist-saxophonist. 8 p.m. Baird Auditorium, EXHIBIT ION: Not a Model Boy. Portraits, photographs, are part of Inscape: Words and Images, a city-wide festival Natural History Building. $5 general with discounts for 9 books and documents commemorate the 100th anniversary of poetry and its relation to the visual arts. Hirshhorn students, senior citizens, and Resident Associate members. THU of the publication of Mark Twain's classic The Ad­ Museum and . Sculpture Garden. Through February 6. For reservations call 381-5395. A FREE workshop will be venturI'S of Tom Sawyer. National Portrait Gallery, held at 4:30 p.m. in the Baird Auditorium. Sponsored through March 15. HIRSHHORN FILM: In-Between. A film-poem by Jonas by the Division of Perfonning Arts. Mekas. 12 noon. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The Hirshhorn programs scheduled in December 6 SYMPOSIUM: Japan and the U.S.: Thirty-Five Years HIRSHHORN FILMS: The Water Circle; Four in the After­ feature films by or about poets in conjunction with a city­ After Pearl Harbor. Three specialists in Japanese American noon; This Is It; High Kukus; Testament - films by James wide celebration of the collaboration of poetry and the MON relations explore the Japan that has emerged and assess Broughton. 12 noon and 7 p.m. Hirshhorn Museum and visual arts. FREE . the major remaining obstacles between the U.S. and Sculpture Garden. FREE. Japan. An historical perspective from the Japanese point FREE FILM THEATRE: The Crooked Beak of Heaven. of view - Dr. Yoshio Murakami, staff correspondent, FREE FILM THEATRE: Behind the Mask. 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. Cannichael Auditorium, History and Tech­ Washington Bureau of Asahi Shimbun, Japan's largest Cannichael Auditorium, History and Technology Building. nology Building. See December 1 for program notes. FREE. newspaper. Negotiations between the U.S. and Japan in See December 8 for program notes. FREE. recent years - Robert W. Barnett, Director, the Wash­ HIRSHHORN EVENING FILM / LECTURE: Jonas Mekas ington Center of the Asia Society and fonner Deputy will discuss the theme of the Hirshhorn December film Assistant Secretary of State. An academic interpretation series and screen his film In-Between. 7 p.m. Hirshhorn of the years since Pearl Harbor - Dr. Nathaniel B. 10 NATURAL HISTORY LECTURE: The Importance of Wild­ Museum and Sculpture Garden. FREE . Thayer, professor at Johns Hopkins School for Advanced life and Its Conservation, Strategy in a Subsistance International Studies. Moderator: Dr. George R. FRI Economy, Papua, New Guinea. Speaker: Dr. David S. Liem, Visiting scientist from Papua. 12 noon. Baird Audi­ EXHIBITION: Stitch Pictures by Ethel Mohamed. Twelve Packard, fonner assistant to ambassador Edwin O . torium, Natural History Building. FREE . 3 colorful needlework pictures created by Ethel Wright Reischauer. 8 p.m. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture FRI Mohamed depicting home life in Mississippi, the coloniza­ Garden. $5.· tion of America, the Revolutionary War and a Lebanese ILLUSTRATED LECTURE: A Victorian Christmas. The en­ marital fable. The Renwick Gallery, through July 10. 11 HIRSHHORN FILMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: Works in chantment of an old-fashioned Christmas shown through animation and selected topics for ages four and up. 12 the preparation made for the holiday season by Victorian NATURAL HISTORY FILMS: Creatures of the Wind - SAT noon. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. FREE. families. Speaker: Sunny O'Neil. 8 p.m. Baird Auditorium, the extraordinary wildlife of the Patagonian Desert on the Natural History Building. $3. * coast of Argentina; Saguaro - flora and fauna of the MATISSE SEMINAR: All-day program devoted to an Arizona Desert. 12 noon. Baird Auditorium, Natural CREATIVE SCREEN: e. e. cummings: The Making of a examination of Matisse's art, features three outstanding art History Building. FREE. 7 Poet - an aesthetic self-portrait through poems, paintings historians to discuss his fonns of expression. All lectures TUE and reminiscenes; Mankinda - a painting, combined with are slide illustrated. 10 a.m. - Matisse and the Meaning poetry and calligraphy, is shown at various stages of its of Still Life, by Dr. Theodore Reff, Columbia University. development; Jabbenvocky - live action and animation 1:15 p.m. - Matisse: Prints and Drawings, by Victor Radio Smithsonian based on Lewis Carroll's poem, produced in Prague. Shown Carlson, Baltimore Museum of Art; 2:30 p.m. - Motifs in conjunction with the current exhibition The Object as and Metaphors in the Art of Matisse, by Jack Ram, Radio Smithsonian, a program ot music and conversation Poet. Complete showings 11 a.m., 12 noon and 1 p.m. Brooklyn College, 4 p.m. - Panel discussion. Ecology growing out of the Institution's many activities, is broadcast The Renwick Gallery. FREE . Theatre, Natural History Building. $25 .• every Sunday on WGMS-A.\! (570) and FM (103 .56) from 9-9:30 p.m. The program schedule tor December:

5th - Blue Mystery The real story of the Hope Diamond, told by Susanne Stein~m Patch. gemologist and author. Treasures of Celebrating A Century Cyprus. 8,000 year5 of Cypriot art and culture, as reflected in a Hours (Closed December 25) A Smithsonian produced film about the 1876 new exhibit at the \!useum of Natural History. Exposition in Philadelphia. Color; one-half hour. National Collection of Fine Arts; National Portrait Gallery; Begins Dec. 2 and continues through 1977. Mon­ 12th - Country Music. Vermont-Style, with Burt Porter, fiddle , The Renwick Gallery; Smithsonian Institution Building; The days, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 11 :30 a.m. banjo, and guitar; Wilfred Guillette, fiddle; and Bill Clark, Freer Gallery of Art; Museum of History and Technology; Cannichael Auditorium, History and Technology guitar, tenor banjo, and fiddle . Museum of Natural History; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Building. FREE. Garden; Arts and Industries Building; National Air and Space 19th - Information Ricochet. Tom Wolfe, a leader of new Museum - 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. journalism, retraces strange adventures in modern American arts ·Sponsored by the Resident Associate Program of the and communication. Anacostia Neighborhood Museum - 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday Smithsonian. Discounts are available for members. For through Friday; 1-6 p.m. weekends. attendance or other in£onnation call 381-5157. Unless 26th - Concert, featuring the Smithsonian Chamber Players, otherwise indicated, tickets should be purchased in perfonning American music of the Federal period. National Zoo Buildings - 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. advance, and will be sold at the door only if available. December 1976 THE SMITHSONIAN TORCH Page 5 .ithsonian Institution

12 THE AMERICAN DREAM : MOVIES U.S .A. His Girl FREE FILM THEATRE: Man Blong Custom. Sacred cere­ 21 FILMS FOR CHILDREN: The Strike; Tar Baby; Anansi the Friday, starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell . 5 p.m. monies, with funeral dances and life-sized effigies, of the Spider; Superbug; and The Sun 's Gonna Shine, films SUN Carmichael Auditorium .. History and Technology Building. New Hebrides Islands; and the war canoes, spirit sea TUE especially created for black children, followed by discus­ See December 5 for series details. $3. * dances and Moro of the Solomon Islands. 12:30 p.m. sions with Daphne Muse, writer and critic of literature Carmichael Auditorium, History and Technology Building. for children. 10 a.m. Anacostia Neighborhood Museum. The Tribal Eye series. FREE. FREE . COUNTRY GUITAR CONCERT: Les Paul, renowned country guitarist and innovator in recording techniques. EXHIBITION: Person to Person. The 100th anniversa.ry of 8 p.m. Baird Auditorium, Natural History Building. $6 16 the telephone is celebrated with this multi-media exhibit CREATIVE SCREEN: e. e. cummings; The Making of a general with discounts for students, senior citizens and THU showing how lifestyle and technology affected the develop­ Poet; Mankinda; Jabberwocky. 11 a.m., 12 noon and 1 Resident Associate members. For reservations call 381- ment of person-to-person communication. Simple voice p.m. See December 7 for program details. The Renwick 5395. Sponsored by the Division of Performing Arts. transmitter devices to complex communications systems Gallery. FREE . spanning the globe are exhibited including Alexander' SANTA CLAUS ARRIVES IN ANACOSTIAI The neigh­ Graham Bell's early experimental telephones and the same 13 borhood Santa lands by helicopter at the Curtis Brothers wire used for his first message "Mr. Watson-come here­ NMHT TUESDAY FILM: D. W. Griffith: An American MON parking lot and, accompanied by marching band and I want to see you." Instruction sheets are available for Genius. 1 p.m. Carmichael Auditorium, History and Tech­ hundreds of youngsters, makes his way to the Savoy four phones to be made with household materials. Museum nology Building. FREE . Elementary School, 2400 Shannon Place, S.E. for a of History and Technology. Christmas concert. 10 a.m. EXHIBITION: John White Alexander (1856-1915). Water­ HIRSHHORN FILMS : Two Poets Working 'in Film . Ima:Ie 22 colors, drawings, illustrations and oils comprise the first in the Snow, by Willard Maas; and Dionysius, by Charles WED comprehensive exhibition of Alexander's work in 60 years, LECTURE: The Nutcracker. Martin Feinstein, Executive Boultenhouse. 12 noon and 7 p.m. Hirshhom Museum and from his portraits of women to mural designs. National Director of Performing Arts for the Kennedy Center, will Sculpture Garden. FREE. give his interpretation of the story of the Nutcracker, its Collection of Fine Arts, through July 4, 1977. different productions and the history of the American Ballet FREE FILM THEATRE: Man Blong Custom. 12:30 p.m. Theatre. 8:30 p.m. Carmichael Auditorium, History and 16 Carmichael Auditorium, History and Technology Building. Technology Building. $8. A combination lecture/ perform­ FREE FILM THEATRE: The Sweat of the Sun . The golden THU See December 15 for program notes. FREE. artifacts of the Incas and Aztecs and how they were used in ance $22 .50. (Performance tickets are for Baryshnikov's both ritual and practical fashion . 12:30 p.m. Carmichael Nutcracker Ballet, at the Kennedy Center, December 22.)* LECTURE: Four Generations of the Adams Family. David Auditorium, History and Technology Building. The Tribal F. Musto, Yale University, discusses the continuity of atti­ Eye series. FREE . PIANO PERFORMANCE: David Bean will perform using tude and lifestyle across four generations of the Adams the Steinway Concert Grand that was played by family, a family that was a unique social, intellectual and 23 FREE FILM THEATRE: The Sweat of the Sun. 12:30 Paderewski on his 1892 tour of the United States. Selec­ economic force in the republic's development. 8 p.m. p.m. Carmichael Auditorium, History and Technology tions by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin and Baird Auditorium, Natural History Building. $4. * THU Building. See December 22 for program notes. FREE. Liszt, including those presented by Paderewski during his tour. 8:30 p.m. The Renwick Gallery. $4 general with dis­ 24 NATURAL HISTORY FILMS: The Living Stone - Eskimo counts for students, senior citizens and Resident Associ­ 17 NATURAL HISTORY LECTURE: Collecting Expeditions sculpture, its inspiration and re~ationship to a belief ~n. ~he ate members. FQr reservationss'i!lL381-5395. to Australia and New Zealand. Speaker: Friink Greenwel.\,__ FRI $~matural; San.gngyggat: InUIt Masterworks: - exhibi"!.!ti",a"..n~.,-,--===_. FRr Division ~ Vertebrate Zoology-: discusses his experiences of Eskimo carvings from public and private collections; in collecting. Slide illustrated. 12 noon. Baird Auditorium, 12 noon, Baird Auditorium, Natural History Building. Natural History Building. FREE, ' FREE. FILMS FOR CHILDREN: That Fabulous Face , Nunu and 14 the Zebra; Venceremitos; Joshua; The Magic Tree; Your TUE Closest Neighbors; films created especially for black 28 NMHT TUESDAY FILMS : Tops; and Tocatta for Toy LECTURE: The Contributions of$teinway .& Sons to the Trains. 1 p.m. Carmichael Auditorium, History and Tech­ children, followed by discussions with Daphne Muse, 19th Century Piano Industry. Speaker: ·Cynthia Hoover, TUE nology Building. FREE . writer and critic of literature for children. 10 a.m. Ana­ Curator of Musical .Instruments., l~ . !l .m. , H,~l t qL¥usical costia Neighborhood Museum. FREE . Instruments, History and Technology Bldg. FREE. 29 FREE FILM THEATRE: Woven Gardens. The beauty, function and tradition of the rugs of the Qashqu'i nomads HIRSHHORN FILMS : Two Plays by Serge Gavronsky; WED of Iran, mirror their lives, with the animals providing the 18 HIRSHHORN FILMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: Works in wool; plants, the dyes; and the jogging of the animals Color Idioms; Our Trip to India; Vignette with Scratches animation and selected topics for ages four and up. bearing the looms, the irregularity of ~ he weave. 12:30 p.m. - films by poet-filmmaker Frank Kuenstler. 12 noon and SAT 12 noon. Hirshhom Museum and Sculpture Garden. FREE. 7 p.m. Hirshhom Museum and Sculpture Garden. FREE . -Carmichael Auditorium, History anc Technology Building. The Tribal Eye series. FREE. BLUES CONCERT: Jimmy Witherspooll,. blues .singer for MUSICAL: Just So, a creative adapt. 'lion of Kipling's stories NMHT TUESDAY LECTURE: Microcosm of Revolution: 19 thirty years, in a program including Tain 't Nobody's . with original music and lyrics. Performed by the Mt. An Interpretation of the Continental Gondola Philadelphia. SUN Business, Around the Clock and I'm GOlma' Move., 8 p.m. Vernon Open Aire Theater Company, in improvizational Speaker: Philip Lundeberg, Curator of Naval History. Baird Auditorium, Natural History Building. $6 general style. 3-4 p.m. Baird Auditorium, Natural History 1 p.m. Carmichael Auditorium, History and Technology with discounts for students, senior citizens and Resident Building. FREE . Building. FREE . Associate members. For reservations call 381-5395. Sponsored by the Division of Performing Arts. 30 FREE FILM THEATRE: Woven Gardens. 12:30 p.m. Car­ EXHIBITION: The Object As Poet. The relationship of michael Auditorium, History and Technology Building. 15 poetry and the poetic image to objects made by artist­ CONCERT: The American Camerata for New Music THU See December 29 for program notes. FREE . WED craftsmen, is shown through 60 three-dimensional objects, presents works based on , or inspired by, poetry. Program some incorporating words or lines of poetry with their includes selections by Edgard Varese, Carl Ruggles and 31 NATURAL HISTORY FILM: Castleguard Caves - film surfaces, others, accompanied bY 'poetry that corresponds Luigi Dallapiccola. Soloist. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick. record of the exploration of the caves under the Columbia to the subject. The Renwick Gallery, through June 26. Scheduled in conjunction with the current exhibition The FRI lcefield in Banff National Park. 12 noon, Baird Audi­ Object As Poet. 8 p.m. The Renwick Gallery. FREE. Torium, Natural History Building. FREE.

EXHIBITION: Edvard Munch; The Major Graphics - A Bicentennial Exhibition from Norway. Fifty-one prints by 20 EXHIBITION: Mother and Child. Twenty-five prints and Munch, the earliest from 1894, supplemented by photo­ proofs by painter Jean Charlot and.lithographer Lynton R. Special Features graphs in his studio and four self-portraits. Produced by MON Kistler . Finished lithographs and progressive proofs illus­ DISCOVERY CORNERS - History & Technology Bldg. Norway in honor of the Bicentennial and circulated by the trate the works of Charlot from the 1930's to contemporary Spirit of 1776: The everyday life of the citizen-soldier during Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service as times inspired by his years working in Mexico, as well as the American Revolution. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through part of the International Salute to the States program. showing the technique stages of modem chromolithog­ Salurdays. Armed Forces Hall, 3rd Floor. Dimock Gallery, George Washington University, through raphy. Hall of GraphiC Arts, Museum of History and Tech­ Electricity: A miniature theatre featuring 20-minute programs January 16. nology. Through May 1977. of experiments and discussions of Ben Franklin's achievements as scientist and statesman. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 1st Floor. MUSEUM'OF NATURAL HISTORY Puppet Theatre Demonstrations Discovery Room. Visitors of all ages can touch, handle and smell a wide variety of natural history specimens. Monday through Museum of History and Technology (except Dec. 24 and 31) Double Feature Opens December 1 Thursday, 12-2:30 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m.- Spinning and Weaving. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Group reservations also available Mon.-Thurs. Call 2 p.m., 1st floor. 381-6135. The Nicolo Marionettes present Peter and the Wolf and the NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM Sorcerer's Apprentice - two children's classics brought to Musical Instruments. A selection of 18th and 19th century To Fly - a filmed flight-oriented tour of America's history is life with music and dance. Wednesdays through Sundays. instruments, 3rd floor. Mondays and Fridays, 11 a.m. - 18th projected onto a 75 ft. by 50 ft. screen and uses six-track stereo Weekday Performances: 10:30 a .m., and 1 p.m. Weekday Century Keyboard; Wednesdays, 11 a.m. - lutes and guitars : with eleven speakers. Shown during museum hours. $1 adults, Workshops (demonstration and discussion): 2:30 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m. - folk instruments. 50 cents children, students and senior citizens. Weekends 11 :30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. $2 adults; Albert Einstein Spacearium - Cosmic Awakening shows the $1.50 children under 12. Special Holiday Shows - Machine Tools. Tuesdays through Fridays. 12 :30-1 :30 p.m. human concept of the universe as it has changed over the past December 29, 30 and 31 : 10:30 a .m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 200 years and is likely to change in the next century. $1 adults, p.m. For reservations call 381-5395. Presented by the Typefoullding and 18th and 19th centu ry pnnting. Mondays, 50 cents children, students and senior citizens: Every hour Division of Performing Arts. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays. 2-4 p.m. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

- Page 6 THE SMITHSONIAN TORCH December 1976 SITES Braves War, Diplomacy for Exhibit By Robin Lynn While some pieces date from the 16th her Nicosia hotel never arrived. She was support, the roster of shows includes 25 The credit which SITES claims for its through the 19th centuries, the icons of that greeted instead by gunfire and civil war. exhibitions from foreign nations including exhibitions is simple, but the eight words, period which had been included were remov- Confined to her hotel room by curfew for Tunisia, Sweden, Argentina, Norway, "Circulated by the Smithsonian Institution ed from the exhibition because they suffered most of four days, she finally caught a flight Austria, France, Belgium, and Cyprus. Traveling Exhibition Service" just are not hamidity damage during the European tour. out of Nicosia just before the Turkish Foreign exhibitions must consist of original enough to explain the range of SITES' Gus Van Beek, MNH curator of old world forces invaded the city. artifacts and well represent that nation's involvement. archeology confirmed for SITES that to see During the few daytime hours that the heritage. The story of one foreign exhibition, the exhibition would be a rare and invaluable curfew was lifted, Ms. Hallett was able to The opening of "Treasures of Cyprus" is a "Treasures of Cyprus," which opened opportunity for Americans. visit the Cyprus Museum, one of the only triumph of cross-cultural perseverance, November 24 at the Museum of Natural The opportunity probably wouldn't have public buildings that had remained open. showing that SITES' international program History, is worth telling. presented itself if not for the U.S. Bicenten- For eight months, there was no further is serving its purpose of bringing national Organized first by the Cypriots, the ex­ nial celebration. contact between SITES and Cyprus. Then in treasures from around the world to the hibition of archeological finds from that While SITES was trying to enlarge its March 1975, the Cypriots again approached broadest possible range of Americans. island nation had circulated in Europe capacity to circulate foreign exhibitions, the SITES, where interest in the exhibition had Robin Lynn is a program coordinator for between 1969-72. The artifacts show artistic American Revolution Bicentennial Commis- not diminished. Sf Traveling Exhibition Service. development from 6000 B. C. to the present, sion (predecessor to ARBA) was looking for In fact, concern for the safety of the and most of the 200-300 objects are an- ways to involve foreign nations in the priceless exhibition after it completed its ,Bicentennial. U.S. tour and returned to Cyprus caused In 1973 negotiations for the exhibition to SITES to call for advice from the American visitthis country began among SITES Direc- Embassy in Nicosia and the U.S. State tor Dennis Gould, the Embassy of Cyprus, Department, as well as ARBA, the SI Office and ARBA's International Division. of International Programs, Assistant , For six months, discussions centered on Secretary for Museum Programs Paul Perrot, and Mr. Van Beek, who was involved the length of the tour and cities to be visited. For budgetary reasons and to insure max- in securing exhibit space at MNH. imum exposure, SITES prefers to circulate SITES questioned the advisability of cir­ exhibitions of this magnitude for a minimum culating the exhibition at all, and staff hoped of two years, which usually means 12 to 15 that during the process of these lengthy discussions, the "Cyprus problem" would bookings of four weeks each. The Cypriots, resolve itself. as with most foreign organizers, wanted a shorter tour. On the advice of all sources, SITES went I ahead with its arrangements, and in Ultimately both groups compromised. February of 1976, Mr. Van Beek met with "Treasures of Cyprus" will be in the United visiting Cypriot organizer Patroclus States for eighteen months, and will visit six _ Stavrou. cities after leaving Washington. With the diplomatic exchanges com- Telexes, cables, and contacts with cultural pleted, SITES Education Coordinator Mar- attaches and ambassadors in the United jorie Share began to develop a detailed States followed the initial arrangements, but interpretation to accompany the artifacts on to insure the success of any tour, in-person their U.S. tour. Museums abroad usually negotiations must continue in the country omit such explanatory material from their E between SITES staff and foreign officials exhibitions, and none was to be provided for jresponsible for the exhibition. Details of this one. "" insurance, shipping, crating, security, ex- Materials produced by Ms. Share for the g hibition locations, publications, and SITES tour included a free handout for ~ finances must be discussed and arranged. visitors who did not buy the catalog. She -s So in July 1974, SITES Exhibition Coor- also planned a Washington seminar for '0' ~ dinator Quinton Hallett traveled to Cyprus representatives from institutions where § to meet with the Director of the Department the exhibition is booked. e of Antiquities, the Under Secretary to the SITES is currently circulating more than ~ President, and officials in the Ministry of 200 exhibitions on art, history, and science it: Foreign Affairs. topics throughout the United States. As a Late Bronze Age painted ware flask. The car scheduled to meet Ms. allett at part of this program, and with ARBA Early Bronze Age idol from Dhenia. MNH Naturalist Center to Be Leslie Looks to Old Masters Haven for Science Amateurs For Guidance in Style, Subject Are you a "turned-on" amateur naturalist Joan Madden, coordinator of the By Sidney Lawrence Jacques-Louis David and Louis Le Nain in who would like to sit down with a Museum's Office of Education, said that If there is a hauntingly familiar quality to portraits and narrative paintings. Deliberate microscope and other scientific tools at your plans call for eventual construction of an Alfred Leslie's painting, "The Killing of Echoes of Rubens, Vermeer, and John disposal and make a leisurely examination of audio-library with listening booths, ad­ Frank O'Hara," 1966, it is because he based Singleton Copley can be seen as well. selected materials from the Smithsonian ditional laboratory facilities, and a it on a work by an old master. The contemporary realist's homage to Institution's natural history collections? workroom. The 9-by-6 foot canvas, part of the current earlier masters is intentional. "I wanted to If so, you will be delighted with the new "Perhaps of more importance to the Leslie exhibition at the Hirshhorn, is put back into art all the painting that the Naturalist Center opening to the public on center's users will be the improvement of patterned after Caravaggio's "Entombment" modernists took out by restoring the practice December 4 in the Museum of Natural collections and library materials," she added. of 1602-04, with the Italian master's sacred of pre-20th-century pairiting," Leslie said. History. "Gifts and grants are being sought to assist entourage transformed into a group of Yet for all its roots in past styles, his·art is The center is designed for curious with these additions and it is hoped that barefoot young people in cut-off jeans. contemporary in feeling: stark, large-scale, naturalists who may be collectors or organizations and individuals who find the Without demeaning the religious tone of and commanding. His subjects nearly always observers or photographers of plants, birds, center a welcome resource will consider the earlier work, Leslie borrowed its com- relate to his own experience, as in the picture mammals, and other wildlife. making contributions towards its comple­ position, figural poses, and sense of drama to of an elderly friend's birthday party, a Leslie Its collection will include plant and tion," Mrs. Madden said. communicate the tragedy of a friend's death. family portrait, a painting about the death of vertebrate and invertebrate specimens, Located in the Museum's new West Court Frank O'Hara, who was struck and killed his mother, and of course the depiction of anthropological materials, and minerals and area, the center. will be open Wednesday by an automobile ten years ago at age 40, was O'Hara. rocks. through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., an important and charismatic figure in the Leslie's "confrontational art," as he calls Study aids available for use will include a and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Further New York art world of which Leslie had been it, is meant to influence people. "I paint long-armed stereoscopic microscope for information about the Naturalist Center can part. public works to establish immediate contact viewing mounted samples, and equipment be obtained from the MNH Office of Educa­ The O'Hara painting, like Leslie's other with the most casual viewers, so as to for pressing and mounting. tion at ext. 6211. works, deals with a contemporary subject in surprise them, hoping that if they could care MN H Director Porter Kier said the center de noncontemporary style. for a picture of a person seen so unexpected- represents an attempt on the part of the SI Loss to Labor exhibition, one sees the ly, perhaps some of that care could be Museum to compensate for the fact that its influence of French master transferred to their own lives and their new exhibits have shifted in recent years to a Kills Playoff Hopes attitudes about people," he said. style of presentation that emphasizes con­ "Alfred Leslie" continues at the Hirshhorn By Gerald Lipson ceptual rather than specific information. through January 9. "We firmly believe that the shift in ap­ The Smithsonian football team was proach better serves the needs of a much eliminated from the 1976 playoffs last month broader popUlation of museum visitors," as it lost a critical game to Labor, 20-12. SI Films Win Awards said Dr. Kier, "but we also acknowledge that The turning point came midway in the The documentary film, "Celebrating a the use of fewer specimens lessens the oppor­ second half when a l5-yard penalty for pass Century: The Philadelphia Exposition," has tunity for detailed stl,ldy by collectors, interference gave Labor a first down on the received two awards: the Golden Eagle students, and other interested amateurs. Smithsonian 12-yard line, where it took two Award from the Council on International "In the past a person with a deep interest in plays for them to score on a quick flip. Non-Theatrical Events (CINE), and the a subject such as birds, minerals, or fossils, The first half was a see-saw battle, as SI Chris Bronze Plaque from the Columbus might come to a museum of natural history scored first, with Labor countering im­ Film Council. and find thousands on display, each carefully mediately. The locals came back for a second Another CINE award went to "Big Cats," identified and labeled. These he could study score on a screen pass that was helped an animated film made for NZP by the and thus satisfy his interest. The new mightily with a key block by Bobby Garrison Smithsonian and Film Polski of Warsaw. Naturalist Center will again provide the of computer services. "Celebrating a Century" was shot at the amateur collector with the opportunity to The loss was the third this season for the ~ Smithsonian with a cast of over 250 staff study, touch, and test," Dr. Kier said. Smithsonians against three wins. They had Jj members, including Secretary Ripley, in The facility is spacious and has ample dropped a 12-6 decision against one HUD ~ 1876 period dress. It was directed by Karen work areas and good lighting, scientific team, after downing a highly vaunted Mean § Loveland, chief of the exhibits central film equipment, and brochures. Also available to Machine composed of HUD employees ~ unit. The script is by Ben La wIess, and the visitors will be a well-stocked reference earlier in the season. .2 photography was supervised by John Hiller. library, acquired in large part through the The other two victories came on a 2-0 ~ Financed by the National Science Founda­ generosity of publishers, the Smithsonian default decision over the American Universi­ it: tion and the Smithsonian, it will premiere on Museum Shops, and scientific personnel of ty Cardinals and a 13-6 win over the Census December 2 at 11 :30 a.m. in MHT's Car­ the Museum. Bureau. "The Killing of Frank O'Hara" (1966) michael Auditorium. Admission is free. December 1976 THE SMITHSONIAN TORCH Page 7 Newsmakers Gallery Involves Area Students Cutler Gives Floating Talk; With Portraits, Campaign Politics

Parkinson Hosts Russians By Kenneth YeIlis school year: "Discover Portraits" and By Johnnie Douthis Presidio of San Francisco, where he spoke "Discover Portraits/ Black History." Carol Cutler, NPG public affairs officer, on "American Military History and the The election may be over, but the But "Presidential Sweepstakes" may be has just returned from a working vacation Museum." "Presidential Sweepstakes" will continue un­ reactivated next fall. As Ms. Buff put it, aboard the MS Renaissance. During a ten- Lloyd Herman, director of the Renwick til Christmas. "Both teachers and docents feel strongly that day cruise between Los Angeles and Gallery; Janet Flint, NCFA curator of prints Designed by the Education Department of the program will work well even without the Acapulco, she was a guest gourmet lecturer, and drawings; and Val Lewton, assistant the National Portrait Gallery, "Presidential stimulus of a national election." speaking on provincial cuisine of France, chief of exhibition and design at NCF A, all Sweepstakes" is meant to interest elementary Kenneth Yellis is associate curator for educa­ and giving demonstrations from her book, have participated in judging recent ex- school students from the third through the tion at the National Portrait Gallery. "The Six-Minute Souffle and Other hibitions. Mr. Herman was juror at the sixth grades in this year's presidential cam­ Culinary Delights." Delaware Museum of Art's annual crafts paign and to focus attention on American William Parkinson, CFA associate direc- exhibition, Mrs. Flint was the sole juror for political history and portraiture. tor, described activities in his Atomic and "Drawing Contempo '76" at the Anderson Demand for the program has far exceeded Molecular Physics Division to a delegation Gallery of Richmond's Virginia Com- NPG's wildest expectations, even for an of Soviet space scientists who toured the monwealth University, and Mr. Lewton was election year, according to Docent Coor­ Cambridge facility in October. the sole juror for the annual art exhibition of dinator Leni Buff. The scientists had especially requested a the Vienna Art League. "Presidential Sweepstakes" takes place in stop at CFA to consult with Smithsonian Franklin R. Bruns, Jr., associate curator, two parts, one in the classroom, the other in and Harvard astronomers on the MHT Division of Postal History, was re- the Museum. In the classroom, two NPG possibilities of international cooperation in elected as a trustee at the Cardinal Spellman docents help stage an election. Split into two areas of space science such as solar physics, Philatelic Museum, Regis College, Weston, groups, the students organize their own geoastronomy, and high-energy Mass. political parties, naming them, and astrophysics. The Studio Gallery in Washington ex- nominating fictional candidates. Recently MHT Curator Peter C. Marzio is the hibited a show of works by Allan Kaneshiro, selected party names have included the Tiger author of "The Art Crusade: An Analysis of NCFA artist-in-residence. Party and the Star Spangled Banana, and a American Drawing Manuals, 1820-1860," NCFA staffers Peter Bermingham, notable candidate was Jim Dandy of the published by the Smithsonian Press. The curator of education, and Margery Gordon, Wide Awake Slumber Party. book is part of the Smithsonian "Studies in assistant curator for elementary education, To publicize their candidates, the students History and Technology" series. discussed "Museums and Art Education" as make campaign posters and buttons, invent Kurt Fredriksson, MNH geochemist, has panelists during the Maryland Art Associa- slogans, take stands 6t1 issues, and write and been appointed as a corresponding member tion conference at Towson State College. deliver campaign speeches. Some groups of the Natural History Museum of Vienna. MHT Special Education Specialist Joe have even made up cheers or songs to inspire The campaign speech of Snoopy, candidate Adela Gomez, special assistant to the Buckley presented a program on the enthusiasm for their cause. for president of Brookhaven Elementary director of STRI, recently received a cer- Smithsonian's HEW grant for the develop- When the class visits NPG, they par­ School in Rockville, Md., is available for tificate and medal for 30 years of service with ment of educational programs for han- ticipate in a gallery lesson tailored to their study by generations of historians and the Smithsonian. dicapped students. ages, backgrounds, and interests. political scientists. Other service awards went to the Marshall Jackson, museum aide at ANM, Emphasis can vary from a concentration following MHT personnel: appeared on WHUR-F M radio's "Morning on portraiture to themes in electoral history, Twenty-five years, Donald E. Kloster, Sound," discussing the Museum's current such as third party candidates, famous Duke Features associate curator, Division of Military arts and technology "happening," a series of losers, or blacks and women in politics. History and Benjamin W. Lawless, assistant activities planned for children. The excitement generated by the director for exhibits. Carolyn Margolis, program specialist, classroom visit and the flexibility of the tour On SI Release Twenty years, Mary E. Braunagel, ANM, recently returned from Boston after format have helped teachers later to intro­ By Susanne Roschwalb secretary, Division of Transportation; researching Boston University'S special duce history, civics, and art curriculum units. Washington's own Duke Ellington will be Edwin A. Battison, curator, Division of collection of Martin Luther King papers. NPG staff has suggested a number of ways celebrated at the Smithsonian this month Mechanical and Civil Engineering; Rodris She is doing research for an exhibition on the for teachers to continue the program both with a special concert and a reissue of his C. Roth, curator, Division of Costumes and civil rights movement of the 1960's which will within and outside the classroom, and has music on the Smithsonian Collection label. Furnishings; Charles E. Dennison, museum open in January 1978 at Anacostia. provided slide packages and student The performance of Ellington small group specialist, Science and Technology NCFA staffers, Nora Panzer, docent booklets produced for "If Elected," a 1972 music will take place Sunday, December 5, at Technical Laboratory. program manager, and Margery Gordon, NPG exhibition about history's losing U.S. 8 p.m. in Baird Auditorium, as part of the H~nr~l()~--assist-ant curator fer elementary GG ucation, presidential candidate. ertoTming aIts division's Jazz~----J;Hhe~I-rlit~a~ge~-"-==~ 1 and Technology Technical Laboratory; conducted a three-day workshop for docents Despite the popularity of "Presidential series. Anastasia G. Atsiknoudas, secretary, Divi- at the Detroit Institute of Art. Sweepstakes," its future after January 1st is Featured will be clarinetist-saxophonist sion of Electricity and Nuclear Energy; John Cynthia J. McCabe, HMSG curator, undecided. NPG will offer two elementary­ Bob Wilber, who most recently performed Shaw, Office of Building Management; and appeared on "Sounding Board," WGTS­ level programs for the remainder of this with the New York Jazz Repertory Com­ James A. Knowles, museum specialist, Divi­ pany. Mr. Wilber has over IO years of sion of Transportation. FM, to discuss the "Golden Door" and future HMSG exhibitions. Collins Honored for musical experience in the "live" performance Martha Russell, NCF A photographic of Ellington music for small groups. A free clerk and Mary Katherine Cotier, secretary "200 Years of Flight in America," a His Service to NASM workshop will precede the concert at 4:30 in the office of the NCF A director, both Bicentennial conference, was held at NASM that afternoon. received 25-year service citations. last month. Cooperating with NASM on the Director Michael Collins of the National In late 1936, Duke Ellington and seven or Janet Solinger, director of the Smithso­ arrangements were several professional Air and Space Museum was presented with a eight select members of his orchestra began nian Resident Associate Program, recently societies in aeronautics and astronautics. Special Achievement Award by the National holding regular intensive jam sessions at a conducted a two-day seminar in San Fran­ NASM director Michael Collins delivered Civil Service League at ceremonies last recording studio. These sessions produced cisco for 22 representatives from I I welcoming remarks. Other NASM par­ month in the Museum of Natural History. such compositions as "Day Dream," "Just museums in Santa Barbara, San Diego, and ticipants included Donald Lopez, assistant One of three Special Achievement Award Squeeze Me," and "Things Ain't What They San Francisco. It focused on aspects of director of aeronautics; Thomas Croch, winners, Mr. Collins was cited for his service Used to Be," cl~. :ssics that exemplify museum membership including develop­ curator; Richard HaIlion, curator; Paul to NASM. Ellington's musical , energy and originality ment, retention, and programming. Mrs. Garber', historian emeritus; and Frederick C. "His production orientation insured that of sound and texture. Solinger is currently completing a book for Durant, assistant director of astronautics. the building was constructed frugally and on Mr. Wilber notated the music from the McGraw-Hill on techniques of managing, schedule. His handpicked team provided the Richard Ahlborn, M HT chairman of the oriCinal recordings and made possible the marketing, and programming continuing necessary skills to operate effectively once Department of Cultural History, par­ performance of these studio works. education. the Museum was opened. His compassion ticipated in the Gran Quivira conference in Edward Able, assistant director for ad­ insured special programs for handicapped The challenge to musicians today is not San Antonio, Tex., where discussions just to follow the music, but also to play their ministration, Resident Associate Program, visitors," the citation read. focused on Spanish-American material instruments in the style of the original and John Kinard, director of the Anacostia Introduced by NCSL Chairman Mortimer culture. performers. For example, Joe Newman, Neighborhood Museum, are members of a Caplin, Smithsonian Director of Support trumpeter of the group, will perform as three committee charged with providing guidance Cynthia Adams Hoover, MHT curator in Activities Richard Ault also attended. very different brass players: Rex Stewart to the Washington Center for Metropolitan the Division of Musical Instruments, NCSL is a nonprofit citizen organization (cornet), Cootie Williams, and Ray Nance. Studies' "Project for the Arts." elected to the Board of the A established in 1881 to promote the merit "Duke Ellington 1938" is the two-record Exploring the possibilities for a Musicological Society. system in public employment. metropolitan arts alliance here, the project album featuring a selection of 32 outstanding could become a resource for the area art recordings made by the Ellington orchestra community similar to groups organized in in the year 1938. The album joins seven other cities. others produced by the Division of Perfor­ Richard Griesel, business manager for the ming Arts on the Smithsonian Collection Smithsonian, has been reappointed to the label. faculty of the Georgetown University, where Chosen by Gunther Schuller, composer, he teaches a graduate course in management conductor, and president of the New information system. England Conservatory of Music, selections Joe Libbey, diving consultant, Office of include such well-known Ellington works as Protection Services, is a member of the "The New Black and Tan Fantasy," "Prelude Department of Labor Interagency Taskforce to a Kiss," and "Pyramind," along with such for the development of Occupational Safety less popular but equally classic selections as and Health Administration standards on "Blue Light," done'in two takes, one of which commercial diving. has never been on an LP, and "The Gal from James Cornell, CFA publications Joe's." manager, is the author of "The Great Inter­ Martin Williams, director of the Smithso­ national Disaster Book," which catalogs all nian jazz program, pointed out that the major man-made and natural calamities recording restores the Ellington orchestra recorded from antiquity to modern times sound as it was represented on the original and reviews current catastrophe research. Brunswick and Columbia issues. Neither Wilton Dillon, director of symposia and artificial echo nor artificial rechanneling has seminars, has been appointed to the Bryn PERFORMING ARTS AWARD - Lucille Dawson, coordinator of the Native American been used. Mawr College Advisory Council on Inter­ Area at the Festival of American Folklife, presented a beaded reproduction ofthe U.S. Park The Ellington album is available at national Programs. Police Badge to Officer J.E. Thomas, in appreciation for his tireless service during Festivals of Smithsonian Museum Shops or by mail M HT Director Brooke Hindle was the this and previous years. Officer Thomas is unofficially credited with rescuing more lost from the Smithsonian Collection, P. O. Box keynote speaker Nov. 16 at the fifth annual children at folklife festivals than anyone else in the history of the event. His beaded badge was 1641 , Washington, D. C. 20013. A 20- U.S. Army Museum Conference at the made in Oklahoma by a Native American of the Kiowan tribe. percent employee discount is offered. Page 8 THE SMITHSONIAN TORCH December 1976 NCFA Pitches in for Rause enberg Exhibit By Susan Bliss suasive powers to convince them that the certain air of performance to it at the last In the fall of 1973, when officials of the piece they held was absolutely essential to moment - something you don't get with a National Collection of Fine Arts met to plan our show," said Mr. Hopps. dead artist. their Bicentennial exhibition calendar, they From the time Rauschenberg agreed to "Rauschenberg came with an entourage of decided that Washington should show the cooperate in the exhibition, NCF A staff on staff and volunteers who donned blue NCFA work of a living American artist of major every level became involved in a two-year smocks to help with the installation. We were reputation, who embodied qualities ap­ process of planning and arranging the show. short-staffed and they were able to fill in on propriate for celebration during the Nation's "There is no margin for error in this job," tasks such as ironing the fabric in 200th anniversary. said Burgess Coleman, assistant registrar for Rauschenberg's recent sculptures. The artist they chose was Robert packing and shipping, who engineered "Besides, the crowds of people wanting to Ra uschen berg. transportation for the 157 pieces of art from help, to interview, and to photograph lent "He is a very important artist right in the places as far away as Milan, Zurich, Sun excitement to the whole event. My job was to middle of his career," said Walter Hopps, Valley, and Des Moines. keep the work going, but at the same time NCFA curator of 20th-century painting and sustain the enthusiasm." Mr. Coleman, who works with assistant sculpture. "He is 51 years old, neither a new Even with careful planning to position all Joshua Ewing, said that the Rauschenberg arrival to the American art scene, nor an pieces almost to the inch before they arrived, show had been his biggest logisticaljob since elder statesman. A look at his art is a look to he came to NCFA six years ago. Rauschenberg was on hand to advise about the past and the future, just as our Bicenten­ some last minute changes in gallery "There is no set way to ship art, because all nial celebration has looked ahead as well as arrangements. objects are different sizes and shapes," he back. The room containing "Sor Aqua," an explained, adding that this was particularly "Besides being an artist, Rauschenberg is Val Lewton (left) and Gervis Perkins ponder assemblage boasting a real bathtub, was the true for the Rauschenberg show, which an active citizen - one who cares about an exhibition problem. hardest to arrange, said Mr. Lewton, who included pieces as diverse as a stuffed goat, a politics and public events. He is the sort of noted that after shielding windows and bathtub, and a sculpture made of motorized Supported by a grant from the National man who exemplifies our founding spirit," camouflaging air ducts, he, Mr. Hopps, and plexiglas discs. Endowment for the Arts, the Rauschenberg Mr. Hopps continued. show will close at NCFA on January 2, and the artist worked up to the last minute in But working with a living artist of "Safety of the art is the first considera­ travel to New York, San Francisco, Buffalo, achieving just the correct arrangement of Rauschenberg's fame required more special tion," said Mr. Coleman, "and usually it's and Chicago. Each move will be planned and graphic and three-dimensional elements. attention than other types of shows, he said. safest to handle it as little as possible." supervised by NCFA staff. "The hanging rope in 'Sor Aqua' was one "It was much harder for us to borrow his "The best way to ship is by truck, on an It took a hanging crew of four, a framer, detail which caused some last minute con­ works, which were scattered all over this 'exclusive use' basis, where the art is not two silkscreeners, a conservator, three cern," Mr. Lewton said. "The rope which country and the world. Many owners were crated, but packed in a van reserved solely cabinet makers, and several interns between accompanied the assemblage was not long i xtremely reluctant to lend Rauschenberg's for the art." two and three weeks to install the show, and enough to reach the gallery's high ceiling, but art, and we often had to use all our per- "Transoceanic transport is by air, and it even after the opening, the crew was not a new rope was much whiter than the requires very careful crating by the shipper." finished. original, and we felt it changed the piece. So But sometimes the usual transportation The day after 2,000 people had trooped in our staff spent hours blending a stain to methods fail, and extra imagination is re­ for the preview, Exhibits Aide Simon New­ reproduce the color of the first rope. quired. For the Rauschenberg show, Mr. man was on her knees repainting the white "We thought we had a perfect match, and Coleman and Mr. Hopps carried "Dirt platform supporting "Monogram," and Ex­ were just about to apply the stain, when Painting" and "Untitled 1956" on their laps hibits Chief Val Lewton was repositioning a Rauschenberg came through and stopped us. "like egg cartons" on the plane between New rock which sits on the floor in front of He said that the white rope appeared to York and Washington. "Fransiscan II." 'float' more effectively than the darker one, Sometimes, the crate itself can be a work "It has been the philosophy of NCFA and he told us to leave it white." of art, as for an untitled assemblage which Director Joshua Taylor that the physical Commenting on the significance of the includes a branch, resin-treated cardboard, ambience of the exhibition should relate to exhibition, Curator Hopps said, "The arid lace. the spirit of the artist and his work," said Mr. curious thing about his art, is that it is felt to "The special case had to be designed to Hopps. be well known, because it has been reproduc- prevent the branch from snapping in "It was more fun to work with a living ed so often in the media. But in fact, the show at NCF A is the first time many people, and Installing "Barge" are, from left, Gervis transport," Mr. Coleman said. artist," Mr. Lewton said. "There was a even the artist himself, have seen such a large Perkins, Maryann Belardo, Tom Bower, and selection of work together." Margo Bishop. SI Helps Egy-pt 81 Joins Local With Museums Art Celebration Under an international agreement In a major cooperative effort among negotiated by the State Department and the museums, galleries , a nd libraries, Arab Republic of Egypt, the Smithsonian Washington, will celebrate the shared this fall has provided guidance on the creativity of poetry and art in a month-long organization and development of two Egyp­ festival, "Inscapes: Words and Images," tian museums. during December. The 1975 agreement, which called for Several Smithsonian museums and cooperation ~n the field.o.fhealth between ~he programs will participate in the festival, two countnes, specIfIcally named the which will include special exhibitions, Smithsonian's Museum of History and poetry readings, dialogues between Technology as the advisor to museums on poets and painters, films, and lectures. the history of medicine and pharmacy in The Smithsonian Resident Associate Cairo and Alexandria. Program will present a dialogue between Smithsonian staff members visiting Egypt poet Kenneth Koch and painter Larry Rivers in fulfillment of the agreement were Silvio OUCH!? SI employees who appeared at MHT's temporary health facilities November 5 were on December 3, and the Associates have Bedini, deputy director of MHT, who acted "shot" by an injection gun filled with swine flu vaccine. According to SI Head Nurse Anita commissioned a serigraph poster series to as principal investigator, and Sami commemorate the project. McMonigle, 954 staff members received influenza inoculations with only min~mal side effects Hamarneh, M HT historian of pharmacy. The poster is a collaborative work by reported to the health units. Most received just the swine flu vaccine, but elderly and highrisk I Other team members were John B. Blake, persons were administered the bivalent form combining swine flu and Victoria flu vaccines. painter Philip Guston and Stanley Kunitz, chief of the history division at the National Personnel from the District of Columbia Department of Human Resources, who poet and consultant in poetry to the Library Library of Medicine, and Max Leopold administered the vaccine, will not return to the Smithsonian said Mrs. McMonigle, but flu of Congress, 1974-76. Brodny, director of Chicago's Museum of inoculations are still being given in the area. Check local newspapers for the listings of The December film program at HMSG will include films by and about poets. Jonas Surgical Sciences. locations in the District, Maryland, and Virginia. The team visited Cairo, where museum for Mekas, founder-director of the Anthology the history of medicine and pharmacy w~s Film Archives and editor-in-chief of Film established in 1972 in the former Sakakini Culture magazine, will introduce the series Palace. In Alexandria, they consulted on a 81 Programs Tour Eight Cities with the screening of his own film-poem, "In­ similar project which is presently under By Terry Lassar "Arne Jacobsen," "America Underfoot," Between," and a discussion of the techniq ues consideration for the university there. Smithsonian National Associates from "Naive Art in Yugoslavia," and others; an and talents of poet-filmmakers. As part of the project, Mr. Bedini, Dr. Detroit to Honolulu will participate in exhibit of nature photography, "Art in H MSG will exhibit for the first time the Hamarneh, and their associates consulted Smithsonian-sponsored exhibitions, Nature;" and an exhibit organized by the Museum's collection of the works of poet e.e. with members of the faculties of medicine chamber concerts, lectures, and workshops Archives of American Art, "The Artist in His cummings. and pharmacy at the University of Cairo and in their home communities during the com­ Studio." Other Smithsonian bureaus participating the University of Alexandria, studied the ing season. The Smithsonian Chamber Players, tour­ include NASM, which will sponsor a poetry facilities and collections of major museums Part of the Office of Membership and ing with the Division of Musical Instruments reading by Alfred Worden, Apollo 15 and visited historic sites and monuments. Development, the National Associate and the Division of Performing Arts, will astronaut. NCFA will exhibit the "Art of They returned from their mission in late Program toured six cities last year and is present concerts featuring classical, baroque, Poetry," a selection of American paintings October. scheduled to visit eight cities this year. and early romantic music. and graphics based on specific poems from The mission was funded by the Smithso­ Twenty thousand Associates have responded The National Associate Program has also this country and abroad. "The Object As nian Foreign Currency Program through a to invitations to participate in Smithsonian scheduled interpretative lectures and Poet," an exhibition that examines the proposal from the Smithsonian Research events cosponsored with local museums, workshops to accompany the events. This relationship of poetry and the poetic image Foundation. The Foreign Currency . historical societies, and cultural year Kjell Sandved will direct workshops on to objects, opens December 15 at the Program, with an annual budget ap­ organizations. nature photography, and several members of Renwick Gallery. NPG will display portraits propriated by Congress, was established at Peoria is the first city on the fall schedule, the Chamber Players will conduct of poets from the Gallery's permanent collec­ the Smithsonian in 1964, under the authority followed by Milwaukee, Detroit, Honolulu, workshops on the conservation of musical tion. of Public Law 480, or the Food for Peace Seattle, Portland, Denver, and Minneapolis. instruments. Curator Paul Desautels of the The Smithsonian's Office of Elementary -Formerly administered by the State One of the most popular attractions last Division of Mineralogy will speak on the and Secondary Education has invited all Department, the program was transferred in year was an exhibit of selections from the national gem collection, and members of District of Columbia public schools to par­ 1964 to institutions more appropriate for the national gem collection. A product of the Family Folklore Program will conduct a ticipate in an art and poetry exhibition which administration of a national grants program. cooperation among ten Smithsonian series of model interviews to amplify their will be displayed at the MlUtin Luther King Since that year, the program has provided divisions, this year's schedule will offer a exhibit. Memorial Library. money for research projects in excess curren­ varied program consisting of several ex­ A poster listing all activities planned for cy countries by educational and research hibitions circulated by the Smithsonian In­ Terry Lassar is a program assistant with the the festival is being published by the Resi­ institutions throughout the United States. stitution Traveling Exhibition Service: National Associate Program. dent Associate Program.