Jan. 2010 Public Program Calendar All exhibitions and programs, unless otherwise indicated, take place at the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum at 1901 Fort Place S.E., Washington, D.C., which is open daily from 10 am - 5 p.m. except Dec. 25. For more information, call 202.633.4820, 202.633.1000 or visit anacostia.si.edu for updated programs schedule. PUBLIC PROGRAMS - All events are free, open to the public and require reservations which can be made at 202.633.4844 unless otherwise indicated. EXHIBITIONS On View Now The African Presence in Mexico: From Yanga to the Present ** Through July 4, 2010 This is a traveling exhibition developed by curators Sagrario Cruz-Carretero and Cesáreo Moreno at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. The exhibition looks at the history, culture, and art of Afro-Mexicans, and begins in the colonial era and continues to present day. Included in the presentation is the companion exhibition, "Who Are We Now? Roots, Resistance and Recognition" curated by Elena Gonzáles. Highlights of the exhibition include "casta" paintings-paintings used to delineate racial categories and the ever-increasing complexity of racial mixture; discussions of African slavery in Mexico and the hero/slave rebel Yanga; artifacts related to the traditions and popular culture of the Afro-Mexicans; and many paintings, masks, photography, and other works of art. On View Indefinitely Separate and Unequaled: Black Baseball in the District of Columbia After a recent successful run at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., a condensed version of this popular exhibition is on view at the museum. From Reconstruction to the second half of the 20th century, baseball -- the great American pastime -- was played in Washington, D.C., on segregated fields. "Separate and Unequaled" looks at the phenomenal popularity and community draw of this sport when played by African Americans. Featured are such personalities as Josh Gibson and "Buck" Leonard, star players of the Negro Leagues' most celebrated team, the Washington Homestead Grays. The show also highlights community teams that gave rise to the various amateur, collegiate and semi- pro black baseball teams and leagues. PUBLIC PROGRAM CALENDAR MUSIC: Saturday, January 9 10:00 a.m. Musical Demonstration Afro-Mexican Instruments In a hands-on demonstration, music educator Bill Jenkins will discuss the marimba, guiros, and other traditional Mexican musical instruments of African origin that are played in the Veracruz and Costa Chica regions. Participants will get to play and sing together using authentic Mexican instruments. This program is suitable for all ages. INTRODUCING: Various Sundays through Sept. 12, 2010 Lecture/Demonstration 11am - 1pm Rhythm Café Featured is a lecture and performance jazz series in a café setting that focuses on a specific genre or time frame within the jazz culture. The two hour program will be led by a guest lecturer providing historical information during the first hour followed by a musical group performing that music during the second hour. Visit anacostia.si.edu for updated series schedule. Sunday, January 10 11:00 a.m. Lecture and Performance Rhythm Café Rhythm Café presents an historical discussion and a performance of the rhythms and percussive sounds of Mexico. Reservations required by Friday, January 8. For reservations, call 202.633.4866. WORKSHOPS, BOOKS & TALKS: Saturday, January 16 10 a.m. Discussion and Book Signing Bury Me Deep: Cemeteries in Washington, D.C. Did you know that, since the District of Columbia was established in 1790, several hundred cemeteries have existed in the area? Researcher Paul E. Sluby Sr. shares interesting facts about when and where these cemeteries were established and what caused most of them to disappear. A book signing for Bury Me Deep, Sluby's recent publication that includes these and many other fascinating details, will follow the discussion. Saturday, January 23 10 a.m. Dance Workshop Afro-Mexican Dance Noted Washington, D.C., dancer and choreographer Carol Foster leads a workshop on traditional dances performed in the Veracruz and Costa Chica regions of Mexico. Families, groups, and individuals are welcome Thursday, January 28 7:00 p.m. Discussion and Book Signing Healing with Herbs and Rituals Today's holistic health movement has rediscovered the timeless merits of Mexican curanderos (folk doctors) and their uses of medicinal plants, rituals, and practical advice. Join Eliseo Torres, professor at the University of New Mexico, for a discussion on traditional Mexican medicines and healing heavily influenced by the Moors, Judeo-Christians, and Aztecs. The use of everyday items such as lemon, egg, fire, aromatic oil, and prepared water, keys, candles, brooms, and Trouble Dolls is also discussed. A book signing of Healing with Herbs and Rituals will follow. Designated Saturdays through Sept. 18, 2010 - Workshops 10:30 am-2:30 pm Making Bling! Bedazzled jewelry designer Kathleen Manning leads a series of seven workshops on creating jewelry using semi-precious stones including onyx, malachite, lapis, jasper, and fresh water pearls. Participants will make three pieces of jewelry during each of the sessions. Cost for the first session, including tool kit, is $100.00. Subsequent sessions are $75.00 each. Space is limited; reservations required. Call 202.633.4866. Visit anacostia.si.edu for updated series schedule. Saturday, January 30 10:30 a.m. Jewelry Making Workshop The basics of jewelry wire manipulation for earrings and pendant Space is limited; reservations needed by January 26. For reservations, call 202.633.4866 or 202.633.4823. FILMS Tuesday, January 12 10:30 a.m. Film Series Black Georgetown Remembered Black Georgetown Remembered honors the Washington, D.C., African American community through recollections of residents who lived through slavery, Jim Crow laws, and inequality. In spite of these obstacles, they emerged with a rare strength and identity. Robert Hall, head of the Museum's Education Department, will facilitate the discussion. REMINDER: Public Programs are free, open to the public and require reservations which can be made at 202.633.4844 unless otherwise indicated. SPECIAL PROGRAM: January 21, 2010 7 p.m The Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum 25th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Program featuring Keynote Speaker Bishop Vashti McKenzie "Defining Moments: Maximizing Life's Milestones" Bishop McKenzie is the 117th and 1st female bishop elected and consecrated in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The program includes a question-and-answer period and a book signing. This program is free and open to the public but reservations are required. Performances by Afro Blue Howard University's premier jazz ensemble Baird Auditorium National Museum of Natural History 10th & Constitution Ave, NW Washington, DC Visit anacostia.si.edu for details Call 202.633.4875 or email ACMrsvp@ si.edu for reservations SAVE THE DATE! TRAVEL WITH THE ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY MUSEUM! The Anacostia Community Museum is proud to present in partnership with Smithsonian Journeys, its first cultural tour initiative: Word, Shout, and Song: Experiencing South Carolina Gullah Traditions In the 1930s and 40s, pioneering linguist Dr. Lorenzo Dow Turner (1890-1972) proved through scientific research and audio recordings that the Gullah language, spoken in the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia by descendants of African slaves, retained African words and expressions and conveyed cultural traditions. Come with us to Charleston, Beaufort, and other unique nearby communities to retrace Turner's expeditions in language and culture in celebration of the Museum's 2010-2011 exhibition, Word, Shout, Song: Lorenzo Dow Turner Connecting Communities Through Language. Experience the cultural, culinary, and festive traditions of the Gullah people, and enjoy a variety of day-tours with a local guide. Participate in special behind-the-scenes activities and tours, and experience the sights and sounds of the Gullah Festival in Beaufort. Leading the tour is one of our most experienced Smithsonian scholars, Dr. Gail S. Lowe, the Anacostia Community Museum's senior historian and project manager for our upcomingLorenzo Dow Turner exhibition. Gain insight into Turner's work and the continuing connections with communities of the African Diaspora during exclusive sessions with Dr. Lowe. Come and experience Gullah history, art, and culture with us. The trip will only accommodate 35 participants, so please call toll-free at 1-877-338-8687, visit www.SmithsonianJourneys.org, or click on the link below for more information. More details on the itinerary are also available on the attached flyer. Click here: Gullah Tour We hope you'll join us on this unforgettable adventure! ** The African Presence in Mexico and Who are we Now? exhibtions were organized by the National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago and received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center. Exhibition programs and special events are presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian Latino Center, the National Museum of African Art, the Mexican Cultural Institute, and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Do you enjoy the exhibitions, programs and activities we provide? If your answer is yes, please click below to see how, before the year ends, you can help us do even more! Click here! We do appreciate your support! Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum 1901 Fort Place SE Washington, District of Columbia 20020 202.633.4820