Weekly since 2020, BCDC has showcased a Local Arts Hero that’s keeping the lights on in challenging times. This week,in honor of May as AAPI Heritage Month, we’ve chosen the National Museum of Asian Art!
Committed to preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting works of art from throughout Asia since 1923, this gem of the Smithsonian’s holdings spans two interconnected galleries on the National Mall and houses over 45,000 objects. One must-see is the famed “harmony in blue and gold” of 19th-century artist James McNeill Whistler’s “Peacock Room” installation, which is an immersive look into that period’s fascination with Asian aesthetics and artistry in both America and Britain.
After several, intermittent pandemic closures, the National Museum of Asian Art is now fully reopened! Current exhibitions include “Mind Over Matter: Zen in Medieval Japan,” and “Falcons: The Art of the Hunt,” which features the prodigious history of Islamic art dedicated to falconry. This month has also seen virtual screenings directed by Qiu Jiongjiong, who is known for his biographical treatments of rebellious figures. Mark your calendars for an in-person screening of Qiu’s most recent film next month!
To learn more about the National Museum of Asian Art and its programming, head here!
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