Top Stories: August 2022

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    August 2022 News See what your support makes possible.   Xena the red panda may be small in stature, but she is feisty and outgoing! Photograph courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Trio of Red Pandas is the Newest Crew at the Zoo They’re sweet, social, and always ready for a snack! Meet Scarlet, Xena and Taizong, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s new red pandas. Animal keepers share their favorite facts about the trio along with adorable pictures and video. START SEEING RED »     Jon Serl, Texas Scene, 1975, oil on board, Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Margaret Z. Robson Collection, Gift of John E. and Douglas O. Robson, 2016.38.68, ? 2000, Randall Morris Exhibition Highlights the Creativity and Talent of Self-Taught Artists Artists who hone their craft without formal training have long been present in American art, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that their collective vision began to turn the tide in the mainstream art world. We Are Made of Stories: Self-Taught Artists in the Robson Family Collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum traces the bold rise of self-taught artists in the twentieth century, celebrating their creativity and accomplishment despite wide-ranging obstacles. VIEW THEIR VISIONS »     Join the Celebration by Signing Smithsonian’s Birthday Card August 10 marks the 176th anniversary of the Smithsonian’s founding! That’s nearly two centuries of scientific discovery, immersive exhibitions, and free educational resources for generations of knowledge-seekers. If you’re inspired by all we’ve accomplished together, join fellow Smithsonian supporters from around the world in signing the Smithsonian’s birthday card! SIGN THE CARD »     Roy Lewis, Wall of Respect, Chicago, Illinois, 1967, Gift of Roy Lewis Archives 1967, ? Roy Lewis View Iconic Moments and Figures from the Golden Age of Hip-Hop From the genre’s earliest moments to its rise as a cultural phenomenon, hip-hop has long served as a medium for social commentary, cultural influence, and artistic experimentation. In Represent: Hip-Hop Photography, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture showcases iconic stories and figures from hip-hop’s golden age alongside historical images from the museum’s collection. HIT REWIND » And if you’ll be in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, August 13, join us on the National Mall for the Hip-Hop Block Party! Check out the lineup and get your free passes today. GET MY TICKETS »     Triggerfish, known to be voracious predators, in front of a panel previously caged for 10 weeks and recently exposed to predators. Arraial do Cabo, Brazil. Credit: Smithsonian Institution. Conditions are Heating Up for Hungry Ocean Predators Scientists at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center have found that parts of the ocean with hotter temperatures result in more active ocean predators. Their new study suggests that warming seas could result in large shifts in the existing balance of ocean life throughout the food chain. DIVE DEEPER »     Did you know that everything in this newsletter is made possible by people like you? Support your Smithsonian and help bring knowledge to life. DONATE »   Sidedoor episode art by Dave Leonard. Who Comes to the Rescue When Culture is in Crisis? The war in Ukraine has caused the destruction of scores of museums, archeological sites, and other key places for cultural identity and history. But when lives are in danger, who considers the art and artifacts caught in the crossfire? Hear more about the Smithsonian Cultural Heritage Initiative: an international network of professionals working to protect the world’s treasures during times of war and natural disaster. The Smithsonian’s Sidedoor podcast shares how the initiative began and what it takes to save pieces of culture that might otherwise be lost forever. LISTEN IN »     MacArthur Fellow Kate Orff and CNN climate correspondent Bill Weir were beamed in for a conversation about the role of oysters in coastal restoration at this year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Photograph by JB Weilepp, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives. Conservation Conversations Explore Big Steps and Everyday Solutions What can we do to create a more sustainable future? As part of the Earth Optimism x Folklife program, scientists, conservationists, and sustainability leaders came together at the 2022 Smithsonian Folklife Festival to share the research, technology, and trends that can help us make a difference. Explore conversation sessions on topics like achieving zero waste, food security, creating infrastructure for green transportation, and so much more. GET INSPIRED »     James Smithson, c. 1765-1829 (detail), James Roberts, 1753-c.1809, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution Trivia: A Pressing Culinary Question The glass industry in the United States flourished over the course of the nineteenth century. Manufacturing innovations like the introduction of pressed glass (where designs are created with a mold rather than cut in) made decorative pieces and highly specific tablewares more affordable and widely available to the style-conscious consumer. Which of these vegetables would be right at home in this pressed glass vase from around 1890? Vase, O'Hara Glass Company, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. Colorless pressed glass, circa 1890, Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.     We depend on the support of people like you to drive our mission: to discover and share knowledge. Support your Smithsonian today! To learn about the power of a single gift, visit si.edu/support © 2022 Smithsonian Institution 1000 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20560 Unsubscribe Privacy Policy