Smithsonian Celebrates Women's History Month

Throughout the month of March, the Smithsonian celebrates Women's History Month with a series of films, lectures and performances at various museums around the Institution. All programs are free, unless otherwise indicated.

Feature Event

The public is invited to the Smithsonian Sunday, March 25, at 3 p.m. for "Scheherezade Goes West: Shattering the Stereotypes" in the S. Dillon Ripley Center's Lecture Hall.

In this presentation, interspersed with video clips and live Sufi song, Fawzia Afzal-Khan draws on her experiences as a Pakistani-born American Muslim woman to describe the complexities of "belonging and unbelonging" in a post-Sept. 11 world. Afzal-Khan is a poet, playwright, singer and professor of English at Montclair State University.

Performances

The National Museum of the American Indian will present a performance by actor and dancer Thirza Defoe (Ojibwe-Oneida Nation of Wisconsin) Saturday, March 24, and Sunday, March 25, at noon and 3:30 p.m. in the Rasmuson Theater. Defoe will tell traditional stories, demonstrate hoop dancing and perform as the character Sacajawea in excerpts from the play "Stone Heart." This event is presented in conjunction with the museum's March 24 opening of the exhibition "Identity by Design: Tradition, Change and Celebration in Native Women's Dresses."

Films

"New Short Works by Native Women," a film that features short works written and directed by Native women from throughout the Western Hemisphere, will be shown daily from Monday, March 26, through Saturday, March 31, at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. in the Rasmuson Theater.

The Freer Gallery of Art will screen "Away from Her" Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. In this lyrical adaptation of Alice Munro's short story "The Bear Came over the Mountain," the contentment of retired couple Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and Fiona (Julie Christie) is disrupted when Fiona's memory starts to deteriorate with the onset of Alzheimer's.

For Children

The National Portrait Gallery will host "Women's History Month Drop-in Program" Saturday, March 10, from noon to 4 p.m. The theme of this program is famous American women and includes a reading corner, a hands-on art project in the Education Center and a scavenger hunt in the museum. This program is recommended for children ages 5 through 12.

On Saturday, March 24, from 1 to 3 p.m., the National Postal Museum will present "Women's History Celebration" in the Discovery Center. Children and their families can create a stamp collection based on famous American women and listen to stories about women in science.

Lectures

The National Air and Space Museum will host a series of gallery talks during which museum curators will discuss women's contributions to aviation and space science. The lectures will be held every Wednesday in March at noon. Visitors should meet at the museum seal near the National Mall entrance.

March 7-Valerie Neal presents "'We Can Do It!' Women at Work on the International Space Station."

March 14-Lisa Kathleen Graddy presents "Amelia Walker: Jailed for Freedom."

March 21-David Devorkin presents "What Are Stars Made of? How Cecilia Payne Unlocked this Secret of the Universe in 1924."

March 28-Dorothy Cochrane presents "Jackie Cochran, Pilot in the Fastest Lane."

On Wednesday, March 7, at 6 p.m., The Smithsonian Associates will feature "Suze Orman on Women and Money." Emmy award-winning personal-finance expert Suze Orman will present empowering ways for women to manage money.

The National Museum of the American Indian will present "Keeping Native Traditions Alive: Mothers and Daughters" Saturday, March 24, and Sunday, March 25, at 1:30 p.m. Three generations of award-winning beadworkers-Joyce, Juanita and Jessica Growing Thunder (Assiniboine)-will discuss beading traditions.

Demonstrations

National Museum of the American Indian curator Emil Her Many Horses (Oglala Lakota) and guest artists Jhane Meyers (Comanche) and Jackie Parsons (Blackfeet) will share beading techniques and discuss their current projects Saturday, March 24, and Sunday, March 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Tours

Throughout March, the Renwick Gallery's docent-led walk-in tour will include a look at the work of four women artists featured in the exhibition "From the Ground Up: Renwick Craft Invitational 2007." Featured artists include glass artists Paula Bartron and Beth Lipman, paper artist Jocelyn Chateauvert and ceramicist Beth Cavener Stichter. Tours are at noon on weekdays and 1 p.m. on weekends. -- www.si.edu