The Smithsonian American Art Museum is offering an array of public programs to accompany the exhibition "Color as Field: American Painting, 1950-1975," which features 39 beautiful paintings that represent one of the crowning achievements of postwar American abstract art. The Color Field school, a group that emerged in the United States in the 1950s, is characterized by its utilization of pouring, staining, spraying or painting thinned paint onto raw canvas to create vast chromatic expanses.

The Mughal Empire ruled India from the 16th through the 19th centuries, during which time remarkable paintings and calligraphy were commissioned by Emperors Jahangir (1605-1627) and Shah Jahan (1627-1658) for display in lavish imperial albums. A window into the world of the emperors, these albums (called muraqqa' in Persian) illustrate the relaxed private life of the imperial family, as well as Sufi saints and mystics, allies and courtiers, and natural history subjects.

The Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art and the neighboring Arthur M. Sackler Gallery are best known as museums of Asian art. However, the Freer also houses a collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art, including the world's largest number of works by James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903).

Brooklyn-based painter Amy Sillman introduces an entirely new body of work as part of the Hirshhorn's ongoing "Directions" series. Inspired by first-person observation of the human figure and the emotional aspects of being part of a couple, these new paintings and drawings explore the tension between figuration and abstraction. "Amy Sillman, Third Person Singular," on view from March 14 through July 6, presents 13 oil paintings and 12 ink drawings.

The Smithsonian Associates announces an exciting series of educational programs that explore the many facets of China yesterday, today and tomorrow, from its ancient culture to its popular arts and cuisine to the much anticipated Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. "China: An Incomparable Journey" will run from March 26 to late June and will feature more than 20 individual presentations, workshops and events.

When America's sons and daughters are stationed overseas, especially during wartime, contact with loved ones back home becomes an essential part of life. During World War II, a new mail processing method was introduced to increase the amount of mail that could be exchanged overseas.

Since 2001, some of the most innovative artists working in the United States have received the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Lucelia Artist Award. "Celebrating the Lucelia Artist Award, 2001–2006," on view through June 22, features work by each previous winner—Matthew Coolidge, director of the Center for Land Use Interpretation (2006); Andrea Zittel (2005); Kara Walker (2004); Rirkrit Tiravanija (2003); Liz Larner (2002); and Jorge Pardo (2001).

LL Cool J, Erykah Badu, Common and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are just a few of the hip hop artists featured in paintings and photographs in "RECOGNIZE! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture." The exhibition opened at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery Feb. 8 and continues through Oct. 26.

Love letters bring out the voyeur in most of us. These deeply personal communications have the power to make a reader blush or, at the very least, reveal a tender moment in the complex lives of others. "A Thousand Kisses: Love Letters from the Archives of American Art" will be on display Jan. 25 to May 30 in the Lawrence A. Fleischman Gallery.

Artist, poet and musician Patti Smith will give an intimate performance of songs and readings inspired by the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art's collections Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m., in the Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium of the Donald W. Reynolds Center in Washington, D.C.

The National Portrait Gallery has commissioned a portrait of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, from David Lenz, winner of the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2006. The painting will be included in the National Portrait Gallery's permanent collection.

LL Cool J, Erykah Badu, Common and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are just a few of the hip hop artists featured in paintings and photographs in "RECOGNIZE! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture." The exhibition opens at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery Feb. 8 and continues through Oct. 26, 2008.