Featured Events in Washington D.C. in October 2024 (August Updated)

Artificial lights have become such a common nighttime fixture that we take them for granted. But what do brighter nights mean for people and wildlife? The effects of light pollution extend beyond our reduced view of the stars, but solutions can have an immediate impact. Through more than 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, interactive experiences, tactile models, and a theater program, discover why the dark night matters, rekindle your connection to the night sky, and consider how much light at night is enough—for whom, for what purpose, and who gets to decide?

Latina journalists wrote the first draft of history for Spanish-speaking communities in the United States.Breaking News! Latinas Report Breaking News is a bilingual exhibition featuring stories from Latina journalists to show how Spanish-language television gave voice and visibility to a broad segment of the American public and how these journalists advocate for Spanish-speaking communities and navigate the fast-paced, ever-changing pace of breaking news. In the approximately 1,000-square-foot gallery, visitors will explore broadcast journalism through the work of journalists such as Ilia Calderón, Dunia Elvir, Marilys Llanos, Gilda Mirós, Lori Montenegro, Maria Elena Salinas, and Blanca Rosa Vílchez. A multimedia piece will illustrate these women's accounts as eyewitnesses to important histories like the Vietnam War, 9/11, and the Black Lives Matter protests, as well as issues of cultural and political significance to local Latinx communities that are sometimes overlooked by English-language news. Working in the characteristic fast-paced, ever-changing environment of news production, these women shaped the narrative of major historical events while collaborating with their local and national Latinx communities to provide news coverage that meets their needs.

The 1970s was a decade of uncertainty in the United States. Americans witnessed soaring inflation, energy crises, and the Watergate scandal, as well as protests about pressing issues such as the Vietnam War, women’s rights, gay liberation, and the environment. The country’s profound upheaval formed the backdrop for a revolution in documentary photography. Activism and a growing awareness and acceptance of diversity opened the field to underrepresented voices. At the same time, artistic experimentation fueled the reimagining of what documentary photographs could look like. Featuring some 100 works by more than 80 artists, The ʼ70s Lens examines how photographers reinvented documentary practice during this radical shift in American life. Mikki Ferrill and Frank Espada used the camera to create complex portraits of their communities. Tseng Kwong Chi and Susan Hiller demonstrated photography’s role in the development of performance and conceptual art. With pictures of suburban sprawl, artists like Lewis Baltz and Joe Deal challenged popular ideas of nature as pristine. And Michael Jang and Joanne Leonard made interior views that examine the social landscape of domestic spaces. The questions these artists explored—about photography’s ethics, truth, and power—continue to be considered today.

¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States tells U.S. history from the perspectives of the diverse Latinas and Latinos who lived it and live it today. This exhibition uncovers hidden and forgotten stories, connects visitors to Latino culture, and lays the foundation for understanding how Latinas and Latinos inform and shape U.S. history and culture. The intentional diversity of objects, images, and stories clarifies that Latinhood is a dynamic exchange between related but distinct communities under the Latino identity.

Enjoy powerful portraits by one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century. Gordon Parks: Camera Portraits looks at a renowned American photographer and how he forged a new mode of portraiture after World War II. Parks merged the documentary photographer's desire to place his subjects where they lived and worked with the studio photographer's attention to clothing, persona, and expression. In doing so, he believed he could create portraits of individuals who embodied their cultural significance. He applied this approach to American icons like boxer Muhammad Ali and conductor Leonard Bernstein, as well as Harlem gang leaders and Detroit couples, revealing the humanity and cultural dignity of each individual. Drawing primarily from the Corcoran Collection, this exhibition features approximately 25 portraits created by Parks between 1941 and 1970. Explore Parks' innovations in portraiture through some of his most famous photographs. Learn how his portraits tell larger stories about the Civil Rights Movement, the African American experience, and American culture.

Paris at the end of the 19th century witnessed profound social, cultural and physical changes. Political and military conflicts led to widespread destruction of the city. At the same time, industrialization and new technologies such as the railway transformed residents' experience of urban space. Women were increasingly present in public life and tourism was expanding. The city in which the Impressionists lived and worked was changing. Artists responded to this moment in many ways: some sought refuge in tradition, while others embraced new ways of seeing. This selection of around 40 photographs and prints from the National Gallery Library shows us the world of the artists and artworks on display in Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment. These archival objects offer a glimpse into a city and art market at the cusp of modernity.

Learn about some of the most celebrated Haitian artists of the 20th century. In the mid-1900s, art flourished in Haiti, the world's first black republic. Painters such as Hector Hypolite, Rigaud Benoit, and Philome Aubin became internationally renowned for their depictions of Haitian daily life, religious traditions, and history. Their work influenced generations of African American artists. Several members, including Lois Mailou Jones and Eldzier Cortor, traveled to and worked in Haiti. Spirit & Strength is the first opportunity to see 21 works by Haitian artists recently donated by the National Gallery of Art. Learn about modern Haitian art and experience extraordinary creations by some of the most prominent artists in Haitian history, as well as works by artists building on the present day. Learn about Haiti's significant but underappreciated importance in African diaspora culture through its art.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The Toronto Raptors, established in 1995 and based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, play their home games at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors won the NBA Championship in 2019. Current key players include RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The Boston Celtics, established in 1946 and based in Boston, USA, play their home games at TD Garden. The Celtics have won the NBA Championship 18 times, making them the team with the most titles in the league, including an eight-year championship streak from 1957 to 1969. Current key players include Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The Cleveland Cavaliers, established in 1970 and based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, play their home games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Cavaliers won the NBA Championship in 2016. Current key players include Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The Atlanta Hawks, established in 1946 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, play their home games at State Farm Arena. The Hawks won the NBA Championship in 1958. Current key players include Trae Young and Jalen Johnson.