Artists at Work

This juried exhibition, the Smithsonian Community Committee’s staff art show, underscores the often hidden talents within the Smithsonian community. While we received one hundred seventy entries, only fifty-one could be selected for display. The subjects of these works and the materials from which they are made are as diverse as the people who comprise the Smithsonian family and the collections of the Institution itself.

Side by side are images and forms inspired by the lure of distant lands and the love of the familiar. These creations of paint, canvas, paper, wood, fabric, metal, stone, and clay speak of the artists’ fascination with the world around them—objects, ideas, and people often encountered through their work with the Smithsonian. They are evidence of the inspired, after-hours activities of our staff, research fellows, interns, contractors, and volunteers. Their reserves of energy, imagination, and skillfulness enhance all aspects of our everyday work.