Chronology 



155 



April 



■ Outreach The Archives of American Arr was accepted as a 

 full-member institution of the Association of Research Insti- 

 tutes in Art History (ARIAH), a consortium of 18 member 

 institutes, whose purpose is to promote scholarship by insti- 

 tutes of advanced research in the history of art and related 

 disciplines. 



April 



■ Public program The National Postal Museum invited visi- 

 tors to explore Washington, D.C.'s postal history through a 

 bus tour historic Washington, D.C., post offices. 



April-June 



■ Public programs In spring 2000, The Smithsonian Associ- 

 ates, in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy, the 

 Northern Italian Trade Commission, and Alitalia Airlines, 

 offered a challenging array of more than 30 courses, semi- 

 nars, and single lectures on the history, arts, cuisine, and 

 cultural traditions of Italy, entitled "La Bella Italia." 



April 3 



■ Award The Archives of American Art receives a pledge 

 of $538,000 from rhe William and Mildred Lasdon Founda- 

 rion for the establishment of the Nanette L. Laitman 

 Documentation Project for Craft in America, the first-ever 

 comprehensive collecting project focused on documenting 

 American craft. 



April 4-7 



■ Professional institute The Smithsonian Associates produced 

 its 10th annual World Affairs Institute for Indiana Univer- 

 sity, with the focus on OPEC nations and global energy. 



April 5 



■ P ublic program In a very special evening cosponsored with 

 the Embassy of Spain, The Smithsonian Associates presented 

 an ensemble of scholars, musicians, and performers in hom- 

 age to Federico Garcia Lorca. 



April 8 



■ Exhibition "Heart & Hands: Musical Instrument Makers 

 of America" began its national tour at the Georgia Moun- 

 tains History Museum in Gainesville, Georgia. Through the 

 Iris prints of photographer Jake Jacobson, the exhibition, or- 

 ganized by SITES, introduces some of the American artisans 

 who are keeping alive the age-old tradition of designing and 

 hand-crafting fine musical instruments. 



artists from across Canada and the United States expressed 

 the complex relationships between community and identity. 

 The installations, which include a classroom setting, a 

 conceptual "Big House" incorporating traditional and pres- 

 ent-day West Coast designs, and a mural reminiscent of 

 cave paintings, make use of photography, film, audio 

 recordings, CD-ROM, sculpture, and painting. The seven 

 featured artists are Mary Longman (Plains Cree), Nora 

 Naranjo-Morse (Tewa), Marianne Nicolson (Kwak- 

 waka'wakw), Shelley Niro (Mohawk), Jolene Rickard 

 (Tuscarora), Mateo Romero (Tewa), and C. Maxx Stevens 

 (Seminole). Organized by the Canadian Museum of Civiliza- 

 tion, the exhibition was curated by Gerald McMaster 

 (Plains Cree). 



April 1 1 



■ Award The Pasadena (California) Art Alliance makes a 

 generous grant to the Archives of American Art in support 

 of the Oral History Program, which will provide for the pro- 

 duction and transcription of interviews of important artists 

 living and working in Southern California. 



April 1 1 



■ Event The Annual Appreciation Reception for Visitor 

 Information and Associates' Reception Center's Corps of 

 Behind-the-Scenes Volunteers included remarks by Smith- 

 sonian Secretary Lawrence Small. 



April 1 1 



■ Giant panda plan The National Zoo announces plans to 

 acquire giant pandas after signing a letter of intent with the 

 China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) regarding 

 a long-term giant panda loan. 



April 12 



■ Exhibition "Fast Attacks and Boomers: Submarines in the 

 Cold War," a permanent exhibition at the National Museum 

 of American History, explores the technology of submarines 

 and their role in the Cold War. It showcases life aboard ship 

 through graphics, submarine artifacts from decommissioned 

 ships, and interactives. The role of Navy families is also ex- 

 amined. This exhibit is a collaboration between NMAH, the 

 U.S. Navy, and the Naval Submarine League. 



April 14-October 27 



■ Traveling exhibition! affiliate loan The National Portrait 

 Gallery exhibinon "Presidents and First Ladies on TIME" 

 was on view at the Florida International Museum, a Smith- 

 sonian affiliate located in St. Petersburg, Florida. 



April 9-August 20 



■ Exhibition "Reservarion X: The Power of Place" — 

 Through major multimedia arr installations, seven Native 



April 15 



■ Public program A marvelous collection of scholars gath- 

 ered in Washington to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 



