In January, the Friends visited the Freer Gallery's storage vault for an up-close viewing of Chinese lacquer and textiles. The tour was led by Daisy Wang, Chinese art specialist.

Upcoming Friends Events

For more information about or to RSVP to any of the Friends events listed here, please contact Jenn Ryan, Membership Manager, at 202.633.0417 or e-mail Jenn Ryan.

UPCOMING EVENTS

PRIVATE TOUR
Nam June Paik: Global Visionary
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Wednesday, May 22
Tour: 2 pm

Led by John G. Hanhardt, senior curator for film and media arts at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and Carol Huh, assistant curator of contemporary Asian art at Freer|Sackler

Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th and F Streets, NW

The artwork and ideas of the Korean-born artist Nam June Paik were a major influence on late twentieth-century art and continue to inspire a new generation of artists. Nam June Paik: Global Visionary offers an unprecedented view into the artist’s creative method by featuring key artworks that convey Paik’s extraordinary accomplishments as a major international artist as well as material drawn from the Nam June Paik Archive, which was acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum from the artist’s estate in 2009.

Following the tour, enjoy a tea reception and discussion with the curators.

PRIVATE TOUR
Hand-Held: Gerhard Pulverer’s Japanese Illustrated Books
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Monday, June 17
Tour: 1 pm

Join curator Ann Yonemura for an in-depth look at this exquisite exhibition of ehon, Japanese woodblock-printed illustrated books, which were key sources of knowledge and entertainment during the Edo period (1615—1868). Artists and writers created many designs for these books, and the compact, paper-bound volumes circulated widely. In a striking change from the past, when books were primarily reserved for the elite, the beautiful, intriguing, and humorous subjects in ehon brought reading to the masses.

At 2 pm, enjoy a tea reception and Q&A session in the Freer Conference Room.

SAVE THE DATE

Some Enlightened Evening
Thursday, October 17

Join Julian Raby for Some Enlightened Evening, a gala celebration to mark the premier of Yoga: The Art of Transformation. For more information visit http://asia.si.edu/events/galas.asp. A save-the-date with more information will be sent to all Friends in the coming weeks.

Friends Day
Saturday, September 21

Mark your calendars for our annual Friends Day celebration. Start the day with breakfast in the Freer, then enjoy behind-the-scenes tours, remarks by Director Julian Raby, and an elegant evening reception and dinner.

The Friends Council

The Friends Council, the museums' only fundraising advisory board, welcomes your interest and support. Please call Jenn Ryan, Membership Manager, to learn more about the advisory board and how you can participate.

Nancy K. Mannes, Co-Chair
Penny Yao, Co-Chair
Robin Berrington
Ronald Costell and Marsha Swiss
Lisa Jorgenson
Stephanie and Eugene Lawson
Jane and Kenneth Lieberthal
Susan Lubick
Dickinson Miller
Dorothy Robins-Mowry
Jean and Jack Pritchard
Sidelle Wertheimer
Gail Yano
David Yao