Dig It! The Secrets of Soil

With public concern about the environment more pressing than ever, Dig It! The Secrets of Soil introduces visitors to a vital, but largely unexplored natural resource and ecosystem. This important and wildly popular new exhibition—on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History until January 2010—invites visitors to think about this hidden world in a whole new way.

Enlightening text, intriguing graphics, and a creative array of multimedia programs, scale models, hands-on activities, and soil samples (monoliths) unearth the many ways we benefit from soils and how we affect their health and productivity.

Dig It! is captivating thousands of Smithsonian visitors of all ages and has attracted positive media attention. Call us today to discuss how Dig It! can help your museum reach new audiences.

Erosion, pollution, and loss of nutrients and organic matter all threaten soil health. We can protect these vital natural resources through technology and simple changes in how we use them.

At a glance:

• 54 soil monoliths, 3 large freestanding scale models, 5 video components, 12 interactives, 49 graphic panels, 2 environmental entry portals, 2 internal portals, panel and case structure
• Fee: $150,000 per 3-month booking period, plus prorated shipping
• Size: 5,000 sq. ft.
• High security
• Tour begins spring 2010
• For more information, contact Ed Liskey at 202.633.3142

Ichthyo

Ichthyology: n. that branch of zoology which relates to fishes, including their structure, classification, and habits

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is the repository for a vast collection of biological specimens, including the world’s largest group of ichthyological examples. Ichthyo is an exhibition of digital prints made from X-rays that were created to preserve the original samples. These radiographic images convey a level of detail reminiscent of fine engravings and reveal the hidden wonders of the creatures of the sea. Your audiences will be fascinated by the body structures of fish revealed in fine detail and captivated by the artistry and design inherent in nature.

At a glance:

• Approximately 40 framed digital prints
• Moderate security
• Tour begins late 2009
• For more information, contact SITES’ Scheduling department at 202.633.3140

Martín Ramírez: The Last Works

In 2007, the American Folk Art Museum (AFAM) in New York organized a blockbuster retrospective on Mexican artist Martín Ramírez (1895–1963) that included over 97 works on paper by this troubled yet highly creative man. The exhibition elicited the subsequent donation of a group of his late drawings, unknown until now, which SITES and the AFAM present to the public for the first time. The unique style of the self-taught artist is evident in his fantastical landscapes and depictions of a single train seemingly propelled forward by the expressive use of lines. Following the success of Ancestry & Innovation: African American Art from the American Folk Art Museum, SITES is proud to partner with the Museum on another collaboration. Introduce your visitors to the work of a man that some have labeled an “outsider” artist while others have deemed a 20th-century master.

At a glance:

• 30 original framed drawings
• High security
• Tour begins 2010
• For more information, contact SITES’ Scheduling department at 202.633.3140

William H. Johnson: An American Modern

William H. Johnson (1901–1970) is a pivotal American modern artist. A virtuoso skilled in various media and techniques, he produced thousands of works over a career that spanned decades and genres. In 1967, the Harmon Foundation, which fostered an awareness of African art, gave more than a thousand of his paintings and works on paper to what is now the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The Museum in turn transferred part of the collection to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), including the James E. Lewis Museum of Art at Morgan State University in Baltimore.

Now, for the first time, the Lewis Museum’s Johnson collection will be featured in William H. Johnson: An American Modern. Perfect for art museums, university galleries, African American museums, and general interest/history museums, the exhibition of 20 original works covers critical stages in Johnson’s career as a Modernist painter and presents a unique opportunity to view the works in the broader context of art-collecting initiatives at HBCUs.

At a glance:

• 20 original paintings and works on paper
• Fee: $20,000 for a 12-week booking, plus prorated shipping
• 300 - 325 running feet
• High security
• Tour begins fall 2011
• For more information, contact Minnie Micu at 202.633.3160