One of the Smithsonian’s most visual summer events is arriving on the National Mall this weekend.
“Smithsonian Dreams,” a new immersive public art installation by internationally acclaimed media artist Refik Anadol, will project AI-generated visuals across the exterior of the Smithsonian Castle.
The free experience is designed to celebrate nearly two centuries of Smithsonian collections, research, and discovery through a blend of art, technology, light, and sound.
When and where can you see the AI art installation?
“Smithsonian Dreams” will take place on the National Mall at the Smithsonian Castle on Friday, July 17th, and Saturday, July 18th.
The projections are scheduled to run from 9 pm to 11 pm each night, giving visitors a chance to experience the installation after sunset.
The Smithsonian Castle, located near the center of the National Mall, will serve as the backdrop for large-scale projection mapping that turns the Castle’s historic red sandstone into a dynamic display of digital artwork.
The Smithsonian says the event is intended to be a public, outdoor experience that can be viewed from the surrounding Mall grounds.
What will “Smithsonian Dreams” show?
The installation uses a custom artificial intelligence system to reinterpret Smithsonian collections and research spanning back nearly 200 years.
According to the Smithsonian Institution, the project draws from millions of digitized items, including scientific specimens, manuscripts, photographs, artworks, and research records.
Those materials are transformed into evolving visual sequences that will be projected across the Castle alongside an immersive soundscape.
The result is meant to create what the Smithsonian describes as a multisensory experience that blends history, science, culture, and technology into a single nighttime presentation on the National Mall.
Is it free to attend?
Yes. The Smithsonian has announced that “Smithsonian Dreams” is free and open to the public.
No ticket is required to watch the projections on the Castle.
Because the event takes place outdoors on the National Mall, visitors can arrive during the 9 – 11 pm presentation window and view the installation from the surrounding grounds, that being said, to get the best view possible we recommend showing up early (around 8 pm or earlier) and taking a blanket lay down on or chairs to sit in.
Why use AI generated art?
The sentiment behind the use of AI generate art can best be summarized by a quote from Lisa Sasaki, the Smithsonian’s Deputy Under Secretary for Special Projects:
“Since its founding, the Smithsonian has sought new ways to share knowledge with the public and inspire future generations, ‘Smithsonian Dreams’ reflects that spirit of innovation, bringing together art, technology and one of the world’s greatest collections of knowledge in an experience that invites visitors to see the Smithsonian’s vast collections in a new way where history, culture, science and imagination converge.”
