Freer and Sackler Gallery’s Summertime “Asia After Dark” Returns June 7 to Celebrate Bollywood and Bhangra

MEDIA ONLY: Allison Peck, 202.633.0447, Allison Peck
Miranda Gale, 202.633.0271, Miranda Gale

ONLINE: asia.si.edu/press
@FreerSackler, #asiaafterdark

TICKETS: asia.si.edu/asiaafterdark

May 7, 2014

The Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery will host “Asia After Dark: Bollywood and Beyond,” the 10th in its series of popular afterhours parties, on Saturday, June 7, featuring the sights and sounds of classic Bollywood films, ancient Indian artwork and modern Indian American culture. The event, which highlights the contemporary art exhibition “Perspectives: Rina Banerjee” at the Sackler and “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation” at the National Museum of Natural History, will celebrate Indian culture while following the Asia After Dark mantra: "Art, Drink, and Be Happy."

From 8 p.m. to midnight, the subterranean Sackler Gallery will transform into a dance floor for beats by world-renowned Basement Bhangra pioneer DJ Rekha and live dance performances by the South Asian Performing Arts Network and Institute. Guests can mingle while enjoying lessons in Bharata Natyam and Bollywood dance and creating amusing photo booth memories with Booth-o-Rama. Inspired by the tiara of Miss America 2014, Indian American Nina Davuluri, and embellished figures from ancient Indian art, guests can create and adorn themselves with hand-made crowns. Throughout the evening, Bollywood-themed refreshments by Ping Pong Dim Sum and delicious bites from food trucks will be available for purchase. 

Contemporary art curator Carol Huh will also lead talks of the site-specific installation “A World Lost” by Indian American artist Rina Banerjee in its final weekend on view, and associate curator of South and Southeast Asian art Debra Diamond will be on hand to explore the Sackler’s collections of South Asian and Himalayan Art.

Tickets can be purchased at asia.si.edu/asiaafterdark, and are $15 in advance, $25 at the door, or free for members of the Silk Road Society—the galleries’ dynamic membership group for young professionals. Guests can upgrade for an additional $10 to skip the entrance lines, enjoy a VIP-only bartender and get an invite to an exclusive future Silk Road Society tour of "Beyond Bollywood" and curator meet-and-greet.

Guests must be 21 years old with valid photo ID to attend.

“Asia After Dark: Bollywood and Beyond” is presented in conjunction with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. For a full listing of the Freer and Sackler galleries' programs for young professionals, visit asia.si.edu/youngvisionary.

The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, located at 1050 Independence Avenue S.W., and the adjacent Freer Gallery of Art, located at 12th Street and Independence Avenue S.W., are on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day (closed Dec. 25), and admission is free. The galleries are located near the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines. For more information about the Freer and Sackler galleries and their exhibitions, programs and other public events, visit www.asia.si.edu. For general Smithsonian information, call (202) 633-1000.

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Note to editors: Media should RSVP to Press Asia and notify staff in advance of any recording and filming needs. DJ Rekha will be available for advance interviews.