EXHIBITS AND SHOWS
BEAD MUSEUM -- 400 Seventh St. NW (Metro: Gallery Place). 202-624-4500, Ext. 1. www.BeadMuseumDC.org. Open Wednesday-Saturday 11 to 4, Sunday 1 to 4, third Thursday of every month 6 to 8 p.m. Donations welcome. Exhibits include the permanent "Bead Timeline of History" and "The Eternal Bead" through June 26. On Thursday evenings from 6 to 8, the following programs will be offered: create Mardi Gras beads on Feb. 17 ($5); learn to identify your own beads on March 17; create a beaded bracelet on April 14 ($5); screening of 26-minute film "The Beaded Universe: Strands of Culture" on May 19; scavenger hunt for all ages on June 16. On Sept. 17, a full day of demonstrations and activities for Arts on Foot family program. To schedule a Girl Scout troop program, call 202-624-4500. "Watch This," demonstrations by local bead artists and designers, occasionally offered on weekends in lobby; call for dates. Museum hosts activities for Junior Bead Club members of the Bead Society of Greater Washington (see listing below).
BEAD BAZAAR -- Exhibition Center, Ramada Inn, 8500 Annapolis Rd., New Carrollton. From Washington, take I-95 north to the Capital Beltway toward Baltimore. Take Exit 20B (Route 450, Annapolis Road). Hotel is on right, after second traffic light. On April 23 to 24, vendors selling beads from around the world, demonstrations and lectures. For more details as date approaches, contact the Bead Society of Greater Washington at 202-624-4500, Ext. 2, or visit www.bsgw.org.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN -- Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW. (Metro: L'Enfant Plaza). 202-633-1000 or 202-357-2020. www.AmericanIndian.si.edu. Open daily 10 to 5:30, except Christmas. Timed-entry passes may be required for admission during peak visiting times such as weekends, holidays and summer. Available free for same day on a first-come, first-served basis at museum entrance. Advance tickets available online at Tickets.com or by calling 866-400-6624, with a per-ticket fee of $1.75 plus a per-order fee of $1.50 charged by Tickets.com for online and phone orders. Exhibits contain numerous examples of beadwork (clothes and objects) by Native Americans throughout the country.
ORGANIZATIONS
BEAD SOCIETY OF GREATER WASHINGTON -- 400 Seventh St. NW. 202-624-4500, Ext. 2. www.bsgw.org. Founded in 1983, now with more than 400 members. Meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Chevy Chase Community Center, Connecticut Avenue and McKinley streets NW. Meetings free and open to public, with Lisa St. Martin speaking on and demonstrating glass beadmaking on Feb. 10, and Kelly Russell talking about precious-metal clay on March 10. Membership $30 per year. Activities include classes, workshops, lectures, museum tours and exhibitions. Publishes quarterly newsletter and sponsors bead bazaar in November and April (see "exhibits and shows" above for listing). Established and sponsors Bead Museum. Also sponsors Junior Bead Club for ages 7 to 14, with newsletters, workshops at Bead Museum, introductory bag of beads; $20 per year. Will host "World on a String" East Coast premiere and gala in June; call or check Web site for details on date, time and location in a few weeks.
BALTIMORE BEAD SOCIETY -- www.baltobead.org. Established 18 years ago, now with about 125 members. Meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month from September to June at Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. Meetings free and open to public. Membership $25 per year. Regular mini workshops are $10 members, $20 nonmembers. Publishes occasional newsletter. For information, call 410-857-4704 or e-mail info@baltbead.org.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BEAD SOCIETY -- www.nvbs.info. Founded in 1992, now with 150 members. Meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna. Meetings free and open to public. Membership $20 per year. Activities include workshops, speakers, demonstrations. Publishes a quarterly newsletter and sponsors an annual bead and jewelry show in October. For information, e-mail nvbs2002@yahoo.com or write NVBS, P.O. Box 2258, Vienna, Va. 22180.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF GLASS BEADMAKERS -- 1120 Chester Ave., No. 470, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. 888-742-0242. www.isgb.org. Quarterly newsletter, class listings by region, annual meetings and demonstrations. Membership $50, students $25 per year.
CLASSES
Check bead stores, community centers and bead-related museums for additional demonstrations and workshops throughout the year. Prices vary.
CORCORAN COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN -- 500 17th St. NW. 202-639-1820. www.corcoran.edu. Courses in jewelry design and beadmaking offered through continuing education and jewelry certificate programs at the new jewelry studio on the Georgetown campus, 1801 35th St. NW. Contact continuing education adviser at 202-298-2542 for more details.
MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART -- Continuing Studies, 1300 Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore. 410-225-2219. www.mica.edu. Courses in jewelry-making.
TORPEDO FACTORY ART CENTER -- 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-838-4565. www.torpedofactory.org. Demonstrations and workshops in jewelry-making and polymer clay.
WASHINGTON SCULPTURE CENTER -- 1338 Half St. SE. 202-479-6730. www.washingtonsculpturecenter.org. Classes in beadmaking and jewelry design. Open studio by appointment on Mondays.
RESOURCES
Contemporary beadmakers and designers often display their work in galleries and gift stores, but many also maintain individual Web sites or have a presence on the following sites.
THE BEAD BUGLE -- www.beadbugle.com. Online magazine includes projects, artist pages, creative and business tips, and information on exhibits across the country.
