In the Library: Reimagining America by Design

During the Depression, the US government paid artists across the country to paint American objects, from a weather vane to a baby's bonnet. The result, the Index of American Design, is 18,257 watercolours. In spring 2026 a class from George Washington University's Corcoran School spent a semester inside it, working through the Gallery's collections, archives and library.

This is what the class made of it, and it changes halfway. Until 30 October, "Research & Process" shows the students' assignments and what they turned up in the Index. From 2 November to 31 December, "Work & Play" pairs student work with Index pieces and other Gallery material made for children: toys, games, dolls and figurines. You need two visits to see both.

It's in the Library Atrium on the East Building's ground level, free, and open only on weekdays from 11am to 4:30pm, closed on federal holidays. Most semester projects end up in a Google Drive folder nobody opens again; these got the National Gallery.