If you asked me to reach into the depths of my imagination and come up with my dream fashion collaboration, it probably would be something along the lines of a Diane von Furstenberg dress covered in one of Andy Warhol’s bold prints. I mean, I have huge–huge!–iconic Warhol prints in my dining room and sent Christmas cards from Pittsburgh’s Warhol Museum last year. Needless to say, I was over the moon when my dream collaboration became a reality.

Diane von Furstenberg’s Pop Wrap Limited Edition New Julian Too. I snatched it up before it sold out, but it seems you can still get a few sizes via Matches.

And while I usually avoid the opening exhibits and restaurants, I just might visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum this weekend for the debut of “Pop Art Prints,” an exhibit of 27 such prints that rarely go on display from the permanent collection. Though art world egos treated pop art with skepticism and even disdain when the genre first appeared in the United States in the 1950s, it was so popular with the public that the artists had to issue prints so everyone could enjoy it. If you want to see prints like Warhol’s famous “Marilyn” or “Campbell’s Soup Can, 1965” (turquoise background), you could hope for an invitation to dinner at my house. Or, you can check out the exhibit, which will surely fill your mind with deep thoughts about the affect of advertising on society, or perhaps just some psychedelic colors to help you escape the gray of winter. You can find the details in my Washington Times column today, available in the print edition, in PDF format, and below.

The Washington Times

Get Out: The Week’s Pocket Picks for March 21, 2014

By Samantha Sault

Pick of the Pack: Pop Art Prints

In December 1962, the Museum of Modern Art in New York was the first to use the term “pop art” to describe the new genre of art inspired by pop culture, advertising and everyday objects. While many questioned whether it was worthy of displaying in fine museums, pop artists soon began issuing screen prints and lithographs to satisfy increasing public demand, and works such as Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup cans and Roy Lichtenstein’s comic strips remain some of the most recognizable objects today. On Friday, the Smithsonian American Art Museum opens an exhibition featuring 27 such prints from the permanent collection by artists including Warhol, Lichtenstein, Jim Dine, Jasper Johns, Mel Ramos and others. See beloved favorites like Warhol’s “Marilyn” and Robert Indiana’s “Love,” as well as other prints rarely seen in public. On April 9, deputy chief curator Joann Moser will lead a tour at 6 p.m. Through Aug. 31 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8^th & F Streets NW. 202/633-7970. Web: americanart.si.edu. 

History: Symposium for the 16^th President

Civil War buffs already know that scholars each year unleash a plethora of new books and research on the life and politics of Abraham Lincoln and the events of his presidency. The Abraham Lincoln Institute (ALI) supports this research and promotes the best with an annual symposium and awards ceremony, and fans of the celebrated 16^th President will want to register to attend ALI’s 17^th symposium  Saturday at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The event will feature several scholars–including Joshua Zeitz, author of the recently released “Lincoln’s Boys: John Hay, John Nicolay, and the War for Lincoln’s Image”–discussing Lincoln’s ethics, his role in the Emancipation and his legacy. ALI will also present the Annual Book Award to recognize outstanding Lincoln scholarship. Attendees are required to register on the ALI website. Saturday at the William G. McGowan Theater at the National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Web: lincoln-institute.org. 

Festival: Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning

Forecasters are predicting highs in the low 60s on Saturday, though we wouldn’t be surprised by a snow storm. Either way, we can rejoice that spring is officially here, at least according to the calendar. On Saturday, the Annapolis Maritime Museum will kick off spring with an oyster roast and sock burning, in which boat lovers free their feet for Topsider season. From noon to 4 p.m., enjoy boat rides in the Chesapeake Bay, live music by the Eastport Oyster Boys, and oyster shucking competitions, as well as plenty of oysters, Maryland crab soup, beer and wine. Upgrade your ticket for a chance to try oyster dishes from eight local restaurants and vote on your favorite. While you’re there, be sure to take a look at the museum’s exhibits on Chesapeake habitats, housed in the city’s last oyster packing plant. Proceeds benefit the museum’s ecology education programs and community events. Saturday at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second St., Annapolis, Md. 410/295-0104. Web: amaritime.org. 

Concert: Somi

If you don’t know Somi, pay attention to this jazz singer using her music to make a positive impact on the world. Born in Champaign, Ill., Somi spent her toddler years in Ndola, Zambia, where her father worked for the World Health Organization. Her family eventually returned to Champaign, where she studied Anthropology and African Studies at the University of Illinois before earning her Master’s at the Tisch School in New York. After her 2007 debut, she quickly ascended in the jazz scene with her mix of jazz, soul, and African music that she calls “New African Jazz.” A TED Global Fellow in 2011, Somi also founded New Africa Live, a non-profit devoted to supporting contemporary African artists. Somi splits her time between New York City and Lagos, Nigeria, and will release her next album, “The Lagos Music Salon,” inspired by her time there, in April. She’ll perform two shows next Friday at the University of Maryland’s Kogod Theatre, which will be set up like an intimate jazz café. Next Friday, March 28, at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland, Stadium Drive & Route 193, College Park, Md. 301/405-ARTS. Web: claricesmithcenter.umd.edu. 

Concert: The Ataris Reunion Tour

Don Henley’s 1984 hit “The Boys of Summer” likely reminds Gen Xers of long-lost summer romances, but in 2003, punk band The Ataris brought the tune to a new generation when their cover became an accidental hit on airwaves across the country. The band was formed in 1995 in Indiana by guitarists Kristopher Roe and Jasin Thomason, and the next year, they signed with Kung Fu Records after giving their homemade demo to the label at a concert in Cincinnati. After releasing a few albums popular in the punk scene—and numerous changes to the lineup—The Ataris found mainstream fame with their 2003 album “So Long, Astoria,” with hits including “In This Diary,” “The Saddest Song,” and “The Boys of Summer.” Though the band officially split up, Mr. Roe and four of the band members over the past ten years embarked on a tour to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of that star-turning album. The tour stops in Silver Spring next Friday night, with Authority Zero, a punk band from Arizona, opening the show. Next Friday, March 28, at the Fillmore, 8656 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md. 301/960-9999. Web: fillmoresilverspring.com or ticketmaster.com.

© Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC and Samantha Sault