Smithsonian News Roundup:
>> This week the Smithsonian continued its redevelopment and got a little overdue support from government officials. Even though Congress has murmured about drastically reducing the Institution's budget in the wake of misspending reports, President Bush proposed a $33.9 million increase for 2009 for the many repairs needed throughout the museums. Meanwhile, the National Museum of the American Indian continues its period of turmoil, as the Post reported that retired director W. Richard West Jr. didn't just spend Smithsonian's money lavishly, but that his travel expense added up to five times the average museum director's. Hopefully that's all behind the NMAI now, as its board has been meeting intently to review operations, and recently brought on some new blood with seven new board members.

Exhibition Openings:
>> The big art "must see" this week is the Japan! Culture + Hyperculture festival going on at the Kennedy Center. Events started Tuesday and will continue through Sunday, Feb. 17. There are far too many good things to mention, but we're definitely fascinated by the avant-garde polka-dot/net artwork of Yayoi Kusama and the paper folding by Shin Tanaka, whose work in, strangely enough, toys, tennis shoes, and graffiti is internationally known. Theater lovers should check out the four very reasonably priced productions, and stop by the costume design exhibit on your way out. It wouldn't be a Japanese exhibit without something sweet for the science geeks: architect Tadao Ando's site-specific glass installation exhibits ideals of environmentalism and sustainability, and -- yes! -- robots feature prominently in no less than four exhibits, including Robotica Rising, an exhibit in Nations Gallery (you'll have your hand shaken by robot greeters at the door). We recommend putting a full day aside to see as much as you can (much of it is free); see the full event schedule here. And that's MOMO pictured right, the adorably cute and so-very-Japanese monkey and mascot of JAPAN!.

>> Perhaps the flip-side to the "hyperculture" going on at the Kennedy Center, the Phillips Collection brings us a fantastic exhibit from the West with Degas to Diebenkorn: The Phillips Collects. This comprehensive show includes "modern masters" like Paul Klee, William Christenberry, Ansel Adams (for those of us who just missed his Corcoran show), and Edgar Degas. DCist saw a preview of the exhibit and will have a review for you before the opening this Saturday. See their web site for ticket information.

>> The giant space at the Katzen Arts Center recently opened six new exhibitions. If there's not enough Christenberry at the Phillips, check out Site/Possession, which features not his famous photographs, but a series of drawings that describe his "visceral reaction to this wholly and abhorrently American phenomenon" -- the KKK. He'll also be giving a gallery talk at 4 p.m. this Saturday. Then see the story-telling paintings of Cuban-American artist Carlos Luna in El Gran Mambo. Check out descriptions for the other four exhibits here, and visit the gallery Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

>> We mentioned earlier this week the exhibit opening at the National Portrait Gallery tomorrow, RECOGNIZE! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture. A fitting tribute to a genre that's almost as much about image as it is about music, the NPG says "hip hop has been arguably the most influential and popular musical form in America," and brings in, among others, the concert photography work of David Scheinbaum and the paintings of Kehinde Wiley. The exhibit also includes the work of two local graf artists, cohorts Tim Conlon (who's work is also showing at the Arlington Arts Center right now) and Dave Hupp.

>> In the same building, the Smithsonian American Art Museum will be giving a tour created for Black History Month, titled Free within Ourselves: African American Artists, featuring an in depth look at the black artists represented at the museum. The next free tour is Monday at 12:30 p.m. See the entire listing of Black History Month events at the Smithsonian museums here.

>> Bethesda has their monthly art walk this Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. We suggest stopping by Gallery Neptune for their glass show with work by three artists designed to draw you CLOSER. Mars Tokyo designs miniature delicate theaters that force you to lean in and examine what he's put on his own personal stages, while Willie Marlow recreates the architecture of natural formations. Micheal Janis focuses on the medium, using other elements such as copper to create layers of translucent or not-so-translucent pieces. See the rest of the art walk participating galleries here.

Art Notes:

• The University of Maryland is featuring an exhibit called Sweet: The Graphic Beauty of the Contemporary Rock Poster. Their gallery is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesday until 6 p.m.
• Studio Gallery in Dupont will hold a reception on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. for its three new shows.
• The Capitol Hill Art League opens a photography exhibit by David C. Levy, former President and Director of the Corcoran gallery and college, titled Fascinating Rhythm. Reception is Saturday, 5 to 7 p.m.
• Long View Gallery opens an exhibit with the paintings of two talented woman, Mary Chiaramonte and Jesse Mann. Reception is Friday 5 to 8 p.m.
• Touchstone Gallery will hold a reception and a wine tasting, courtesy of the Washington Wine Academy, this Friday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The venue opens their 10th Annual National All-Media Exhibition.
• At the Latin American Youth Center in Mt. Pleasant, kids and teens can participate in the Art + Media House's Second Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., which this month will feature the theme of "chocolate" and a screening of the acclaimed (though rated R) Brazilian film, City of God.
• Tonight take a dance class to gear up for the 8th Annual DC Flamenco Festival at the GW Lisner Auditorium. Arrive early for the 7 p.m. beginners class, or do the moderate-level class at 9 p.m.; a wine reception for both classes is at 8 p.m. $20, no sharp heels, sells out early.