Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Federal Independent Agencies
Featured Stories
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: India Continues to Weaponize Terrorism Laws to Detain Religious Minorities
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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Sep 24, 2026
India Continues to Weaponize Terrorism Laws to Detain Religious Minorities
Washington, DC - In light of the Indian government's decision to grant bail to British-born Sikh activist, Jagtar Singh Johal, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges the U.S. Department of State to work with Indian authorities to facilitate the release of other freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) prisoners, many of whom, including Jagtar Singh Johal, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release: * * * Sep 24, 2026 India Continues to Weaponize Terrorism Laws to Detain Religious Minorities Washington, DC - In light of the Indian government's decision to grant bail to British-born Sikh activist, Jagtar Singh Johal, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges the U.S. Department of State to work with Indian authorities to facilitate the release of other freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) prisoners, many of whom, including Jagtar Singh Johal,are included as a FoRB Victim in USCIRF's Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List.
"We welcome the New Delhi High Court's decision to grant bail to Jagtar Singh Johal, after nearly nine years of unlawful suffering in arbitrary detention. However, uncertainty remains regarding his return to the United Kingdom and reunification with his family," said Chair Asif Mahmood. "Under the terms of his bail, Johal was required to surrender his passport, is banned from communicating with the press, and still faces the death penalty in eight charges against him."
In 2017, authorities unjustly arrested Johal on false charges of murder and terrorism under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a law that several United Nations special rapporteurs have characterized as noncompliant with international standards and India's international obligations. Prior to his arrest, Johal had blogged about human rights abuses against India's Sikh community, action that is protected under international law regarding freedom of expression. Johal's trial faced continuous delays throughout his detention, and authorities failed to produce credible evidence against him. In 2022 the United Nations recognized his imprisonment as arbitrary detention and more recently described it as amounting to psychological torture. Furthermore, Johal reports that he has been physically tortured by authorities with electric shocks, sleep deprivation, stress positions, and threats to his life, ultimately leading to a forced confession. USCIRF urges the United States government to press Indian officials to conduct a full investigation into Johal's detention and treatment and the U.S. government should hold perpetrators of such particularly severe violations accountable in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act.
"Johal's case is demonstrative of a larger pattern by the Indian government to silence or imprison religious minorities," said Vice Chair CeCe Heil. "Several other FoRB prisoners, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, continue to languish in pre-trial detention for perceived UAPA violations, for simply engaging in peaceful protest. In recent years, the Indian government has even gone so far as to orchestrate assassinations and assassination attempts against members of the Sikh community in North America in clear acts of transnational repression meant to intimidate, coerce, and harass the diaspora."
USCIRF recommended in its 2026 Annual Report that the State Department designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. USCIRF raised these poor religious freedom conditions during its May hearing, "Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions in India," and in its "India Country Brief" publication in August.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress, intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@uscirf.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/india-continues-weaponize-terrorism-laws-detain-religious-minorities
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Sep 24, 2026
India Continues to Weaponize Terrorism Laws to Detain Religious Minorities
Washington, DC - In light of the Indian government's decision to grant bail to British-born Sikh activist, Jagtar Singh Johal, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges the U.S. Department of State to work with Indian authorities to facilitate the release of other freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) prisoners, many of whom, including Jagtar Singh Johal, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release: * * * Sep 24, 2026 India Continues to Weaponize Terrorism Laws to Detain Religious Minorities Washington, DC - In light of the Indian government's decision to grant bail to British-born Sikh activist, Jagtar Singh Johal, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges the U.S. Department of State to work with Indian authorities to facilitate the release of other freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) prisoners, many of whom, including Jagtar Singh Johal,are included as a FoRB Victim in USCIRF's Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List.
"We welcome the New Delhi High Court's decision to grant bail to Jagtar Singh Johal, after nearly nine years of unlawful suffering in arbitrary detention. However, uncertainty remains regarding his return to the United Kingdom and reunification with his family," said Chair Asif Mahmood. "Under the terms of his bail, Johal was required to surrender his passport, is banned from communicating with the press, and still faces the death penalty in eight charges against him."
In 2017, authorities unjustly arrested Johal on false charges of murder and terrorism under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a law that several United Nations special rapporteurs have characterized as noncompliant with international standards and India's international obligations. Prior to his arrest, Johal had blogged about human rights abuses against India's Sikh community, action that is protected under international law regarding freedom of expression. Johal's trial faced continuous delays throughout his detention, and authorities failed to produce credible evidence against him. In 2022 the United Nations recognized his imprisonment as arbitrary detention and more recently described it as amounting to psychological torture. Furthermore, Johal reports that he has been physically tortured by authorities with electric shocks, sleep deprivation, stress positions, and threats to his life, ultimately leading to a forced confession. USCIRF urges the United States government to press Indian officials to conduct a full investigation into Johal's detention and treatment and the U.S. government should hold perpetrators of such particularly severe violations accountable in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act.
"Johal's case is demonstrative of a larger pattern by the Indian government to silence or imprison religious minorities," said Vice Chair CeCe Heil. "Several other FoRB prisoners, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, continue to languish in pre-trial detention for perceived UAPA violations, for simply engaging in peaceful protest. In recent years, the Indian government has even gone so far as to orchestrate assassinations and assassination attempts against members of the Sikh community in North America in clear acts of transnational repression meant to intimidate, coerce, and harass the diaspora."
USCIRF recommended in its 2026 Annual Report that the State Department designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. USCIRF raised these poor religious freedom conditions during its May hearing, "Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions in India," and in its "India Country Brief" publication in August.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress, intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@uscirf.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/india-continues-weaponize-terrorism-laws-detain-religious-minorities
Social Security I.G.: Audit Finds Most SSI Vehicle Reports Accurate, But Resource Errors Led to Improper Payments
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 25 (TNSbrep) -- The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release:
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Audit Finds Most SSI Vehicle Reports Accurate, but Resource Errors Led to Improper Payments
September 24, 2026
The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report examining whether Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients accurately reported their vehicle ownership and whether SSA employees properly valued multiple vehicles when recipients reported owning more than one vehicle.
The SSI program ... Show Full Article WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 25 (TNSbrep) -- The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release: * * * Audit Finds Most SSI Vehicle Reports Accurate, but Resource Errors Led to Improper Payments September 24, 2026 The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report examining whether Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients accurately reported their vehicle ownership and whether SSA employees properly valued multiple vehicles when recipients reported owning more than one vehicle. The SSI programprovides monthly cash assistance to people who are aged, blind, or disabled and have limited income and resources. In June 2026, SSA reportedly issued about $5.8 billion in SSI payments to approximately seven million recipients.
Because SSI is a needs-based program, SSA considers recipients' resources at the beginning of each month when it determines their eligibility for SSI payments. Individuals with countable resources valued above $2,000, and couples with countable resources valued above $3,000, are not eligible for SSI payments.
SSA policy defines a resource as cash, liquid assets, and real or personal property, including vehicles. SSA does not count one vehicle per household as a resource when used for transportation. SSA generally views additional vehicles as countable resources when it determines SSI eligibility. SSA relies on recipients to report the vehicles they own, and it does not independently verify vehicle ownership or identify additional vehicles that recipients own but do not report.
However, if an SSA employee suspects a recipient owns a vehicle they did not report, they may verify state vehicle title and registration information from third parties. When recipients report they own multiple vehicles, policy requires SSA employees verify their fair market values and exclude the vehicle with the highest equity value. Employees may obtain vehicle values from a subscription-based online search tool or, if there is no search available, they may contact a knowledgeable source, such as a vehicle dealership or insurance company.
SSA relies on recipients to report changes in their vehicle ownership. If recipients do not report to SSA they have acquired a vehicle, the total value of their resources may exceed the SSI limit without SSA's knowledge. As a result, they may continue receiving SSI payments even though they are no longer eligible. If this happens, they may have to pay back overpayments, have penalties deducted from their SSI payments, or lose SSI eligibility.
The report, Supplemental Security Income Recipients' Vehicle Ownership (022514), analyzed records from 7,137 SSI recipients and examined 208 cases across three groups: recipients who reported (1) no vehicles, (2) one vehicle, or (3) multiple vehicles. The audit assessed whether vehicle ownership was accurately reported and whether vehicle valuations complied with SSA policy, which requires employees to verify fair market value when a recipient owns more than one vehicle.
Key Findings
* Of the 208 cases reviewed, 154 recipients (74 percent) accurately reported their vehicle ownership.
* Public records showed 54 recipients (26 percent) owned vehicles they did not report.
* Thirty-six recipients owned more than one unreported vehicle. In eight of those cases, the value of the additional vehicles placed the individuals over SSI resource limits, resulting in $40,474 in improper SSI payments.
Based on the findings related to recipients' reporting of vehicle ownership, the OIG estimates that, across the full SSI population, approximately 660 recipients were improperly paid about $435,000 because they did not accurately report their vehicle ownership.
Separately, the review found that SSA employees did not properly verify vehicle values in 24 of the 48 applicable cases reviewed. Inaccurate valuations in two cases resulted in $24,618 in improper payments.
The report notes that 95 percent of cases reviewed did not show errors that affected SSI eligibility or payments. As a result, OIG did not make formal recommendations to SSA. However, the Agency may consider whether strengthening controls related to vehicle reporting and valuation would be cost beneficial.
SSA did not provide formal written comments on the draft report, but technical suggestions provided by the Agency were incorporated where appropriate.
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Original text here: https://oig.ssa.gov/news-releases/2026-09-24-audit-finds-most-ssi-vehicle-reports-accurate-but-resource-errors-led-to-improper-payments/
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Audit Finds Most SSI Vehicle Reports Accurate, but Resource Errors Led to Improper Payments
September 24, 2026
The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report examining whether Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients accurately reported their vehicle ownership and whether SSA employees properly valued multiple vehicles when recipients reported owning more than one vehicle.
The SSI program ... Show Full Article WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 25 (TNSbrep) -- The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release: * * * Audit Finds Most SSI Vehicle Reports Accurate, but Resource Errors Led to Improper Payments September 24, 2026 The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report examining whether Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients accurately reported their vehicle ownership and whether SSA employees properly valued multiple vehicles when recipients reported owning more than one vehicle. The SSI programprovides monthly cash assistance to people who are aged, blind, or disabled and have limited income and resources. In June 2026, SSA reportedly issued about $5.8 billion in SSI payments to approximately seven million recipients.
Because SSI is a needs-based program, SSA considers recipients' resources at the beginning of each month when it determines their eligibility for SSI payments. Individuals with countable resources valued above $2,000, and couples with countable resources valued above $3,000, are not eligible for SSI payments.
SSA policy defines a resource as cash, liquid assets, and real or personal property, including vehicles. SSA does not count one vehicle per household as a resource when used for transportation. SSA generally views additional vehicles as countable resources when it determines SSI eligibility. SSA relies on recipients to report the vehicles they own, and it does not independently verify vehicle ownership or identify additional vehicles that recipients own but do not report.
However, if an SSA employee suspects a recipient owns a vehicle they did not report, they may verify state vehicle title and registration information from third parties. When recipients report they own multiple vehicles, policy requires SSA employees verify their fair market values and exclude the vehicle with the highest equity value. Employees may obtain vehicle values from a subscription-based online search tool or, if there is no search available, they may contact a knowledgeable source, such as a vehicle dealership or insurance company.
SSA relies on recipients to report changes in their vehicle ownership. If recipients do not report to SSA they have acquired a vehicle, the total value of their resources may exceed the SSI limit without SSA's knowledge. As a result, they may continue receiving SSI payments even though they are no longer eligible. If this happens, they may have to pay back overpayments, have penalties deducted from their SSI payments, or lose SSI eligibility.
The report, Supplemental Security Income Recipients' Vehicle Ownership (022514), analyzed records from 7,137 SSI recipients and examined 208 cases across three groups: recipients who reported (1) no vehicles, (2) one vehicle, or (3) multiple vehicles. The audit assessed whether vehicle ownership was accurately reported and whether vehicle valuations complied with SSA policy, which requires employees to verify fair market value when a recipient owns more than one vehicle.
Key Findings
* Of the 208 cases reviewed, 154 recipients (74 percent) accurately reported their vehicle ownership.
* Public records showed 54 recipients (26 percent) owned vehicles they did not report.
* Thirty-six recipients owned more than one unreported vehicle. In eight of those cases, the value of the additional vehicles placed the individuals over SSI resource limits, resulting in $40,474 in improper SSI payments.
Based on the findings related to recipients' reporting of vehicle ownership, the OIG estimates that, across the full SSI population, approximately 660 recipients were improperly paid about $435,000 because they did not accurately report their vehicle ownership.
Separately, the review found that SSA employees did not properly verify vehicle values in 24 of the 48 applicable cases reviewed. Inaccurate valuations in two cases resulted in $24,618 in improper payments.
The report notes that 95 percent of cases reviewed did not show errors that affected SSI eligibility or payments. As a result, OIG did not make formal recommendations to SSA. However, the Agency may consider whether strengthening controls related to vehicle reporting and valuation would be cost beneficial.
SSA did not provide formal written comments on the draft report, but technical suggestions provided by the Agency were incorporated where appropriate.
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Original text here: https://oig.ssa.gov/news-releases/2026-09-24-audit-finds-most-ssi-vehicle-reports-accurate-but-resource-errors-led-to-improper-payments/
Smithsonian Zoo Director Shares Untold Stories of Giant Pandas in New Book
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian Zoo Director Shares Untold Stories of Giant Pandas in New Book
With Humor and Candor, Brandie Smith Reveals What It Takes To Save the World's Favorite Bear; Book Proceeds Support Giant Panda Conservation
September 24, 2026
Dr. Brandie Smith knows giant pandas in a way few people ever will. Now, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) is sharing surprising and little-known stories about the nation's most beloved panda ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release: * * * Smithsonian Zoo Director Shares Untold Stories of Giant Pandas in New Book With Humor and Candor, Brandie Smith Reveals What It Takes To Save the World's Favorite Bear; Book Proceeds Support Giant Panda Conservation September 24, 2026 Dr. Brandie Smith knows giant pandas in a way few people ever will. Now, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) is sharing surprising and little-known stories about the nation's most beloved pandafamily and the decades-long effort to save giant pandas from extinction. Published by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, In the Company of Pandas: My Life with the World's Favorite Bear is available for preorder now through major online retailers and goes on sale Tuesday, Nov. 10, in hardcover, eBook and audiobook formats. Proceeds from the book support the NZCBI's giant panda conservation program.
In the Company of Pandas: My Life with the World's Favorite Bear takes readers behind the scenes of caring for three generations of giant panda cele-bear-ities, revealing their distinct personalities, quirks and habits. With humor, candor and firsthand experience, Smith dispels common misconceptions; makes the fascinating science of panda breeding, biology and evolution accessible; and reveals what it really takes to care for these extraordinary animals. From raising panda cubs to navigating the diplomacy involved in bringing pandas from China to Washington, D.C., Smith reveals how science, international collaboration and dedicated animal care have helped change the future of giant pandas--and why continued conservation efforts remain essential.
Smith will celebrate In the Company of Pandas' official publication day, Tuesday, Nov. 10, with a ticketed book talk at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Tickets are $10. Attendees who purchase the book in advance for $30 will receive an autographed copy at the event.
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About the Author
Smith draws on decades of experience in animal care, conservation and zoo management. She has overseen critical breeding programs for endangered species and witnessed some of the most dramatic moments in panda conservation history. Originally from Indiana, Pennsylvania, she grew up around animals and began her professional career as an intern at the Pittsburgh Zoo and NZCBI. Today, she leads one of the world's premier zoological and research institutions in its mission to save global biodiversity.
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Early Praise for In the Company of Pandas
"Cheerful and enlightening...Panda fans will be delighted...A sparkling account of caring for beloved bears."
--Kirkus Reviews
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"[Smith's] passion for the creatures shines throughout. Animal lovers will find much to appreciate."
-- Publishers Weekly
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Product Details
Title: In the Company of Pandas
Author: Brandie Smith
Publisher: Atria Books
ISBN: 978-1-66802-772-1
Retail Price: $30.00
Formats: Hardcover, eBook and unabridged audiobook
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Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI)
NZCBI leads the Smithsonian's global effort to save species, better understand ecosystems and train future generations of conservationists. Its two campuses are home to more than 2,200 animals, including some of the world's most critically endangered species. Always free of charge, the Zoo's 163-acre park in the heart of Washington, D.C., features animals representing 400 species and is a popular destination for children and families. At the Conservation Biology Institute's 3,200-acre campus in Virginia, breeding and veterinary research on nearly 250 animals representing 20 species provide critical data for the management of animals in human care and valuable insights for conservation of wild populations. NZCBI's 305 staff and scientists work in Washington, D.C., Virginia and with partners at field sites across the United States and in more than 45 countries to save wildlife, collaborate with communities and conserve native habitats. NZCBI is a long-standing accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-zoo-director-shares-untold-stories-giant-pandas-new-book
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Smithsonian Zoo Director Shares Untold Stories of Giant Pandas in New Book
With Humor and Candor, Brandie Smith Reveals What It Takes To Save the World's Favorite Bear; Book Proceeds Support Giant Panda Conservation
September 24, 2026
Dr. Brandie Smith knows giant pandas in a way few people ever will. Now, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) is sharing surprising and little-known stories about the nation's most beloved panda ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release: * * * Smithsonian Zoo Director Shares Untold Stories of Giant Pandas in New Book With Humor and Candor, Brandie Smith Reveals What It Takes To Save the World's Favorite Bear; Book Proceeds Support Giant Panda Conservation September 24, 2026 Dr. Brandie Smith knows giant pandas in a way few people ever will. Now, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) is sharing surprising and little-known stories about the nation's most beloved pandafamily and the decades-long effort to save giant pandas from extinction. Published by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, In the Company of Pandas: My Life with the World's Favorite Bear is available for preorder now through major online retailers and goes on sale Tuesday, Nov. 10, in hardcover, eBook and audiobook formats. Proceeds from the book support the NZCBI's giant panda conservation program.
In the Company of Pandas: My Life with the World's Favorite Bear takes readers behind the scenes of caring for three generations of giant panda cele-bear-ities, revealing their distinct personalities, quirks and habits. With humor, candor and firsthand experience, Smith dispels common misconceptions; makes the fascinating science of panda breeding, biology and evolution accessible; and reveals what it really takes to care for these extraordinary animals. From raising panda cubs to navigating the diplomacy involved in bringing pandas from China to Washington, D.C., Smith reveals how science, international collaboration and dedicated animal care have helped change the future of giant pandas--and why continued conservation efforts remain essential.
Smith will celebrate In the Company of Pandas' official publication day, Tuesday, Nov. 10, with a ticketed book talk at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Tickets are $10. Attendees who purchase the book in advance for $30 will receive an autographed copy at the event.
* * *
About the Author
Smith draws on decades of experience in animal care, conservation and zoo management. She has overseen critical breeding programs for endangered species and witnessed some of the most dramatic moments in panda conservation history. Originally from Indiana, Pennsylvania, she grew up around animals and began her professional career as an intern at the Pittsburgh Zoo and NZCBI. Today, she leads one of the world's premier zoological and research institutions in its mission to save global biodiversity.
* * *
Early Praise for In the Company of Pandas
"Cheerful and enlightening...Panda fans will be delighted...A sparkling account of caring for beloved bears."
--Kirkus Reviews
* * *
"[Smith's] passion for the creatures shines throughout. Animal lovers will find much to appreciate."
-- Publishers Weekly
* * *
Product Details
Title: In the Company of Pandas
Author: Brandie Smith
Publisher: Atria Books
ISBN: 978-1-66802-772-1
Retail Price: $30.00
Formats: Hardcover, eBook and unabridged audiobook
* * *
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI)
NZCBI leads the Smithsonian's global effort to save species, better understand ecosystems and train future generations of conservationists. Its two campuses are home to more than 2,200 animals, including some of the world's most critically endangered species. Always free of charge, the Zoo's 163-acre park in the heart of Washington, D.C., features animals representing 400 species and is a popular destination for children and families. At the Conservation Biology Institute's 3,200-acre campus in Virginia, breeding and veterinary research on nearly 250 animals representing 20 species provide critical data for the management of animals in human care and valuable insights for conservation of wild populations. NZCBI's 305 staff and scientists work in Washington, D.C., Virginia and with partners at field sites across the United States and in more than 45 countries to save wildlife, collaborate with communities and conserve native habitats. NZCBI is a long-standing accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-zoo-director-shares-untold-stories-giant-pandas-new-book
SBA Announces $18 Million in Awards to Small Businesses in Critical Suppliers Competition
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA Announces $18 Million in Awards to Small Businesses in Critical Suppliers Competition
Awards to accelerate seven innovators strengthening U.S. supply chains
September 24, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the winners of its first-ever Critical Suppliers Prize Competition, awarding more than $18 million in non-dilutive prize funding to seven small businesses. The awards will enable the companies to modernize equipment, expand production capacity, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release: * * * SBA Announces $18 Million in Awards to Small Businesses in Critical Suppliers Competition Awards to accelerate seven innovators strengthening U.S. supply chains September 24, 2026 WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the winners of its first-ever Critical Suppliers Prize Competition, awarding more than $18 million in non-dilutive prize funding to seven small businesses. The awards will enable the companies to modernize equipment, expand production capacity,and scale U.S.-based manufacturing of critical defense, aerospace, shipbuilding, and advanced-materials components--helping address key supply chain chokepoints, strengthen America's industrial base, and reinforce the nation's economic resilience and national security.
"Capital is a force multiplier for small businesses, and the awards in the Critical Suppliers Prize Competition will unleash more productive capacity to strengthen America's supply chains, drive job growth, and align the agency's programs with real results," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "The competition was based on specific objectives and uses for the capital to grow and reshore manufacturing capabilities. These awards will give proven industrialists the resources to scale faster, invest in new equipment, and deliver the materials, components, and technologies our country needs across our most important sectors, from defense to energy. By backing these businesses, the Trump SBA is helping rebuild the industrial strength that will power America's economy and national security for decades to come. "
Awardees plan to use the Critical Suppliers Prize Competition funding to modernize equipment, expand production capacity, and strengthen the domestic industrial base that supports America's national security. From Trenton Forging's investment in new hydraulic power hammers and JD Machine's purchase of additional precision-machining equipment to Alabama Shipyard's fabrication upgrades, the awards will help these businesses increase output, improve efficiency, and take on more work as manufacturers reshore production that was sent overseas for years.
Queen City Forging, Jet Helseth Manufacturing, ShaloTek, and Synthio Chemicals will similarly use their awards to automate and scale production of critical components and materials for defense platforms including drones, submarines, and missiles, while creating room for future hiring and accelerated reshoring to ensure America's industrial capacity remains ahead of foreign adversaries.
The following seven awardees will receive a portion of the $18 million:
Trenton Forging - Trenton, Michigan
Founded in 1967, Trenton Forging is a third-generation family-owned manufacturer of custom impression die forging in Trenton, Michigan. Using advanced manufacturing processes and technologies, Trenton Forging's impression-die forgings are designed for a wide range of applications, from military and firearm parts such as bolt breeches to heavy-duty truck parts such as steering arms and cams. From simple to complex, Trenton Forging serves an American owned, American made supply chain solution for customers in the agriculture, construction, commercial truck, marine, racing/performance, railroad, and defense industries.
JD Machine Corp. - Ogden, Utah
JD Machine is a family-owned precision CNC machining manufacturer in Ogden, Utah, established in 1979. JD Machine delivers precision components and assemblies with scalable production systems for mission-critical aerospace, defense, mining, and medical industries. Working with a wide range of metals, engineering plastics, and composites including aluminum, magnesium, carbon and stainless steels, titanium, Inconel and high temperature alloys, tungsten, brass, copper and bronze, JD Machine uses state of the art multi axis CNC machines including dual-spindle CNC turning centers, 4- and 5-axis CNC milling cells and in-house sheet-metal fabrication to produce complex parts requiring tight tolerances.
Alabama Shipyard LLC - Mobile, Alabama
Established in 2019, Alabama Shipyard continues the legacy of a Mobile facility founded in 1916 to build and maintain vessels for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Alabama Shipyard is a full-service shipyard operating one of the largest floating drydocks in the United States at over 787 ft long and 164 ft wide. It provides maintenance, repair, overhaul, and conversion services for commercial and government vessels. The company also performs shipbreaking, supporting vessel needs from operational maintenance through end-of-service dismantling.
The Queen City Forging Company - Cincinnati, Ohio
The Queen City Forging Company (QCF), based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a privately owned company with more than 140 years of experience in producing high-quality forged metal components that include everything from railroad relays to diesel engines to agricultural equipment to aerospace forgings. Specializing in aluminum, ferrous, and non-ferrous alloy forgings, QCF has a proven track record in innovative manufacturing, including collaborative R&D with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) on infrared heating technology (awarded R&D 100 and Ohio Edison Innovation Awards) and holding U.S. Patent 7,544,256 B2. The company serves OEMs in turbocharger, UAV propulsion, rail, medical, and agricultural sectors.
Jet Helseth Manufacturing Inc. - DeLand, Florida
Jet Helseth Manufacturing is a precision machining services company in DeLand, Florida, operating since 1995. It provides not only CNC precision machining but also engineering support, inspection and testing, assembly, finishing (including heat-treating, plating, sand blasting and anodizing) and laser marking services. Jet Helseth's customers operate in the defense, aerospace, medical, and general commercial industrial sectors.
ShaloTek Inc. - Statesboro, Georgia
ShaloTek is a precision machining services company based in Statesboro, Georgia, serving aerospace, defense, industrial OEM, and consumer markets. Its capabilities include 3- and 5-axis CNC milling, turning, and wire electrical discharge machining for complex, tight-tolerance components. ShaloTek employs a 24/7 production cycle with state of the art automated workflows and advanced manufacturing processes with 5-axis production cells and robotic loading/unloading.
Synthio Chemicals, Inc. - Boulder, Colorado
Synthio Chemicals is a Boulder, Colorado-based chemical manufacturing and engineering services firm that produces fine and specialty chemicals for industrial, aerospace, and defense applications. It uses a proprietary continuous flow production platform to rapidly and safely produce chemicals that are difficult to manufacture safely and economically at scale. Its custom production includes propellant binding agents, antioxidants and stabilizers, high-nitrogen precursors, and energetic plasticizers and binders.
The SBA is committed to rebuilding American supply chains and domestic manufacturing through a series of targeted initiatives. This year, the agency waived loan fees for manufacturing NAICS codes, established the first-ever loan program dedicated to American manufacturers, and modernized the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program so more private capital flows into critical, supply chain sensitive industries. The agency also announced a new 90% Made in America Loan Guarantee for small manufacturers and continues to promote existing programs such as the asset-based 7(a) Working Capital Pilot (WCP) Program. Through its ongoing Supplier Matchmaking Expo series and its Make Onshoring Great Again Portal, the agency plays an active role in helping large companies source small suppliers to onshore supply chains.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/09/24/sba-announces-18-million-awards-small-businesses-critical-suppliers-competition
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SBA Announces $18 Million in Awards to Small Businesses in Critical Suppliers Competition
Awards to accelerate seven innovators strengthening U.S. supply chains
September 24, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the winners of its first-ever Critical Suppliers Prize Competition, awarding more than $18 million in non-dilutive prize funding to seven small businesses. The awards will enable the companies to modernize equipment, expand production capacity, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release: * * * SBA Announces $18 Million in Awards to Small Businesses in Critical Suppliers Competition Awards to accelerate seven innovators strengthening U.S. supply chains September 24, 2026 WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the winners of its first-ever Critical Suppliers Prize Competition, awarding more than $18 million in non-dilutive prize funding to seven small businesses. The awards will enable the companies to modernize equipment, expand production capacity,and scale U.S.-based manufacturing of critical defense, aerospace, shipbuilding, and advanced-materials components--helping address key supply chain chokepoints, strengthen America's industrial base, and reinforce the nation's economic resilience and national security.
"Capital is a force multiplier for small businesses, and the awards in the Critical Suppliers Prize Competition will unleash more productive capacity to strengthen America's supply chains, drive job growth, and align the agency's programs with real results," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "The competition was based on specific objectives and uses for the capital to grow and reshore manufacturing capabilities. These awards will give proven industrialists the resources to scale faster, invest in new equipment, and deliver the materials, components, and technologies our country needs across our most important sectors, from defense to energy. By backing these businesses, the Trump SBA is helping rebuild the industrial strength that will power America's economy and national security for decades to come. "
Awardees plan to use the Critical Suppliers Prize Competition funding to modernize equipment, expand production capacity, and strengthen the domestic industrial base that supports America's national security. From Trenton Forging's investment in new hydraulic power hammers and JD Machine's purchase of additional precision-machining equipment to Alabama Shipyard's fabrication upgrades, the awards will help these businesses increase output, improve efficiency, and take on more work as manufacturers reshore production that was sent overseas for years.
Queen City Forging, Jet Helseth Manufacturing, ShaloTek, and Synthio Chemicals will similarly use their awards to automate and scale production of critical components and materials for defense platforms including drones, submarines, and missiles, while creating room for future hiring and accelerated reshoring to ensure America's industrial capacity remains ahead of foreign adversaries.
The following seven awardees will receive a portion of the $18 million:
Trenton Forging - Trenton, Michigan
Founded in 1967, Trenton Forging is a third-generation family-owned manufacturer of custom impression die forging in Trenton, Michigan. Using advanced manufacturing processes and technologies, Trenton Forging's impression-die forgings are designed for a wide range of applications, from military and firearm parts such as bolt breeches to heavy-duty truck parts such as steering arms and cams. From simple to complex, Trenton Forging serves an American owned, American made supply chain solution for customers in the agriculture, construction, commercial truck, marine, racing/performance, railroad, and defense industries.
JD Machine Corp. - Ogden, Utah
JD Machine is a family-owned precision CNC machining manufacturer in Ogden, Utah, established in 1979. JD Machine delivers precision components and assemblies with scalable production systems for mission-critical aerospace, defense, mining, and medical industries. Working with a wide range of metals, engineering plastics, and composites including aluminum, magnesium, carbon and stainless steels, titanium, Inconel and high temperature alloys, tungsten, brass, copper and bronze, JD Machine uses state of the art multi axis CNC machines including dual-spindle CNC turning centers, 4- and 5-axis CNC milling cells and in-house sheet-metal fabrication to produce complex parts requiring tight tolerances.
Alabama Shipyard LLC - Mobile, Alabama
Established in 2019, Alabama Shipyard continues the legacy of a Mobile facility founded in 1916 to build and maintain vessels for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Alabama Shipyard is a full-service shipyard operating one of the largest floating drydocks in the United States at over 787 ft long and 164 ft wide. It provides maintenance, repair, overhaul, and conversion services for commercial and government vessels. The company also performs shipbreaking, supporting vessel needs from operational maintenance through end-of-service dismantling.
The Queen City Forging Company - Cincinnati, Ohio
The Queen City Forging Company (QCF), based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a privately owned company with more than 140 years of experience in producing high-quality forged metal components that include everything from railroad relays to diesel engines to agricultural equipment to aerospace forgings. Specializing in aluminum, ferrous, and non-ferrous alloy forgings, QCF has a proven track record in innovative manufacturing, including collaborative R&D with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) on infrared heating technology (awarded R&D 100 and Ohio Edison Innovation Awards) and holding U.S. Patent 7,544,256 B2. The company serves OEMs in turbocharger, UAV propulsion, rail, medical, and agricultural sectors.
Jet Helseth Manufacturing Inc. - DeLand, Florida
Jet Helseth Manufacturing is a precision machining services company in DeLand, Florida, operating since 1995. It provides not only CNC precision machining but also engineering support, inspection and testing, assembly, finishing (including heat-treating, plating, sand blasting and anodizing) and laser marking services. Jet Helseth's customers operate in the defense, aerospace, medical, and general commercial industrial sectors.
ShaloTek Inc. - Statesboro, Georgia
ShaloTek is a precision machining services company based in Statesboro, Georgia, serving aerospace, defense, industrial OEM, and consumer markets. Its capabilities include 3- and 5-axis CNC milling, turning, and wire electrical discharge machining for complex, tight-tolerance components. ShaloTek employs a 24/7 production cycle with state of the art automated workflows and advanced manufacturing processes with 5-axis production cells and robotic loading/unloading.
Synthio Chemicals, Inc. - Boulder, Colorado
Synthio Chemicals is a Boulder, Colorado-based chemical manufacturing and engineering services firm that produces fine and specialty chemicals for industrial, aerospace, and defense applications. It uses a proprietary continuous flow production platform to rapidly and safely produce chemicals that are difficult to manufacture safely and economically at scale. Its custom production includes propellant binding agents, antioxidants and stabilizers, high-nitrogen precursors, and energetic plasticizers and binders.
The SBA is committed to rebuilding American supply chains and domestic manufacturing through a series of targeted initiatives. This year, the agency waived loan fees for manufacturing NAICS codes, established the first-ever loan program dedicated to American manufacturers, and modernized the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program so more private capital flows into critical, supply chain sensitive industries. The agency also announced a new 90% Made in America Loan Guarantee for small manufacturers and continues to promote existing programs such as the asset-based 7(a) Working Capital Pilot (WCP) Program. Through its ongoing Supplier Matchmaking Expo series and its Make Onshoring Great Again Portal, the agency plays an active role in helping large companies source small suppliers to onshore supply chains.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/09/24/sba-announces-18-million-awards-small-businesses-critical-suppliers-competition
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine: How the National Academies Are Informing Discussions of AI Progress and Safety
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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How the National Academies Are Informing Discussions of AI Progress and Safety
September 24, 2026
Worries about the potential risks of the newest AI models, and how to govern and mitigate AI safety concerns without stifling technological progress, have been dominating headlines of late. The National Academies have been at the forefront of efforts in the last couple of years to better understand what advances in AI mean for researchers and society at large.
In 2024, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release: * * * How the National Academies Are Informing Discussions of AI Progress and Safety September 24, 2026 Worries about the potential risks of the newest AI models, and how to govern and mitigate AI safety concerns without stifling technological progress, have been dominating headlines of late. The National Academies have been at the forefront of efforts in the last couple of years to better understand what advances in AI mean for researchers and society at large. In 2024,for example, the National Academy of Sciences convened a group of experts to consider how AI could be used responsibly in research while upholding long-standing scientific norms and principles.
And last year, the National Academies issued a report on what AI means for the future of work, while another report reviewed the benefits and risks of AI in biotechnology. More recently, a rapid expert consultation examined the implications of recent advances in AI for cybersecurity.
"Whenever a breakthrough technology has emerged, the National Academies have played a leading role in helping guide decision-makers who are grappling with often profound questions about the risks and benefits of new discoveries," said National Academy of Sciences President Neil H. Shubin. "AI is one of those transformational technologies, and the National Academies are continually seeking opportunities to explore how it can be pursued and applied safely and for the benefit of all."
More highlights of recent AI-related work at the National Academies can be found here (https://www.nationalacademies.org/topics/artificial-intelligence). In addition, Issues in Science and Technology has published dozens of essays (https://issues.org/topic/artificial-intelligence/) on AI's impact on research, higher education, jobs, and more.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/how-the-national-academies-are-informing-discussions-of-ai-progress-and-safety
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How the National Academies Are Informing Discussions of AI Progress and Safety
September 24, 2026
Worries about the potential risks of the newest AI models, and how to govern and mitigate AI safety concerns without stifling technological progress, have been dominating headlines of late. The National Academies have been at the forefront of efforts in the last couple of years to better understand what advances in AI mean for researchers and society at large.
In 2024, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release: * * * How the National Academies Are Informing Discussions of AI Progress and Safety September 24, 2026 Worries about the potential risks of the newest AI models, and how to govern and mitigate AI safety concerns without stifling technological progress, have been dominating headlines of late. The National Academies have been at the forefront of efforts in the last couple of years to better understand what advances in AI mean for researchers and society at large. In 2024,for example, the National Academy of Sciences convened a group of experts to consider how AI could be used responsibly in research while upholding long-standing scientific norms and principles.
And last year, the National Academies issued a report on what AI means for the future of work, while another report reviewed the benefits and risks of AI in biotechnology. More recently, a rapid expert consultation examined the implications of recent advances in AI for cybersecurity.
"Whenever a breakthrough technology has emerged, the National Academies have played a leading role in helping guide decision-makers who are grappling with often profound questions about the risks and benefits of new discoveries," said National Academy of Sciences President Neil H. Shubin. "AI is one of those transformational technologies, and the National Academies are continually seeking opportunities to explore how it can be pursued and applied safely and for the benefit of all."
More highlights of recent AI-related work at the National Academies can be found here (https://www.nationalacademies.org/topics/artificial-intelligence). In addition, Issues in Science and Technology has published dozens of essays (https://issues.org/topic/artificial-intelligence/) on AI's impact on research, higher education, jobs, and more.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/how-the-national-academies-are-informing-discussions-of-ai-progress-and-safety
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: U.S.-India Satellite Captures Time-lapse Video of Volcanic Eruption
PASADENA, California, Sept. 25 -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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US-India Satellite Captures Time-lapse Video of Volcanic Eruption
Sept. 24, 2026
Returning to the same spot in orbit numerous times over several months, NISAR documented the ongoing lava flow from a volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Like tendrils on a vine, lava spreads out from the northern crater of Krasheninnikov, a volcano pair on the Pacific coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. On July 30, 2025, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake had struck in the nearby ocean, apparently jolting one of the ... Show Full Article PASADENA, California, Sept. 25 -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news: * * * US-India Satellite Captures Time-lapse Video of Volcanic Eruption Sept. 24, 2026 Returning to the same spot in orbit numerous times over several months, NISAR documented the ongoing lava flow from a volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Like tendrils on a vine, lava spreads out from the northern crater of Krasheninnikov, a volcano pair on the Pacific coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. On July 30, 2025, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake had struck in the nearby ocean, apparently jolting one of thetwo volcanoes awake. A few days later, for the first time in nearly five centuries, Krasheninnikov started erupting. Since that day, the northern volcano has been spilling a steady, eastward-flowing field of molten rock and debris, and the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission has been tracking the changes in the landscape.
From its vantage point 464 miles (747 kilometers) above the surface, NISAR captured an image of Krasheninnikov on Dec. 25, 2025, just as the Earth-observing satellite was finishing post-launch checks and becoming operational. Twice every 12 days since -- once as the satellite passed south to north, and again as it passed north to south -- NISAR has returned to the same spot in orbit and taken detailed radar snapshots.
Researchers put 17 of the frames captured through mid-August into sequence, forming a time-lapse video that shows lava filling a smaller, inner caldera, then overflowing into a wider crater before widening into a fan. The animation highlights how NISAR's observations can monitor the development of natural hazards, both for science and potentially for emergency response.
Though remote, many of Kamchatka's dozens of volcanoes are closely monitored with ground instruments because they erupt frequently. Not so with Krasheninnikov, which has been quiet since about the year 1550. That NISAR's L-band radar observed it at all speaks to the satellite's near-global coverage of the planet's land surface at resolutions in the dozens of feet; that it captured the erupting volcano over time shows the precision and reliability of its measurements.
"The consistency is crucial. Twice every 12 days, acquiring in this high-resolution mode and in two observation directions, this shows the promise of NISAR to closely monitor natural hazards," said Matthew Pritchard, a member of the NISAR science team and geophysicist at Cornell University who analyzed the data used to create the animation.
Images from microwaves
The detail in a single NISAR image results from the use of synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, a specialized processing technique pioneered by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California for Earth observation from space. As the satellite orbits, the radar sends thousands of microwave pulses per second to Earth and receives the return signals, each of which is effectively a snapshot in time that contains information about the properties and characteristics of the surface below.
The SAR processing combines the many images of the same area, sharpening the view just as a lens brings a blurry object into focus. Each pixel in the individual frames of the Krasheninnikov time-lapse represents about a 30-foot-by-30-foot (10-meter-by-10-meter) square on the surface -- about half the size of a tennis court.
Lava shows up lighter in the images due to the way that microwaves reflect more brightly compared with the surrounding surface, which, depending on the time of year, is either snow or bare ground. In addition to the lava field growing to the east, the video shows another flow to the northwest, one that likely formed before NISAR captured the first NISAR image.
When Pritchard was doing his doctoral research on Kamchatka volcanoes more than 20 years ago, analysis-ready radar data was difficult to come by, both because satellites didn't revisit as often and the resolution of the images was relatively low.
Now in addition to getting frequent and comprehensive coverage of virtually all the planet's roughly 1,300 active, above-sea-level volcanoes, the images are sharp down to the several-meter scale and are easily accessible via the cloud.
"We're seeing volcanoes around the world that we've never really had eyes on like this before," said Pritchard.
The NISAR satellite is the first free-flying space mission to feature two radar instruments: an L-band system and an S-band system. The systems are complementary due to their differing wavelengths. For example, the longer-wave L-band can pass through tree canopies, imaging the ground beneath. Meanwhile, depending on leaf sizes, S-band can collect observations of those canopies.
The data products from the NISAR mission's L-band radar are available at the Alaska Satellite Facility Distributed Active Archive Center in Fairbanks, which hosts and distributes all NASA synthetic aperture radar data.
More about NISAR
Managed by Caltech for NASA, JPL leads the United States component of the project and provided the satellite's L-band SAR and antenna reflector. The spacecraft bus and its S-band SAR were provided by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).
The NISAR satellite is the first to carry two SAR instruments at different wavelengths, collecting data using the spacecraft's giant drum-shaped reflector, which measures 39 feet (12 meters) wide, which is the largest radar antenna reflector NASA has sent into space.
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/us-india-satellite-captures-time-lapse-video-of-volcanic-eruption/
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US-India Satellite Captures Time-lapse Video of Volcanic Eruption
Sept. 24, 2026
Returning to the same spot in orbit numerous times over several months, NISAR documented the ongoing lava flow from a volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Like tendrils on a vine, lava spreads out from the northern crater of Krasheninnikov, a volcano pair on the Pacific coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. On July 30, 2025, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake had struck in the nearby ocean, apparently jolting one of the ... Show Full Article PASADENA, California, Sept. 25 -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news: * * * US-India Satellite Captures Time-lapse Video of Volcanic Eruption Sept. 24, 2026 Returning to the same spot in orbit numerous times over several months, NISAR documented the ongoing lava flow from a volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Like tendrils on a vine, lava spreads out from the northern crater of Krasheninnikov, a volcano pair on the Pacific coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. On July 30, 2025, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake had struck in the nearby ocean, apparently jolting one of thetwo volcanoes awake. A few days later, for the first time in nearly five centuries, Krasheninnikov started erupting. Since that day, the northern volcano has been spilling a steady, eastward-flowing field of molten rock and debris, and the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission has been tracking the changes in the landscape.
From its vantage point 464 miles (747 kilometers) above the surface, NISAR captured an image of Krasheninnikov on Dec. 25, 2025, just as the Earth-observing satellite was finishing post-launch checks and becoming operational. Twice every 12 days since -- once as the satellite passed south to north, and again as it passed north to south -- NISAR has returned to the same spot in orbit and taken detailed radar snapshots.
Researchers put 17 of the frames captured through mid-August into sequence, forming a time-lapse video that shows lava filling a smaller, inner caldera, then overflowing into a wider crater before widening into a fan. The animation highlights how NISAR's observations can monitor the development of natural hazards, both for science and potentially for emergency response.
Though remote, many of Kamchatka's dozens of volcanoes are closely monitored with ground instruments because they erupt frequently. Not so with Krasheninnikov, which has been quiet since about the year 1550. That NISAR's L-band radar observed it at all speaks to the satellite's near-global coverage of the planet's land surface at resolutions in the dozens of feet; that it captured the erupting volcano over time shows the precision and reliability of its measurements.
"The consistency is crucial. Twice every 12 days, acquiring in this high-resolution mode and in two observation directions, this shows the promise of NISAR to closely monitor natural hazards," said Matthew Pritchard, a member of the NISAR science team and geophysicist at Cornell University who analyzed the data used to create the animation.
Images from microwaves
The detail in a single NISAR image results from the use of synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, a specialized processing technique pioneered by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California for Earth observation from space. As the satellite orbits, the radar sends thousands of microwave pulses per second to Earth and receives the return signals, each of which is effectively a snapshot in time that contains information about the properties and characteristics of the surface below.
The SAR processing combines the many images of the same area, sharpening the view just as a lens brings a blurry object into focus. Each pixel in the individual frames of the Krasheninnikov time-lapse represents about a 30-foot-by-30-foot (10-meter-by-10-meter) square on the surface -- about half the size of a tennis court.
Lava shows up lighter in the images due to the way that microwaves reflect more brightly compared with the surrounding surface, which, depending on the time of year, is either snow or bare ground. In addition to the lava field growing to the east, the video shows another flow to the northwest, one that likely formed before NISAR captured the first NISAR image.
When Pritchard was doing his doctoral research on Kamchatka volcanoes more than 20 years ago, analysis-ready radar data was difficult to come by, both because satellites didn't revisit as often and the resolution of the images was relatively low.
Now in addition to getting frequent and comprehensive coverage of virtually all the planet's roughly 1,300 active, above-sea-level volcanoes, the images are sharp down to the several-meter scale and are easily accessible via the cloud.
"We're seeing volcanoes around the world that we've never really had eyes on like this before," said Pritchard.
The NISAR satellite is the first free-flying space mission to feature two radar instruments: an L-band system and an S-band system. The systems are complementary due to their differing wavelengths. For example, the longer-wave L-band can pass through tree canopies, imaging the ground beneath. Meanwhile, depending on leaf sizes, S-band can collect observations of those canopies.
The data products from the NISAR mission's L-band radar are available at the Alaska Satellite Facility Distributed Active Archive Center in Fairbanks, which hosts and distributes all NASA synthetic aperture radar data.
More about NISAR
Managed by Caltech for NASA, JPL leads the United States component of the project and provided the satellite's L-band SAR and antenna reflector. The spacecraft bus and its S-band SAR were provided by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).
The NISAR satellite is the first to carry two SAR instruments at different wavelengths, collecting data using the spacecraft's giant drum-shaped reflector, which measures 39 feet (12 meters) wide, which is the largest radar antenna reflector NASA has sent into space.
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/us-india-satellite-captures-time-lapse-video-of-volcanic-eruption/
Major Exhibition Exploring the Creative Process of Printmaking Across Nearly Five Centuries Opens at the National Gallery of Art
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Major Exhibition Exploring the Creative Process of Printmaking Across Nearly Five Centuries Opens at the National Gallery of Art
September 24, 2026
Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work features more than 150 prints, preparatory drawings, and printing matrices by artists ranging from Rembrandt to Picasso, among many others
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Washington, DC--The National Gallery of Art presents Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work, an exhibition that reveals how artists have used printmaking as a medium of experimentation, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release: * * * Major Exhibition Exploring the Creative Process of Printmaking Across Nearly Five Centuries Opens at the National Gallery of Art September 24, 2026 Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work features more than 150 prints, preparatory drawings, and printing matrices by artists ranging from Rembrandt to Picasso, among many others - Washington, DC--The National Gallery of Art presents Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work, an exhibition that reveals how artists have used printmaking as a medium of experimentation,revision, and discovery for nearly five centuries. Bringing together over 150 works by artists including Mary Cassatt, Leonardo Drew, Jasper Johns, Pablo Picasso, and Rembrandt van Rijn, all from the National Gallery's renowned collection of more than 120,000 prints and drawings, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness artistic ideas as they evolve through trial and error, technical innovation, and creative problem-solving. Tinker Tinker is on view in the West Building from December 19, 2026, to June 13, 2027.
Unlike painting or sculpture, printmaking allows artists to repeatedly alter a matrix--the ink-bearing surface of a copper plate, woodblock, or lithographic stone--and produce new impressions at each stage of an image's development. These successive "states" preserve a visual record of artistic decision-making, capturing moments when compositions are layered, simplified, refined, or entirely reimagined. Through preparatory drawings, states, rare proofs, and printing matrices, Tinker Tinker demonstrates how artists have embraced printmaking's uniquely iterative nature to test ideas and push the boundaries of artistic expression.
"The National Gallery's vast holdings of prints and drawings offer unparalleled opportunities to explore the history of artistic innovation. Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work brings together exceptional works by artistic masters across nearly 500 years, including rare proofs, printing matrices, and preparatory materials that are seldom displayed alongside finished prints," said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art. "By illuminating the creative decisions behind these works, the exhibition offers new insight into the ingenuity and creative process at the heart of printmaking."
Organized chronologically from the 17th century to the present, the exhibition unfolds through a series of focused installations that illuminate both artistic process and technical innovation. Visitors are introduced to the medium through the work of Rembrandt van Rijn, whose experimentation transformed printmaking in the 17th century. Highlights include an etched copper plate created by Rembrandt in 1656, displayed alongside two versions of the final print, allowing visitors to see how a single matrix could generate multiple versions of an image. Other works document how the artist refined his ideas and revised his compositions over time, including adjusting passages of light and shadow.
Tinker Tinker offers insight into the ways that artists across time have embraced the unpredictability of the printmaking process. A section devoted to accidents demonstrates how mistakes often became opportunities for invention, while another section focused on proofing and color printing techniques reveals the complex technical processes required to translate an image from concept to print. Progressive color proofs from the 18th century show artists and printmakers building compositions layer by layer, offering insight into the collaborative nature of print production.
The exhibition also highlights artists who expanded the visual possibilities of printmaking. Inspired by Japanese woodcuts, Cassatt created innovative color prints of modern women, including The Bath (1890-1891) and The Fitting (1890-1891). Preparatory drawings and multiple states for each print reveal how she developed some of the most celebrated images of her career through a process of sustained experimentation.
By the late 19th century, artists increasingly embraced printmaking as a site of innovation and artistic freedom. Works by Pierre Bonnard, Edvard Munch, Jan Toorop, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and others demonstrate how the exploration of color lithography and woodcut helped to transform the visual language of modern art. One grouping brings together 26 impressions of Jacques Villon's La Parisienne (1902-1903), allowing visitors to follow the artist's evolving investigation of color, texture, and atmosphere across numerous variations of a single composition.
Another highlight of the exhibition is Pablo Picasso's celebrated lithographic sequence The Bull (1945-1946), one of the most compelling demonstrations of printmaking's capacity for experimentation. Across 11 progressively simplified states, Picasso transformed a naturalistic representation of a bull into a radically abstract image, revealing how addition, subtraction, and revision can generate entirely new ways of seeing.
The physical tools of printmaking are also a key focus of the exhibition. Visitors will encounter six woodblocks, a copper plate, a lithographic stone, and other matrices together with the prints they produced, making visible the material processes that typically remain hidden from view. One gallery will feature the preparatory drawing, woodblocks, and color progressive proofs for Gustave Baumann's Bright Angel Trail (1930), offering a comprehensive look at the creation of a complex color woodcut.
The exhibition concludes with contemporary works that demonstrate the vitality and continued relevance of printmaking today. Projects by Nicole Eisenman and Leonardo Drew, made with the New York City-based printmaking workshop Harlan & Weaver and the San Francisco-based printmaking workshop Crown Point Press, respectively, highlight the important role of the technical expertise of master printers and collaborative workshops in present-day artistic practice. Drew's seven prints made with Crown Point Press capture his exploration of abstraction through unconventional techniques, such as applying raw egg white to the grounds on his copper plates to induce irregular patterns of cracks and lines in the resulting prints.
Accompanying videos and interactive elements further illuminate the techniques represented throughout the exhibition, helping visitors understand how artists manipulate line, color, tone, texture, and composition as images move from initial concept to finished print. By revealing the stages between inspiration and completion, Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work offers a rare look at the creative process itself and demonstrates why printmaking has remained one of art history's most dynamic and innovative mediums.
Exhibition Organization and Support
Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work is organized by the National Gallery of Art. Leadership support for the exhibition has been generously provided by the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust.
Exhibition Curator
This exhibition is curated by Rena M. Hoisington, curator and head of old master and 19th-century prints, National Gallery of Art.
In the Library: Secrets of the Printed Image
In conjunction with Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work, the National Gallery of Art Library presents an installation of manuals and instructional books on printmaking spanning the 17th to the 20th centuries. Highlights include French artist Abraham Bosse's influential 1645 manual on etching and engraving, Traicte des manieres de graver en taille douce sur l'airin, featuring a series of etchings by Bosse that illustrate the process. These depictions remained relevant until the 19th century, continuing to be reproduced and reused. Nine additional editions, translations, and adaptations of Bosse's manual published through 1770 provide a comprehensive view of these plates. Manuals from the late 18th and early 19th centuries demonstrate advancements in engraving such as mezzotint, early color printing experiments, stipple and chalk-manner engraving, and aquatint techniques.
A dedicated section on the Etching Revival of the late 19th and early 20th centuries will showcase British artist Frank Short's work, including all three editions of his publication On the Making of Etchings, with a copy of the second edition containing his annotations and revisions for the third edition. The introduction of lithography in the early 19th century will be represented by works from Godefroy Engelmann, Charles Joseph Hullmandel, and Alois Senefelder, among others. Lithography fundamentally transformed printmaking by enabling artists to draw directly onto the printing stone, rather than transferring images from drawings to plates by etching and engraving tools, often with the help of a skilled specialist.
The installation concludes with a section on wood engraving, beginning with Thomas Bewick's innovative introduction of the technique at the close of the 18th century and extending to prominent 20th-century wood engravers such as Clare Leighton, Barry Moser, and Hans Alexander Mueller. Because it could be printed alongside metal type, wood engraving became the preferred method for book illustration throughout the 19th century. Photomechanical reproduction eventually took precedence, but wood engraving continued to flourish in the fine press movement through the 20th century.
Curated by Yuri Long, special collections librarian, this installation is on view from January 4 through March 26, 2027, in the East Building Library and Study Center from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is the nation's art museum, home to a renowned collection of over 160,000 works of art, from antiquity to today. Each year, the museum welcomes millions of people in person and online to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Located on the National Mall, admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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National Gallery of Art, Washington, December 19, 2026-June 13, 2027
Printmaking is an iterative medium, one that empowers artists to experiment, manipulate, and revise their work as it evolves from idea to finished product. A printmaking design made in a wood block, copper plate, or lithographic stone can be repeatedly modified over time. Each new version is tested by inking the block, plate, or stone and passing it through a printing press with a sheet of paper to create "states" that capture the transformation of the design. Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work illuminates the printmaker's creative process by presenting over 150 prints from the National Gallery of Art's exceptional holdings of preparatory drawings, states, progressive color proofs, and final prints.
Organized chronologically from the 17th century to the present, Tinker Tinker spotlights a wide range of etchings, woodcuts, lithographs, and other works that show how artists have embraced and explored the possibilities offered by the distinctive nature of printmaking. Featured artists include Rembrandt van Rijn, a groundbreaking printmaker whose 1656 etched copper plate is shown alongside two versions of the final print; Mary Cassatt, who drew inspiration from Japanese woodcuts to create an innovative series of color prints depicting the public and private lives of modern women in Paris; and Pablo Picasso, who expertly engaged with both representation and abstraction in his set of progressive proofs of The Bull (1945-1946) to demonstrate the medium's potential for experimentation through the addition and subtraction of visual elements.
Other highlights include a vibrant array of 26 versions of Jacques Villon's La Parisienne (1902-1903), which showcases his evolving investigation of color and texture; a series Leonardo Drew made with the San Francisco-based printmaking workshop Crownpoint Press, in which he explored abstraction through unconventional techniques, such as applying egg white to his copper plates; and the lithographic stone Jasper Johns used to print one of his iconic images of the American flag. Accompanying video and interactive elements allow visitors to visualize, understand, and appreciate the various printmaking techniques represented in Tinker Tinker.
Exhibition and Organizational Support
Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Leadership support for the exhibition has been generously provided by the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust.
Exhibition Curator
Rena M. Hoisington, curator and head of Old Master and 19th-century prints, National Gallery of Art.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year--with even more online-- making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery's renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/major-exhibition-exploring-creative-process-printmaking-across-nearly-five-centuries-opens-national
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Major Exhibition Exploring the Creative Process of Printmaking Across Nearly Five Centuries Opens at the National Gallery of Art
September 24, 2026
Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work features more than 150 prints, preparatory drawings, and printing matrices by artists ranging from Rembrandt to Picasso, among many others
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Washington, DC--The National Gallery of Art presents Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work, an exhibition that reveals how artists have used printmaking as a medium of experimentation, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release: * * * Major Exhibition Exploring the Creative Process of Printmaking Across Nearly Five Centuries Opens at the National Gallery of Art September 24, 2026 Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work features more than 150 prints, preparatory drawings, and printing matrices by artists ranging from Rembrandt to Picasso, among many others - Washington, DC--The National Gallery of Art presents Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work, an exhibition that reveals how artists have used printmaking as a medium of experimentation,revision, and discovery for nearly five centuries. Bringing together over 150 works by artists including Mary Cassatt, Leonardo Drew, Jasper Johns, Pablo Picasso, and Rembrandt van Rijn, all from the National Gallery's renowned collection of more than 120,000 prints and drawings, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness artistic ideas as they evolve through trial and error, technical innovation, and creative problem-solving. Tinker Tinker is on view in the West Building from December 19, 2026, to June 13, 2027.
Unlike painting or sculpture, printmaking allows artists to repeatedly alter a matrix--the ink-bearing surface of a copper plate, woodblock, or lithographic stone--and produce new impressions at each stage of an image's development. These successive "states" preserve a visual record of artistic decision-making, capturing moments when compositions are layered, simplified, refined, or entirely reimagined. Through preparatory drawings, states, rare proofs, and printing matrices, Tinker Tinker demonstrates how artists have embraced printmaking's uniquely iterative nature to test ideas and push the boundaries of artistic expression.
"The National Gallery's vast holdings of prints and drawings offer unparalleled opportunities to explore the history of artistic innovation. Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work brings together exceptional works by artistic masters across nearly 500 years, including rare proofs, printing matrices, and preparatory materials that are seldom displayed alongside finished prints," said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art. "By illuminating the creative decisions behind these works, the exhibition offers new insight into the ingenuity and creative process at the heart of printmaking."
Organized chronologically from the 17th century to the present, the exhibition unfolds through a series of focused installations that illuminate both artistic process and technical innovation. Visitors are introduced to the medium through the work of Rembrandt van Rijn, whose experimentation transformed printmaking in the 17th century. Highlights include an etched copper plate created by Rembrandt in 1656, displayed alongside two versions of the final print, allowing visitors to see how a single matrix could generate multiple versions of an image. Other works document how the artist refined his ideas and revised his compositions over time, including adjusting passages of light and shadow.
Tinker Tinker offers insight into the ways that artists across time have embraced the unpredictability of the printmaking process. A section devoted to accidents demonstrates how mistakes often became opportunities for invention, while another section focused on proofing and color printing techniques reveals the complex technical processes required to translate an image from concept to print. Progressive color proofs from the 18th century show artists and printmakers building compositions layer by layer, offering insight into the collaborative nature of print production.
The exhibition also highlights artists who expanded the visual possibilities of printmaking. Inspired by Japanese woodcuts, Cassatt created innovative color prints of modern women, including The Bath (1890-1891) and The Fitting (1890-1891). Preparatory drawings and multiple states for each print reveal how she developed some of the most celebrated images of her career through a process of sustained experimentation.
By the late 19th century, artists increasingly embraced printmaking as a site of innovation and artistic freedom. Works by Pierre Bonnard, Edvard Munch, Jan Toorop, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and others demonstrate how the exploration of color lithography and woodcut helped to transform the visual language of modern art. One grouping brings together 26 impressions of Jacques Villon's La Parisienne (1902-1903), allowing visitors to follow the artist's evolving investigation of color, texture, and atmosphere across numerous variations of a single composition.
Another highlight of the exhibition is Pablo Picasso's celebrated lithographic sequence The Bull (1945-1946), one of the most compelling demonstrations of printmaking's capacity for experimentation. Across 11 progressively simplified states, Picasso transformed a naturalistic representation of a bull into a radically abstract image, revealing how addition, subtraction, and revision can generate entirely new ways of seeing.
The physical tools of printmaking are also a key focus of the exhibition. Visitors will encounter six woodblocks, a copper plate, a lithographic stone, and other matrices together with the prints they produced, making visible the material processes that typically remain hidden from view. One gallery will feature the preparatory drawing, woodblocks, and color progressive proofs for Gustave Baumann's Bright Angel Trail (1930), offering a comprehensive look at the creation of a complex color woodcut.
The exhibition concludes with contemporary works that demonstrate the vitality and continued relevance of printmaking today. Projects by Nicole Eisenman and Leonardo Drew, made with the New York City-based printmaking workshop Harlan & Weaver and the San Francisco-based printmaking workshop Crown Point Press, respectively, highlight the important role of the technical expertise of master printers and collaborative workshops in present-day artistic practice. Drew's seven prints made with Crown Point Press capture his exploration of abstraction through unconventional techniques, such as applying raw egg white to the grounds on his copper plates to induce irregular patterns of cracks and lines in the resulting prints.
Accompanying videos and interactive elements further illuminate the techniques represented throughout the exhibition, helping visitors understand how artists manipulate line, color, tone, texture, and composition as images move from initial concept to finished print. By revealing the stages between inspiration and completion, Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work offers a rare look at the creative process itself and demonstrates why printmaking has remained one of art history's most dynamic and innovative mediums.
Exhibition Organization and Support
Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work is organized by the National Gallery of Art. Leadership support for the exhibition has been generously provided by the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust.
Exhibition Curator
This exhibition is curated by Rena M. Hoisington, curator and head of old master and 19th-century prints, National Gallery of Art.
In the Library: Secrets of the Printed Image
In conjunction with Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work, the National Gallery of Art Library presents an installation of manuals and instructional books on printmaking spanning the 17th to the 20th centuries. Highlights include French artist Abraham Bosse's influential 1645 manual on etching and engraving, Traicte des manieres de graver en taille douce sur l'airin, featuring a series of etchings by Bosse that illustrate the process. These depictions remained relevant until the 19th century, continuing to be reproduced and reused. Nine additional editions, translations, and adaptations of Bosse's manual published through 1770 provide a comprehensive view of these plates. Manuals from the late 18th and early 19th centuries demonstrate advancements in engraving such as mezzotint, early color printing experiments, stipple and chalk-manner engraving, and aquatint techniques.
A dedicated section on the Etching Revival of the late 19th and early 20th centuries will showcase British artist Frank Short's work, including all three editions of his publication On the Making of Etchings, with a copy of the second edition containing his annotations and revisions for the third edition. The introduction of lithography in the early 19th century will be represented by works from Godefroy Engelmann, Charles Joseph Hullmandel, and Alois Senefelder, among others. Lithography fundamentally transformed printmaking by enabling artists to draw directly onto the printing stone, rather than transferring images from drawings to plates by etching and engraving tools, often with the help of a skilled specialist.
The installation concludes with a section on wood engraving, beginning with Thomas Bewick's innovative introduction of the technique at the close of the 18th century and extending to prominent 20th-century wood engravers such as Clare Leighton, Barry Moser, and Hans Alexander Mueller. Because it could be printed alongside metal type, wood engraving became the preferred method for book illustration throughout the 19th century. Photomechanical reproduction eventually took precedence, but wood engraving continued to flourish in the fine press movement through the 20th century.
Curated by Yuri Long, special collections librarian, this installation is on view from January 4 through March 26, 2027, in the East Building Library and Study Center from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is the nation's art museum, home to a renowned collection of over 160,000 works of art, from antiquity to today. Each year, the museum welcomes millions of people in person and online to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Located on the National Mall, admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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National Gallery of Art, Washington, December 19, 2026-June 13, 2027
Printmaking is an iterative medium, one that empowers artists to experiment, manipulate, and revise their work as it evolves from idea to finished product. A printmaking design made in a wood block, copper plate, or lithographic stone can be repeatedly modified over time. Each new version is tested by inking the block, plate, or stone and passing it through a printing press with a sheet of paper to create "states" that capture the transformation of the design. Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work illuminates the printmaker's creative process by presenting over 150 prints from the National Gallery of Art's exceptional holdings of preparatory drawings, states, progressive color proofs, and final prints.
Organized chronologically from the 17th century to the present, Tinker Tinker spotlights a wide range of etchings, woodcuts, lithographs, and other works that show how artists have embraced and explored the possibilities offered by the distinctive nature of printmaking. Featured artists include Rembrandt van Rijn, a groundbreaking printmaker whose 1656 etched copper plate is shown alongside two versions of the final print; Mary Cassatt, who drew inspiration from Japanese woodcuts to create an innovative series of color prints depicting the public and private lives of modern women in Paris; and Pablo Picasso, who expertly engaged with both representation and abstraction in his set of progressive proofs of The Bull (1945-1946) to demonstrate the medium's potential for experimentation through the addition and subtraction of visual elements.
Other highlights include a vibrant array of 26 versions of Jacques Villon's La Parisienne (1902-1903), which showcases his evolving investigation of color and texture; a series Leonardo Drew made with the San Francisco-based printmaking workshop Crownpoint Press, in which he explored abstraction through unconventional techniques, such as applying egg white to his copper plates; and the lithographic stone Jasper Johns used to print one of his iconic images of the American flag. Accompanying video and interactive elements allow visitors to visualize, understand, and appreciate the various printmaking techniques represented in Tinker Tinker.
Exhibition and Organizational Support
Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Leadership support for the exhibition has been generously provided by the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust.
Exhibition Curator
Rena M. Hoisington, curator and head of Old Master and 19th-century prints, National Gallery of Art.
* * *
About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year--with even more online-- making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery's renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/major-exhibition-exploring-creative-process-printmaking-across-nearly-five-centuries-opens-national