Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 1 (The replica of the adobe arch of Djenné, with the U.S. Capitol framed in the arch. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.)

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 2 (The Djenné arch and the Capitol. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.)

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 3 (The arch from the side, on its platform on the Mall. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.)

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 4 (Masons at work on a mud-brick wall with an arched doorway. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.)

Pictures · click to enlargeThe replica of the adobe arch of Djenné, with the U.S. Capitol framed in the arch. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003. · Photo: Matt Sesow (Matt’s archive)

See all 11 pictures ↓

Milestone 2003

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall

Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, Washington, DC (June 25 – July 6, 2003) — Matt’s photographs of the “Mali: From Timbuktu to Washington” program’s adobe architecture, June 28, 2003

Mali on the National Mall. The 37th Smithsonian Folklife Festival (June 25 – July 6, 2003) brought three programs to the Mall: “Mali: From Timbuktu to Washington,” “Appalachia: Heritage and Harmony” and “Scotland at the Smithsonian.” Matt was there on June 28, 2003, and photographed the Mali program’s mud-brick architecture: the replica of the adobe arch of Djenné, framing the U.S. Capitol, and masons finishing brick archways and walls by hand.

Matt asked for this page himself (October 29, 2026): “create a major page for it!”

Pictures · click to enlarge

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 5 (Masons finishing the arched wall, with buckets of mud mortar. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.) — Masons finishing the arched wall, with buckets of mud mortar. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003. · Photo: Matt Sesow (Matt’s archive)

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 6 (A builder at the top of the brick arch. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.) — A builder at the top of the brick arch. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003. · Photo: Matt Sesow (Matt’s archive)

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 7 (The arch rising against the sky. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.) — The arch rising against the sky. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003. · Photo: Matt Sesow (Matt’s archive)

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 8 (A mason in white robes working on top of the wall. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.) — A mason in white robes working on top of the wall. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003. · Photo: Matt Sesow (Matt’s archive)

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 9 (Working on the wall top, above a pointed brick niche. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.) — Working on the wall top, above a pointed brick niche. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003. · Photo: Matt Sesow (Matt’s archive)

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 10 (The mason on the wall. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.) — The mason on the wall. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003. · Photo: Matt Sesow (Matt’s archive)

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall, 2003: photograph 11 (The mason at work, late in the day. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003.) — The mason at work, late in the day. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Mall, June 28, 2003. · Photo: Matt Sesow (Matt’s archive)

In their words

yes, create a major page for it!
Matt Sesow, Matt Sesow, email to Claude, October 29, 2026

Saved web pages and links

Research notes

Matt’s camera dates all eleven photos June 28, 2003. The Mali program presented Malian building arts on the Mall: Afropop describes masonry on “the archways of a building in the colonial Segou style” and “a replica of the adobe arch of Djenne.”
Matt’s exact part in the 2003 festival is still being written up — if you were there with him, tell him.

Where this record comes from

Matt Sesow, email answers to Claude, October 29, 2026
sesow.com (Matt’s own site, server copy): index 2003, 2005review.htm
Matt’s camera photos (_****YEARS)

Cite as: Sesow, Matt. “Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003, National Mall.” Matt Sesow Career Chronicle, 2003. history.sesow.com/e/2003-smithsonian-folklife-festival-national-mall.html. Accessed [date].

Were you there? Do you have a photo, a clipping or a memory of this? Please write to sesow@sesow.com or use Ask Matt a question, and it will be added here.

Also in 2003

Exhibition (23)

Press (10)

Media (5)

Award (2)

Milestone (1)

Launches “31 Days in July” — annual project creating one large

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