Vibrant, glowing colors infuse the semi-abstract, symbol-rich paintings of Mexican modernist Rufino Tamayo. An orphaned native of Oaxaca whose ambitious life spanned the 20th century, Tamayo absorbed the lessons of New York City on his sojourns there between the late 1920s and 1949. Now more than 40 of his works—depicting human figures, celestial objects, urban scenes, angry animals, dream-like fires, and ice cream—are on display in a new Smithsonian American Art Museum exhibition, with labels in English and Spanish. “Mandolins and Pineapples,” an aptly titled 1930 still life, entered local history that year when D.C.-based Duncan Phillips became the first prominent U.S. art collector to buy Tamayo’s work. While Tamayo may have believed, according to a 1990 New York Times interview, that his “only commitment is to painting,” not to “personal political positions,” his determination to blend Mexican folk culture with famed European influencers like Picasso is quietly political in its visual insistence that his own overlooked heritage was worthy of his gorgeous art. Read more>>> The exhibition is on view daily 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., to March 18, 2018, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F streets NW. Free. (202) 633-7970. americanart.si.edu. (Diana Yap)

EAT THIS

Starting to feel sick before the holidays? Prescription Chicken now offers a complete “Super Sick Package” through delivery platforms like Caviar and UberEats. The $38 cure-all contains two quarts of chicken noodle soup, a bottle of orange juice, tea, tissues, and a home-made honey throat lozenge. It’s already kicking in for this under-the-weather food writer. Prescription Chicken, prescriptionchicken.com. (Laura Hayes)

OH AND ALSO

Colombian three-part harmony vocal group Nalamala performs at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. at 2700 F St. NW. Free. 

The National Portrait Gallery presents Portraits of the World: Switzerland, featuring work by Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler and images of dancers from the Gallery’s permanent collection. 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 8th and F streets NW. Free. 

Pop star Bruno Mars kicks off a two-night stand at MGM National Harbor. 8 p.m. at 101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill. $205–$295.

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