‘From Monorails to Montezuma: Journeys of a Roving Scholar—In Conversation with Smithsonian Curator James Deutsch’ to be Presented Live in Silver Spring on Wednesday, Sept. 13

“From Monorails to Montezuma: Journeys of a Roving Scholar—In Conversation with Smithsonian Curator and Folklorist James Deutsch” will be presented live from 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at the Koiner Farm in Silver Spring. In his talk for the SPARKLE series, Mr. Deutsch will share his unique life of adventures around the globe as a folklorist.

The Koiner Farm is located at 737 Easley in Downtown Silver Spring. The event is free to attend. To RSVP to attend, go to Programs@SilverSpringVillage.org.

The event will be presented by Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., in collaboration with the Silver Spring Village. The SPARKLE Program is a monthly community outreach series that enriches the lives of seniors. SPARKLE stands for Senior Programs Aimed at Re-Kindling Lifetime Engagement.

Mr. Deutsch is a curator and editor at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in Washington, D.C. He has helped plan and develop the center’s public programs on the Peace Corps, Hungary, China, Circus Arts, Apollo Theater, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Mekong River, U.S. Forest Service, World War II, Silk Road and White House workers.

Mr. Deutsch also serves as an adjunct professor—teaching courses on American film history and folklore—in the American Studies Department at George Washington University. He has taught American Studies classes at universities in Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Poland and Turkey.

The Charles Koiner Conservancy (CKC) emerged out of a need to preserve one particularly iconic urban farm— Koiner Farm—located in downtown Silver Spring. Koiner Farm was operated by Charles Koiner for 40 years until his passing in January 2019 at age 98.