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Archive: Museums
Up next: November arts
What do you get when you combine China's Terra Cotta Warriors, Pacman and crossbred chickens? That would be the local arts scene this month. Here's the rundown: The Terra Cotta Warriors march into Washington this month. (Wang de Gang) The...
By Stephanie Merry | November 2, 2009; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Art: Comings and goings
Here's a rundown of the exhibits headed our way in the week ahead:
By Stephanie Merry | October 22, 2009; 05:43 PM ET | Comments (0)
Not sold out: Boo at the Zoo, Fall Fete and Hirshhorn After Hours
Wednesday morning update: Hirshhorn After Hours is now sold out. Normally, with just a few days left before the National Zoo's Boo at the Zoo, the Hirshhorn's After Hours party or the Corcoran's Fall Fete, we'd be telling readers: "Sorry,...
By Fritz Hahn | October 20, 2009; 12:54 PM ET | Comments (0)
Up Next: October Arts
New exhibitions are spanning the globe this month with works from Africa, Japan, the Middle East and other locales on display at local museums and galleries. Better yet, a slew of famous faces are coming to town to discuss their...
By Stephanie Merry | October 1, 2009; 02:17 PM ET | Comments (0)
Up Next: September Arts
First on my list of great shows to see this month is Flashpoint's new exhibition of works by Bradley Chriss, entitled "Visions from the End of the World." The dreamy watercolors portray both lyrical and literal images of death and...
By Stephanie Merry | September 8, 2009; 01:31 PM ET | Comments (0)
Will Another D.C. Gallery Lose Its Home?
It turns out plans to open a D.C. iteration of the New York barbecue spot Hill Country could affect more than just the local food scene. The building where the restaurant will soon reside is undergoing renovations, which is leaving...
By Stephanie Merry | September 4, 2009; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Up Next: August Arts
If the work hanging on the walls at local museums feels like it's been around a while, it may be a good time to take a walk outside. What August lacks in new exhibitions, it makes up for with art...
By Stephanie Merry | July 30, 2009; 10:05 AM ET | Comments (0)
July Arts
We have all kinds of artsy possibilities coming our way this month, including late-night parties, a rock 'n roll-inspired museum discussion and a chance to see artists in motion -- in a swimming pool. The National Gallery unveils a major...
By Stephanie Merry | July 4, 2009; 08:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Putting the Art in Party
Get ready to party-hop, because this weekend is packed with fun, artsy events. Mark your calendar for poolside multimedia installations, a surf-inspired gala and a graffiti-loving block party. And that's just Saturday. Thursday, June 18 The duo behind Hyattsville's Design...
By Stephanie Merry | June 18, 2009; 11:59 AM ET | Comments (0)
Putting the Art in Party
A preview of gallery openings and arty parties this weekend.
By Stephanie Merry | June 11, 2009; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Highlights from Artomatic
Artomatic got started on Friday with an evening of live music and theater to complement nine floors of art. Yes, nine floors. And over that vast expanse of wall space, you can see the work of 1,500 artists, from graffiti...
By Stephanie Merry | June 3, 2009; 09:23 AM ET | Comments (1)
Up Next: June Arts
If you have energy for more art after the sensory overload that is Artomatic, then be sure to check the Sackler's version of Hirshhorn After Hours, Irvine Contemporary's look at graffiti art and the Smithsonian's celebration of Welsh culture, among...
By Stephanie Merry | May 29, 2009; 03:08 PM ET | Comments (0)
Summer Deals at the Corcoran
Looking for even more ways to have fun for free this summer? The Corcoran hears you, and for the first time, the museum will offer free admission on Saturdays all summer long. The deal starts June 20 and runs through...
By Stephanie Merry | May 22, 2009; 04:01 PM ET | Comments (0)
Where to Find 'Museum' Pieces
Ben Stiller and Amy Adams soar in the Wright brothers' plane -- or at least a version of it -- in "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian." (20th Century Fox) If you have kids, or if you're...
By Jen Chaney | May 20, 2009; 05:13 PM ET | Email a Comment
Putting the Art in Party
This weekend, celebrate the dog days of impending summer at the Torpedo Factory, check out the House of Sweden's late-night scene and take advantage of a second chance to see photos of Bob Marley. Thursday There should really be one...
By Stephanie Merry | May 14, 2009; 12:40 PM ET | Comments (0)
Putting the Art in Party
Local galleries are offering plenty of options for entertainment this weekend: among the opening receptions, you can see paintings of a Color School favorite or look at a famous singer reimagined as an elephant. Friday, May 8 First we have...
By Stephanie Merry | May 6, 2009; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Up Next: May Arts
There are so many offbeat exhibitions to look forward to this month that it's hard to know where to begin. Large-scale installations made of prescription pill bottles? Anonymous, confessional postcards? A smorgasbord of works from local artists? What could be...
By Stephanie Merry | April 30, 2009; 10:03 AM ET | Comments (0)
Weekend Arts
If the sheer number of arts events last weekend had you a little overwhelmed, this weekend should be a little more manageable. But fewer events don't mean less fun, especially if art walks, space-inspired exhibitions and concert posters pique your...
By Stephanie Merry | April 9, 2009; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
Weekend Arts
This weekend offers plenty of opportunities to spice up your nights out while simultaneously steering clear of the cherry blossom-seeking tourists. With all the exhibition openings and art parties, you have options ranging from a rooftop fundraiser to a night...
By Stephanie Merry | April 1, 2009; 11:28 PM ET | Comments (0)
Up Next: April Arts
April is overflowing with family events from Smithsonian celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month to the Archives commemorating its 75th year and the Newseum marking the one-year anniversary of its move downtown. And what's in store for those without little ones? How...
By Stephanie Merry | March 31, 2009; 06:14 PM ET | Comments (0)
We'll Drink to That
With plastic bottles of H2O available at every corner store, it's all too easy to take clean water for granted. But in many parts of the world, the need for drinkable water remains a huge issue. According to UNICEF, lack...
By Fritz Hahn | March 23, 2009; 05:17 PM ET | Comments (2)
Save the Date: Arts Events
If you're sick of the same old date night or looking for something slightly more cultural than elbowing your way to the bar at another crowded happy hour, this weekend promises a surplus of events at local galleries as new...
By Stephanie Merry | March 18, 2009; 05:58 PM ET | Comments (0)
Cherry Blossom Peak Dates Announced
It's hard to imagine with the arctic temperatures outside that cherry blossoms will be blooming around the tidal basin in just a month's time, but according to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, it's true. Peak dates were announced this morning,...
By Stephanie Merry | March 3, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
Up Next: March Arts
Between another crazy dance party at the Hirshhorn, a variety of looks at iconoclast Marcel Duchamp and a celebration of women's history, March is shaping up to be a busy month at local museums and galleries. Best of all, and...
By Stephanie Merry | February 26, 2009; 11:51 AM ET | Comments (0)
Cheap Dates: A Social Life Stimulus Plan
We offer more than a dozen date ideas for the bank account-challenged. Free wine tasting at Vidalia is one of our top picks. (Jay Premack) Classic Guru discussion this morning. Some of us felt really bad for all the young...
By Julia Beizer | February 25, 2009; 01:24 PM ET | Comments (1)
Folklife Festival Announces Lineup
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival has a reputation for spotlighting eclectic themes during the annual summertime event, and this year's lineup is shaping up to be another random grab bag. The Smithsonian announced the 2009 dates and programming, and this year's...
By Stephanie Merry | February 19, 2009; 05:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
The Perfect Valentine's Day? It's an Art Form
Looking for a way to spend Valentine's Day without breaking the bank? Local art galleries will be hosting all kinds of events this weekend, from chocolate tastings to valentine-making craft sessions to DJs spinning tunes. And, of course, they'll also...
By Stephanie Merry | February 12, 2009; 11:01 AM ET | Comments (0)
Up Next: February Arts
As the 200th anniversary of the 16th president's birthday rolls around this month, Lincoln-mania comes to Washington. The result is a flurry of exhibits with everything from the Emancipation Proclamation to Lincoln speeches and the Bible used during his swearing-in....
By Stephanie Merry | February 2, 2009; 10:01 AM ET | Comments (0)
Inauguration Day Update: Open and Shut
It looks like the 300,000 people watching the inaugural parade may have a harder time finding shelter than we initially reported. Since our last post about places to warm up, grab some food and use the bathroom on Inauguration Day,...
By Stephanie Merry | January 14, 2009; 04:20 PM ET | Comments (1)
Up Next: January Arts
The main event in D.C. this month is a little thing called the inauguration (perhaps you've heard about it?), and the new exhibits in January are right in step with the current local obsession. The hat worn by Abraham Lincoln...
By Stephanie Merry | December 31, 2008; 02:26 PM ET | Comments (0)
State of the Art in '08
While 2008 may be known to some as the year of a historic election and a flagging economy, it also happens to have been an eventful year for local museums and galleries: a Smithsonian favorite reopened its doors after a...
By Stephanie Merry | December 30, 2008; 12:48 PM ET | Comments (0)
Inauguration Day Update: Open and Shut
Since our initial rundown of openings and closures along the inaugural parade route and beyond, there have been a few updates. The Newseum will have one of the best views of the parade, but tickets to the museum have already...
By Stephanie Merry | December 17, 2008; 01:08 PM ET | Comments (0)
Up Next: December Arts
While December is generally a pretty quiet month for art openings, this month offers a few promising possibilities, not the least of which is a new addition to an old friend. After six years and $621 million, the Capitol Visitor...
By Stephanie Merry | December 1, 2008; 06:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Thanksgiving Survival Guide
For those tasked with coming up with a schedule of activities for friends and relatives visiting over Thanksgiving, we're here to help. After the jump, we've compiled some ideas for how to entertain houseguests with local exhibits and activities that...
By Stephanie Merry | November 25, 2008; 10:08 AM ET | Comments (1)
Galleries: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
While I hate to see local galleries disappear, I suppose there is something to be said for balance. And so it goes, as one gallery fetes its opening today and another holds a bittersweet closing celebration tomorrow. On the closing...
By Stephanie Merry | November 20, 2008; 02:53 PM ET | Comments (0)
Giving FotoWeek a Shot
As the type of person who is perpetually one millisecond too late to capture that great photo, I've been amazed at the work on display during FotoWeek DC, which started Saturday and runs through the 22nd. Kendall Messick captures the...
By Stephanie Merry | November 18, 2008; 11:19 AM ET | Comments (0)
Up Next: Galleries and Museums in November
The art of Fritz Scholder comes to the Portrait Gallery. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution) This month, the local museums and galleries are all about the big events. Up first, we have back-to-back art parties with Phillips After 5...
By Stephanie Merry | November 3, 2008; 11:19 AM ET | Comments (0)
Sneak Peek: Museum of American History
After two years and $85 million in renovations, the Museum of American History's reopening is almost upon us. True, as of Thursday afternoon, many of the floors and walls were still a work in progress, and Horatio Greenough's godlike statue...
By Stephanie Merry | October 24, 2008; 04:58 PM ET | Comments (2)
Getting Into the Spirit of Halloween
Some of the colorful monsters from "The Crossing of the Creatures." (By Marta Perez Garcia, courtesy of H&F Fine Arts) Maybe it's the persistently warm weather, but I can't seem to get myself into a Halloween frame of mind....
By Stephanie Merry | October 17, 2008; 01:49 PM ET | Comments (0)
New on U
Bryan Rojsuontikul's duct tape installations will be part of Hamiltonian's inaugural exhibition. (Photo courtesy of Hamiltonian Gallery) The gallery scene on U Street continues to expand this weekend when Hamiltonian Gallery makes its debut on Saturday with a three-artist exhibition...
By Stephanie Merry | October 8, 2008; 11:44 AM ET | Comments (0)
'Over the River' But Not Out of the Woods
Christo, left, and Jean-Claude talk about their latest project. (By Lavanya Ramanathan) The latest exhibition to hit the Phillips Collection isn't about artistic output so much as painstaking creative process and bureaucratic hurdles yet to be overcome. "Over the River,...
By Stephanie Merry | October 7, 2008; 08:50 AM ET | Comments (1)
Get in to Madame Tussauds for a Song
At Madame Tussauds, feel free to kiss, hug, touch and otherwise have your way with wax celebrities. (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) For me, Madame Tussauds, with its nearly $20 price tag, has been the one museum best left to the tourists...
By Anne | October 2, 2008; 05:14 PM ET | Comments (3)
Up Next: October Arts
Lino Tagliapietra's blown glass will be on display at the Renwick this month. (Photo by Greg R. Miller) Everything from political works to glass sculpture and cartoons to ancient artifacts are headed our way this month. Here's a sampling...
By Stephanie Merry | September 30, 2008; 01:33 PM ET | Comments (0)
Light Bright
Conner's inaugural exhibit will add some light to the H Street nightlife. After a three-year search for the space and another year of remodeling, Conner Contemporary Art, late of Dupont Circle, officially opens the doors to its new gallery this...
By Anne | September 26, 2008; 04:36 PM ET | Comments (0)
Art in the Heart of the City
Gene Davis's "Red Pope" is among the newest additions to the City Hall Art Collection. (photos courtesy of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and copyright by Gene Davis) Scenes at the Wilson Building include protesters chanting...
By Stephanie Merry | September 17, 2008; 04:14 PM ET | Comments (0)
Up Next: September Arts
Tourists take over the steps of the Museum of Natural History in Lucian Perkins's photo. (Courtesy of the Artist and Hemphill Fine Arts) After the artistic drought that inevitably occurs every August, I regard fall with a mixture of hope...
By Stephanie Merry | August 29, 2008; 04:56 PM ET | Comments (0)
A Breath of Fresh, Cold Air
Artist Michael Stebbins embraces the fridge as a medium at "The Art of Recycling." (Courtesy of ENERGY STAR® Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign) Some artists work on canvas with oil paint, some opt for marble, and then there are...
By Stephanie Merry | August 26, 2008; 09:10 AM ET | Comments (0)
It's Alive!
A brief moment of repose for one participant in "Living Sculpture" at Project 4. (Courtesy of J.J. McCracken and Project 4) It's always a little disconcerting to walk by a storefront with a living model on the other side of...
By Stephanie Merry | August 22, 2008; 02:45 AM ET | Comments (1)
Hitting the Beach Without Leaving Town
Get a close-up of a jellyfish without fear of getting stung. ("Jellyfish, Raja Ampat" by Yeang Ch'ng) Is it just me or is everyone heading to the beach this weekend? Luckily for the people who can't fathom pouring all their...
By Stephanie Merry | August 8, 2008; 02:25 PM ET | Comments (0)
Art Squared
Small-scale art dominates the walls of D.C. Arts Center during Wall Mountables. (Courtesy of D.C. Arts Center) As the type of person who enjoys the overwhelming immensity of a good thrift shop, I couldn't help but be intrigued by D.C....
By Stephanie Merry | August 1, 2008; 11:52 AM ET | Comments (3)
Drinks With a Side of Art
I occasionally find myself thinking about all I could accomplish on weekdays if I didn't work: grocery shopping without crashing into people with my cart, hitting up the gym without having to wait for a treadmill, and going to galleries,...
By Stephanie Merry | July 25, 2008; 10:51 AM ET | Comments (1)
Birth and Death of a Myth
Even though the crystal skull at the Museum of Natural History turned out to be a fake, some mysteries remain. (Jim DiLoreto, Smithsonian Institution) The Smithsonian's new crystal skull exhibit, which opens tomorrow, serves the added purpose of a public...
By Stephanie Merry | July 9, 2008; 02:58 PM ET | Comments (3)
Artistic Movement
Emily Eifler's "Swell/Say" looks looks like fun but has a deeper meaning. (Photo courtesy of VSA Arts) There was a lot of commotion at the opening of Derivative Composition, an exhibition that opened last night at the Kennedy Center's Terrace...
By Stephanie Merry | June 27, 2008; 03:53 PM ET | Comments (0)
Blast Off for the Folklife Festival
If you're wondering what the 30-foot-tall Buddhist temple is doing on the mall, let me assure you it's a temporary addition for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which begins Wednesday. This year's themes include the 50th anniversary of NASA, the state...
By Stephanie Merry | June 19, 2008; 03:36 PM ET | Comments (7)
David Berman on Jeremy Blake
"Wild Choir: Cinematic Portraits by Jeremy Blake" closes Sunday after a four month run at the Corcoran, but not without a final exciting event. David Berman, the subject of "Sodium Fox," one of the mesmerizing digital videos that make up...
By David Malitz | February 27, 2008; 12:36 PM ET | Comments (4)
Comings and Goings
Japanese themes pop up again this month with the Kennedy Center's Japan! Culture + Hyperculture festival. Concerts, performances and screenings make for a complete cultural program, but several small exhibits lend a feast for the eyes. I'm most looking forward...
By Julia Beizer | January 30, 2008; 07:42 PM ET | Comments (16)
Art in Motion (and a Spooky Video)
Paintings, photographs and sculpture: they can be easy art forms to love. You can breeze by even the most complicated, controversial painting and just appreciate its aesthetics with a passing glance. Video and performance art are generally more elusive mistresses;...
By Julia Beizer | January 25, 2008; 12:27 PM ET | Comments (0)
Into the Great Wild Open
The National Museum of Natural History -- a favorite of school kids and tourists alike -- isn't exactly known as a hip place to spend your weekend. But until April 27th, a special exhibition is worth a visit for us...
By Julia Beizer | January 15, 2008; 02:59 PM ET | Comments (0)
Comings and Goings
Usually, exhibits with Japanese themes build to a crescendo around Cherry Blossom time, but this year, it looks like the celebration came early. Several of January's most promising exhibitions highlight Japanese techniques, but obsessive artwork, collector-selected pieces and live frogs...
By Julia Beizer | January 7, 2008; 11:01 AM ET | Comments (0)
On the Walls in 2008
Great exhibits are surely on the horizon in 2008, but the real highlight of the year has to be the opening of three new (or recently shuttered) museum spaces. In fact, we might as well call 2008 the year of...
By Julia Beizer | January 2, 2008; 11:33 AM ET | Comments (0)
A Year in Art
Looking back at a year in pictures and paintings and sculpture, I realize that I've had the good fortune to take in a ton of great art this year. Listed below are some of my favorite local exhibits of 2007...
By Julia Beizer | December 26, 2007; 03:44 PM ET | Comments (0)
Your Favorite Things
For the cover story of today's Weekend section, art critic Michael O'Sullivan asked several prominent Washingtonians about their favorite objects on view in the Washington area. Each of the 13 people profiled in the story offered up something different: the...
By Julia Beizer | December 14, 2007; 09:12 AM ET | Comments (1)
Fishing for a Bargain
Both Saturday and Sunday this weekend are Dollar Days at the Baltimore Aquarium, so you can get in for just $1 per person, instead of the normal $22 admission. That's a serious savings on the best aquarium in the area,...
By Anne | December 6, 2007; 12:59 PM ET | Comments (2)
Comings and Goings
December isn't a super busy month on the local art calendar, but a few notable shows give you reason to leave your house. Get the details on artists envisioning the future, elephants wielding brushes and a DJ-infused reception after the...
By Julia Beizer | December 5, 2007; 01:35 PM ET | Comments (0)
Anne's Wish List: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
My dream holiday wish is going to sound familiar to break-up artists everywhere: I just need some space. No, not from you, of course. I need space to put people. Because I want to have a party. A really big...
By Anne | December 5, 2007; 12:58 PM ET | Comments (0)
Comings and Goings
This month, the best art-viewing opportunities come after dark. Details on evening receptions, activist exhibitions and shows for foodies follow the jump....
By Julia Beizer | November 2, 2007; 08:29 AM ET | Comments (0)
All Eyes on Annie (And Brad. And Demi...)
Annie Leibovitz speaks about her recent project like she's embarrassed that she's just revealed too much. "The show really came out of this book, which was really a moment in my life," she said at yesterday's very crowded press preview...
By Julia Beizer | October 10, 2007; 02:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Comings and Goings
Celebrity photographs, video portraits and brushy British landscapes are among the highlights on the area art scene this month....
By Julia Beizer | October 3, 2007; 02:15 PM ET | Comments (2)
Museums After Dark
After-hours-museum-party fever is spreading in Washington. The next two Fridays offer promising options for those who like a little art with their nightlife....
By Julia Beizer | September 5, 2007; 11:21 AM ET | Comments (0)
Comings and Goings
Local museums and galleries wake up from their summer slumbers this month to kick off a jam-packed exhibit season. I've listed some of the exhibits I'm most excited about after the jump, but area art spaces are just too rife...
By Julia Beizer | August 31, 2007; 12:24 PM ET | Comments (0)
An Exhibit for the History Books
It's been a good run for "American Treasures," the Library of Congress's rotating history exhibit. For the past 10 years, a relatively small gallery space in the Jefferson Building has been decked with ever-evolving displays of documents, artifacts, artwork and...
By Julia Beizer | August 7, 2007; 10:22 AM ET | Comments (1)
Comings and Goings
Just as summer is winding down, several of the area's best exhibits are coming to a close: most notably, the Hirshhorn's Wolfgang Tillmans exhibit. Even if this month's "Comings and Goings" is heavy on the "Goings," art lovers still have...
By Julia Beizer | August 1, 2007; 03:33 PM ET | Comments (4)
The End Is Near
Time is running out on some of the top exhibits in town; several good shows close this weekend. I've listed some of the best below in the hopes that it saves at least one person from saying, "Man, I meant...
By Julia Beizer | July 24, 2007; 04:33 PM ET | Comments (1)
Comings and Goings
Welcome to July -- when the exhibit schedule slows. way. down. Unlike the last few action-packed months, this one's full of small-scale shows. A tribute to Frida Kahlo, an evolving installation and two non-juried shows of emerging artists follow after...
By Julia Beizer | July 3, 2007; 03:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Folk Culture on the Front Lawn
It's that time of year again. Beginning yesterday and continuing Wednesdays-Saturdays through July 8, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival transforms the National Mall's wide-open green space into a bustling village full of crafts, foods and cultural traditions from faraway lands. This...
By Julia Beizer | June 28, 2007; 10:49 AM ET | Comments (3)
Lowbrow Styles & Fingerprint Traces
The month may be winding down, but two unique art openings are just getting started in downtown Washington. Saturday night receptions at the Warehouse and Flashpoint serve up wildly different types of contemporary art....
By Julia Beizer | June 27, 2007; 09:33 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Big Ones
Two big museum exhibits have opened in recent weeks, and a third (easily the biggest) opens this Sunday. The large museums lapse into a bit of a lull for the next few months, so here's a round-up of recently-opened exhibits...
By Julia Beizer | June 21, 2007; 10:35 AM ET | Comments (1)
Comings and Goings
Big-time exhibitions of Portuguese treasures and American masters are on tap this month, along with public art projects, outsider-art displays and a trio of photography exhibits....
By Julia Beizer | May 30, 2007; 09:13 PM ET | Comments (0)
Artomatic Watch: The Home Stretch
It's had a good run, but the homegrown arts-free-for-all known as Artomatic comes to a close this Sunday. This is your last chance to see an oversized crocheted head, a beautiful painting of a strawberry on a hook and an...
By Julia Beizer | May 17, 2007; 09:27 AM ET | Comments (3)
Getting in on the After-Hours Action
Those seeking proof that the District hungers for a late-night museum scene need look no further than the Hirshhorn After Hours event in early March. DJ Ian Svenonius laid down some wicked beats and museum-goers dished over drinks and Lite-Brite...
By Julia Beizer | May 16, 2007; 12:25 PM ET | Comments (1)
Sketch Artists
It was shaping up to be a pretty typical Monday before I rolled up to 1644 North Capitol Street. I was there to check out a preview of "The Consolation of Ruin," an exhibition of work by the Borf Brigade...
By Julia Beizer | May 14, 2007; 04:31 PM ET | Comments (12)
Artomatic Watch: Week 5
Workshops, burlesque opera and artist-led tours are the highlights of the Artomatic events this week....
By Julia Beizer | May 10, 2007; 02:41 PM ET | Comments (0)
Artomatic Watch: Week 4
Meet your favorite artists and rock out to a '90s band that's been stuck in our heads since learning about this upcoming concert -- all this weekend at Artomatic....
By Julia Beizer | May 2, 2007; 08:16 PM ET | Comments (0)
Comings and Goings
Photo and video works dominate this month's local exhibitions, but Sheeler-esque paintings, African art pieces and a couple of "body artists" make their way into local galleries as well....
By Julia Beizer | May 2, 2007; 01:27 PM ET | Comments (0)
Artomatic Watch: Week 3
Artomatic takes on art in the digital age this week with presentations and panels. Hip-hop performances, mobile-making workshops and charity concerts are also on tap....
By Julia Beizer | April 25, 2007; 06:51 PM ET | Comments (0)
Alternative to artDC
The city's first international art fair, artDC, opens at the convention center this weekend. Since the fair is new, it's hard to predict what to expect, but one thing's for certain: art dealers and collectors will be out in force...
By Julia Beizer | April 24, 2007; 01:48 PM ET | Comments (3)
Artomatic Watch: Week 2
Tribal dancers, film screenings and art-and-technology presentations are on tap at Artomatic this week....
By Julia Beizer | April 18, 2007; 07:45 PM ET | Comments (0)
Kind of Gross . . . But Definitely Informative
"Bodies . . . The Exhibition," a recently opened science exhibit featuring the plasticized remains of humans, is an exercise in edutainment. The dark, moody lighting is supposed to remind you that you're in on something Very Cool. I can't...
By Julia Beizer | April 17, 2007; 04:27 PM ET | Comments (6)
'Interval' on Your iPod
"Gene Davis: Interval," a focused investigation into the Washington artist's work, opens at the Kreeger Museum tomorrow. Big, bright, stripey canvases dominate the show, and they are truly stunning. This exhibit is the cornerstone of the entire ColorField Remix series...
By Julia Beizer | April 13, 2007; 05:32 PM ET | Comments (1)
Artomatic Watch: Week 1
On Friday, Artomatic, the area's homegrown free-for-all art fair, opens in Crystal City. I just got back from the space, which is actually two floors of an in-transition office building, and things are shaping up. The sixth floor is a...
By Julia Beizer | April 11, 2007; 07:02 PM ET | Comments (7)
Comings and Goings
Local art fans, start your engines. April is shaping up to be a bacchanalia for the eyes. We have Artomatic coming up, in addition to a citywide celebration of color field painting and D.C.'s first international art fair. We'll run...
By Julia Beizer | April 2, 2007; 03:16 PM ET | Comments (2)
Modernism: Good for the Brain, Hard on the Feet
Architecture, film, design, craft, painting, photography: In the early part of the 20th century, the modernist movement touched all of these art forms. Contemporary art and craft have been feeling the effects ever since. "Modernism: Designing a New World, 1914-1939,"...
By Julia Beizer | March 14, 2007; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Artomatic Is Back
It's official. Artomatic, the out-there art fair, opens in the former U.S. Patent and Trademark Building in Crystal City on Friday, April 13, and continues until Sunday, May 20. The visual and performing arts extravaganza is known for its inclusive...
By Julia Beizer | March 6, 2007; 04:20 PM ET | Comments (5)
Lite-Brite at the Museum
It's been a while since the Hirshhorn rocked the night hours with DJs, gallery tours and a cash bar, but thankfully the evening events are back. This Friday, the modern art museum stays up late for Hirshhorn After Hours, an...
By Julia Beizer | March 5, 2007; 04:37 PM ET | Comments (3)
Comings and Goings
The Corcoran is all about sleek lines and sexy curves this month with "Modernism: Designing a New World." Opening on March 17, the exhibit presents more than 400 modernist objects, including chairs, lamps, photographs, clothing, a built-in kitchen and even...
By Julia Beizer | February 28, 2007; 11:58 PM ET | Comments (0)
Comings and Goings
We're reviving a little tradition here at Guru Central: the Comings and Goings column. In this monthly guide, we'll give you the scoop on what's opening, what's closing and what museum or gallery reception is most worth your time. Februrary...
By Julia Beizer | February 1, 2007; 07:17 PM ET | Comments (0)
Jasper Johns: A Sneak Peek
The National Gallery of Art shakes off the winter doldrums this Sunday with the opening of a major exhibition on legendary artist Jasper Johns. Read on for some first impressions and a photo gallery of some of the works on...
By Julia Beizer | January 24, 2007; 03:09 PM ET | Comments (0)
Collages, Sculptures and Pictures of 'Marilyn'
Lovers of the visual arts will be busy this weekend. Galleries in Bethesda and Logan Circle open their doors for coordinated receptions on Friday and Saturday nights showing off a ton of local talent. Want to check them out? Read...
By Julia Beizer | January 10, 2007; 12:53 PM ET | Comments (3)
Forecast on the 2007 Art Scene
2006 is a hard act to follow. The Reynolds Center opened. The "Boating Party" returned to the Phillips. Dada came and conquered. But just because 2007 has a lot to live up to doesn't mean it has nothing to offer....
By Julia Beizer | January 5, 2007; 04:55 PM ET | Comments (1)
Out With the Old: Artsy Edition
With the New Year fast approaching -- have you made your NYE plans yet? -- we thought we'd take the week to look back at some of our favorite D.C. happenings of 2006. As the resident art girl, I've had...
By Julia Beizer | December 26, 2006; 02:14 PM ET | Comments (0)
Send Them to the Other Mall
Ah the holidays. The season of love, giving ... and hard-to-entertain relatives. If your aunt and uncle are taking up too much room in your apartment, send them to the National Mall for a day of good, old-fashioned culture. The...
By Julia Beizer | November 28, 2006; 05:04 PM ET | Comments (1)
Sight: City Hall
At last night's opening of the new City Hall Art Collection, Council Chair Linda Cropp talked about renovations to the District government's headquarters in the last decade. "You know when you move everything into a new house and you look...
By Julia Beizer | November 1, 2006; 12:27 PM ET | Comments (2)
Panda Love
On Thursdays, there are some Got Plans? questions that we just don't get to before the chat ends. As I was looking through the unanswered questions at 2:06 p.m. yesterday, this question really bummed me out: Petworth: Hi Gurus! So,...
By Julia Beizer | October 13, 2006; 04:20 PM ET | Comments (1)
Asian Art: Open Until Moonrise
If you've been reading around these days, you may have heard about a little event going down on the National Mall this Saturday called "From Sunrise to Moonrise." In honor of the 100-year anniversary of Charles Lang Freer's gift of...
By Julia Beizer | October 4, 2006; 11:51 AM ET | Comments (2)
Art Hopping
Logan Circle's galleries are some of my favorites around here -- reliably hosting some of the edgiest and most thought-provoking exhibitions in town. The shows this month are likely to be no exception and this Saturday is one of your...
By Julia Beizer | September 12, 2006; 04:20 PM ET | Comments (0)
New Kids on the Block
Anyone wondering what's new on the contemporary art scene need look no further than three Washington galleries this month. Work by newly minted BFA and MFA graduates are on view at Irvine Contemporary, Project 4 and Conner Contemporary. There are...
By Julia Beizer | August 16, 2006; 08:49 AM ET | Comments (1)
Local Artists Bring the Funk to DCAC
Depending on the exhibition, the gallery at the D.C. Arts Center can be a very vibrant space or a very bleak one. Vibrancy wins out this month with the center's "Wall Mountables" installation, a show with a concept almost as...
By Julia Beizer | July 31, 2006; 05:37 PM ET | Comments (0)
Fringe for the Eyes
Nearly every kind of performance art will invade downtown over the next 10 days in conjunction with the much-anticipated Capital Fringe Festival, which kicks off today. The visual arts are not a huge part of Fringe festivities, but three events...
By Julia Beizer | July 19, 2006; 05:46 PM ET | Comments (0)
Where the AC Blows Freely All Day
We might have gotten a break in the weather today, but the fact remains that it's going to be hot and humid all summer long. For decades, summer tourists have found respite from the heat in the city's museums. This...
By Julia Beizer | July 19, 2006; 02:40 PM ET | Comments (0)
Wild World of Rousseau
I'm not much of an artist myself -- creatively clipped T-shirts are about as close as I come -- but I can't imagine painting a place I'd never seen. Colors, light, shape, line: don't you first need to see those...
By Julia Beizer | July 11, 2006; 02:04 PM ET | Comments (0)
A Few More Days for Archives
Friday Update: The Archives exhibits -- including the Charters of Freedom display in the Rotunda -- will reopen tomorrow, Saturday, July 15. The William G. McGowan Theater will be closed until further notice. **** The National Archives building on the...
By Julia Beizer | July 11, 2006; 12:38 PM ET | Comments (0)
Film Series and First Fridays
It may have been a short week, but I couldn't be more psyched that Friday's around the corner. Tomorrow night you can go gallery-hopping in Dupont and check out exhibits of cartoons and works by local artists. Read on for...
By Julia Beizer | July 6, 2006; 04:25 PM ET | Comments (1)
Archives Outdoors
The National Archives Building on the Mall will be closed at least until July 11. Electrical equipment damaged in last week's storms needs to be reparied and tested, said Miriam Kleiman, public affairs specialist for the Archives. The building will...
By Julia Beizer | July 5, 2006; 02:26 PM ET | Comments (0)
Feeding at Folklife
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is up and running! As we strolled along the grounds today, it was hard to believe that rain had pelted the Mall just a few days before. The sun was shining and a good lunchtime crowd...
By Julia Beizer | June 30, 2006; 03:45 PM ET | Comments (0)
Museum Closings Update
Friday Update: The National Museum of American History reopens tomorrow, July 1! Archives is still closed and expects damages will cost $2 million to repair. **** The National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Castle Information Center are back...
By Julia Beizer | June 29, 2006; 03:32 PM ET | Comments (0)
Arts Revival Downtown
It's a good weekend for the arts community in Chinatown. The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery reopen this Saturday after a six-and-a-half-year renovation. But before it opens, you can look inside the museums' revamped home --...
By Julia Beizer | June 29, 2006; 09:48 AM ET | Comments (0)
Rainy Day Blues for Mall Museums
Well the last few days have been a bloody disaster, eh? The rain has been torrential, the traffic's been horrendous and the downtown museums were just one of the many spots that this storm system has sacked. We've got the...
By Julia Beizer | June 27, 2006; 03:58 PM ET | Comments (0)
An Exhibit to Bank On
Nothing frustrates me more about the D.C. gallery scene than the hours. While many of the spaces have nighttime receptions, regular hours at most galleries directly coincide with my 9-5. The Cultural Center Gallery at the Inter-American Development Bank is...
By Julia Beizer | June 1, 2006; 05:34 PM ET | Comments (1)
Goin' Green
The real estate market is hot. Shows like "Extreme Home Makeover" are even hotter. If you're into ecological living or actually enjoy Saturday trips to Home Depot, a new National Building Museum exhibition is for you. "The Green House: New...
By Julia Beizer | May 24, 2006; 10:57 AM ET | Comments (1)
Party Arty
The art scene and the bar scene mix freely this Friday with two big events in the D.C. museum and gallery world. The Hirshhorn hosts another After Hours event from 8-11 p.m. At March's After Hours event, ages ranged from...
By Julia Beizer | May 9, 2006; 05:07 PM ET | Comments (0)
Beyond Cinco
Cinco de Mayo says as much about Mexican culture as St. Patrick's Day says about the Irish, but thanks to the Cultural Institute of Mexico, there are real opportunities coming this month to learn more about our neighbors to the...
By Julia Beizer | May 8, 2006; 11:21 AM ET | Comments (0)
Sheeler Delight
With Dada and Cezanne almost out the door, the National Gallery of Art is gearing up for another landmark exhibition, "Charles Sheeler: Across Media." This small exhibition, which opens on Sunday, is a treat to see. Sheeler dabbled in photography,...
By Julia Beizer | May 2, 2006; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (0)
Hours Extended for 'Cezanne'
Because of the Cezanne exhibit's overwhelming popularity, the National Gallery has just announced that it will offer extended viewing hours May 6-7, the exhibit's final weekend. "Cezanne in Provence" will be open until 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, and...
By Julia Beizer | April 27, 2006; 09:09 AM ET | Comments (0)
Artists, Performing
Stationary sculptures and canvasses are all fine and good, but sometimes a little action in art is refreshing. This week, a couple of performance artists spice up the museum scene. Tonight, the Corcoran's Hammer Auditorium hosts a presentation of experimental...
By Julia Beizer | April 26, 2006; 11:02 AM ET | Comments (0)
American History Update
The museum announced today that it will close on Labor Day (Sept. 4) to begin its renovation project. The museum is scheduled to reopen in summer 2008, but anyone who has ever been anywhere near a construction project knows these...
By Julia Beizer | April 12, 2006; 01:53 PM ET | Comments (1)
History Hunting in the Nation's Capital
News from the National Museum of American History was a shock to my inbox yesterday: "The museum will begin closing some of its exhibition galleries this spring and summer, and the entire museum will close to the public in the...
By Julia Beizer | April 11, 2006; 10:02 AM ET | Comments (8)
From the Made-Up Words Department . . .
As he described the new Sant Building of the Phillips Collection today, museum director Jay Gates called the architecture "Phillipsian." That's not in any dictionary I've ever read, but I think I know what he means. The museum's new wing,...
By Julia Beizer | April 10, 2006; 03:09 PM ET | Comments (1)
Capture the Castle
First Fridays in Dupont Circle traditionally involve art lovers wandering from gallery to gallery, taking in the latest cutting-edge exhibits, talking up the newest up-and-comers and scarfing down free jug wine and cheese. Starting tomorrow, the landmark Brewmaster's Castle is...
By Fritz Hahn | April 6, 2006; 02:20 PM ET | Comments (0)
When It Rains, It Pours
Usually it's hard to fit in art activities in this town when you work a 9 to 5. Sure, there's First Friday, Third Thursday, Betheda Art Walk, Second Thursday Art Night and other gallery romps, but for the most part,...
By Julia Beizer | March 29, 2006; 12:13 PM ET | Comments (0)
And the Beat Goes On
The National Gallery announced yesterday that it will extend its performance of George Antheil's film score for "Le Ballet mechanique" until May 14, the last day of the museum's "Dada" exhibit. It was supposed to close next Wednesday, but the...
By Julia Beizer | March 24, 2006; 03:11 PM ET | Comments (3)
Glimpses of Greatness
The new Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture is set to open on July 1, and if yesterday's press preview is any indication of the changes being made to home of the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian...
By Julia Beizer | March 24, 2006; 10:04 AM ET | Comments (2)
National Gallery: Ready to Rock
Loyal Got Plans? readers have seen me plug this performance almost every week since the middle of February, but for those of you who haven't heard about "Le Ballet mechanique" at the National Gallery, consider this post a get-thee-to-the-Mall call....
By Julia Beizer | March 14, 2006; 03:41 PM ET | Comments (1)
Feelin' Artsy?
It's the first Friday of the month, do you know where your artsy friends are? From 6-8 p.m. on the first Friday of each month, Dupont Circle galleries host a neighborhood open house of sorts, often giving out free wine...
By Julia Beizer | March 3, 2006; 01:16 PM ET | Comments (0)
Art and Soul
Beads will be flying around town for Mardi Gras tomorrow night, but a different sort of celebration is on tap at the Warehouse. A new exhibit, "Arty Gras," opens at the gallery with king cake, a jazz band and a...
By Julia Beizer | February 24, 2006; 05:17 PM ET | Comments (0)
In or Out? It Makes a Difference
So I checked out "Wall Snatchers" last night. The new graffiti art exhibit had some high points, but I left the show wanting something more. The exhibit features the work of six artists -- Bask, Eon, Mister Never, Nick Z,...
By Julia Beizer | February 24, 2006; 12:19 PM ET | Comments (3)
Inside the Factory
Pop-art fans mourning Monday's closing of the Corcoran's Warhol exhibit have something to smile about. A new exhibit opened at Irvine Contemporary this weekend that fulfills all Andy-related desires. The not-so-creatively titled exhibit "Celebrity Photographs from the Warhol Years" is...
By Julia Beizer | February 22, 2006; 12:23 PM ET | Comments (2)
More Than Meets the Urinal
For me, the dada art movement of the early 20th century brings to mind one iconic image: Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" (1917), a store-bought urinal the artist wished to display at a New York gallery. But clearly, as National Gallery's new...
By Julia Beizer | February 14, 2006; 01:23 PM ET | Comments (0)
Getting a Date with the Man from Provence
There's something about those French painters. Last year, an exhibition of more than 200 paintings by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec drew record crowds to the National Gallery. This year, an exhibition of Paul Cezanne's work is creating just as much buzz....
By Julia Beizer | February 7, 2006; 11:24 AM ET | Comments (3)
Aquarium Walkabout
Recently, I took I-95 north to go down under. After more than three years of construction, the new "Australia: Wild Extremes" permanent exhibit at the Baltimore Aquarium is open, and the crowds have been many people thick. Buying advance timed...
By Anne | January 20, 2006; 11:28 AM ET | Comments (0)
Arts Abound in 2006
The D.C. art scene has so much going for it in 2006, it's hard to limit my picks to a simple few. Nevertheless, here are five upcoming events that I'm already excited about. Many, many more are likely to follow....
By Julia Beizer | January 4, 2006; 12:04 PM ET | Comments (2)
Can You Keep a Secret?
When Germantown resident Frank Warren started PostSecret in late 2004, I doubt he imagined where the idea would go. Warren's "community art project" -- a blog comprised of handmade postcards sharing the secrets of anonymous senders -- now gets more...
By Julia Beizer | December 14, 2005; 12:15 PM ET | Comments (1)
Fine Art, Straight Up
Washingtonians who like a little substance with their alcoholic substances should check out tomorrow night's event at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The program, dubbed Hirshhorn After Hours, is designed to highlight "Gyroscope," the museum's most recent reinstallation of...
By Julia Beizer | November 15, 2005; 10:28 AM ET | Comments (1)
For the Kid Who Has Hit Every Hayride in Town
Instead of engaging in the typical constume-and-candy frenzy this Halloween weekend, two Smithsonian museums are hosting family events to celebrate the Mexican and Central American holiday Dia de los Muertos. Day of the Dead, as it is known in English,...
By Julia Beizer | October 26, 2005; 01:22 PM ET | Comments (0)
DC Chic
My kudos to the Kennedy Center, which, in addition to the Corcoran, is one of the few local arts centers to devote space to the world of fashion. Last spring, the Ken Cen hosted a terrific show on the influence...
By washingtonpost.com | October 6, 2005; 09:55 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Blessings of Liberty
With all the buzz about Talk Like a Pirate Day, I wondered if the first-ever Constitution Day might be overshadowed. And perhaps it already has been, since Constitution Day was Saturday (September 17 was the day the Constitution was signed...
By Anne | September 19, 2005; 11:06 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Art of the Weekend
Ah, the summer weekend. Each one is a tug-of-war between the allure of basking in the sunshine and the appeal of staying inside to take advantage of the area's cultural offerings. Do you take a leisurely stroll or hole up...
By washingtonpost.com | June 1, 2005; 01:26 PM ET | Comments (0)
Art on the Go
Every time a new exhibit opens, most of us have the best intentions to see it right away, but weeks go by and suddenly that same show has come to its close. In the next few weeks, some of the...
By washingtonpost.com | April 25, 2005; 06:43 PM ET | Comments (0)
Zeisel at Hillwood
Eva Zeisel may be familiar to design aficionados and Crate and Barrel shoppers (the latter is now selling her Tomorrow's Classic line), but the industrial designer's body of work is more fully realized in a new retrospective at the Hillwood...
By washingtonpost.com | April 15, 2005; 06:15 PM ET | Comments (0)
First Friday
Dupont Circle art galleries have been hosting First Fridays for decades, staying open late the first Friday of each month, boasting their latest talent or collection and sometimes offering refreshments. It's a great time for infrequent gallery-goers and regular visitors...
By washingtonpost.com | March 28, 2005; 07:40 PM ET | Comments (0)
Academy 'Anatomies'
View Enlarged Photo and CaptionWashington has its share of museums on the Mall and gallery districts, but it's also full of great works of art in unexpected places. The National Academy of Sciences pursues lofty goals of research and stewardship,...
By washingtonpost.com | March 15, 2005; 01:33 PM ET | Comments (0)
Face Time With Modigliani
View Enlarged Photo and CaptionThe Modigliani retrospective that drew hordes to New York's Jewish Museum last summer has made its way to Washington, the final stop on its tour. Lucky us, the retrospective of the Italian-born, Parisian-based painter opens at...
By washingtonpost.com | February 24, 2005; 05:51 PM ET | Comments (2)
Photography at Hemphill
View Enlarged Photo and CaptionLogan Circle's Hemphill Fine Arts is boasting two new photography shows. The larger of the two is a collection of works by Max Hirshfeld. Entitled "One Shot," the series features single figures captured in varying urban...
By washingtonpost.com | February 23, 2005; 05:29 PM ET | Comments (0)
To Ruscha, With Love
View Enlarged Photo and CaptionIt's true there's never a bad time to visit the National Gallery, but right now there's extra incentive with the launch of the museum's latest show "Cotton Puffs, Q-tips, Smoke and Mirrors: The Drawings of Ed...
By washingtonpost.com | February 14, 2005; 02:03 PM ET | Comments (2)
