PoP Weekend and Monday Picks

Photo by Pat Padua, “The Real Mount Dora.”

From emails:

Join Ten Miles Square and the work of Pat Padua and Jennifer Wade in Microscopy at Hounshell (1506 14th Street NW) this Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.  Continues after the jump.

Padua and Wade take a closer look, literally and figuratively, at the minutiae of life. Padua’s photographs feature the quirky side of Americana that constantly seesaws between the oddly humorous and vaguely depressing — images like a shiny, bright red gumball machine encouraging us to enjoy hugs (and not drugs!), left to rot full of decaying, colorless candies, or a wide-shot of a packed bingo hall parking lot on a gorgeous day. Padua takes his microscope to a modern society that seems to have little interest in (or perhaps knowledge of) any world that exists outside the frame. Heavily influenced by Martin Parr, these images also document our strange relationships with consumerism and collectibles — Jesus and Mary figurines suffocate silently in plastic wrap waiting for the true believer to save them.

Jennifer Wade takes a more literal approach to her Microscopy. A scientist by trade, she uses a scanning electron microscope to turn every day items into the soaring patterns of mountains and sheer cliffs of a cracked ring, swirls of atoms on chunk of coral, or the rushing current of fibers on a cut piece of paper. Much like Padua’s photos, they remind the viewer that it’s possible to both lean closer and step way back, and encourage the viewers to find their own perspectives.

Hounshell is at 1506 14th Street. Head down Saturday night to also enjoy openings at Irvine Contemporary, Hemphill, Curator’s Office, Gallery Plan B, the Healing Arts Gallery and Hamiltonian Gallery. Many thanks to the Pink Line Project for helping make Microscopy possible.

The Washington National Opera and the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission invite the local community to the FREE Opera in the Outfield, September 12th at Nationals Park. 7pm, gates open at 5:30.

Doggie Swim Day, September 12

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will host its first DPR Doggie Day Swim on Saturday, September 12, from 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., at the Upshur Pool, 4300 Arkansas Avenue, NW, and at Francis Pool, 25th and N Streets, NW. With the end of the outdoor swimming season, this annual event provides dogs with a one-day opportunity to enjoy a swim and play games.

Admission is $7 per dog and tickets must be purchased in advance, tickets will not be available for sale the day of the event. Tickets for Doggie Day Swim at Francis Pool and Doggie Day Swim at Upshur Pool can be purchased at DPR Headquarters at 3149 16th Street, NW, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., or online at http://dpr.dc.gov through DPR’s online registration system.

Dog handlers must be sixteen years of age or older, and cannot swim or enter the pool with their dogs. Dogs must be sociable and remain leashed while on the pool deck. All dogs must wear current DC dog license; vaccination tags or have a current rabies certificate or letter from their veterinarian stating that they have received necessary shots in order to gain entry to the event. During the Doggie Day Swim, there will be limits to the number of dogs in the pool area at one time: 75 dogs at Upshur Pool, and 150 dogs at Francis Pool.

And don’t forget the Petworth Library book sale Saturday and the Adams Morgan Day Festival Sunday

Mon Sept 14-Black Cat 16th Anniversary Party Featuring: DEAD MEADOW, THE SHIRKS plus DJs in the Red Room all night long! $10 Backstage 9:00: