art

Weekly Art Lens by Beth Shook

By Eric Nuzum


Work by Brandon Hill on view in ChickenVille at the Lamont Bishop Gallery. Some spray paint cans may have been harmed in the making of this art. Photo by Juan Pineda.

This week marks the return of two of the most popular summertime museum deals in the city: Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art and Free Summer Saturdays at the Corcoran Gallery. Starting the 27th, catch free jazz concerts every Friday evening from 5 to 8:30 p.m. in the NGA’s Sculpture Garden. The inaugural band is Silver Spring-based Brazilian group Origem. At the other end of the Mall, the Corcoran will open its galleries to the public at no cost every Saturday until Labor Day. For other worthwhile art events that won’t be half as crowded, here are this week’s highlights:

ChickenVille at the Lamont Bishop Gallery: This weekend I happened to bump into artist Brandon Hill installing works just hours before the opening of his solo show at Lamont Bishop, a newish gallery not far from Long View and Civilian Art Projects. Hill, who is also participating in Art Whino’s G40 exhibition at vitaminwater uncapped LIVE, works in a variety of mediums, most notably found objects, such as shoes, spray cans, skateboards and furniture. Most prominent during my visit — aside from a temporary heap of discarded spray cans and butchered skateboard decks that could have been an installation in itself — were Hill’s elaborate skateboard sculptures. One sprouts a gnarled branch while another morphs into a violin. The final product will definitely be worth a visit. FREE. On view until June 11. Metro: Mt. Vernon Square-Convention Center.

“Gyöngy Laky: Geometric Disturbances” at the Textile Museum: Gyöngy Laky’s simple but mesmerizing language art and vessel sculptures are constructed using found objects and materials in nature. Her art has been featured in the New York Times, and she has work on display currently in the Textile Museum’s Green exhibition. See her discuss her method and body of work this Thursday evening at the museum. May 26 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members; advanced registration is required. Metro: Dupont Circle.

Body at the Corcoran Gallery of Art: D.C.-based interdisciplinary artist Chajana denHarder will conclude a month-long performance art piece this Saturday at the Corcoran. Throughout May she has been collecting responses from D.C. residents to the questions “What do you most desire?” and “What have you lost?” and adding the messages to eight plaster casts of her body that correspond to the eight D.C. wards. This weekend she will “use her body to collapse the eight body casts together,” symbolically destroying the boundaries that divide Washingtonians. The work is sponsored by the D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities. You can still submit your anonymous response by emailing [email protected]. FREE. May 28 at 2 p.m. Metro: Farragut West or Farragut North.

Opening at the Studio Gallery: If conceptual art, found objects and performance pieces are not really your style, the upcoming exhibition at Studio Gallery might better suit your taste. Three gallery artists, Carol Rubin, Andrew Acquadro and Freda Lee-McCann, will have their work on view for the next several weeks. While the painters have diverse thematic concerns, they all tend towards expressive figuration and landscape — and occasionally slip into abstraction. On view May 25 to June 18. FREE. Metro: Dupont Circle.

The 5pm Post – DC Craft Mafia in Logan Circle Sat.

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

The Spring Thing Craft Show is free to attend and will feature over 40 local artisans—including DC’s belt maker and Eastern Market regular, Jon Wye, baby fashions by Yinibini baby and “If they bathed at Woodstock” patchouli soap by Herban Lifestyle. Live music will also be provided by Dave Tieff and Snakehead Run.

In a late breaking turn of events, show organizers announced that Merlindia’s own Fojol Brother’s would serve their unique brand of mobile [Indian OR Ethiopian] food and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue will supply show-goers with a fun raffle and free, long sought after love and attention courtesy of very cute dogs.

What: The DC Craft Mafia Spring Thing Craft Show
When: Saturday, May 21st from 11 AM – 5 PM
Where: The parking lot of St. Lukes Episcopal Church located at 1514 15th Street NW (15th and P St, NW)

The 5pm Post – The Washington Glass School—The First Ten Years

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

Washington’s Long View Gallery presents “Artists of The Washington Glass School—The First Ten Years” showcasing ten years of integrating glass into the contemporary art dialogue. While it recognizes the past and present, The First Ten Years is intended to instigate—and celebrate—the new directions contemporary glass is exploring through various artistic metaphors.

The Washington Glass School—The First Ten Years
Long View Gallery
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 19, 6.30–8.30pm
Exhibition Dates: May 19–June 19, 2011
Gallery Hours: Wednesday–Saturday 11am–6pm,
Sunday 12–5pm, and by Appointment
1234 Ninth St NW

Wed. Afternoon Rental Option -Mt. Pleasant: For Artists, not for sleeping

By Prince Of Petworth

This interesting rental is located at 3308 19th street nw at Park Road:


View Larger Map

The Craigslist ad says:

This is a great artist space for rent with high ceilings. The space is 90 SF, 9 1/2 feet deep by 9 1/2 feet wide and 10 foot high ceilings. The space has two very large windows so there is great natural light in the studio. The studio has a storage closet to keep your paints or other supplies.

See Studio B in floor plan pictured below. The studio is on the upper level of this building pictured below and is the smaller of the two studios in the floor plan.

In the past the space has been used by a paint artist.

Electric utility is extra and the common space electric is split 3 ways between all studios, the electric tends to be minimal ($5 per month) except in the winter if you use the baseboard heat and don’t turn it off when you are not using the Studio. There is a full bathroom that is shared off the common hallway and gives water access to all.

This is not a livable space and there is no possibility of sleeping/living at this studio, the building is not zoned for this type of use.

This artists studio is yours for $300 monthly.

And on a more traditional note – does anyone have recs for a summer lease:

“Dear PoP,

My friend just finished her second year of law school at Syracuse, and she got a very last minute internship in DC. The only problem? She needs housing, stat! I recently moved out of DC, *tear*, otherwise I would have her stay with me. She will need metro access (the internship is near Dupont), and the summer internship ends most likely around the beginning of August. Obviously, the cheaper, the better. If anyone has a need for a summer roommate or knows anyone who does, please e-mail summerinternDC at gmail dot com.”

More Info and Renderings of Art Gallery Coming to 1830 14th St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Bill Smith an architect with StudioSmith, LLC was kind enough to share some info and renderings for the new art gallery moving into the old L and N Thrift Store Space at 1830 14th St, NW (just south of T St.) He writes:

The new space will consist of an art gallery in the front half, with shows that feature local artists. The rear half of the space will feature a gallery/studio space for the painter Regina Miele (Raven Arts currently located above Bar Pilar) and her framing business as well. The original storefront is being restored and the interior will consist of modular translucent panels that will be on tracks, allowing for the flexibility of the space to be used for art events, possibly drawing/painting classes and work spaces.

Following renderings from StudioSmith, LLC:

Month long Uncapped Live Art/Music/Bar/Lounge Space at 14th and Florida Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Introducing Uncapped Live from Jeff Martin on Vimeo.

“Dear PoP,

I saw the George’s Carryout at 14th and Florida (next to the old Latino Auto Sale) is gone and some guy was painting a pretty cool sign/mural in the little alcove entrance. Any idea what is going in this spot?”

I’ve been getting tons of emails asking what’s going on at the corner of 14th and Florida Ave, NW in the old DDOT space next to George’s Carryout.

Normally I reserve the type of excitement I’m about to exhibit for the annoucement of a new Dunkin Donuts, IHOP or a Chipotle but since the event is sponsored by vitaminwater I don’t think I’ll lose my pro-chain street cred…

I was lucky enough to get a tour of the space yesterday and it is freaking amazing. It wasn’t even 100% completed but it blew my mind. It kinda reminded me of a combination of artomatic and the old party space at 14th and T St, NW that is now the Room and Board. The space is huge and there is super cool art everywhere. (Lots more photos after the jump.)

Here’s a bit of a description from an email:

we are taking over a 20,000+ square feet plus space on 14th street and opening the doors for a month of music, fashion, art, film, comedy and action sports events. the idea behind vitaminwater® uncapped LIVE is to provide the D.C community (and fans of the vitaminwater® brand) with a place to engage with emerging bands, artists, athletes and friends to showcase all of the amazing lifestyle and culture that is emerging in our nation’s capital. we have partnered with Brightest Young Things and Art Whino to program an unbelievable music, entertainment and arts calendar and we are really looking forward to having all of you join us throughout the month for one or multiple events.

And here’s the schedule so far:

uncappedLIVESchedule

The space will be open from May 19th – June 17th, 2011 (6 days a week closed on Mondays.) If you just want to see the G40 art exhibit the hours are:

Open Hours: Tuesday & Thursdays: 5 – 10pm,
Fridays & Saturdays: 12pm – 11pm
Sundays: 12pm – 6pm
Mondays: Closed

The first event kicks off Friday May 20th: “Fatback DJs bring 3 of their parties into one space: FATBACK classic/ TENDERLOIN (slow jams in the lounge) / QUE SERA (garage rock in the garage). 10pm. FREE”

If you don’t go for an official event (they’ll still have bars and music and more – check the schedule above) you gotta just stop by to check it out. It is one of the most unique spaces I’ve ever seen with over 220 amazing artists displayed.

A taste of the artists after the jump. (more…)

Weekly Art Lens by Beth Shook

By Prince Of Petworth


Elizabeth Ryland Mears and William Forrest, “The Three” (detail), 6ft h x 3 ft w x 3 ft d, glass, steel, mixed media

This IS Hawai’I at Transformer and the National Museum of the American Indian: This joint exhibition celebrates “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month” and marks the first time works by Hawaiian artists Solomon Enos, Puni Kukahiko, Carl F.K. Pao and Maika’i Tubbs has been shown in Washington. As with many shows centered on contemporary art from a marginalized group, This IS Hawai’I will “explore what it means to be Hawaiian in the 21st century” by confronting popular stereotypes. Works range from Kukahiko’s outdoor sculptures to Pao’s fictitious “Post-Historic Museum of the Possible Aboriginal Hawaiian.” You can read artists bios at the NMAI website. FREE. On view May 19 to July 4 at the NMAI and from May 21 to June 25 at Transformer. Metro: Dupont Circle for Transformer and Federal Center SW for the NMAI.

The Artists of the Washington Glass School – The First Ten Years at Long View Gallery: This month Long View takes a break from exhibiting its own artists to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Washington Glass School with a retrospective of work by its instructors and students. The show will explore how the school has helped to propel glass art into the contemporary art scene, blurring the lines between “decorative art” and “fine art.” FREE. On view May 19 to June 19. Opening reception May 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Metro: Mt. Vernon Square-Convention Center.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Art Gallery Coming to old L and N Thrift Store Space at 1830 14th St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in August ’10 we learned that L and N Thrift Store was closing at 1830 14th St, NW (just south of T St, NW across from Som Records.) I just saw today that a permit has gone up saying that it will become an art gallery:

I spoke with one of the workers who said it is a complete gut job and he let me take a peek. The space is much bigger than I thought. I’ll be sure to update as the gallery gets closer to opening.

More Fire Box Art

By Prince Of Petworth

It’s been a while since I’ve found a new (to me) fire box conversion. This great one is also from Forest Hills (Near Van Ness.)

Description after the jump. (more…)

The 5pm Post – Public Art Opening Reception and Artist Talk with Nekisha Durrett

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

Join us for an opening reception and artist talk with Nekisha Durrett to celebrate the installation of Durrett’s iconic public artwork, Sweet, on Saturday, May 14th in the Petworth neighborhood.

Nekisha, a Petworth-based artist, designed the large scale, two-dimensional piece installed on the exterior façade of the 3Tree Flats building. She describes the piece: “Her hovering head one story tall, a young woman looks coolly over her Georgia Avenue with one bold, yellow bubbly adjective in a thought cloud over her flowing locks — Sweet. She looks toward the street observing traces of the past, the vitality of the present and future, and the prideful spirit of her evolving community.”

WHO: Cultural Development Corporation, JAIR LYNCH Development Partners and AHD, Inc.
WHAT: Opening reception and artist talk with Nekisha Durrett.
WHERE: 3Tree Flats lobby (3910 Georgia Avenue, NW)
WHEN: Saturday, May 14, 2-4pm

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