For the one above I’m just gonna stick with interesting as the descriptor…
art
Photo by PoPville flickr user Bogotron
What stations have folks seen performers at? Anyone ever see dancers or poets? I wanna say there were some at Farragut North? From a press release:
Metro’s Art in Transit program and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities are seeking District of Columbia-based performers to audition for MetroPerforms! Auditions will take place Saturday, June 19, at Metro headquarters in northwest Washington, D.C.
MetroPerforms! invites local performers of all genres—singers, dancers, musicians, poets and more—to showcase their talents at select Metrorail station entrances. Metro and the DC Arts Commission will select artists to perform at Metro station entrances from June through September.
Metro developed MetroPerforms! in 2007 in conjunction with local arts councils in the Metro area. The participating arts councils worked with Metro to develop performance criteria, conduct auditions to select performers and to provide them a stipend from the arts councils.
Auditions will take place on Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC. Auditions are conducted first-come, first-served. The selected artists will perform at 10 stations throughout the District of Columbia.
“We were very pleased with how popular the program has become with area artists and Metro travelers,” said Michael McBride, Metro’s Art in Transit program manager. “We look forward to working with the Arts Commission and with local artists to present another season of exciting performances.”
Performances will take place at designated Metro station entrances at a distance far enough away from station stairs and escalators to ensure clear access for people heading into or out of stations. In addition, selected performers must pass a background check and will not be permitted to sell merchandise or solicit in any way while performing.
|
“Dear PoP,
An acquaintance was recently telling me about some interesting street art in DC and I would love some more information. He said that sometime in the 1970s a group of artists in DC (and maybe around the country) were doing outdoor art where they would paint large blocks of color. He thought that there was a street somewhere in Northwest where large blocks of color had been painted on the asphalt and that they are faded, but still visible today. His best guess was between 10th & 15th Street, NW, maybe in the Shaw, Logan Circle, or the U Street neighborhoods. A Google search hasn’t turned up anything helpful. Any idea what street this might be?”
Well the only thing I could think of was these stars (pictured above) on 14th St, NW by S. But of course those are only a few years old. Do any long time residents have a recollection of some painted streets around town?
The Fridge, “an art gallery, performance space, music venue and classroom”, is located in the Rear alley behind Barrack’s Row (Eastern Market Metro) at 516 8th Street SE. They had a circus celebration on Sunday so if you saw a dude on stilts you’re not going crazy…
You can find upcoming events here.
You can’t miss the space with these great murals:
Photo by PoPville flickr user caroline.angelo
This sounds awesome:
“Who: CHARTS (Columbia Heights Arts Foundation) is a budding organization serves to unite the different communities that live in Columbia Heights through the medium of art — by extending outreach to all corners of the neighborhood for constructing dialogue on the arts, cultivating talent through community-based art projects, and allowing outlets of expression that are universal in their audience.
What: Join hundreds of your friends and neighbors for an evening of fine arts presented by local artists, musicians, poets, and actors — it’s the inaugural event for the Columbia Heights Salon Series, powered by the new Columbia Heights Arts Foundation (CHARTS).
Back in the Victorian era, salons were the gathering places for people of high society to mix, mingle, and mull over topics of discussion like politics, as well as come together for the arts. CHARTS is bringing that concept to Columbia Heights once a season, beginning this January, by having four “salons” to visit (allowing roughly 30 minutes per house), where people can peruse the neighborhood and experience different thematic elements of art in a relaxed social setting — and allow them the opportunity to meet their very creative neighbors.
When: Saturday, May 22nd 6:00-10:00 pm
Powered by CHARTS (the Columbia Heights Arts Foundation), here are the four Salons, all within the same one-block radius. Feel free to join each one at your leisure:
Descriptions and locations after the jump. (more…)
“Dear PoP,
There was an interesting quote projected on a residential building on Columbia Road NW between Belmont and Kalorama last night. Photos attached. Looks like it reads:
“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, represents, in the final analysis, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, who are cold and are not clothed.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
A great message no doubt, but would be interesting if anyone knows more about it. Think the guy at the bottom of the frame in the first photo is the one behind it but didn’t get a chance to ask him about it.”
DCist reports:
“Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters was here in D.C. projecting a quote by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on buildings around town Friday and Saturday night. Let me say that again, because it bears repeating: Roger Waters, the guy who wrote “Wish You Were Here,” is using a laser light projector to display a line from President Ike’s Cross of Iron speech.”
In the story they don’t say how they were able to confirm it was Roger Waters but in the comments they mention a press release they saw.
From Albus Cavus Classrooms:
“In Albus Cavus Classroom on Sunday May 9 from 2pm to 4pm, we are going to work on a Mother’s Day mural. The workshop is taught by Decoy and it will be in The Fridge (516 8th Street SE, rear alley, Washington DC – walking distance from Eastern Market Metro).
Decoy who taught previous Wheatpasting for Beginners in January will teach her technique, her way to install art on the walls and how to scale up drawings into large murals. The workshop emphasizes hands-on experience and spontaneous creativity. While you will have to follow Decoy’s instructions to learn the technique, you will be encouraged to work on your own art.
Working clothes covering full body is recommended. Gloves and simple respirators are provided. But we recommend that you bring this kind with you. All paint and art supplies are provided. Recommended donation is $30 (we don’t turn anybody away). Bring your friends. Suitable for all ages.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user julianne’s
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in PoPville!
Ed. Note: Happy Mother’s Day to my mom as well who lives a bit outside PoPville’s borders…
Thanks to Paul Ruppert for sharing these photos and letting me know about the Dupont Underground Web site which says:
The Dupont Underground is coming – are you ready?
This visionary and ambitious development will bring to life 100,000 sq feet of galleries, multi-use flexible exhibition spaces, a teaching library, interactive archives, an arts café friendly to urban nomads and cloud-commuters as well as multi-media labs and arts-related retail. Central and accessible by Metro from all points across the city, The Dupont Underground will be a linking institution for the arts, architecture and design communities and establish a stimulating multi-sensory destination that will attract a new audiences to the city.
From the departure of deserted and forgotten infrastructure to the arrival of a stunning hub of creative critical mass, The Dupont Underground will establish the District as a place where innovation is an exciting, active and accessible part of daily urban life.
Through the adaptive reuse of the historic abandoned trolley station that lies directly beneath Dupont Circle, The Dupont Underground aims to establish a new landmark cultural institution to serve as a vital hub for innovative public exhibitions of contemporary art and design (including architecture, graphic design, new media technology, industrial, fashion, etc.). It aims to serve as a transformative incubator and accelerator for creative innovation and provide a physical cutting-edge locus for the diversity of the arts community to intersect. Committed not only to the current generation of artists, but to the city’s future, Dupont Underground will additionally work with the city’s public and charter schools to provide access to art programs along with apprenticeships, career guidance and professional training.
The Dupont Underground is organized by the Arts Coalition for Dupont Underground, a registered not-for-profit organization, comprised of artists, arts administrators, architects and business and community leaders working together towards transforming the Dupont Circle trolley station into a high-impact, world-class cultural destination.
I’ll be posting updates about upcoming events and fundraisers and how you can get involved. In the meantime do you think this will be a good use of the Dupont Underground?
