Summer is not prime time for Washington’s art scene. Asked about August plans, the proprietor of one leading gallery replied that he is going to have the space’s floors refinished.
But some galleries are offering more than the art-world equivalent of “I’ll be washing my hair that night.” Most area exhibition spaces are booked through July, and some will be open in August as well. The pace will just be a little slower.
Take a detour from the seasonal humdrum and head to the nerdly theatrical environs of “Beertown.”
This year: Anacostia arts, land grant colleges and the USDA, and the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Summer highlights in the Washington area include “Giselle” by the Paris Opera Ballet.
Don’t expect blockbuster exhibits, but don’t settle in for a season of sweet intellectual lassitude, either.
The mid-Atlantic region offers plenty of classical music in the summer — if you know where to find it.
Silverdocs gives credence to Washington’s evolving role as a documentary film hub.
This summer’s arts calendar includes dozens of offerings for children around the region.
Every one of these concerts stands out from the pack, so it’s in your best interest to attend as many as possible.
At downtown’s Gallery 555dc, for example, owner Jodi Walsh says she’ll be closed a few more days than usual, so she decided to give the July slot to an artist who won’t gripe about that: herself. (555 12th St. NW; 202-393-1409, www.gallery555dc.com)
It’s a renovation project, not summer doldrums, that shuttered Zenith Gallery in the Chevy Chase Pavilion. But Zenith’s Margery Goldberg is keeping busy with the salon gallery in her art-stuffed home. She’ll be showing Peter Kephart’s fire paintings, which begin when he scorches wet canvases over hot coals; he then paints atop the resulting patterns, yielding surprisingly diverse pictures. In addition, Goldberg has just installed a sculpture garden in what was a backyard swimming pool. Both shows run through Aug. 25, and are open Saturdays and by appointment. (1429 Iris St. NW, www.zenithgallery.com)
Zenith also programs the sculpture space at 1111 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, where “Sailing to Byzantium,” a show of culture and metallic constructions, continues until June 23. Nearby at the Carroll Square Gallery, installation artists Mariah Anne Johnson and John Watson have transformed the room with folded fabric and reclaimed wood. Their “Space Is the Place” will run through Aug. 24. (975 F St. NW; 202-234-5601; www.carrollsquare.com)
Carroll Square is curated by Hemphill Fine Arts, which will be showing paintings by William Willis and works on paper by Stephen Cushner from June 8 to July 28. The two artists, longtime friends, both work with subtle colors and archetypal forms. (1515 14th St. NW; 202-234-5601, www.hemphillfinearts.com)
Upstairs in the same complex, the Curator’s Office recently opened “An Architect’s Dream,” a group exhibition inspired by Joseph Cornell — and the Kate Bush song that provides the title. The show, continuing until June 30, combines a Cornell piece with works by three young artists. (1515 14th St. NW; 202-387-1008; www.curatorsoffice.com)
Across the river at Artisphere, “Retratos Compartidos/Shared Portraits” offers an interactive, and inter-American, experience. Kevin Krapf’s project, previously staged in Guadalajara, Mexico, uses a double-sided drawing table where both the artist and visitors can execute portraits. The new likenesses will be added to the display as the give-and-take continues during the June 13-Aug. 18 run. (1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-875-1100; artisphere.com)
Arts events slow as well in the summertime, but there a few noteworthy ones on the schedule. On June 7, Hillyer Art Space will mark its sixth anniversary with an auction and cake-and-champagne “birthday bash.” Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 at the door. (9 Hillyer Court NW; 202-338-0680; www.artsandartists.org/hillyer
.html)
From June 22 to July 28, Civilian Art Projects will feature works by three artists, including Richard Chartier’s “Interior Fields,” a sound installation based on the McMillan sand-filtration plant in the District. In August, the gallery will present no displays but will host a two-night “conceptual art dinner” prepared by artist and chef Carole Wagner Greenwood. The menu’s still being planned, but it’s based on 1960s art from Paris and New York — two cities that just happen to be known for emptying in August. (Civilian Art Projects, 1019 7th St NW; 202-607-3804; www.civilian
artprojects.com)
Jenkins is a freelance writer.
Swatches left with foundlings alter ideas about parenting and everyday life in 18th-century London.
1369410901000
Next month’s decision on the ambitious project could change the direction of the art museum.
1369356919000
“Hand Held” in part traces the evolution from Chinese-inspired nature scenes to manga images.
1369345620000
Some want to continue fundraising for the structure on Mall; others want to focus on different priorities.
1369344780000At the Greater Reston Arts Center, two artists turn salvaged wood into art.
1369330989000Last chance to view exhibitions exploring the mixture of cultures in Hispaniola and Guatemala.
1369330853000
Military personnel and their families will be admitted free to participating museums from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
1369108860000
After 12 years at the Portrait Gallery, Frank and Anne Collins Goodyear are becoming co-directors of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art in Maine.
1368828015000
Swiss duo reinvigorates old artistic ideas in a show that is delightful, engaging and often moving.
1368824532000
The magnificent centerpiece to “Sculpture on the Wall” breaks through the Barnes’s fustiness.
1368823195000
If the Smithsonian doesn’t move forward with the Bubble, creative stagnation will be business as usual.
1368822963000
South Carolina artist James Busby uses deep texture and grooves in his paintings on panels.
1368747336000First major U.S. survey of avant-garde English art movement closes at the National Gallery of Art.
1368720412000At Flashpoint Gallery, an exhibition of photography and film projection.
1368720197000The Post Most: EntertainmentMost-viewed stories,videos, and galleries in the past two hours
Going Out Guide
Movies
Best Bets
Recently Reviewed Restaurants
Loading...
Comments