That Art? No Longer Hanging.

By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Tuesday, January 24, 2006

A gym is all about hot bodies, yes? Artist Angela White arrived at the Results gym Thursday night to find that two of her abstract torso paintings were too . . . um, realistic to hang.

White is one of 21 Washington painters, sculptors and photographers represented in the winter exhibition of Mid City Artists, who display their works in galleries and commercial buildings throughout the city. She covers her models in oil paint, then imprints their torsos on canvas. The result: A life-size Rorschach test.

The Capitol Hill gym, a renovated public school, hosts rotating art shows in the 65,000-square-foot space. "I thought this was the perfect venue," White said. "These are perfect, healthy bodies." But at the opening reception, she was told two of her seven paintings didn't make the gym's walls because of visible male genitalia.

The surprised White says it's all in the eye of the beholder: "I feel very strongly that the viewer's reactions to art is more a reflection of the viewer than the artists or the art itself."

Nope, it's in the club policy: "Because of our family-friendly environment, we don't hang artwork that adults wouldn't feel comfortable discussing with their children," said Sarah French , director of operations.

White's a "great artist," said French, but crossed the "no nudity" line: "You've got to be clothed outside the locker area." And if you're a painting.

Son of a Pundit! Look Who's Talkin' Sports on Satellite Radio

Does talk radio need another sports commentary gabfest?

Or, more specifically, does talk radio need a new sports commentary gabfest . . . by James Carville and the 20-year-old son of "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert ?

Well, it's about to get one!

The veteran political strategist and the Boston College sophomore will pair up for a weekly one-hour show to debut in March on XM Satellite Radio, the network announced yesterday.

We caught up with Luke Russert to ask him where this show came from -- and why he thinks anyone will be interested in hearing the ruminations of a couple of Beltway media-political aristocrats.

"Me and James are always at Nationals and Wizards games," said the former ESPN intern, a St. Alban's grad. "We found ourselves debating certain issues that always come down to the age gap" -- such as whether college athletes should be paid, or whether the NBA should institute a dress code. "People who sat around us found it interesting to listen to us -- by the end of the game it would get quite heated."

They pitched the idea of a show to XM, which picked it up. Neither the company nor Russert would disclose how much they will be paid.

So, how's it going to feel to be envied and resented by every other 20-year-old who thinks his views on sports should be heard by the nation?

"It doesn't bother me at all," said the history and communications major. "I guess it comes with the territory. I'm just thankful for the opportunity."

From There She Is in Vegas, to Here She'll Be in D.C.?

Hold on to your tiaras, folks: The Miss America pageant might be headed our way!

Washington Convention Center is preparing a bid to host the annual search for the nation's ideal in 2007 or 2008, our colleague Dana Hedgpeth reports.

William Hanbury , president of the Washington Convention and Tourism Corp., traveled to Las Vegas -- to which the 85-year-old institution decamped from its longtime Atlantic City home -- to witness Miss Oklahoma's coronation Saturday. "Miss America wants to be more about empowering women and providing scholarship opportunities to show they have careers and competency that go way beyond just being glamorous," he said.

Talking like a pageant groupie already! Also, he thinks Miss A could generate $10 million in tourist spending, during a winter month when the District draws few big groups.

HEY, ISN'T THAT . . .

Donald Rumsfeld at MCI Center for Sunday's Wizards game. The secretary of defense was sitting center court, about three rows behind the scorer's table for the 93-82 loss to the Grizzlies. Wish we knew how he scored those great $425 seats. Seen anything else interesting lately? E-mail reliablesource@washpost.com .