When the Arts Mix With Politics

By Lavanya Ramanathan
Thursday, February 28, 2008

There are candidate-watchers, and then there are those whose existence is devoted not to politics but the political.

Tomorrow, one of the most political local artists we can think of, Mary Coble, visits the Hirshhorn to discuss her very personal work, which has often involved stepping into the psyches of others. In 2005, she had the names of slain gay, lesbian, transgendered and bisexual people "tattooed" on her body with just a needle, no ink (photos of the result are titled "Note to Self"). She has subjected herself to electroshock "therapy" in recognition of the treatments used until the 1970s to encourage gays to be straight. She has stood on a corner offering her body (and markers) to passersby to write "hate-inspired" words upon. And now "Note to Self" is in the Hirshhorn's collection and part of the museum's "Currents: Recent Acquisitions" show. Coble and curatorial research associate Ryan Hill talk about the work tomorrow afternoon at 12:30. Free. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, lower level, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. 202-633-1000.

Tonight at Politics and Prose, you'll definitely get more of the former than the latter when Dee Dee Myers stops in to discuss her book "Why Women Should Rule the World." You might recognize Myers's name from her stint as White House press secretary in the early years of the Clinton administration. Now a political analyst and commentator (and a former consultant to "The West Wing"), Myers visits the bookstore to talk about the book, which contends, as the title makes clear, that women might just make better leaders than men. Of course, this is not to say that the book supports one current female candidate, ahem, in her bid to lead, but it does weigh in on how gender has played a role in the campaign. Free. 7 p.m. 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-364-1919.

There's a second chance to catch the inaugural Our City Film Festival, a slate of independent-minded films shown earlier this month at a sold-out one-day, sold-out showing at Busboys and Poets. Covering Washington and its growing local issues such as gentrification, the festival includes "Blue Line," about a young Anacostia man who rides the Metro for his art; "God of a Second Chance," about the faith of two African Americans living in a poor Washington neighborhood; and "Chocolate City," about the end of the line for one Southeast Washington public housing complex. It's at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue on Sunday. $10 per screening block. Screenings at 1, 3:30 and 6:15 p.m. 600 I St. NW. See schedule and buy tickets at http://www.yachad-dc.org. For information, 202-296-8563.

The District

Today

THE SCENE: The Modernist Society The late-night chats over bourbon at Bourbon return with guest Simon Jacobsen, an architect who was once the drummer in old Dischord Records band State of Alert (fronted by Henry Rollins). He is also the son of revered architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen (a pioneer in housing design who has made additions to the U.S. Capitol, among other projects). How's that for a full life? Daryle Maciocha (a.k.a. DJ D-Mac) takes on the interview, which will cover modernism and music and dear ol' Dad. Q&A to follow. Free. Talk at 9 p.m., dancing till 2. Bourbon, 2321 18th St. NW, second floor. 202-332-0800.

THE SCENE: International Sword Swallower's Day We're not going to lie. This made the cut because of the title. Today is the first-ever Sword Swallower's Day (it's for real, declared by Sword Swallowers Association International via a press release, of all things). Palace of Wonders marks the occasion with a show by Tyler Fyre and Thrill Kill Jill, who'll stick around to explain how they (and perhaps you) can accomplish such frightening feats. Consider it a life skill. Afterward, take time to check out the bar's sword collection. $5. The presentation is at 9 p.m. Palace of Wonders, 1210 H St. NE. 202-398-7469.

Tomorrow

ON STAGE: Tim Miller In the early 1990s, performance artist Miller was one of four people whose National Endowment for the Arts grants were rescinded. They challenged, right up to the Supreme Court, the agency's right to deny grants if the art is deemed indecent. The artists ultimately lost, but Miller's career didn't miss a beat. In fact, Miller's show "Us," inspired by Broadway musicals, was nominated for a 2005 Drama Desk Award; the work rethought big singing and dancing numbers to dissect American ideals and the struggle of gays and lesbians for rights such as marriage. The solo show, with nods to such musicals as "Gypsy" and "A Fiddler on the Roof," will be performed at Dance Place tomorrow through Sunday. $22; full-time teachers, Dance Place members, seniors and students, $17. 8 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday; Sunday at 4. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. 202-269-1600.

THE SCENE: "No Scrubs" DJs Will Eastman of Bliss and Brian Billion will spin TLC, Marky Mark, Oasis, Nirvana and all the music from the '90s you thought you never wanted to hear again. The dance party raises money for Project Create, an after-school arts program for at-risk children. $7 (all ages). 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Black Cat Backstage, 1811 14th St. NW. 202-667-7960.

Maryland

Today

ON STAGE: "Shadows," Stories of Hidden Peoples Renowned Australian photographer and storyteller William Yang spends three nights at Clarice Smith sharing his photographic and literary chronicles of two communities: Aborigines in the tiny Australian Outback village of Enngonia, and German immigrants and their descendants interned by the Australian government during World War I and World War II. The performances blend projections of Yang's images with his monologues and live music by Colin Offord, who performs on his Great Island mouth bow, which he created by stretching strings over a tree trunk. $30; students, $7. 8 p.m. tonight through Saturday. University of Maryland, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Route 193 and Stadium Drive, College Park. 301-405-2787.

Tomorrow

THE SCENE: "Club Stage Door" Cheverly's Publick Playhouse, generally a space for family programming in dance and music, enters the realm of nightlife with this new cabaret-style series (with music, poetry and theater) aimed at the 21-and-older crowd. It begins with a show by spoken-word performers/slam poets Gayle Danley and JaHipster. $20-$25. 8 p.m. 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301-277-1710.

CONCERT: Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights" With the BSO Chaplin's "City Lights" was a curiosity at its 1931 release because it was a silent movie, thumbing its nose at the talkies that already were gaining in prominence and popularity. Chaplin had made up his mind that "City Lights," which follows his famous Tramp character as he tries to save both a blind girl and a hard-drinking magnate, would be silent, and he went as far as to write a full score to accompany the film. At Strathmore tomorrow and at its hub at Baltimore's Meyerhoff Hall on Saturday and Sunday, the BSO screens the movie while performing its fleshed-out, orchestral take on the music. $21-$84 at Strathmore tomorrow (8 p.m., 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda); $15-$60 at Meyerhoff Hall (8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore). For tickets for both shows, call 410-783-8000.

Virginia

Today

FILM: Catch a Movie With Your Coffee Tonight's the premiere of the Friends of Duncan Library's year-long series of film events that will be set in the relaxed confines of Northern Virginia coffeehouses. Once a month, the group will take over a coffee shop to screen new, limited-release, award-winning indie and international films. Tonight at Caboose Cafe & Bakery, you can catch eight live and animated shorts from Europe and Canada, including "The Great Zambini" from Spain (it's about an aging circus performer) and the British film "The Sickie" (about an burned-out employee who calls in sick to test his bosses). Free. 7 p.m. 2419 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. 703-566-1283.

CLOSING: "Frida Kahlo, the Passion" So this Teatro de la Luna production of Ricardo Halac's play was likened by The Post's critic to "watching paint dry," but if you're a huge fan of the Mexican painter, the set and costumes are said to pay striking attention to the details of her work. The show, in Spanish with English supertitles, closes Saturday. $20-$30. 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Gunston Arts Center Theater II, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington. 703-548-3092.

Tomorrow

ON STAGE: Todd Barry The latest comic to play the Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse is this seasoned cameo-type performer whose latest gig was as the bongo-playing "third Conchord" on an episode of "Flight of the Conchords" (other roles have included voicings for "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" and a drop-in on "Chappelle's Show," so clearly he has some cred). Barry drops a new stand-up album, "From Heaven," next month, and visits the Drafthouse for a two-night run beginning tomorrow. $20. Tomorrow and Saturday at 9:45 p.m. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. 703-486-2345 or get tickets in advance at http://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com.

Save the Date

CONCERT: A Meeting of the Gods? Kanye West. Rihanna. N.E.R.D. and Lupe Fiasco The last time West wore his sunglasses indoors in Washington was 2006, when he played the last HFStival. Rihanna? Never been here, it seems. So you see what we're getting at. This show, from Pharrell all the way up to the uppity Kanye, is a very big deal -- so hot it has already sold out in other cities. The "Glow in the Dark" tour visits Nissan Pavilion on May 10, and tickets go on sale to the general public tomorrow at noon through Ticketmaster (yes, fan club members already had a presale). $43.75-$100.75; lawn, $36. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Nissan Pavilion, 7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristow. 202-397-7328.

CONCERT: Sia"Six Feet Under" and then Starbucks (yes, that Starbucks) catapulted quirky Australian pop singer Sia Furler to semi-fame. She had been kicking around for nearly a decade before a song featured on the HBO show and another on Fox's "The O.C." brightened her star a bit; but then Starbucks's fledgling Hear Music record label came calling, and suddenly her soulful pop album "Some People Have Real Problems" (with Sia's ingenue good looks on the cover) is being hawked along with skinny lattes at coffee shops across the country. She performs at the 9:30 club March 7 with Har Mar Superstar. $20. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW. 800-955-5566.

FILM: D.C. Independent Film Festival It's Year 10 for this festival, which presents a couple dozen features and 80-odd short films straight from the indie world (and since last year, the fest has included a music festival). This year, it opens March 6 with "Searchers 2.0," a film by Alex Cox, whose achievements have included "Repo Man" and "Sid and Nancy"; on March 7 (7 p.m.), don't miss the "Advocacy Day" political movies, including feature "Karl Rove I Love You." Also on the festival slate are seminars and panels on "chick films," filmmaking, anime and composing music for film, and a screening of the documentary "The Clash Live: Revolution Rock" on March 16. Individual screenings, $10; students and seniors, $7; opening night film and reception, $25. Passes range from $75 for a one-day all-access pass or music festival pass to $225 for an all-access pass lasting through the festival. March 6-16. George Washington University, Jack Morton Auditorium, 805 21st St. NW. 202-592-6230 or for full schedule, visit http://www.dciff.org.