Pigments of Your Imagination

By Lavanya Ramanathan
Saturday, May 31, 2008

Most people don't consider tattoos -- the ink, needles and endless iterations of "Mom" -- on par with paint and brushes, Renoir or Warhol.

Tonight, the Baltimore Museum of Art hosts Baltimore Ink: Patterns on Bodies, an evening of discussions, tours and even a runway show that aims to skewer preconceptions about tattoos and the stamped set (which, let's face it, includes almost everybody these days). The events tie tattoo art and artists to artistic traditions going back ages; the event is in conjunction with the exhibition "Meditations on African Art: Pattern."

(Seriously, we can't help but think this is mostly an excuse to check out other people's tattoos and show off your own.)

The discussions are already sold out, but you can still get tickets to take in the after-party, design your own tattoos with help from a museum art educator and get a semi-permanent tattoo of your own (faux henna or rub-on), then catch a tour of the museum's works chronicling body adornment through the ages (it will cover the Japanese tattooing tradition, adornment in the Pacific and even Renaissance art). The after-party will have a cash bar and two flesh-flashing runway shows featuring the work of Baltimore artists (expect a lot of full-back tattoos and arm "sleeve" work). $10. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Baltimore Museum of Art, North Charles Street and Art Museum Drive, Baltimore. For tickets, call 443-573-1701 or online at http://www.artbma.org. For more information, call 443-573-1832.

Save the Date

CONCERT: Burt Bacharach The Beatles, the Carpenters, Dionne Warwick, Isaac Hayes, Elvis Costello and many other great artists of the 20th century performed tunes written by ultimate piano man Bacharach, one of the most distinctive songwriters of the century. His songs ("Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," "I Say a Little Prayer" and others were soaked with sunshine and good spirits) even inspired indie musicians including the Magnetic Fields and Broadcast. He performs at Strathmore on June 8. $28-$72. 7 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. 301-581-5100.

THE SCENE: Prince: 50? With all the fuss about Madonna turning 50 this summer, it seems everyone has forgotten the Purple One hits AARP-eligible age this year as well (who could tell, watching him tear up the Super Bowl last year?). His birthday is June 7, and sure enough, LoveSexyDC, the local fan club/swap meet/dance party, is observing the occasion. The group usually throws a free dance party at Chief Ike's in Adams Morgan, but this time the group brings in a Prince cover band and a DJ and celebrates at Mirrors on New York Avenue. $15. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. June 7. Mirrors, 33 New York Ave. NE. http://www.lovesexydc.org.

The District

Today

EXHIBIT: "Yellow Mountain: China's Ever-Changing Landscape" It's high tourist season, and venturing onto the Mall means, well, putting up with people who can't figure out the Metro. You might want to venture out to the Sackler Gallery, where the new exhibition "Yellow Mountain" (with woodblock prints and paintings depicting the Yellow Mountain area of China) opens, joining the newish show of Mughal paintings. Today, the gallery also shows "Yang Fudong: Seven Intellectuals in the Bamboo Forest, Part I," the first of a five-part series of video works by contemporary artist Yang; this one is about modern youths who find the mountain a meditative space. Free. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. 202-633-1000.

CLOSING: Shakespeare Free for All There are just a couple of more chances to head out to Carter Barron Amphitheatre to see the Shakespeare Theatre Company's free outdoor run of "Hamlet." Tickets (up to four) can be picked up the day of the show at the company's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St. NW) or the Carter Barron box office (both open at noon today and tomorrow). Tip: Pack a nice picnic; almost everyone does, and the plays tend to be longer than two hours. Free. Today and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Carter Barron Amphitheatre, 4850 Colorado Ave. NW (16th Street and Colorado Avenue NW). For more details, visit http://www.shakespearetheatre.org.

Tuesday

CONCERT: Adam Green Green once teamed with Kimya Dawson in the Moldy Peaches (whose songs peppered the movie "Juno"), then emerged as a solo artist -- a Sinatra-esque crooner of country/easy listening-style songs. Go fig. He just released his fifth album, "Sixes & Sevens," and stops at the Black Cat with Lightspeed Champion, Flowers Forever on Tuesday. $15; $13 in advance. 8 p.m. 1811 14th St. NW. Get tickets at the door (202-667-7960) or through Ticketmaster (202-397-7328).

Wednesday

CONCERT: U.S. Air Guitar Championships Even if you are totally the Jimmy Page of air guitar, it's unlikely to win you friends, riches or respect. It might, in fact, cost you a significant other if you decide to show off those skills in public, except for one night a year, when you actually can take the stage at the 9:30 club to compete in the Air Guitar Championships. Now in its sixth year, the national competition takes place in more than 20 cities and actually celebrates air guitar heroes. All competitors had to do was sign up through the Web site ( http://www.usairguitar.com), and then, of course, hone their skills with a steady diet of Guns N' Roses and Metallica. Wednesday at the 9:30 club, judges will pick the D.C. winner from the more than 20 who will compete; he or she gets a trip to San Francisco to compete in the finals Aug. 8. $15. Doors at 7:30 p.m. 815 V St. NW. 202-393-0930 or 800-955-5566.

Maryland

Today

CONCERT: Beatlemania at the Weekend Family Concert There are at least three touring Beatles-tribute bands who make their way into the area's major venues each year, but very few that do "Love Me Do" for less than $30 a ticket. As part of the Gaithersburg summer concert series, tonight, you can see the Return -- a Fab Four tribute band that has been on "Good Morning America" and can play everything from the early stuff to the songs from the last U.S. tour in 1966 -- absolutely free. 7 p.m. City Hall Concert Pavilion, 31 S. Summit Ave. 301-258-6350.

FILM: "Midnight Cowboy" Before he was Angelina Jolie's (estranged) dad, Jon Voight played a naive cowboy/gigolo who moves from Texas to New York to trade his pretty-boy looks and loving for cash. But he runs into a schemer from the Bronx (Dustin Hoffman) who takes his money. Somehow the pair forge an unlikely friendship in this film, an Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay (it was the 1960s). It's screening at the AFI Silver as part of the United Artists 90th Anniversary Film Festival. $8.50-$9.50 (with its prostitution plot, this one isn't for the kids). 9:30 p.m. today and tomorrow, Monday at 9:15. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. 301-495-6720.

Northern Virginia

Today

ON STAGE: Eugene Mirman This oddball Brooklyn-based comic is best known for his cameos on "Flight of the Conchords" (seriously, is there anyone who is not cashing in on their minor "Flight of the Conchords" roles?). But Mirman is genuinely a talent -- just check out his Tom Cruise Scientology spoof on YouTube. Mirman visits the Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse today for two shows of stand-up. $18. Today at 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. 703-486-2345 or get tickets in advance at http://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com.

FOR FAMILIES: The "Orphan" Antique Auto Show At the Lyceum in Old Town today, the Orphans in Alexandria Car Meet is putting the long lost cars of American history on display. An "orphan" is a vehicle made by a manufacturer that no longer exists; today, you'll find obscure vehicles dating from the 1930s to the '60s parked in the lot, including Hudsons, Studebakers, Kaiser-Frazers and Packards. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria. 703-838-4994.

FILM: The Coffeehouse Film Series Returns This monthly movie series from the Friends of the Duncan Library recently moved to a new spot at Fireflies Restaurant and Coffee Bar, where you can relax and eat while watching the movie. Did we mention its free? This month's film is "Noise," a recent Australian thriller in which a major plot point is -- wait for it -- tinnitus. The movie features a cop tasked with solving a high-profile murder that occurred on a train, even as that pesky ringing in his ear takes a toll on him. Free. 8:30 p.m. (But we hear it has been so popular, getting there an hour in advance wouldn't be a bad idea). 1501 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Reservations encouraged; call 703-548-7200.