These Aren't Your Everyday Prom Polaroids

"Can you hold hands? That's beautiful like that," Mark said. "Raise your chin. Stare right into the camera. No, don't smile." Johnson's cheeks dropped.

The lights flashed and the photo technicians rushed to grab the enormous 20-by-24-inch black-and-white Polaroid print from the 600-pound oversize camera. After 90 seconds, a buzzer announced that the photo was finished. In the image, Johnson and Hedrick's intertwined fingers stand out as a mesmerizing contrast in skin colors, like a segment of piano keys.

"It's almost ghostly," Mark said. "They're great, aren't they?"

Mary Ellen Mark will speak at 7 p.m. June 12 at the Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Charlottesville. $25. 434-977-3687. Look3 Festival of the Photograph runs June 12-14 at various locations in Charlottesville; http://www.look3.org.

The Arts for Healing

Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts on U Street NW has always had an art gallery; it was just hard to find. And small. And in the administrative office. The nonprofit center, which serves people with cancer and other serious illnesses, reopened the Healing Arts Gallery last month with an exhibition called "Immersed in the Natural World."

"By dedicating this space and holding shows that promote the arts as tools for healing, it makes a statement," Smith Farm Executive Director Shanti Norris says.

The street-level gallery is in a space formerly occupied by a pet store. The nature-themed debut show features work by Elizabeth Burger, Tai Hwa Goh and Novie Trump, whose work includes seed pods, waxed paper and eggshells, respectively.

Elizabeth Burger and Novie Trump will talk about their work tomorrow, 5:30-8 p.m. at the Healing Arts Gallery, 1632 U St. NW. Free. 202-483-8600.

Painting Awards Announced

B.G. Muhn of North Potomac won best in show at the presentation of the Bethesda Painting Awards last night. Muhn, originally from South Korea, is displaying surrealistic paintings of bald heads set on single-color backgrounds. An exhibition of all the finalists' work is on view at the Fraser Gallery through July 5.

B.G. Muhn works at Fraser Gallery, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E, Bethesda. Tuesday--Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m., 301-718-9651.