Irvine Contemporary Bids Farewell; Closing Party Saturday

From Matty Rhoades

Irvine Contemporary wraps up five years at its 14th Street NW location with a “Grand Finale Block Party” this Saturday night. On June 1 the gallery announced it was closing, citing rising rents and economic conditions. The party starts at 6 pm in the gallery space at 1412 14th NW and into the back alley area — DJ and music sessions with Yoko K and Will Eastman.

Over the summer, Irvine has recognized a number of its artists with two Tribute exhibitions. The current exhibtion,  “Artist Tribute 2” is on display through Saturday. Artists are Shepard Fairey, Gaia, Melissa Ichiuji, Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi, Akemi Maegawa, Sebastian Martorana, Alexa Meade, Susana Raab, Kerry Skarbakka and Oliver Vernon.

As TBD.com noted back in June, Irvine will be the third gallery since 2009 to leave the 14th Street corridor due to rising rents. The corridor is still home to gallery plan b (at 1530),  plus Adamson Gallery, Curator’s Office and Hemphill Fine Arts (all 1515). Along the U Street corridor are Hamiltonian Gallery, Project 4 (both at 1353) and the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery (at 1632). On 9th Street NW are Long View Gallery (at 1234) and the recently opened Lamont Bishop Gallery (at 1314).

Openings and Closings This Weekend

“Local Color” wraps up on Sunday at gallery plan b, 1530 14th Street NW: “Works in various media depicting scenes of local DC neighborhoods by Chad Andrews, Michael Crossett, Ron Donoughe, Charlie Gaynor, Isabella Spicer, David Ballinger, David Kalamar, Joey Manlapaz, Luis Gomez, Steven Stichter and more.” Note: The gallery says that the show will stay up through September 4 and that hours for August 29 through the 4th are “by chance or appointment.”

“ReFresh” closes Sunday at Long View Gallery, 1234 9th Street NW: “New work by some of the gallery’s favorites. You can expect to see pieces by Mike Weber, Scott Brooks, Tony Savoie ,Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, Marie Ringwald, Anne Marchand, Zach Sherif, Tom Burkett, Mary Chairamonte, Paula Crawford, Ryan McCoy, Cheryl Wassenaar and many more.”

The Demont “Peekaso” Pinder Exhibition opens this Friday with a 7:30 pm reception at the Lamont Bishop Gallery, 1314 9th Street NW: “The creator and resident on-stage artist for Raheem DeVaughn, ‘Peekaso’ creates unique paintings based on prominent figures in the Hip Hop and urban community.”

Get more details below on the 12 galleries in the Logan-Shaw-U Street area.

Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery DC Jewish Community Center 1529 16th Street NW 202.518.94	“Susan Weil and Jose Bentancourt: Blueprints” runs to September 9. Overview: “For the past ten years Susan Weil and José Betancourt have worked closely together to develop ways of printing and presenting a body of artwork based on the Cyanotype, also known as the photographic ‘Blueprint.’ Their collaborative works range from personal and autobiographical to formal constructions.” (Bronfman Gallery) Gallery Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 am to 10 pm; Friday, 10 am to 4 pm.
Adamson Gallery 1515 14th Street NW 202.232.0707	Check back for upcoming exhibitions. Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 am to 5 pm; Saturday, noon to 5 pm.
Curator’s Office 1515 14th Street NW 202.387.100	“elsewhere” opens September 9 and runs to October 22. Overview: “Curator’s Office announces the opening of its fall season with an exhibition of sculpture and new works on paper by New York, Los Angeles, and DC-based artists Joseph Dumbacher and John Dumbacher. The Dumbachers will also be debuting a public sculpture at their DC studio’s terrace one block from the gallery.” (Curator’s Office) Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm.
gallery plan b 1530 14th Street NW 202.234.2711	“Local Color” officially runs to August 28 but the gallery will leave the exhibition in place until September 4. Hours for this period are “by chance or appointment.” Overview: Works in various media depicting scenes of local DC neighborhoods by Chad Andrews, Michael Crossett, Ron Donoughe, Charlie Gaynor, Isabella Spicer, David Ballinger, David Kalamar, Joey Manlapaz, Luis Gomez, Steven Stichter and more. Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 7 pm; Sunday, 1 to 5 pm
Hamiltonian Gallery 1353 U Street NW 202.332.1116	Check back for upcoming exhibitions. Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm.
Hemphill Fine Arts 1515 14th Street NW 202.234.5601	Check back for upcoming exhibitions. Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.
Irvine Contemporary 1412 14th Street NW 202.332.8767	“Artist Tribute 2” runs to August 27 when the gallery closes. Irvine will hold an exhibition closing and Grand Finale Block Party beginning at 6 pm on the 27th with DJ and music sessions: Yoko K and Will Eastman. Overview: “This summer marks the 10th anniversary of Irvine Contemporary and over 5 years at our 14th Street gallery location. We will be moving out of our gallery space at the end of August, and we are concluding our time on 14th Street by celebrating our artists and recognizing the community that has been the life of the gallery at this location. ‘Artist Tribute 2,’ opening on July 23, will include special events a grand finale celebration on 14th Street on August 27.” (Irvine Contemporary) Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm.
Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts 1632 U Street NW 202.483.8600	The 9/11 Arts Project opens September 9 as part of a series of events in the area. It will run through October 22. Opening Reception: September 9. Overview: “The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery will bring together local artists to create a place of “holding.” By combining abstract works to evoke a sacred space or vessel the gallery will serve as a safe space where open dialogue around the trauma of 9/11 and personal traumas may be addressed. Hence selected works will not be a re-telling of 9/11, but rather express an effort to move beyond and communicate that ‘healing is possible’ for everyone and that the arts are a powerful tool in that journey. The opening will also feature a dance performance by Anthony Gongora and Giselle Ruzany of Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, based on Collision Course with live music by Steve Hilmy.” (Joan Hisaoka Gallery) Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Friday 11 am to 5 pm; Saturday, 11 am to 3 pm; and by appointment.
Lamont Bishop Gallery 1314 9th Street NW 202.232.4788	Demont “Peekaso” Pinder Exhibition opens August 27 and runs through September 10. Opening Reception: Saturday, August 27, 7:30 to 11 pm. Overview: “Demont ‘Peekaso’ Pinder announces the launch of his new website and exhibition showing his finest works. The creator and resident on-stage artist for Raheem DeVaughn, ‘Peekaso’ creates unique paintings based on prominent figures in the Hip Hop and urban community.” (Lamont Bishop) Gallery Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 1 to 7 pm. Sundays by appointment only.
Long View Gallery 1234 9th Street NW 202.232.4788	“ReFresh” runs to August 28. Opening Reception: Thursday, July 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, with live music. Overview: Features “new work by some of the gallery’s favorites. You can expect to see pieces by Mike Weber, Scott Brooks, Tony Savoie ,Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, Marie Ringwald, Anne Marchand, Zach Sherif, Tom Burkett, Mary Chairamonte, Paula Crawford, Ryan McCoy, Cheryl Wassenaar and many more.” (Long View) Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm; Sunday, noon to 5 pm.
Project 4 Gallery 1353 U Street NW 202.232.4340	New Work by Ellington Robinson opens September 9 and runs through October 15. Overview: “Project 4 is proud to open the 2011 fall season with a solo exhibition featuring new work by DC artist, Ellington Robinson.” (Project 4) Gallery Hours: Open only by appointment in August. Regular hours Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm.
Transformer Gallery 1404 P Street NW 202.483.1102	transformers: the next generation opens September 17 and runs through October 22. Opening Reception: Saturday, September 17, 6 to 8 pm. Overview: transformers: the next generation “features new works by five recent graduates of the Corcoran College of Art + Design’s class of 2011: Forest Allread, Pavlos Karalis, Sarah Robbins, Aris Slater, and Victoria Shaheen.” (transformer) Gallery Hours: Check website.