We’ve had a “CannaShow” and a chocolate festival, and now, we’re set to have a wine festival.
Reds and whites from the “best wineries” will flow in near-unlimited quantities at an art gallery in Shaw this Saturday during the spring installment of the DC Wine Fest.
Guests at the Long View Gallery (1234 9th St. NW) can sample varietals from producers such as Constellation, Muse Vineyards and Santa Margherita while nibbling on lobster rolls from Red Hook Lobster Pound, oysters from Proshuckers and rice bowls, burritos and tacos from South Meets East.
Though the $29 general admission tickets have already sold out, some $60 VIP tickets are still available.
Photo via DC Wine Fest
Rouge 24 is one of the restaurants that will feature food/drink at Savour Shaw. (Borderstan)
Savor the flavors of Shaw on Thursday, April 18, at the 2013 Shaw Main Streets Gala. The event, “Savour Shaw,” will take place at 7 pm at Long View Gallery (1234 9th Street NW). It will highlight the food, drink and music of the neighborhood to support the Shaw Main Streets‘ Commercial Revitalization and Historic Preservation programs.
- Derek Brown, The Passenger
- R.J. Cooper, Rogue 24
- Frederik de Pue, Table
- Daniel O’Brien, Seasonal Pantry
- Tom Power-Corduroy and Ron Tanaka, Thally
Tickets are $75 and include small bites and a signature cocktail, hors d’oeuvres, live jazz music, a silent auction and admission to the gala’s after party. For more information, visit the Eventbrite page.
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Interior Scaffold, Washington National Cathedral by Colin Winterbottom. (Image from Washington National Cathedral website)
From Eliza French. Follow her on Twitter @elizaenbref; email her at eliza[AT]borderstan.com.
“Gothic Resilience,” an exhibition of photographs by Colin Winterbottom of Washington’s National Cathedral, opens at Long View Gallery January 10. On display through February 10, the collection of photographs captures rare images of the Washington landmark. Working closely with the Cathedral, Winterbottom began photographing the building in 2011, after restoration efforts had begun to repair damage from the earthquake in August.
The show is part of an ongoing collaboration between Winterbottom and Washington National Cathedral. The Cathedral will house a companion exhibit and host related programming in March. Winterbottom will also continue his photography of the building throughout the restoration.
Winterbottom first became involved with the restoration when Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., the engineering firm hired by the Cathedral to assess the earthquake damage, hired Winterbottom to photograph the inspection. “Most of my work I create independently,” Winterbottom wrote in an e-mail, “but this was one commission I was happy to take; and it was an amazing experience itself.”
After the damage has been assessed, the photographer presented some of the photographs in person to staff members at the Cathedral. “If things went well at that meeting I was simply hoping to ask if — as a favor — I could have a couple of hours in the Bethlehem Chapel (a small chapel on the lower crypt level) with a ladder and tripods to shoot all the details in the vaulted ceiling,” he recalls.
Needless to say, the outcome of that meeting far exceeded Winterbottom’s hopes. After reviewing the inspection photos and some of Winterbottom’s other fine art photos, officials at the Cathedral were interested in “exploring a broader partnership” that evolved into “Gothic Resilience” over time.
The Cathedral granted Winterbottom unique access to the structure, and the black-and-white and sepia photographs he produced capture the varied architectural character of the building. The collection includes arresting detail shots of hand carved ornamentation, striking views of the towers against D.C.’s skyline, and images of every scale in between of both the interior and exterior. Through these images, Winterbottom conveys the structure’s enduring resilience despite its structural damage; its ornate detail despite its grand scale; and its presence as a self-contained site despite its context among the many landmarks in the nation’s capital.
“I have always hoped that my photographs of D.C. had changed the way people looked at the city — and I think the Cathedral similarly wanted a series with a different perspective on the landmark. “I think I… accentuate a kind of dynamic tension within monumental spaces; and I think … [Cathedral officials] wanted some of that perspective.” Undoubtedly, the photographs cast new light the Cathedral for most Washingtonians.
To RSVP for the opening reception next Thursday, January 10 from 6:30 to 8 pm, email [email protected]. The exhibit will remain on display at Long View during regular business hours until February 10. Winterbottom has also posted a preview of selected works from the show on his website.
Details
- “Gothic Resilience” by Colin Winterbottom
- January 10 through February 10, 2013
- An In-Depth Look into the National Cathedral Restoration
- Long View Gallery, 1234 9th St NW Washington
- Wednesday-Saturday 11 am to 6 pm; Sunday noon to 5 pm.
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From Eliza French. Follow her on Twitter @elizaenbref; email her at eliza[AT]borderstan.com.
Aspiring local photographers can submit their photographic flashes of brilliance in the seventh annual DCist Exposed Photography Competition through January 9, 2013.
Heather Goss, former DCist Managing and Arts Editor, founded the competition in 2007. The idea sprung from the success of DCist’ Flickr photo community, and the number of compelling images of the city posted there. The contest’s popularity quickly took off, and DCist has hosted the event with help from Goss’ Ten Mile Square ever since.
The competition culminates with an exhibition of selected entries at Long View Gallery from March 27 through April 7. Last year, the exhibit drew more than 1,000 visitors, thanks in part to the opening night parties. The number of contestants has grown from just over 200 in 2007 to over 650 in 2012, and 40 people were selected to show their photos at Long View in 2012.
This year, DCist has launched a new site for the competition with all of the details about entering and a complete list of past winners. Those who want to enter should join DCist Exposed Flickr photo group, submit three of their best photos, fill out an online application, and pay the $10 entry fee. The contest organizers will be looking for images that capture “amazing, every day Washington, D.C. experiences.”
So, members of the Borderstan Reader Photos Flickr pool, here is your chance to make us proud! Follow the link for past coverage of the DCist Exposed Photography Show.
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Artist Sondra Arkin. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Cecile Oreste of danceDC. You can follower her on Twitter @dance_DC.
“Pattern Transformation: new work by Sondra N. Arkin” opens at Long View Gallery this Thursday, August 23 with a reception from 6:30 to 8 pm. The solo exhibition features Arkin’s encaustic paintings, which have been taken to the next level with the use of shellac and walnut ink. Arkin, who is a founding member of Mid City Artists and currently a Dupont Circle resident, wanted to explore sets of patterns and see how they would transform each other as she worked through the creation of the art. “Happily or sadly (I can’t decide which), the permutations are practically infinite. It might be overwhelming to some people; but to me, the variety and the similarities continue to draw me into the artwork,” she said.
On the other hand, viewers are likely to relate to Arkin’s paintings which are open for interpretation. “My life in an urban area is fluid with my personal philosophy that there is always more than one way of doing anything; and as a community, we agree on a common direction. My recent art is made so that the viewer can arrange it in any configuration without direction from the artist. For me, that acknowledges that there are multiple viewpoints – and in art, as in life, that is fundamental to harmony.”
Arkin is not only a painter, but also a curator who experiments with printmaking, sculpture and assemblage. She previously aspired to be a poet with degrees in both Writing and Literature, and later used her education to run the creative department of a marketing agency. Arkin played multiple instruments during her college years and continues to enjoy a variety of performing arts including theater, dance and poetry, making the Borderstan area an ideal place to live. “I can’t believe how lucky I am to live and work in Dupont. It has developed into a really lively urban area,” she said. “I love that we have so many theaters and places to hear music in this part of town. Seriously, I do think this is the center of the universe.”
Arkin is fortunate to create art full time, but admits that it can be a challenge. “Producing work full time means taking on the second job of managing yourself and your career. There is an awful lot of administrative work that goes along with the production and a lot of marketing to be done to get into exhibitions and to make sales. To do it full time, you have to be out there all the time participating in everything that you can.”
In addition to exhibiting at Long View Gallery, Arkin’s work has also been on display locally at the Nevin Kelly Gallery when it was previously located on Irving Street NW, ART17 at the Coldwell Banker Office on 17th Street NW, as well as Vastu on 14th Street NW. She will also be exhibiting in a group show at Studio G on Westminster Street NW starting September 14. For more information about Arkin and her work, visit her website.
Artist Sondra Arkin at her studio. (Luis Gomez Photos)
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Diana Cruz working at her studio. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Rachel Nania and Luis Gomez.
When navigating your way through an arts community, it’s important to develop a brand for yourself – something distinctive that sets you apart from other artists. One local artist took this idea literally. Instead of developing a brand for herself, DC-based artist, Diana Cruz, brands her art with a custom device.
The idea of searing her name into her art came from stories relayed to Cruz from her Salvadoran father, who, growing up, would brand his horses and cattle in El Salvador. Designed in the shape of lips, Cruz’s custom brander puts her mark on her love of art, a skill she developed at an early age.
A daughter of two Salvadoran immigrants who settled in Takoma Park, Maryland, Cruz spent much of her childhood drawing to help her grandmother, a dress-maker, outline human figures and dresses from magazines.
Cruz eventually relocated to California, but came back to DC for a short vacation in 2009 — and she never left. While on vacation in DC, Cruz helped organize a launch party for Ready Set DC at Long View Gallery. She was asked to contribute a piece to the evening’s show. Her artwork was seen by 900 people and sold that evening. For Cruz, the show was an artist awakening. She continued to create after that evening, and developed a series of paintings that kept selling.
Cruz decided to stay in the city, and settled into a studio on U Street, below Local 16. The owners of the local establishment, who have been good friends with Cruz for a long time, offered Cruz the space, as well as the opportunity to showcase her art on the walls of the restaurant.
Cruz is continuing her partnership the owner, Aman Ayoubi, who recently commissioned the artist to work on recycled pieces for his new restaurant, Tropicalia. For this venture, Cruz hand-painted more than 60 chairs, giving the new space a Sixties vibe.
A Borderstan resident for almost three years now, Cruz’s art often reflects her home and familiar surroundings. Many of her paintings allude to her love for the city, with images of Metro maps, DC flags and cherry blossoms sprinkled throughout her work. In her pieces, Cruz uses mixed media, experimenting with different materials to produce different textures.
“Experimenting is part of what every artist should do,” explained Cruz.
In addition to designing the décor for Tropicalia, Cruz is also working on a series of continuing pieces of faceless paintings engaging in everyday activities. Cruz describes the series as day-to-day life without a connecting feeling. Unlike Cruz’s experiences, life for her has been a series of connections between supportive friends and family, and she contributes much of her success to her support network.
When she is not working on her current projects, Cruz teaches drawing classes at Living Social once a week. “I find it fulfilling in every way; I learn so much when I am teaching,” said Cruz.
The gala is April 18 at Long View Gallery, 1234 9th Street NW. (Courtesy Shaw Main Streets)
The historic Shaw neighborhood continues to grow and change and the April 18 fundraiser, “Shaw in Bloom” will celebrate what’s happening in this part of town. Long View Gallery at 1234 9th Street NW is hosting the Gala 2012, an event of Shaw Main Streets; the gala runs from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $75.
Shaw Main Streets is a non-profit dedicated to revitalizing the 7th and 9th Street corridors of the neighborhood. The gala will benefit Shaw Main Streets’ commercial revitalization efforts. “Shaw in Bloom” will feature:
- A live auction hosted by Town Dance Boutique’s drag queen hostess, Lena Lett.
- The evening’s master of ceremonies is Paul Wharton, TV fashion and lifestyles guru and “Real Housewives” star.
- Beer, wine and a signature, crafted cocktail by The Passenger’s expert mixologist, Derek Brown.
- Live, acoustic jazz performances by 1905 Bistro regulars, Laissez Foure.
- The announcement of the winners of Shaw Main Streets’ awards for “Shaw Champion,” “Shaw Hero,” and “Shaw Game Changer.”
About Shaw Main Streets
Shaw Main Streets was founded in 2003 and utilizes the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Four Point Approach to revitalization. The organization provides a multitude of services and projects throughout the neighborhood, from training business owners, to cleaning up trash and graffiti, to promoting the various businesses in Shaw. Shaw Main Streets has played a direct role in more than 100 businesses that have opened in or relocated to the neighborhood, and has helped existing businesses evolve to meet changing consumer tastes and needs.
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Irvine Contemporary closes this weekend after five years on 14th Street. (Luis Gomez Photos)
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. (more…)
At Long View: Tony Savoie, “Flounder in the Void”, 50×50, reverse painted acrylic, mixed media. (Courtesy Long View Gallery)
The summer theater season in the Borderstan area is in its annual summertime lull, but not so with local galleries. There are exhibitions at 10 of 12 local galleries.
Transformer, 1404 P Street NW: “E8: Sculpture” is a series with the third and final artist on display — Sean Lundgren: “Nave.” His exhibition opens Thursday, August 4 and runs through the 13th.
Hamilton Gallery, 1353 U Street NW: “Fellows Converge: Broadly Thinking” closes Sunday, August 6, at the Hamiltonian Gallery on U Street.
Also, you’ve got nine more days to catch “Thomas Canavan and Arijit Das: Paint, Canvas, Walls, People” over at the Lamont Bishop Gallery, 1314 9th Street NW. It runs to August 13.
Two new exhibitions opened last week in the area. “Local Color” at gallery plan b on 14th Street NW features the works of more than 10 local artists and runs to August 28. See Large Crowd for Opening of “Local Color” Exhibition.
Over on 9th Street NW at Long View Gallery, “ReFresh“runs to August 28 and features “new work by some of the gallery’s favorites… 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)
Get more details below on the 12 galleries in the Logan-Shaw-U Street area. (more…)
Opening July 28 at gallery plan b, “Local Color” features the works of local artists with an emphasis on neighborhood scenes. (Image courtesy gallery plan b)
Two new exhibitions open this week, both with Thursday evening opening receptions with the artists. One is at gallery plan (6 to 8 pm) and the other reception is at Long View Gallery (6:30 to 8:30 pm).
At gallery plan b on 14th Street NW, “Local Color” will feature the works of more than 10 local artists. It runs to August 28.
“Local Color will feature many local scenes with 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 (Borderstan’s cofounder and deputy editor), Steven Stichter and more,” according to gallery plan b.
Over on 9th Street NW at Long View Gallery, “ReFresh” opens July 28 and runs to August 28. Long View says the exhibition 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.”
Two exhibitions opened last week at neighborhood galleries:
- “Thomas Canavan and Arijit Das: Paint, Canvas, Walls, People” opened last weekend at Lamont Bishop Gallery on 9th Street NW and runs to August 13.
- “Artist Tribute 2” opened last week at Irvine Contemporary and runs to August 27. Be sure to check it out as Irvine is moving from its 14th Street location at the end of the exhibition.
Get more details below on the 12 galleries in the Logan-Shaw-U Street area.
Rujunko Pugh in Logan Circle studio. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Cecile Oreste of danceDC. You can follow her on Twitter @dance_DC.
Rujunko Pugh was born in Japan and is of African-American and Japanese descent. Her childhood was spent in California and North Carolina, and for more than 10 years she called Hawaii home. Today, Pugh is a Logan Circle resident and fine arts photographer making a name for herself in the D.C. arts scene.
Since moving to the District, Pugh has exhibited at Mid City Caffe, and her work has been part of the annual Art for Life auction, which benefits the Whitman-Walker Clinic. She currently has representation at Long View Gallery. In addition, she volunteers for the Washington Project for the Arts. Currently, her solo exhibition, “Color Temporis,” and selected previous works are on display at Logan 14 Salon until August.
“Color Temporis” relates to nature and also includes elements of science. Images she took of the Malva sylvestris flower and graffiti in Italy are integrated with letters of genetic code to create an interesting combination. “Color Temporis” and its seamless union of art and science is a true reflection of Pugh, an artist who holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering.
At the Hamiltonian Gallery: Magnolia Laurie’s “regarding the disregarded, to confuse the subject,” oil on panel 15″ x 16″, 2011. (Image courtesy Hamiltonian Gallery)
Starting tonight it’s a busy weekend at the galleries in the Borderstan area. Three new exhibitions are opening and three more are closing. All three new exhibitions open with receptions with the artists and another exhibition closes with a party.
Mix It Up
Thursday. Two new exhibitions open Thursday evening with receptions — at Long View Gallery on 9th Street NW from 6:30 to 8:30 pm… and at 14th Street’s gallery plan b from 6 to 8 pm.
“Creative Process: Four Artists’ Expressions Through Uniquely Different Mediums” is coming to Long View tonight… while over at gallery plan b, “PODS” opens for a month run.
Friday. There is a closing reception for “ChickenVille” at the Lamont Bishop Gallery on 9th Street on Friday, June 24, from 6:30 to 10 pm.
Saturday. Then on Saturday head to Hamiltonian Gallery on U Street NW for a reception with 10 Hamiltonian Fellows as they open “Fellows Converge: Broadly Thinking,” the annual show of the Fellows. The party is from 7 to 9 pm on June 25.
Exhibitions Closing
Exhibitions are closing this weekend at Curator’s Office (Saturday), Lamont Bishop Gallery (closing reception Friday) and Transformer (Saturday).
Find out what’s showing at 12 galleries in the Logan-Shaw-U Street area below the fold.
“Artist of the Washington Glass School” closes this Saturday, June 18, at Long View Gallery, 1234 9th Street NW.
From Jana Petersen
There are three galleries closing their current exhibits this weekend: Gallery plan b, Hamiltonian and Long View. See descriptions below to devise your divide and conquer plans.
Gallery plan b, “Works by Gordon Binder, Works by Tanja Bos, Works by Beverly Ryan”: Each artist in this exhibit chooses a different way to paint his/her environment. While Gordon Binder captures the world around him through natural landscapes and cityscapes, Tanja Bos uses ink and paper to create ethereal scenes “that seem to glow from within” (Gallery plan b) and Beverly Ryan’s “narrative paintings are populated with soul-searching figures amongst decorative and colorful patterns” (gallery plan b).
Hamiltonian Gallery, “Concurrent Exhibitions by Three Hamiltonian Fellows: Ryan Hoover, Jessica van Brakle, and Linda Vargas de la Hoz”: In this exhibit, each artists explores the notion of physical objects and space to paint a convergence that is not normally seen — a tent made out of a clothes jacket? What about furniture implanted with micro-controllers?
Long View Gallery: Find out how students and teachers at the Washington Glass School have taken glass sculpture outside of its traditional form.
Find out what’s showing at 12 galleries in the Logan-Shaw-U Street area below the fold.
In the neighborhood…. two exhibitions open with receptions Thursday evening, May 19:
- Curator’s Office, 1515 14th Street NW, Suite 201: “Ann Tarantino: SuperNatural” opens with a reception from 6 to 8 pm.
- Long View Gallery, 1234 9th Street NW: “The Artists of the Washington Glass School: The First Ten Years” opens with a reception from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Find out how students and teachers at the Washington Glass School have taken glass sculpture outside of its traditional form.
Check for the weekly gallery listings on Thursday evening to see what’s showing at 12 galleries in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area.
“Artists of the Washington Glass School” opens Thursday, May 19 at Longview Gallery, 1234 9th Street NW. Above is “The Three” by Elizabeth Ryland Mears and William Forrest. (Image courtesy Long View Gallery)
From Jana Petersen
Spring is in full swing; with that, many art galleries in the area are also “in full bloom.” Across the next week and a half, there are a bunch of galleries with new exhibitions, and with that, lots of associated activities. So, take out your day planner/calendar, and start planning ahead and marking down these events.
Hamiltonian Gallery will host an opening reception this Saturday, May 14 from 7 to 9 pm for its exhibit featuring Ryan Hoover, Jessica van Brankle and Lina Vargas de la Cruz, three Hamiltonian fellows. This exhibit draws from various content areas and materials to explore the notion of space and structure in very different ways.
This Saturday the 14th, an opening and reception at Hamiltonian… Thursday the 19th an opening and reception at Long View… coming on Saturday the 21st are openings at gallery plan b, Lamont Bishop and Transformer.
For example, Hoover’s installation comprises a series of mid-century furniture pieces embedded with micro-controllers that pull (live-time!) feeds from his email and social media streams to display on the furniture. Head to Hamiltonian to find out how van Brankle and de la Cruz understand and paint the notions of a “paved paradise” and “clothes and space,” respectively.
Looking ahead, Long View Gallery will have its opening reception for “Artists of the Washington Glass School: The First Ten Years” at 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 19. This exhibit features the works of over eleven artists who taught or were students at the renowned Washington Glass School, and strives to show how glass-making and glass sculptures have become a metaphorical and more creative art than its often traditional portrayal as standardized dining-ware.
These highlights are just a small taste of the different openings and associated events in the area. Stay tuned for more opening receptions next week; in the meantime, be sure to check out the full list below.
Find out what’s showing at 12 galleries in the Logan-Shaw-U Street area below the fold.
