We hope you RSVP'd early to tonight's Emerge Exposed panel, because it's gonna be a packed house. Philippa Hughes and the Pink Line Project, in conjunction with Civilian Art Projects, have set up a fantastic line up for the panel discussion tonight, starting promptly at 7 p.m. Our four panelists will discuss the ins-and-outs of becoming an art collector and what you really need to know to make that first purchase.

Our first panelist is Sarah Kennell, a curator of photography at the National Gallery of Art. After serving as a fellow with the NGA, then teaching art history at both Berkeley and Princeton, Kennell joined the NGA in 2003, where she's organized exhibitions and published essays, including "The Art of the American Snapshot 1888-1978" in 2007, to accompany the terrific exhibit that closed last December.

Also participating is Henry Thaggert, an attorney and well-known local art collector, who's currently one of the curators of Collectors Select, showing through the end of March at Arlington Arts Center. Thaggert is also vice chair of the Board at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art and the founder of their young patrons group.

Photographer Jason Falchook is our artist of the group, and his large-scale pieces of transitioning landscapes have been receiving much attention. His works can be seen in June in an exhibition of emerging artists selected for the Bronx Museum of the Arts' Artist in the Market Program.

Our fourth panelist is Alyssa Rosenberg, a writer for Government Executive and National Journal, who purchased her first piece of art at the 2007 DCist Exposed and told us that it "really kickstarted a passion for local photography for me, and I've started buying more pieces. It's really nice to be able to collect in a small way."

If you didn't RSVP in time for the panel, you're welcome to take your chances and see if we have a few spots left open just before 7 p.m., but we'll also be videotaping the discussion, which we'll post in a few days. Remember, the event is $10 at the door.

We highly encourage everyone to stop by after the panel is over for a free, open reception starting at 8 p.m. Many of the artists will be there and all the work is on view. If you're interested in purchasing a photo (to start your very own collection?), please find me at the reception tonight or email heather [at] dcist.com.

Huge thanks go out to the Pink Line Project and Civilian Art Projects for putting together this awesome event.