Arts Agenda
>> The artist studios at 52 O Street NW will host their annual open house this weekend. We'll have a preview for you tomorrow showing what you can find in the four floors of art spaces on Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
>> Pyramid Atlantic also has an all-weekend event, Collectors for a Cause, starting Friday with a "Singles Night." With a slew of talks by local art collectors -- Philippa Hughes, Allison Cohen, Phillip Barlow, and Henry Thaggert -- their goal is to foster art appreciation, while raising money for youth outreach programs in D.C. and Montgomery County. All events are free and open to the public; check out their web site for event times.
>> On Friday night, check out another open house at Torpedo Factory, which will feature live music, prizes, snacks and of course, lots and lots of art -- over 160 artists, 82 studios, and six galleries. They'll also be holding a canned food drive that night to help restock ALIVE after their theft a few weeks ago. 6 to 9 p.m.
>> Saturday, get your tea fix at Heineman Meyers’ High Tea & High Fashion event, held by the Art Deco Society of Washington from 2 to 4 p.m. Members of the Art Deco Society will be donning their best Art Deco Vintage attire. Dress in your best vintage, or come as you are. A selection of teas, tea sandwiches and desserts will be served. Reservations were requested by April 21, but call 301-951-7900 to inquire. $25 for non-members.
>> In the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Kogod Courtyard on Saturday, plein air painter Deborah Chapin demonstrates color mixing techniques geared towards creating realistic natural colors. Workshop costs $30; see the SAAM web site for details on registration. Or, for no-cost instruction, stop by any Plaza Artists Materials this weekend for their Celebration of Color to receive free art supplies and view demonstrations on watercolor from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and acrylic from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
>> The Corcoran has a great new event with Art Anonymous, featuring well-known artists with (usually pretty pricey) work, each for sale for only $100. Of course, the catch is that you won't know who the artist is until you buy it. The event isn't until May 10, but you must RSVP for tickets by May 1. $65 for non-members.
Ongoing Museum Exhibits:
>> The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 opens at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum today tomorrow. This exhibit has been touring the U.S. since 1996, when it was debuted before the Atlanta Games, and will be back in D.C. for a limited time.
>> Painter Amy Sillman’s Third Person Singular will be on view at the Hirshhorn (which has a new web site design) through July 6.
>> A retrospective of Paula Rego's figurative work is on display at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, featuring more than 100 works of paintings, pastels, prints, and drawings. The exhibition provides an in-depth study of Rego's 50-year-plus career.
>> The Sackler Gallery hosts over 200 ceramic vessels from Southeast Asia on long–term view through the year 2010 in Taking Shape: Ceramics in Southeast Asia.
>> David Macaulay's fun architectural illustrations are still on view at the National Building Museum, now through May 4.
>> The Identity by Design exhibit at National Museum of the American Indian shows how traditional American Indian dresses, over time, have expressed the collective and personal identity of those who've worn them.
>> The Library of Congress is featuring the Thomas Jefferson Library, Creating the United States, and Exploring the Early Americas, as well as the new interactive Experience.
Art Notes:
- Art Whino, which seems to have an event every weekend, will have an exhibit opening for Leah Sarah Bassett at their new National Harbor location. Friday, 6 p.m. to midnight.
- The Embassy of Chile will hold an opening reception tonight for paintings by Gustavo Schmidt (no doubt they're great, but go for the Chilean wine!) at 6:30 p.m. RSVP to cultural[at]embassyofchile[dot]org or 202-530-4118.
- The relatively new ArtSpace in Shaw will have an opening reception for Cellular Photography featuring, among others, two-time Exposed winner Amber Baum. Friday, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Artomatic News: Registration for 2D artists is closed, but they're still seeking 3D and performing artists.
- Sure to be not-your-average artist talk, stop by Civilian Art Projects for a conversation with artist Kate MacDonnell of the ongoing show 100 ways to kneel and kiss the ground and photographer and art professor Colby Caldwell. Saturday, 3 p.m., RSVP to info[at]civilianartprojects[dot]com
- Or if you like your art with less lipstick and more obsessive dots, listen to Amy Lin speak about her ongoing show at The Art League gallery. Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
- Tonight check out Staged with the work of five artists in the penthouse of Lofts 11, organized by the Washington Project for the Arts. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., RSVP to rsvp[at]taurusdev[dot]com.
- It's the last weekend to view Hatnim Lee's "visual orgasms" at Transformer.
Lynne Venart, Kelly Rand, and Benjamin Schuman-Stoler contributed
Top image by Flickr user mofo; image at right by out_on_an_island