>> An art show to tempt our own hearts, Meat Market Gallery opens Don't Ready to Die Anymore, a sculptural reinterpretation of pop culture and media tainted storytelling of "real" events, from the mundane to the ones that have marked our history. Or, what would happen if "blogging were a sculptural practice." An online video project will accompany the show, starting tomorrow at dontreadytodieanymore.com. Visit the opening reception tomorrow from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

>> The Phillips Collection has a big weekend ahead of them. The Great American Epic: Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series opens on Saturday, with the entire 60 panel series of this famed artist's work, which shows the movement of African-Americans from the South to the North after the first World War. In addition, they'll hold their usual Artful Evening tonight, starting at 5 p.m., with the museum open and tours of the Collection's French paintings available at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. As a special treat, stop by their Center for Study of Modern Art in the carriage house behind the museum for Soirée Carte Blanch from 6 to 9 p.m. for an electronica DJ, performance art and cash bar. Advance tickets have sold out, but walk-ins will be let in as space allows (read: get there early). $12 for both Artful Thursday and the Soirée.

>> Painter Laurel Hausler’s solo show, Rackets and Remedies at the Atheneum in Alexandria, opens tomorrow night from 5 to 7 p.m. Inspired by old patent medicine advertising, Hausler’s current drawings (pictured above) use coffee-stained paper, line drawing and oil paint-stained plexi. Ideas for this exhibit were influenced in part by the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum and the collections of Dr. Robert Greenspan. The Atheneum will be holding two related events in the coming month: The Old Town Medicine Show—a day full of quackery, science and magic—and a lecture by Medicine: Perspectives in History and Art author Greenspan. Be sure to check out DCist’s studio visit with Hausler.

>> It's First Friday in Dupont Circle, and we recommend stopping by Hillyer Art Space for new paintings by Anna U. Davis, displaying the complicated reasoning and emotions behind feminism. Foundry Gallery will be showing multimedia works by Stephen Nordlinger in The Figure is Central. Artist Roberta Thole will have her cryptic paintings, using many natural elements, at Studio Gallery. First Friday receptions are from 6 to 8 p.m.; see map of participating galleries here.

>> The PASS Gallery, a tiny little space down an alley in Dupont, will feature the works of Willem de Looper (pictured left) and Sondra N. Arkin. Both are big names in D.C. for their art as well as their leadership in the arts community. De Looper, after studying at American University, was curator of the Phillips Collection, which also has some of his paintings in their permanent collection; his retrospective at the Katzen Arts Center runs until May 18, as well. Arkin's work, which can usually be seen in at least one gallery in town at any given time, is also the curator for the City Hall Art Collection. Their abstract works complement each other well, so check out the opening reception tomorrow, between 7 and 10 p.m.

>> The artists at Studio 4903 are having their Spring Show this weekend, with visual art and jewelry at 4903 Wisconsin Ave., NW, second floor. Stop by Saturday or Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. for works by the omnipresent Michele de la Menardiere, Gayle Friedman, and more.

>> Head up to Mt. Ranier to see Michael Platt's work in Lost and Found at H&F Artworks. His paintings focus on the emotions and transformations of Africans that occur as a result of displacement and constant struggle. The reception on Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. has a full event schedule, so get there early to see poets Carol Beane and Maya James, and storyteller Ken Ford perform.

>> DCAC opens a new show with a little bit of a twist. Sparkplug is the name of the exhibit as well as the group that put together the show -- a local collective of artists, curators and writers who meet to dream up new ways to broaden their community and bring art further out into the world. Various works by eight artists will be shown. Opening reception Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.

>> The Foggy Bottom Association is unveiling their first Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit this Saturday. For the next six months, artworks by local artists can be seen in the front yards of 12 Foggy Bottom homes. Tours will be offered on the second Saturday of each month at 11 a.m., but you can take a self-guided tour anytime by grabbing a brochure at any sculpture site or online here. To kick off the exhibit, a curator-led tour will be given this Saturday at 4 p.m., starting at the corner of New Hampshire Avenue and Eye Street NW, and will end at the Watergate Gallery for a reception from 5 to 8 p.m.

>> Once you've had dinner after all the early evening Saturday receptions, head over to Dupont for the next installment of Mason/Rhynes Production's Expressions Series: Late Night. Featuring artists of color, the show will offer a variety of performing arts, such as dance, dramatic readings, and comedy. Starts at 11 p.m. at Joy of Motion dance studios, $15 in advance, $20 at the door, includes wine and snacks, 18 and older.

Art Notes:

• Project 4 combines art and design with some big names at the Herman Miller National Design Center. Open House today from 3 to 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception from 6 to 8 p.m. 600 14th Street, NW, Suite 700.
• Zenith Gallery opens Drama Queens with a reception Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., and another one on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Speaking of Zenith Gallery, owner Margery E. Goldberg's sculptures can be seen in the retrospective heART of the tree at 1111 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Exhibit opened Monday, runs through the end of June.
• The Brightest Young Things web site relaunch party will feature images by their staff photographers, as well as visual art by Kelly Towles and Cory Oberndorfer, among others. 8 p.m. at the 2008 Artomatic building.
• Cheers to Irvine Contemporary for embracing the digital age, and will now feature videos on their gallery web site, including interviews with artists and clips of digital artworks.
• Architecture buffs, head over to the Kreeger Musuem next Tuesday for a panel discussion on the works of Philip Johnson (whose exhibit is on view through July) and how his work has influenced the design world. 6:30 p.m., $12, call 202-338-3552 to reserve a spot.

Lynne Venart contributed

Image by Laurel Hausler at top courtesy Atheneum; Image by Willem de Looper at left courtesy PASS Gallery.