>> Via Mid-Atlantic Art News, nearly every one on the Washington Post arts staff has been slammed over last Thursday's article on art in the White House Green Room. The Seattle Post-Intellgencer blog calls Post writer Jacqueline Trescott's race labeling of Jacob Lawrence as "the greatest African-American artist of the 20th century" a "disgrace," the staff photographer inept, and most hilariously, Blake Gopnik, who gets skewered though he wasn't even involved with the article,... more ›

Mid-Atlantic Art News has the scoop on this year's Trawick Prize winners. The annual award, produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District and funded by long-time regional arts supporter Carol Trawick, is widely known as one of the area's most highly regarded visual arts prizes. The winners list often comes with a little (sometimes well-founded) griping from the art community, but there's no doubt that the winners earn some serious respect -- as well... more ›

>> The Frederick Douglass Bridge is expected to re-open this Thursday, a week ahead of schedule. [WTOP] >> Nationwide S.A.T. scores fall, but local students fare worse than others; however, more students are taking the test than ever before. [Post] >> The Post revamped their Style section this week, and according to yesterday's online chat, it will include a new "Studio" feature that will showcase local artists and galleries. The City Paper is not... more ›

>> Help the merchants displaced after the Eastern Market fire at happy hour tonight by imbibing at one of more than 20 D.C. bars that have signed up to donate a portion of their proceeds to begin the rebuilding. Started as the Facebook.com group "Rescue Eastern Market" by Clay Johnson on the day of the fire, you can find the full list and a handy map of participating taverns and cafes at Rescue Eastern... more ›

>> Show 'Em How It's Done: Remember how much we hated the Art Walk? We can't fix the mosaicked drain gutters (ugh), but you can do your part and dress up the rest. The D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities is soliciting entries for the next exhibit entitled Drift. Hat tip to Lenny from Mid Atlantic Art News for this info, and who also tells us that the first exhibit may have suffered simply... more ›

We were sad to hear the news (via blogger Kriston Capps) that Numark Gallery is closing its doors for good next month. Owner Cheryl Numark sent out a press release yesterday explaning that due to "the demands of running a contemporary space -- maintaining a quality exhibition program and truly 'representing' artists in the manner to which they are entitled," she's decided to step back and start a new venture advising art collectors. more ›

Today we bring you news from the revolving door. Artworks are arriving, artists are leaving, and the local scene remains ever-changing, even in the slow, muggy doldrums of summer. >>A Klee In the Hand: Just last week we were pimping Paul Klee in the Arts Agenda, and here he is making the news again this week. The Post reported Tuesday that The Phillips Collection has acquired two Klee pieces from separate private donors. To the... more ›

Forgive our lax attitude with the Arts Agenda of late, as we've been experiencing a few staff changes around here and are still working out the scheduling kinks. That being said, all of DCist would like to extend a hearty thank you to Cyndi Spain, who has decided to retire from her DCist arts duties to focus on being a busy career woman and a doting bride. Good luck, Cyndi! more ›

DCist is happy to share news this week of area events and exhibits by our fellow bloggers. First off, Lenny Campello of DC Art News, opens a show of his recent drawings on Friday at the Georgetown Fraser Gallery. There's a reception for the show that night from 6-9 p.m. A drawing from the exhibit is shown at right. more ›

>> Andrew Wodzianski wins bonus cool points for combining visuals inspired by Mexican luchadores and an interactive blog, the use of cell phones and a podcast (or Wodcast) in his new show Lucha Libre! at the Fraser Gallery. His "Lucha Libre! 2" is pictured here. more ›

Editor's Note: As DCist continues to grow, we're looking to revamp and expand our Arts coverage to better cover the varied local geography of the D.C. area's artistic community. If you are interested in contributing to our Arts section -- visual, fine, performing, et al -- please e-mail Mike or swing by our happy hour this Friday. In the meantime, here is this week's Arts Agenda, compiled by F. Lennox Campello of the Fraser Gallery... more ›

Enjoy this spring-like weather while you can and get out to some of the new exhibits around D.C. We've picked some of the highlights to help you decide which shows to visit. more ›

Today will be mostly sunny with highs around 40. The National Weather Service has issued an advisory warning commuters to watch out for icy patches on roads as temperatures dipped below freezing last night. The photo is a fish at The Reef in Adams Morgan. more ›

With the weather frightful, hibernating seems like the thing to do. But what better place to escape the cold than in the refuge of D.C.'s museums and galleries? >> The Kennedy Center kicked off its six-month tribute to the 1940s on Sunday night. "A New America: The 1940s and the Arts" spans a wide range of performing arts and is the largest, most expensive event the center has presented. >> "Rembrandt's Late Religious Portraits" opens... more ›

A show of 10 artists from last fall's Artomatic show has opened at the Anne C. Fisher Gallery in Georgetown. The brainchild of Fisher and F. Lennox Campello of the Fraser Gallery (and prolific author of popular blog D.C. Art News) "10 Most Wanted" showcases a few works from some of the two gallery owners favorite Artomatic artists. more ›

>> As reported by DC Art News, two new galleries have joined the D.C. arts scene. Emma Mae Gallery, founded by Sandra Butler-Truesdale, has opened at 1515 U St. NW. JET Artworks opens Friday in Elizabeth Roberts' old space at 2108 R St. NW. The gallery's inaugural exhibition features the work of Conor McGrady, Greg Murr, Gregory Euclide, Michel Tsouris and Ken Bucklew. more ›

>> Avoid the mall and take advantage of the numerous venues for purchasing handmade arts and crafts here in D.C., including Gateway Georgia Avenue's 2nd Annual Holiday ArtWalk tomorrow night in Silver Spring. Local artists will have paintings, prints, photos, quilts and more available for sale for $15-$300. Even if you're only browsing, you can enjoy free empanadas from Los Arrieros or wine and finger food at The Graphic Workshop, Pyramid Atlantic and Kari Minnick Glass Studio. Festivities last from 7-9 p.m. Other arts-related shopping opportunities of the week include the Arts Market at the Ellipse in Arlington (closing Saturday) and the final weekend of Western Market in Adams Morgan for the season (Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.). more ›

With less than two weeks before the show closes, now's time to plan your trip to Artomatic. The annual artist-organized show has filled the former Capital Children's Museum with art of all kinds. Today, D.C. artist Mark Jenkins' tape men showed up at the Washington Post building asking for Blake Gopnik (see his spoof story), the author of the Post's scathing review of the show. (To their credit, the Post did create a special feedback page to deal with the response.) more ›

DCist is heading to Artomatic to see DC Independent Film Festival's 2004 shorts tonight. The screening begins with the chance to mingle with featured filmmakers and submit work for the 2005 showcase. Cocktails are available -- presenting a great opportunity to combine Friday happy hour with artsy intellectualism. more ›

Weather: Today will be partly cloudy with highs in the 60s as a high pressure system hovers over the Eastern Seaboard. Cloud cover will increase in the afternoon and evening, with a 10 percent chance of precipitation. Taxi Strike Called for Today: A taxi work stoppage we reported yesterday has been called today by a taxi association to protest legislation proposed by Mayor Anthony Williams which would increase the regulation of taxis in the district,... more ›

Upper Northwest Residents May Be Sickened by WWI-era Chemicals: A survey by the Northwest Current of 345 households in the Spring Valley area found 131 current or former cases of "chronic" diseases. Some residents think the illnesses are caused by chemicals contaminating the soil in the area from the World War I American University Experiment Station, where hundreds of scientists developed chemical weapons in a 600-acre area, including chlorine, chloride, cyanide, Lewisite, mustard gas and... more ›

A controversy has been shaking the visual arts community following the firing of Philip Barlow, the curator of the Washington Projects for the Arts/Corcoran's "OPTIONS 2005" biennial. The root of the artistic flap can be traced back to two public art exhibitions, the Party Animals and Pandamania, the much-loved sidewalk art/charity projects organized by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. more ›

Local blog D.C. Art News is reporting on two stories connected to the City Museum of Washington, D.C., which has experienced low attendance since opening in their new location in the Carnegie library building near the convention center. more ›

You know what? D.C. gets a bum rap sometimes, but there really is a ton of great stuff constantly going on in this town, and not just on the weekends. With that in mind, DCist brings you Out and About: Hump Day -- events dedicated to Wednesday, that most humpable day of the week. Check out what's happening this evening: more ›

DC Art News alerted us to this posting from grammar.police about a most unusal sclupture at the National Cathedral. That's right, it's Darth Vader from the Star Wars saga. Does this mean that fallen Jedi warriors are held in high regard by the Episcopalian church? more ›

"[B]e ready for two of the dumbest mascot designs in the already stupifying world history of mascot imagery" says D.C. Art News - an opinion shared by many, described in this AP article: "The pair were derided in various news articles, described as animated condoms and mutants from a nuclear meltdown. Their names were co-opted by anti-Olympic activists, who promptly firebombed two government vehicles in February." more ›