If you're a regular reader of the Arts Agenda, be sure to check out yesterday's summary of the benefits of becoming a member of one of the local arts venues in D.C. Right after we put that online, we heard that WPA is relaunching their online database ArtFile (one of the benefits of becoming a WPA member is a free artist profile on the site, where you can store images of your work). Visitors can browse the site for free and save "lightboxes" with work of their favorite local artists. more ›

For the last eight years, Conner Contemporary Art has been one of the creative hubs of Dupont Circle with its focus on emerging and experimental artists. Located on the north end, it has served as a entryway to the neighborhood, leading into the plethora of neighborhood galleries, bookstores, and craft shops. But the gallery announced today that it will soon be shifting homes to Trinidad, in the large, 12,000 sq. ft. former auto body shop... more ›

Written by DCist contributor Lynne Venart Heineman Myers Contemporary Art owner Zoe Myers snatched up Claire Johnson at the most recent Art Basel in Miami. In her first show at the Bethesda gallery, Johnson’s work is sure to spark speculation about the best donut shop in the area, for all of her works in Yummy, a new show of work inspired by food, are donut portraits. Johnson, a former portrait painter, fell in love with... more ›

Recess of a Journey #4, 12 inches by 10 inches, mixed media, 2005" src="http://dcist.com/attachments/John James Anderson/2007_0717_RahmanRecess.jpg" width="209" height="300" class="left"/> The most recent show at the Ellipse Arts Center in Arlington, titled Transform/Nation: Contemporary Art of Iran and Its Diaspora, explores the themes of identity, tradition, stereotype, and society that Iranian artists confront within their works. It is a show that is not about to divorce the work on the wall with the history of Iran;... more ›

Academy 2007, at Conner Contemporary Art, is the gallery's seventh invitational survey designed to give wider exposure to recent graduates of the area's university level fine art programs. Jamie Smith, a product of formal art academia herself, curated the show along with Karyn Miller and chose the pieces after attending area BFA/MFA exhibitions between January and June. The show is designed not only as a platform for talented artists, but also as a profile of area art programs with pieces reflecting the personality and culture of their respective institutions. The result is an exhibition of 32 pieces, by 15 up-and-coming artists, in varied media ranging from painting, video, sculpture, and photography. As one might expect, the majority of the artists come from formal art programs rather than local universities. Of the 15 artists, seven come from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and three come from the Corcoran College of Art + Design. more ›

Have you ever put off seeing a movie dealing with man’s inhumanity toward man, such as Hotel Rwanda or Life is Beautiful, know it will be shocking and sometimes painful, and will force you to confront the ugly reality that people often do very bad things to other people? That's how one might feel when approaching Mary Coble's new show, Aversion, at Conner Contemporary Art. Coble confronts the horrible effects of electro shock therapy prescribed... more ›

Holiday? What Holiday? While some of us were home devouring pumpkin pies instead of writing the Arts Agenda last week, a few galleries opened their doors to new exhibits. The National Portrait Gallery is giving thanks to Josephine Baker by displaying images, posters, music sheets and other artifacts that tell the story of this amazing performer and civil rights activist. Meanwhile, the National Geographic Museum has opened their Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit, showcasing... more ›

With so many art galleries featuring recent graduate shows, we couldn't resist scouring the walls for a few of our choice picks. Today we begin a brief series featuring local artists who look prepared to make some strong waves in the art world. Growing up in Annapolis, Maryland, Brian Twilley was always pulled towards the visual arts and, particularly, photography. "Miserable" as a business major, he quickly switched to fine arts and never looked back.... more ›

Though the galleries are usually slow in the summer, we still get the occasional rainstorm during the drought. And what better weekend to take a walk outside and sooth your overheated body than this one, which looks to be the blessed fever break from our soul-crushing heat wave? When you're ready to hit the cool(er) Friday evening air, many of the city's galleries will be open and waiting with heaven-sent A/C and thirst quenching libations.... more ›

Tiny particles, given movement and behavior directives by an unknown source, are suddenly released to the elements. They charge ahead, encountering one another and reacting and creating new shapes and patterns in their wake. Each time they move, the environment changes, entropy increases, and eventually the entire system devolves into chaos. more ›

>> This month marks Irvine Contemporary's second anniversary. Help celebrate by checking out their exhibit, "Christine Kesler: New Directions," opening Friday (reception 6-8 p.m.). Work on display includes multi-media collages by the MICA graduate. more ›

It's Labor Day weekend, and you thought everybody had gotten the hell out of Dodge City, hadn't you? Well, they probably have, and we're experiencing serious envy of anyone who's on a beach right now with a margarita in hand. But don't despair - there's still tons to do in D.C. this weekend, and we've rounded up the best of the best for you to do in a special extended version of Weekend Picks. But... more ›

New Yorker Kehinde Wiley is easily one of contemporary art’s hottest young stars. Just recently, he enjoyed a solo show at the Brooklyn Museum and was featured on the cover of Art in America. By almost any measure -- we stress almost since artists as young as 12-years-old are currently showing in major D.C. galleries -- Wiley is a young artist, still a couple of years away from his 30th birthday. There is a lot... more ›

Jammed packed with cells in various stages of development, Teo Gonzalez’s minimalist paintings are something of an obsessive pursuit. Fortunately for Gonzalez, his meticulous efforts have recently been rewarded by his work being acquired by major museums on both coasts (MoMA, LACMA and NGA). D.C. art enthusiasts have until Saturday to catch Gonzalez’s current solo show at Irvine Contemporary Art in Dupont Circle and see for themselves what all the fuss is about. more ›

This Friday is the first Friday of the month, and that means the Dupont Circle galleries will have their extended hours for the monthly gallery crawl. Most galleries will have refreshments and many of the artists will be present. The receptions generally last from 6-8 p.m. more ›

Now that the lull of the holidays has passed, a new wave of openings and closings is shifting through the D.C. arts scene. more ›

Before heading out of town or burrowing at home with a glass of eggnog and cookies, be sure to check out some new and closing exhibits this week -- or to visit some of the decorated historic house museums in D.C. more ›

From DCist contributor Kriston Capps: more ›