Living in the Nation's Capital, with so many free events going on year-round, it might seem silly to spend a princely sum of money for the privilege of becoming a Member of a local arts organization. But there are a number of good reasons to think about becoming a member -- maybe you're interested in a particular subject that's only shown at a pay-for museum, maybe you're an artist looking to grab a foothold in... more ›

One of only three art schools in the nation that are affiliated with a world-class museum, the Corcoran College of Art + Design is a powerhouse in the "art schools of America" roster, ranking high in the Princeton Review (but receiving a ‘C’ average among current pupils and alumni). Founded in 1890, the school is the District’s only four-year, fully-accredited college of art and design. The Corcoran Gallery of Art has finally dedicated a gallery... more ›

>> Your major opening this weekend is brought to you by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The nearly 120 piece Saul Steinberg retrospective, Illuminations, features the artist's witty and deeply observant take on world events throughout his 60 year history with The New Yorker, as well as the many other sculpture, painting, and various artworks that get a little meta in their parsing of creative methods. DCist is going to check out the show this weekend, but we have no doubt it will be filled to the brim with dead-on jabs at our sometimes narrow national perspective and, you know, amusing cat cartoons. Go take advantage of your tax dollars and see the show starting Friday; SAAM is open daily (including Easter) from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. more ›

>>Does This Mean Spring Will Be Here Soon? Please?: If you find yourself in Virginia instead of Maryland, begin your weekend with an opening reception for Equinox at the Arlington Arts Center. This "juried all media exhibition" will feature twenty-two regional artists who work in, well, all media. The pieces fit into three categories: manipulated materials, abstraction and the figure. Stop by tomorrow between 6 and 9 p.m. for the reception. 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 ›

Remember last week when we told you to mark your calendar for this evening? Force yourself away from the One Tree Hill season premiere and head down to the Corcoran Hammer Auditorium for Night 1 of the second Experimental Media Series. Presented by the Washington Project for the Arts\Corcoran, tonight promises Cowboys, Clichés, Codes, and Conspiracies. more ›

American University's graduation is May 14 -- which also happens to be Mother's Day. I need to find a good but not exorbitantly expensive brunch option. Any suggestions? In case you and your mom will be spending Mother's Day in the area, DCist encourages you to consider booking a reservation for Sunday brunch sooner rather than later. With American University's graduation falling on the same day, plenty of places are already full -- including brunch... more ›

We start this week's Arts Agenda with some news from the Hirshhorn. Tyler Green of Modern Art Notes tells us that the Hirshhorn has a new director, noting that: The Hirshhorn held no press conference introducing their new director. The Corcoran, however, just held a presser to announce that they don't have a director! Anyhow, back to the latest listings ... Kick off summer by visiting some of the new exhibits around D.C. this week.... more ›

We reported last week on the rumored shake ups at the Corcoran -- and tomorrow, news hungry D.C. art watchers will, hopefully, get some answers to questions on the troubled museum's future. The Corcoran's Board of Trustees met today, and the decisions made in that meeting will be announced to the public tomorrow at 9 a.m. What's more notable is who will be announcing the decisions to the public. Museum President David Levy will be absent from the podium; instead, the 50 minute press conference will be held by the chairman and vice chairman of the museum, who will "update members of the media on new leadership and strategic planning decisions." The press conference is RSVP only and will be held in the Corcoran's Frances and Armand Hammer Auditorium. To RSVP, contact Liz Bradley, the museum's Director of Media Relations, at (202) 639-1867 or lbradley (at) corcoran.org. more ›

href="http://ionarts.blogspot.com/">Ionarts)

href="http://washington.org/parisonthepotomac/">Paris
on the Potomac is Washington's citywide
celebration of French art and culture that will last
until Memorial Day. You might think it unlikely that
Washington can offer an authentic Parisian feel, but
those of us who went to the href="http://www.corcoran.org/">Corcoran Gallery of
Art's last Sunday had the
chance to be shown otherwise. The Corcoran's Salon
Doré is a little jewel box of a room, decorated with
gold panels, gilding, and a large ceiling mural. If it
has the feel of stepping into an 18th-century central
European royal chamber, it's because it
exactly that: a salon of the Clermont mansion,
commissioned by the Comte d'Orsay in 1770 and
transferred to New York in 1905 before being
bequeathed to the Corcoran. The room alone would be
worth the trip, but a turquoise-blue harpsichord
greeted the audience in this most intimate setting,
indicating musical delight (go to Ionarts for our href="http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/04/twilight-concert-at-corcoran.html">full
review of this concert).

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If you thought you couldn't get enough of Frank Gehry by staring at models and renderings of the proposed wing at the Corcoran Museum of Art, head on over to 17th Street, as the museum opened today a new exhibition on the furniture of the Los Angeles architect. "The Furniture of Frank Gehry" runs through Nov. 15. The exhibition features work Gehry has done for three designers, Knoll, Heller and Vitra. Does any of this... more ›