>> “Eva Zeisel: The Playful Search for Beauty” opens at Hillwood Museum today. Curated by Karen Kettering, Hillwood’s curator of Russian art, the exhibit is the first survey of the renowned designer’s work in 20 years. Some of you may recognize her designs from an earthenware line available at Crate and Barrel. Zeisel sums up her career and her many designs as the product of a “playful search for beauty.” Her “Prototypes for Modular Ceramic Wall Dividers, Manifattura Mancioli (Montelupo, Italy),” made in 1958 of glazed porcelain, is shown at left.

>> This Thursday, the Seventh Street corridor downtown area galleries will have their extended hours and new openings from 6-9 p.m. Of special interest is the solo exhibit of new works by Dan Steinhilber at Numark Gallery. DCist is also looking forward to seeing the show curated by collector William Howdershell opening at Zenith Gallery. Howedershell was invited to curate the gallery’s annual introductory show, and the resulting exhibit features the paintings, sculptures and drawings of eight artists making their D.C. debut. A discussion with the curator is this Sunday at 1 p.m.