Co-written by DCist Contributor Paul Ghosh-Roy
Get together a bunch of artists, a bunch of bands, a cool venue, and a great time is had by all. On Saturday night, DCist ventured into the land of perfectly disheveled hair and meticulously scuffed jeans to see if the theory worked in practice as The Rock and Roll Hotel hosted the Big Art Show . The event is organized by a collective of artists and volunteers based out of the greater New Jersey area. In the past four years they have mounted over 50 shows. Their goal is to provide a platform for independent artists and musicians to perform and exhibit their work in front of varied audiences and in an environment “devoid of the pressure and insincerities of the public media.”
The show featured two floors of work by dozens of artists as well as performances by five bands (think Adams Morgan Day, but smaller, indoors, and catering to the indie hipster set). We walked into the show wondering whether the emphasis on quantity would reflect poorly on the quality of the art and music. We also questioned whether it is possible to have a balanced art and music show where one does not swallow the other. The art portion of the show unfortunately featured a large amount of mostly forgettable craftwork for sale that gave the show an outdoor market feel. A few gems lay hidden beneath this and otherwise trite “fine” art. The music was generally your standard indie rock fare, homogenous in look, sound, and audience, with only one inspired performance. It was also clear that when art and music went head to head, this time nobody won. Attendees seemed to go to the venue for either the art or the music, and there was very little back and forth between the two.
The photographers highlighted the art portion of the show. Abstract painter Caroline J. Page observed that photography is on an upswing in today’s art world, possibly due to its being easily digested coupled with the shortened attention spans of art consumers. Newcomer Meghan Long’s photos, which captured the grace, athleticism, movement, and artistry of classical ballet dancers, caught our eye. Vernon Langley’s work conveys a somber sense of emptiness and isolation. Jocelyn Bassler’s work was among the most varied, presenting a wide range of subjects. Other photographers displaying interesting work include A.J. Nutter, Chandi Kelley, and Trevor Rathbone.
