In the “It’s a Tough Job But Somebody’s Gotta Do It” category, a group of geologists who get to hang around and examine the Hope Diamond all day discovered that rare blue diamonds, such as the famous 45.52-carat one, each have unique “fingerprints” of red and blue phosphorescence that give them their special coloring. If you’re into that kind of thing, read more about it here, but we think it probably requires a field trip down to the National Museum of Natural History to gaze upon it in person.
Gallery Openings:
>> Civilian Art Projects, home of the next DCist Exposed Photography Show, starts off 2008 with a new exhibit this Friday to show off some emerging artists. The main gallery holds Spaces Between Spaces, works on paper by four artists, including Baltimore’s Seth Adelsberger, whose acrylic paintings use a fusion of contemporary styles. In the project space you’ll find Weenus, a site-specific installation by Luke Wyatt. 7 to 9 p.m.
>> The galleries at 1515 14th Street NW open their doors Saturday for four new exhibits. At Hemphill Fine Arts you’ll find two new shows: Joseph Mills presents a Dark World with his photomontages and graphic silkscreens, and John Alexander offers a 30-year retrospective of his work that tears apart political issues from all sides. Meanwhile, on the second floor, three galleries give you a twist on theme. G Fine Art offers a new perspective on Portraits with a group of contemporary photographers, while next door at Adamson Gallery, artist Lyle Ashton Harris pins up his own perspective on self-portraits and identity (pictured), transforming himself in each new image. If you haven’t run into omnipresent art collector Philip Barlow yet, just step inside Curator’s Office, where 15 well-regarded artists, like Robin Rose, Kathryn Cornelius, Colby Caldwell and Jeff Spaulding, show their unique “portraits” of one of D.C.’s most established arts patrons. All receptions are Saturday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., except Curator’s Office, 6 to 8 p.m.
Image of work by Lyle Ashton Harris courtesy Adamson Gallery.
