Clouded Leopard Labyrinth, mixed media, by Leslie A. Johnston.

>> On October 1, an exhibition opened at the Corcoran Gallery of Art that features the work of many of the most important African American artists of the last three decades. 30 Americans focuses on issues of racial, sexual and historical identity in contemporary culture. The exhibition also explores the influence of artistic legacy and community across generations. As a part of this show there will be a variety of related programs and events that will take place between now and February 12. The first of which is a visiting artist lecture tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. featuring Nina Chanel Abney, whose work is included in the show. Free.

>> Fall Solos 2011 will open tomorrow evening from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Arlington Arts Center. The AAC puts out a call every year for entries to provide artists the opportunity to produce their own solo shows. This year, seven of the nine AAC galleries will be featuring the work of these cutting-edge artists, including frequent DCist Photo of the Day photographer Matt Dunn.

>> Clyde Fowler describes his work as “pictorial choreography” and says he “approaches his work in a manner similar to that of a choreographer, filling them with orchestrated sensations and intuitive notations while giving consideration to movement, rhythm, space and form.” Check out his work at the opening reception at Long View Gallery tomorrow from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to see if it moves you, too.

>> Touchstone Gallery will be hosting an opening reception for two new exhibitions this Friday. The first, by Steve Alderton and called Scapes, features a variety of landscapes and figurescapes. Through these expressionistic paintings, Alderton examines the expression of human emotion and strength. The second exhibition by Leslie Johnston may invoke some of the emotions that you see in Alderton’s work as you go on the journey through the Clouded Leopard Labyrinth in search of the endangered and incredibly squee-worthy clouded leopard. Johnston’s multi-layered paintings resemble a dense rainforest, mostly green with splashes of color. Fifty percent of art sales from Johnston’s exhibition will go to the Smithsonian’s Thailand Clouded Leopard Field Project. 6 to 8:30 p.m.

>> October’s First Friday opening at Hillyer Art Space will feature the work of Joan Belmar and Keith Lane. In ONCE, Belmar uses nostalgic items to recall a time in our collective past that is not easy to recreate but remains important to remember. In his show iwishyouwerehere, Lane uses the ever-popular iPhone as a convenient way to create intentional images of the things he encounters and to document his own story with ease. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 donation suggested.

>> Do you watch Deadliest Catch? What about Cake Boss? Are you secretly obsessed with Hillbilly Handfishin’ and wonder what it would be like to be there in person taking photos of the all the excitement? Are you tired of the questions and just wish I would get to the point already? Good! Then this exhibition is for you! The Dunes will be hosting a photo exhibit which will feature work by photographers of Discovery Creative, the internal advertising, marketing and creative agency for Discovery Communications. Celebrities & Other Animals: The Best of Discovery Creative includes 22 images shot by 16 photographers and will be the first time Discovery Creative has shown part of its photo collection to the general public. Select photos will be on sale with the proceeds going to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation. The opening reception will be on Friday night from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.

>> Hey, kids are people, too. And I’ve never met one who didn’t love art, so there’s no reason not to bring the kiddos to the 16th annual Alexandria Arts Safari at the Torpedo Factory on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Some of the super fun activities include the Clay Experience, Arts Safari Painting, Fabric Collage, Origami Art and Giant Paper-Mache Animal. The Art League will host the Gallery Scavenger Hunt and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum will provide the opportunity to paint shards of salt-glazed stoneware pottery found at local archaeological sites. Safari painting, origami and some kind of giant paper-mache animal? Forget the kids, I want to go! Free. Kids should wear clothes that parents won’t mind getting dirty.

>> Washington Printmakers Gallery will be holding two events on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. One is a conversation with printmaker Michael Hagan as he discusses his current exhibition Doodle Digit Dot. The other is the opening reception for Anne McLaughlin’s mini-solo exhibition Without Reservations.

>> The Harmon Art Lab will be exhibiting the work of two local artists beginning on Saturday. Michel Modell, from Baltimore, will have several of her watercolors on display. Modell uses a humorous stance on social commentary to create images that will shock and delight viewers. In her project room installation, Mariah Anne Johnson uses bed sheets to create a connection between her installation and painting techniques and the small space of the room in which she must work. An opening reception will be held on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. with an artists’ talk on October 15 from 2 to 3 p.m.

>> It may be hard to believe, but the Artisphere is growing up! This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of the exciting urban art space that provides the opportunity for people and art to collide. At The 1 Party on Saturday, party goers can see the original installation by Brian Stansfield called Orbit that was commissioned just for the Artisphere dome, as well as live performances by Volta Bureau, Alvin Risk, Hays Holladay (Bluebrain) and Barcode Orchestra. The evening will also feature live interactive mural creation with artist Arijit Das and Brandon Wetherbee’s comedy variety show You, Me, Them, Everybody Live! The party continues on Sunday with a free birthday open house. People of all ages can watch animated films in the dome theater, learn how to salsa dance, check out the art being created in the Wheelchair Action Art workshops, join in a drum circle and much, much more. Tickets are required for The 1 Party. $15 for the first 150 people; $20 for 151 on; $30 for a limited VIP Backstage Pass. Saturday (8 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 6 p.m.).

Art Notes

• The Stamp Gallery at the University of Maryland will be hosting Speaking of Art: The Art of Collecting on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. which will include a panel discussion and Q&A with several D.C. and Baltimore based art collectors, gallerists, and curators.
• Zenith Gallery will host a meet the artists’ reception for the opening of Shining Stars at the Eleven Eleven Sculpture Space at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
• As a part of their current exhibition Masks, the Target Gallery at The Torpedo Factory will be holding a lecture on Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. by the Creative Wellbeing Workshop that aims to help people find wellbeing and happiness through art.
• Alex Gallery will host an opening reception for the photography exhibition Aboud Dweck: Monument Light & Other Works on Friday from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
• Fondo del Sol offers a chance to check out original wood cuts from Costa Rican engraver and painter Francisco starting on Friday. The opening reception will feature remarks from the Costa Rican Ambassador Muni Figueres. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• As a part of the 30 Americans exhibition, you can catch a screening of Downtown 81, a film starring 30 Americans artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
• Last but not least, the National Building Museum will host Moshe Safdie: Symbols in the Public Realm on Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Safdie will speak about his work and how it fits into the contemporary practice of architecture. Members $12, Students $10, Public $20. Pre-registration required.