“1+1=?” by Armando Gallardo, selected as Best in Show by Susan Sterner, Chair of the Master of Arts program in New Media Photojournalism at the Corcoran College of Art and Design
Tickets are still available for opening night of the 8th annual Exposed DC photography show, brought to you by the venture formerly known as DCist Exposed. In their first year untethered from the mothership, the independent venture has focused not just on a single annual event but on a year-round effort to support and foster a local photography community open to amateurs and professionals alike. Former DCist staffers Heather Goss, James Calder, and Meaghan Gay work hard to maintain resource guides and provide regular updates and features on the website, as well as organizing monthly happy hours for local photographers. But the main event is the photography show. This year features 49 photographs, chosen for their singular vision of the D.C. area. These aren’t images of politics or tourist traps, but of a living, vibrant community.
Long View Gallery is again hosting the opening night festivities. Since the gallery has expanded from 5,000 square foot venue to 9,000 square feet, the space can handle a single-night version of an event that drew crowds over two nights last year. Your $15 ticket includes all food and drink, courtesy of local sponsors that includes Bluejacket, Founding Farmers, Boxwood Winery, Cavanagh Family Imports, and A&M Imports, Tel’Veh Wine Bar and Everlasting Life Vegan Restaurant. DJ Sequoia and v:shal kanwar return to provide rhythmic accompaniment to your photographic connoisseurship. And for the first time, there’s an official after-party this year across the street at the Passenger. Admission to the after-party is free, but buying drinks at the bar is not.
This year’s big new feature—sponsored by the Corcoran Gallery of Art School of Art and Design—is a series of Best in Show pieces selected by a panel of six distinguished Washington-area photojournalists. The six Best in Show winners each get a $100 award. Judges include Washington Post staff photographer and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lucian Perkins, AP photographer Jacquelyn Martin, Nancy Walz, director of photo services at the Discovery Channel, Dan Westergren, Director of Photography for National Geographic Traveler, Jamie Rose, international photojournalist and senior partner of the Momenta Group LLC— which provides workshops in travel and documentary photography—and Susan Sterner, Chair of the Master of Arts program in New Media Photojournalism at the Corcoran College of Art and Design.
On the future of Exposed DC, Heather Goss writes in an email, “Exposed DC’s goal is to bring attention to local artists and photojournalists doing great work, and to get information to people who want to be better photographers or get out to events. This is our first year going solo we’ve been focused on getting our website up and running as a go-to resource. Now we’re ready to add to that by being more active in connecting photographers eager to learn with teachers who are ready to guide them, and photography lovers and buyers with people who make the images. If there’s anything we’ve learned running our annual exhibition for eight years, it’s how to be the matchmaker.”
You can pick up a full-color exhibit catalog featuring all of this year’s winners here.
Long View Gallery is located at 1234 9th St. NW. Opening reception: Wednesday, March 19 from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, available here, with limited $20 tickets at the door. The exhibition will be on view till April 6 during regular gallery hours, Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m.
