WAMU: Art Beat

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 23

artbeat@wamu.org — Thu, 23 May 2013 07:46:21 -0400

May 25-26: Celebrate Hawaii Festival May is Asian Pacific Heritage Month, and even though the month is winding down, it's not too late to celebrate. This weekend you can enjoy all things Hawaii at a number of free programs at the National Museum of the American Indian. From 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday you can take part in the annual Celebrate Hawaii Festival, which will include film screenings, hula performances, family-friendly activities, and more. This Saturday you can head to the museum's Outdoor Welcome Plaza at 5 p.m. for a free concert by The Aloha Boys and Grammy-nominated singer Amy Hanaiali`i Gilliom.

May 23-Jun. 22: A Cloud is Not a Sphere CulturalDC presents A Cloud is Not a Sphere at Flashpoint Gallery through June 22. The solo exhibit by visual artist Victoria Fu is a mixture of photographs and film projections that come together in a colorful installation blending still and moving images.

Music: "Better Together (Instrumental)" by Jack Johnson

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 22

artbeat@wamu.org — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:48:54 -0400

May 22-Jun. 30: The Real ThingThe Real Thing by playwright Tom Stoppard opens tonight at The Studio Theatre in D.C. The Tony Award-winning drama explores love, commitment, and the power of clever writing. Henry is a celebrated writer whose wife Charlotte is acting in a play he wrote about marriage. But fiction is often rooted in fact, and when accusations fly, the on and off-stage relationships begin to suffer. Directed by David Muse, the play runs through June 30.

May 22: NSO Pops: Trey AnastasioYou can see guitarist and singer Trey Anastasio play in The Kennedy Center Concert Hall tonight at 8 with the National Symphony Orchestra Pops. The musician, who is best known for his work with the genre-mixing jam band, Phish, is influenced by experimental jazz, classical music, reggae, metal, and barbershop music. Conducted by Steven Reineke, the performance will feature classic Phish songs and original Anastasio compositions.

Music: "NICU (Instrumental)" by Phish

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 21

artbeat@wamu.org — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:52:47 -0400

May 21-Jul. 28: Edvard MunchYou can head to The National Gallery of Art to see Edvard Munch: A 150th Anniversary Tribute. The exhibit features more than 20 of the Norwegian painter and printmaker’s works, including “The Madonna” and “The Scream.” You can see these and more of the expressionist artist’s work through July 28 on the Ground Floor of the Gallery’s West Building.

May 21: Capricious Summer (Rozmarné Iéto)You can head to Bistro Bohem at 7 tonight for a screening of Capricious Summer, a 1968 film by Oscar-winning director Jiri Menzel. The comedy follows three middle-aged men who are enjoying a leisurely summer, until a circus performer and his pretty assistant arrive. The event is held in collaboration with the Embassy of the Czech Republic.

Music: “Nightbook” by Ludovico Einaudi

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 20

artbeat@wamu.org — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:15:03 -0400

May 20-Jun. 29: My Kind of MagicThis week you can be enchanted by a new exhibit at Project 4 Gallery on U Street. My Kind of Magic is a group exhibition that delves into the varying rituals and techniques used by 10 contributing artists. The collection, which celebrates happy accidents and the creative process, will be up through June 29.

May 20-Jun. 15: Loose CannonThe Watergate Gallery & Frame Design in Northwest D.C. presents a new exhibit by Ethan Rochmis. Although the local artist works in a variety of media, Loose Cannon features colorful examples of ink on paper. You can check out this bold body of work through June 15.

May 21: Ludovico EinaudiYou can hear acclaimed musician Ludovico Einaudi perform with his full ensemble at the Warner Theater tomorrow night, starting at 8. The Italian pianist and composer is currently on tour, sharing songs from his latest album, In a Time Lapse.

Music: "Life" by Ludovico Einaudi from In a Time Lapse

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 17

artbeat@wamu.org — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:14:47 -0400

May 19: Sound BitesIt's finally warming up, so why stay indoors? This Sunday you can attend a block party of sorts at the 9:30 Club, which will be hosting Sound Bites starting at 1 p.m. For $40 you can hear music performed inside the venue and out on the street by artists such as funk/R&B band Lee Fields and the Expressions and punk group Deathfix. You can also watch a mixology contest and get your fill of taster plates provided by 25 local restaurants. The proceeds of the event benefit D.C. Central Kitchen, which has been feeding the homeless and the hungry for 20 years.

May 18: Takoma PorchTomorrow you can head to Takoma Porch, a free walking music festival located on the porches of Takoma Park's historic homes. The event runs from 2 to 6 p.m. and will feature performances by a variety of local musicians.

Music: "Summertime in the LBC (Instrumental) by Dove Shack

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 16, 2013

artbeat@wamu.org — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:16:02 -0400

May 18-19: NY and DC Contemporary Dance

Two contemporary dance companies are collaborating in a weekend of dance starting this Saturday at Dance Place in Northeast. The D.C.-based company Christopher K. Morgan & Artists will join forces with the New York-based group skybetter and associates for two evenings of abstract dance.

May 16-18: Osage County

The Tony Award-winning play August: Osage County opens tonight at The Theatre Lab, and runs through Saturday. Directed by mother-daughter duo Delia and Deborah Taylor, the dysfunctional family drama follows a large clan from rural Oklahoma who must confront their deepest secrets after the family's patriarch mysteriously vanishes.

May 17-19: 22nd Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival

The 22nd Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival kicks off tomorrow night at the [Reston Town Center] (www.restontowncenter.com/). The free event will feature live performances, various media by more than 200 artists, and kid-friendly activities through Sunday.

Music: "Too Late Instrumental" by No Doubt

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 15

artbeat@wamu.org — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:18:44 -0400

May 16-18: The Urban Corps Transatlantic Dance FestivalAlliance Française de Washington, D.C. presents The Urban Corps Transatlantic Dance Festival through Sunday. Tomorrow you can see La Niña de la Casa Azul at Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center at 8 p.m. Five Mexican and French dancers pay homage to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in this collaborative performance that blends hip-hop with blues and orchestral music. On Friday you can see What Did You Say? at Gallaudet University starting at 7 p.m. The piece uses dance and spoken word to explore how our histories and personal choices help shape our identities.

May 15: Kenny WesleyLocal musician and self-proclaimed "Soulful Nerd", Kenny Wesley, will be playing songs from his debut album, The Real Thing, at Bohemian Caverns tonight starting at 9. The D.C. resident and Howard University professor combines pop, soul and funk in the full-length album, which you can check out starting today.

Music: "Do You Realize??" by The Flaming Lips

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 14

artbeat@wamu.org — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:49:56 -0400

May 14-Jun. 2: Big NateYou can see Big Nate, a world premiere musical, at the Adventure Theatre Musical Theatre Center in Glen Echo Park. Based on the syndicated comic strip and best-selling book series by Lincoln Peirce, the play follows Nate Wright, a sixth grader who just can't seem to stay out of detention. When the garage band drummer falls for a girl named Jenny, he decides to win her affections by competing in his school's Battle of the Bands. Recommended for ages five and up, the play is directed by Helen Hayes Award winner Michael Baron and runs through June 2.

May 14: Rick AtkinsonPulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Rick Atkinson will be at Politics & Prose tonight at 7 to discuss the final book in his acclaimed Liberation Trilogy. The Guns at Last Light covers the final year of World War II. From D-Day to the fall of the Third Reich, you can travel back in time with the turn of a page.

Music: "Yellow (Instrumental)" by Coldplay

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 13

artbeat@wamu.org — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:02:15 -0400

May 13-Jun. 2: GilgameshConstellation Theatre Company presents Gilgamesh by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa and Chad Garcia. King Gilgamesh is part man and part god, but when the all-seeing immortals decide to take him down a few pegs, they send Enkidu, who toes the line between man and beast. After a fierce fight, the rivals become best friends and venture off to the Forbidden Forest. But when things don't go as planned, Gilgamesh embarks on a life-altering journey that takes him to Death's door and back again. You can check it out through June 2 at Source Theatre in Northwest.

May 13-26: Thunder Knocking on the DoorYou can see Thunder Knocking on the Door, a blues fairytale written by Keith Glover and directed by Stephen Gregory Smith. The musical follows a mysterious guitar-player who arrives in a small Alabama town with one thing in mind, to challenge the children of the only man who ever outplayed him. This Creative Cauldron production is on stage at ArtSpace Falls Church through May 26.

Music: "Plum (instrumental)" by Eric Clapton

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 10

artbeat@wamu.org — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:57:09 -0400

May 12: Dance Theatre Of HarlemAfter an eight year hiatus, the world renowned Dance Theater of Harlem performs this Sunday at the Murphy Fine Arts Center in Baltimore, starting at 7 p.m. This weekend's performance features artistic direction by Virginia Johnson.

May 10-Aug. 23: Raising DustRaising Dust opens today at Carroll Square Gallery in D.C. Five artists express their connection to the ancient medium of clay in this exhibit, which features mixed media and ceramic works. The collection is up through August 23, and there will be an opening reception tonight from 6 to 8 p.m.

May 11: The Young ThingsTomorrow night you can see Har Mar Superstar and New York-based band The Young Things perform at DC9. While the former prefers a pop slash contemporary R&B sound, the latter is a modern foursome with a vintage feel. You can check them out at 11:30 p.m.

Music: "Lift off (surf instrumental)" by Rinforzando Dust