WAMU: Art Beat

Art Beat With Sean Rameswaram, May 21, 2012

artbeat@wamu.org — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:24:46 -0400

(May 21-Dec. 30) One Day, After the Rain

The movements of one day are traced in Brazilian artist Sandra Cinto’s One Day, After the Rain, showing at the Phillips Collection café in Northwest Washington until the end of the year. The massive ink and acrylic drawing takes the viewer from sunrise to nightfall through dreamlike landscapes.

(May 21-June 14) A little bit of everything

Somewhere between the worlds of sculpture, opera, and marionettes is Character Studies, showing at Northwest’s Watergate Gallery through the middle of June. Visual artist and veteran wigmaker Dennis Bergevin exercises his freedom to fashion ceramic sculptures of his favorite opera characters in disguise as marionettes.

(May 23-June 24) Getting silly with Servant

The Shakespeare Theatre Company takes on its favorite Carlo Goldoni production this season. A minion faces mayhem when he bites off more than he can chew in The Servant of Two Masters. The play promises music, dance, and lots of laughter through late June.

Music: “Wen Uuu” by Shlohmo

Art Beat With Sean Rameswaram, May 18

artbeat@wamu.org — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:52:34 -0400

(May 18-June 24) Artomatic for the PeopleNothing says art by and for the people like taking over a soon-to-be-demolished building with the help of a thousand of your favorite filmmakers, fashion designers, musicians, performers and visual artists. That’s what Artomatic is all about. This year’s event opens today at 1851 South Bell Street in Crystal City. What may just be the D.C. area’s biggest, freest art event features ten floors of creativity, community, workshops, and seminars through late June. (May 20) Sound BitesA number of community-minded musicians and cooks get together for Sound Bites Sunday evening outside the 9:30 Club in Northwest Washington. The benefit for DC Central Kitchen features an endless selection of food from 25 local restaurants and a soundtrack of District reggae and electronic music. (May 20) Recycle, Reduce, ReuseIf you’re looking to spend the rest of your weekend outdoors there’s Think Outside the Store Sunday afternoon in downtown Silver Spring. The jewelry-swapping event invites you to revamp, reinvent, and personalize your bling selection with the help of a few strangers and pros. Music: “Little People (Black City)” by Matthew Dear

Art Beat With Sean Rameswaram, May 17

artbeat@wamu.org — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:40:25 -0400

(May 18) Buzz BissingerIf you’re a fan of Friday Night Lights the book, the movie, or the TV series, Buzz Bissinger is the man to thank. The acclaimed storyteller drops by Northwest Washington’s Politics and Prose Friday, but he won’t be focusing on high school football in West Texas. Bissinger reads from his new memoir, Father’s Day. The work covers the discoveries the author made while on a road trip across the United States with his special-needs son.(May 18-24) BernieFor a peculiar story from a small Texas town, there’s Bernie, opening tomorrow at Northwest’s E Street Cinema. Bernie is a beloved funeral director who teaches Sunday school and always lends a helping hand-even to the town’s most misanthropic widow. That is, until he murders her and creates the illusion that she’s still alive. The black comedy is based on actual events.(May 17-July 19) Bethesda brings the jamsBethesda is basking in warm sunny evenings with outdoor concerts every Thursday through late July in Veteran’s Park. The shows offer a broad selection of the region’s best, including rock, funk, reggae, and Latin sounds. Tonight, it’s the piano jazz of Charlottesville’s Adrian Duke. Music: “Hill Justice” by The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Art Beat With Sean Rameswaram, May 16

artbeat@wamu.org — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:10:13 -0400

(May 16-July 22) Includes 76 TrombonesA classic con-man thinks about going straight in The Music Man at Arena Stage through late July. Meredith Wilson’s musical finds the smooth-talking Harold Hill trying to swindle the good people of River City, Iowa out of their money. Love shows up in Act II and threatens to make an honest man out of him. (May 20) Does not include killer whaleNew York’s Harlem KW Project brings Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale to BusBoys and Poets on 5th and K in Northwest Washington this Sunday. The production features three women coming to terms with the gentrification of Harlem through a montage of poetry, theater, dance, and song.(May 16-Sept. 15) Apocalypse remains to be seenThe Mexican Cultural Institute in Northwest opens an exhibit of over 50 small-scale Mayan sculptures today. The thousand-year-old figurines discovered on the island of Jaina, off the Yucatán Peninsula, reflect the rituals, religious beliefs, and cosmology of the ancient civilization. Music: “Aao Twist Karen” by Kazi Aniruddha

Art Beat With Sean Rameswaram, May 15

artbeat@wamu.org — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:42:39 -0400

(May 17-20) Women of the BluesSome of the best voices in blues were those of women and several of them are remembered this week with Creative Cauldron’s Women of the Blues, showing at ArtSpace Falls Church. The musical features a powerhouse quartet of local female vocalists channeling a few of the form’s most soulful and sassy.

(May 15) Hunger AngelOne of the most acclaimed voices in contemporary literature speaks tonight at the Library of Congress. Nobel Laureate Herta Müller reads from and discusses her latest book, The Hunger Angel, which depicts the physical and moral absurdity of a Gulag.

(May 15-21) Verdi’s landmark librettoThe Kennedy Center presents the libretto that put Giuseppe Verdi on the map through next Monday. The Washington National Opera’s Nabucco tells of the epic struggle of one royal family at odds with their nation and each other. The powerful work traces the defeat, enslavement, and exile of the ancient Babylonian Jews.

Music: “Family” by Bill Frisell

Art Beat With Sean Rameswaram, May 14

artbeat@wamu.org — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:00:00 -0400

(May 16-27) Occasional Acts of Art

Peter Loge has been a political strategist on Capitol Hill for a couple of decades. When he's not advising members of the House and Senate, he's making assemblage art out of found objects. Loge uses photo negatives, lights, and boxes to draw attention to the randomness of our world. His latest work is showing at the Foundry Gallery in Dupont Circle through May 27.

(May 15-June 30) Polipop & Paintings

Korean-American artist Mina Cheon makes Polipop—that's political pop art. Her sizable digital paintings use strong primary colors and eye-catching images to critique the East's relationship with the West and the Asian media's coverage of political conflicts. Polipop and Paintings is showing at Baltimore's Maryland Art Place through the end of June.

(May 14-18) Transforming War and Trauma Experiences

Veterans cope with trauma from our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through art this week at a number of venues in and around Washington. Arts, Military + Healing brings visual art, performance and workshops to the Library of Congress, the National Air and Space Museum, and George Mason University among others.

Music: "Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament" by Beastie Boys

Art Beat With Sean Rameswaram, May 11

artbeat@wamu.org — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:38:19 -0400

(May 12) It ain’t easy being MomJust in time for Mother’s Day, SpeakeasyDC presents Bad Mommy Moments at the Silver Spring Cultural Arts Center Saturday night. Moms tell comical tales about all the victories, failures, surprises, and unwavering love that come with the mom-territory.(May 12-13) Living Well in Bolivia (in D.C.)Moms and dads and kids in Bolivia know how to have a good time and they’ll share some secrets this weekend at the National Museum of the American Indian. The Bolivian Living Well festival features a Baroque music concert, dance, storytelling, and all sorts of food.(May 13) Sunday in the WoodsIf you want to treat mom to some beautiful sounds, the Virginia Chamber Orchestra presents Sunday in the Woods at the Ernst Community Cultural Center in Annandale. The program features an overture and an operatic love duet by Debussy as well as a few activities for the kids.Music: “Debussy’s Clair De Lune” by The Boston Pops Orchestra

Art Beat With Sean Rameswaram, May 10

artbeat@wamu.org — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:17:04 -0400

(May 12) Asian SpringDowntown Silver Spring celebrates all things Asian this Saturday. Fiesta Asia features eight hours of dancers, martial artists, puppeteers, and musicians on Ellsworth Drive. Don’t miss the fortune cookie writing contest!(May 12-April 2013) Preeminent PerspectivesA monumental installation by one of Asia’s preeminent artists is showing at the Mall’s Sackler Gallery beginning Saturday. Ai Weiwei’s Fragments looks like a randomly assembled collection of ironwood, but upon closer inspection you’ll find a delicate structure outlining the borders of China.(May 10) A spiritual experienceAcclaimed British rockers Spiritualized play Northwest Washington’s 9:30 Club tonight. The band mixes old and new with gospel, blues, and spacey rock sounds.

Music: “Stay With Me” by Spiritualized

Art Beat With Sean Rameswaram, May 9

artbeat@wamu.org — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:00:33 -0400

(May 9-12) The talent of tomorrow, todayEvery year Washington’s Arena Stage invites middle and high schoolers to spend six months learning about theater production with some of the institution’s masters. The result of the Voices of Now program is a four-day festival of performances. Eleven youth ensembles own the stage today through Saturday. (May 9-31) Autistic alchemyFourteen-year-old Nat Jones has been painting and drawing elegant abstract works for eight years with watercolors, markers, crayons, and pastels. The talented teen’s colorful works are showing at Sub Urban Trading Co. in Kensington through the end of the month.(May 12-13) Bethesda’s bestMore than 100 contemporary artists and musicians get together for the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival this weekend. You’ll find painting, drawing, photography, furniture, jewelry and much more in Woodmont Triangle.Music: “Song for Junior” by Beastie Boys

Art Beat With Sean Rameswaram, May 8

artbeat@wamu.org — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:08:26 -0400

(May 8-Aug. 12) The Ladder of EscapeJoan Miró is one of the undisputed masters of modern art and Washingtonians get a closer look at his greatness this year with The Ladder of Escape, showing at the National Gallery of Art through mid-August. The collection of over 100 paintings, drawings, and sculptures shows the surrealist’s political side as well as his sense of Spanish identity.

(May 8-11) Short films, short shootsMaking a movie is no simple task and it’s even harder when you only have two days. All the same, The 48 Hour Film Project invites aspiring filmmakers to spend a sleepless weekend writing, shooting, editing, and scoring a short with nothing but a genre, a prop, and a line of dialogue by way of guidelines. The Washington-area submissions screen today through Friday at the AFI Silver in Silver Spring and the best of the fest screens May 24. Music: “Sabrosa” by Beastie Boys