August 2010

Closing Reception for Apollo Theater Exhibition at the Smithsonian in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 11:40 AM, Aug 30, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Dresses worn by the female group The Supremes in the beginning of their career.

THE CLOSING reception for "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment" - an exhibition focusing on the Apollo Theater in New York City and all its glorious history - was held Thursday evening, August 26, at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

THE EXHIBITION is the first to explore the rich history and cultural significance of Harlem's Apollo Theater. It features photographs and artifacts that trace the story of the theater from its origins in 1913 as a white-only burlesque hall to its starring role at the epicenter of African American entertainment.

Dress owned by Celia Cruz, "The Queen of Salsa."

AMONG THE artifacts that are on display are Ella Fitzgerald's dress when she made her Amateur Night debut at the age of 17, and a dress owned by Celia Cruz. Ms. Cruz - known as the Queen of Salsa -- was a leading symbol of African-Cuban music.

THE EXHIBITION WILL travel to Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Oct. 1 - Jan 2, 2011), and the Museum of the City of New York (Jan. 20, 2011 - May 1, 2011).

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Caribbean-Style White Party at the Phillips Collection proves to be very popular

Posted by Susanna at 2:36 PM, Aug 28, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Dean Thompson, Hudson Hollister, Jutta Tobias and Bob Beizer

SO MANY people responded to the request - "Wear your Whites!" -- when the Phillips Collection (www.phillipscollection.org) in Washington, D.C. announced its Caribbean-style White Party on Thursday evening, August 26 that it quickly sold out. It was a festive evening that offered Interactive art by Kenny George and Alberto Gaitán, as well as music - "White Out" -- by BLUEBRAIN and dancing by Glade Dance Collective. The event was part of the series Phillips After Five and was sponsored by and promoted by the Pink Line Project (www.pinklineproject.com). FoodArts provided Caribbean dishes.

Sylvana Sandoz of Glade Dance Collective and Philippa Hughes of the Pink Line Project

Martin Ditto and David Gorman

Brandy Johns, Marissa Hershon, Eleanor Sibal and Meredith Cain

Sunil Iyengar

Andrea Lopez and Amy Jones

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John Donelan shows his art at The Yellow Barn Gallery in Bethesda, Maryland

Posted by Susanna at 3:55 PM, Aug 25, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Artist John Donelan

THE YOUNG artist John Donelan - an incoming senior at Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland - has been painting and drawing for the last four years. This talented artist primarily paints from life in oils, but also works with other media including graphite and silverpoint for drawing and gouache in painting. He held his second solo exhibition, Aug. 6-8, with recent paintings at The Yellow Barn Gallery in Bethesda, Maryland.

DONELAN SAYS that in his art he "explored a range of techniques and styles each aimed to best capture my impression of the subject. I firmly believe that neither art's value nor purpose is strictly technical. Instead I believe, as the English philosopher Alfred North Whitehead once wrote, that 'art attracts us only by what it reveals of our inmost self.'"

John Donelan

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Cocktail reception with Ann Hand jewelry at Morso in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 6:17 PM, Aug 5, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Bill Farrand, Lauren Prosnik, Erin Barnes, Jessica James Golden and Stacia Martin

THE FAMOUS AND very beautiful Ann Hand jewelry was showcased at a cocktail reception at Morso restaurant in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, August 4, 2010. The Georgetowner sponsored the event that offered hors d'oeuvres and cocktail specials. Morso, which is located at 3277 M St., N.W., opened in June and features a Turkish menu, including classic dishes such as hummus, babaganoush, mousaka and more.

The Georgetowner publisher Sonya Bernhardt and Pam Burns

Carine Krawiec, Robert Dyer, Brenda Moreno and Jennie Mann

Monique Summers-Mally and Christina MacFarland

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DC's culture critics get some of their own medicine at Pink Line Project event

Posted by Susanna at 10:57 AM, Aug 4, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Philippa Hughes of the Pink Line Project, Matthew H.T.M. Stephenson of the U.S. Department of State and Annie Groer of Politics Daily

THE PINK LINE Project (www.pinklineproject.com) summoned art lovers from across the city to the Gibson Guitar Showroom across from the Verizon Center in downtown Washington Tuesday evening, Aug. 3 to critique the creations of some of the most well-known DC culture critics. People were invited to judge the creations of familiar Washington culture critics as they competed to make the best art with Legos, Playdoh, Etch a Sketch, finger painting and other fun materials from childhood.

MEDIA CRITICS who participated included Svetlana Legetic of BrightestYoungThings.com, Holly Thomas of The Washington Post, Stephanie Kaye of WAMU Radio, Danielle O'Steen of The Washington Post Express, Ben Eisler of WJLA, Annie Groer from Politics Daily, Maura Judkis of tbd.com and Peter Abrahams from DC Modern Luxury. Danielle O'Steen won the competition using playdoh!

THE EVENT was held in conjunction with the "Art Scouts" exhibit at the Arlington Arts Center (www.arlingtonartscenter.org).

Hélène Allard, volunteer with the Arlington Arts Center

Stephanie Kaye of WAMU Radio

Media critics dove into the project of making art from children's play things.

Art by Stephanie Kaye

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Show with photographer Bruce McNeil opens at Honfleur Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 12:52 PM, Aug 2, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Fine art photographer Bruce McNeil's new exhibition opened at Honfleur Gallery in Washington, D.C. on Friday evening, July 30, 2010.

"MMI WATA: Capturing the Spirit" is the title of fine art photographer Bruce McNeil's new exhibition at Honfleur Gallery in the Anacostia section of Washington, D.C. that opened on Friday evening, July 30, 2010.

IN THE exhibition," McNeil examines the Anacostia River, using Mami Wata, a mythic water spirit that originated in Africa, as inspiration. He uses portraits of women, including his own mother, to personify the spirit of the river, overlaying them with nature imagery shot on the river.

Artist BK.iamART.Adams

THIS thought-provoking exhibition stems from three profound artistic and environmental experiences that the photographer had during the summer of 2009. While attending a provocative lecture given by author John R. Wennersten titled "Anacostia: The Death & Life of an American River" at the Anacostia Community Museum, McNeil discovered that it was dubbed as America's "most polluted river" or the forgotten river. According to statistics the pollution and contamination of the river is severe.

HONFLEUR Gallery is located at 1241 Good Hope Road, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20020. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday noon - 5 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. - 5 p.m, and closed on Sundays and Mondays. For more information: www.honfleurgallery.com or contact 202-536-8994.

Frederick Douglass, editor of African Diaspora News, and his daughter, artist Melani N. Douglass

Photographer Sonnie Barrington Mason, artist Patricia Underwood, photographer Bruce McNeil and Casimir Eitner

Photographer Marlon Normon, photographer Bruce McNeil, Misty Brown of Washington Informer, and "Cowboy Fred," radio host at WPFW-FM.

Misty Brown of The Washington Informer, photographer Bruce McNeil and artist Patricia Underwood

BK.iamART.Adams

Photography by Bruce McNeil

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