As the season for high-end Inauguration balls arrives, the District’s art scene reminds us of both its contribution to the presidential race and the harsh economic reality that leaves most of us living at starving artist-status until further notice. But Obama is all about hope and change, and that translates to salvaging the big weekend ahead without dishing out your pretty pennies. Whether your Inauguration Day plans entail running alongside the motorcade or packing into a bar elbow-to-elbow with a flock of out-of-towners looking for a good time, at least the next few days hold some promising art events at which to get your culture on at a student-friendly cost.
The District’s major cultural institutions may be charging an arm and a leg to pop a cork with them, but D.C.’s local galleries are embracing the grassroots movements that contributed to Obama’s victory with some budget events. Not typically the hotbed of the D.C. gallery scene, this year the Georgetown neighborhood is stepping up to host one of the season’s most publicized political art events. That ever-ambiguous space at 3333 M Street is exhibiting “Manifest Hope: DC”, the results of a juried art competition. The contest summoned visual artists to submit work in the categories of Health Care Reform, Workers’ Rights, and the Green Economy. The artwork thus far looks promising, and judges included Spike Lee, Hirshhorn Museum curator Anne Ellegood, and the artist behind the iconic Obama HOPE poster, Shepard Fairey. The exhibit will be open January 17-19, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
If you’re looking to get your groove on with the arts community, hop across the street to the Peace Mural exhibition. Nearly 2,000 paintings about peace and war by Vietnamese artist Huong are on display, and for a $15 donation you can support her art foundation, snack on some grub, and drink some drinks and participate in DANCE OBAMA! A DJ, African drummers, and professional dance therapists will guide a community “Movement Choir,” a participatory dance form that will be repeated in cities across the country during Inauguration week. The event will take place on January 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. at 3336 M Street.
For the more adventurous and alternative, the Chocolate City Cultural Alliance is hosting a “soulcialist” “not-so-ball” Inauguration event featuring live music by local DJs and performers and an art installation by Nigerian artist and D.C. resident Aniekan Udofia. Udofia’s illustrative mixed media paintings include portraits of hip hop artists and political figures, like a gangsta-fied George W. Bush bearing his chest with a tattoo that says “Got oil?”, so chances are his installation will be a crowd-pleaser for the evening. Presale tickets to the event are $25 and include a drink and light breakfast (I’m guessing since the party lasts until 5 am). CCCA’s event begins at 10pm on Friday, January 16 at 903 U Street.
Draw the short straw and send a message to Madeline at mar73@georgetown.edu.
There’s a profile of Aniekan Udofia posted at http://wp.me/pC3Xj-1U