I don't know what it is about DC and film festivals, but every time you turn around there is one going on; there was the granola crunchy, Takoma Park Film Festival, there is a Green Film Festival and AFI's Film festival which starts on June 19th and runs through June 23rd. Honestly, most of the movies at AFI's festival look like those experimental/indie movies you go see just so you can seem artsy, but there are some that may actually be entertaining, like the documentary about Hunter S. Thompson entitled Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. This film highlights Hunter S's journalistic career, his novels and even his tragic suicide that Bush indirectly may have caused. But then again, who hasn't been feeling morbid since that prick got put in office.
I digress.
But yeah, Gonza looks like a good one considering Hunter S. is brilliant writer. Another movie that seems tolerable is Bi The Way a documentary on bisexuals and the "whatever" generation. While Bi The Way won't be half as educational as Gonzo it will be packed with sex and in depth conversations with bisexuals...good times!

Showings will be held at AFI Silver Theater,mm Discovery Channels HD Theater and The Round House Theater, all of which are in downtown Silver Spring.

For more info and ticket prices visit: www.silverdocs.com

Good reason to drive to Bmore...

We Don’t Sleep Well, works by Mary Spring. The exhibition will also feature the art of four new Art Whino artists. The opening reception is May 30th, from 6pm – Midnight.

Eighteen Street Lounge DJ Tom B will be on the turntables.

The exhibition will run through June 15th.



Gallery Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm
Sunday and Monday: Noon – 6 pm

Gallery Phone: 301.567.821

For more info visit: www.artwhino.com

Just Bcus

Just Bcus is having another one of its parties at Bohemian Caverns on Sunday May 25th from 9pm-3am.
Some of the hottest Dj's in the land (DJ Underdog, 2 Tone Jones, etc.) will be spinning, progressive hip hop, ol' school, electronica and all other positives sounds.
If you've never been to a Just Bcus party, then you have to go. No pretension, just good music, good people, and good drinks!
Oh yeah, and don't forget to bring all those clothes you can't fit into anymore, so you can get reduced admission!



SUNDAY MAY 25 ... 9-3 am
@ Bohemian Caverns
2001 11th street [ 11th & U NW]

$10 w/o clothing donation
$ 7 w/ clothing donation

Cool New Art Space!

While you are strolling down U Street check out DEKKA . It's a showroom/mini boutique that features fashion, art and music from local designers. I visited them last weekend and it's the first space of it's kind in this area, they even have cosmetics by local designers!

Check them out here

Tha Sickness Part 2

Aniekan Udofia is one of the most controversial artist in the area. He is best known for his hip hop portraiture, pictures of musical greats such as Fela Kuti and J Dilla, but his more political paintings are shocking and will make you question everything about the way we live.
His second opening perfectly titled "Tha Sickness", will be be showing at Bossa Lounge; May 1st from 8pm 1pm. This show is not for the weak of heart.

Bossa Lounge: 2463 18th st. NW Washington DC

XINDC

X has got to be one of the most creative event ideas I have heard about thus far. The concept behind X is to create a living, breathing, multi-media exhibit to inspire artist and change the way the masses think. The creators utilize everything from film, music, fashion and even performance art; there will be a "tribal fusion belly dancer" at this months event. Trust me, you don't want to miss this!

For more information check out: XinDC

The End of Nature

As if you weren't scared enough about global warning, the Warehouse Theater is hosting a group exhibition with artist taking a look at what Earth will be like after natue has been totally destroyed. Artist that will be displayed include; Matt Hollis and Deirdre Joy.

The opening reception is on Friday, April 11, 2008 6-9pm
For more info visit Warehouse Theater

Cool event...

For more info. visit Art Whino

Hirshhorn After Hours!

DJ Solomon Sanchez will be spinning and Luke Fischbeck and Sarah Rara perform as Lucky Dragons. Using homemade hardware and software, audience members join together to build a network of signals connected by skin to skin contact "Sound, video, dance and interactive technology merge into a mysterious and unpredictable “happening,” in which each individual’s slightest touch registers a shift in the sound and image created."
And Hooliganship will be performing!

Hirshhorn After Hours is held in the museum's court yard. All the galleries of the Hirshhorn will be open, and yes, there will be booze there.

Date: April 4, 2008, 8pm-midnight
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
For more info.: Hirshhorn After Hours

Jati Lindsay

Jati Lindsay's work is all over the place. Open the City Paper, The Washington Post, The Source and even Essence and you are bound to see of some his photos. His work has been featured in local and international galleries including the Philadelphia African American Museum. His ongoing documentation U Street has brought attention to an area that has gone through more rapid changes than perhaps any other area in Washington DC. His black and white images evoke nostalgia of the days when U Street was a home of jazz greats and urban hangouts, not over priced boutiques and cookie cutter lounges.

Long before photographers such as David Scheinbaum even discovered hip hop/urban culture, Jati Lindsay was shooting hip hop artist in concert and for album covers. Some albums he shot covers for include; Big Brother, Platinum Pied Pipers and The Foreign Exchange. Jati is often seen around town with his camera shooting events, local artist and landscapes.

Once you get a chance check out his website: Jati Lindsay

Inside Outside All Night Art Party!

The Heineman Myers Gallery will be hosting a 24 hour art party from 10pm February 23^rd till 10am February 24th. There will be free personalized drinks, aura readings, and even omelets in the morning! All the current exhibits will be on view and Tim Conlon, the graff writer who did one of the pieces for the hip hop exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery, will be doing a live graffiti installation in the court yard.

Sound too good to be true, well the catch is you have to RSVP at info@heinemanmyers.com

Go see...

Recognize: Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture
This exhibit runs through March 2, 2008 at The National Portrait Gallery.

Trip on Memory Lane: The Solo Show of Joka

Joka's surreal paintings are erie in there detachment from reality. Paintings of babies with watches for faces and naked women fanning themselves with raw meat make for a somewhat screwed view of humanity. I know this sounds like something from the most recent horror movie and believe me some of his paintings are just that demented. But, there is something in his work that draws you in, something very familiar about it. Perhaps it's the fact that death, meat and sex all play a huge part in his work just as they do in American pop culture.
I love his work. But then again, I am a sucka for art that causes a physical reaction in me, even if that reaction is fear and nausea.

The opening for Trip on Memory Lane will be at the Art Whino Gallery on February 22, 2008 from 6-12pm the exhibit runs through March 15, 2008. Music will be provided by HoneyLab's DJ Eddie Twain.

For more information on Joka visit him here

Carlos Luna: El Gran Mambo

Carlos Luna is a Cuban born painter and story teller. He often uses deep jewel tones and organic shapes in his paintings, to quote Jesus Rosado, "Luna's work is the polished convergence he achieves between aesthetic erudition -implicit in his visual expression- and the appearance of a spontaneity born either from the naive in popular culture, or from the intuition of a talented amateur. "

Carlos Luna's latest exhibit is showing at The Katzen Art Center. The exhibit runs through March 17, 2008

The Painted Lady Project

Close your eyes and imagine being surrounded by beautiful fairy princesses, adorned in glitter and various colors of body paint, sound surreal?

Well, The Painted Lady Project is brining fantasy to reality while making you question politics, sexuality and maybe even your own morals.

The Painted Lady Project is a group of women that dress up, rock body pain, and perform at various venues and private parties. The live sculptures that they become send messages of power and resistance to their audiences and the community. The Painted Lady Project was started in 2005 by two women, one a performance artist (Ayo Ngozi), and the other a holistic healer (Tazima Davis).

This art movement is so powerful for many reasons, but the main one being that for many years and still today women (especially brown women) are often over looked and objectified. The Painted Ladies take control of their bodies through performance art and change the way the audience sees themselves and the world around them.

I was fortunate enough to see them perform in an opera at the Fringe Festival and trust me, they are amazingly beautiful.

For more information please visit their Myspace page here

Or

To book them for your next event email them here: paintedladyperformanceproject@gmail.com

What it's all about

Washington DC is a political hot bed of politicians, congressmen, and senators. In spite of all that, there are tons of cultural and creative out post here. Washington DC is about as multi-cultural as one city can be, but within the DC art scene that always isn’t the case. There are tons of artist that don’t get enough shine, due to racial, cultural, and linguistic barriers.

I plan to show you, dear reader, all those avant grade, amazing artist you have been overlooking, and believe me there a lot of them. I’ll also tell you about events, openings, and other things to keep you in the know.

Consider this blog to be like that “up and coming” neighborhood in DC, a place not yet sprinkled with Starbucks and Gap subsidiaries, a place where true urban culture is still appreciated.

Parallel Visions is where you will be able to read about people and places that aren’t on everyone’s radar, yet.

As I am sure you’ve guessed, I am only one person so if you hear of an event or an artist that you think I should write about, please shoot me an email: Candace@urbancodemag.com