EVENT CATEGORIES

ART

Aug. 1 to Sept. 2
A Small Hope
Lukman Ahmad, a self-taught Kurdish artist from Syria, expresses his personal connection to the Kurdish land and its people — a history layered with tragedy, perseverance and aspirations — in works that are steeped in vivid colors and moving shapes.
The Foundry Gallery

Aug. 1 to Sept. 28
Outward Reach
This exhibit celebrates Jamaica’s golden jubilee anniversary of independence with photography, new media and video by seven Jamaican artists living and working in the United States — a convergence of topical creativity and expression across national boundaries that fosters the OAS values of hemispheric cultural exchange, freedom of expression, and innovation.
OAS Art Museum of the Americas

Aug. 4 to Feb. 3
Citizens of the Republic: Portraits from the Dutch Golden Age
Stalwart Dutch citizens, distinguished for their contributions to the arts and the state, are sensitively rendered in a selection of 17th- and 18th-century engravings.
National Gallery of Art

Aug. 11 to Nov. 12
Nomads and Networks: The Ancient Art and Culture of Kazakhstan
Recently conducted scientific excavations provide a fascinating look into the nomadic culture of the ancient peoples of Kazakhstan, with more than 150 spectacular finds from this vast Central Asian nation challenging traditional views of the nomadic societies that thrived thousands of years ago.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Through Aug. 12
Joan Miró: The Ladder of Escape
Through some 120 paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints from a career spanning almost a century, the exhibition reveals a politically engaged side to Joan Miró’s work, including his passionate response to one of the most turbulent periods in European history as well as his sense of Spanish — specifically Catalonian — identity.
National Gallery of Art

Through Aug. 26
Tati Valle-Riestra: Bodies of Ink
A selection of 31 ink-wash figure drawings by Tati Valle-Riestra’s in her first solo show in the United States render the human body in various poses, an achingly familiar topic to the Peruvian artist who is also a lifelong dancer.
Artspace 109
Alexandria, Va.

Through Aug. 31
Daniel Libeskind: Architecture for the Angel of History
Photographs depict the striking work of Daniel Libeskind, who designed several museums of national significance as well as living expressions of memory, including the Jewish Museum in Berlin and the Military History Museum in Dresden.
Goethe-Institut

Through Sept. 9
Antony Gormley: Drawing Space
The Phillips presents the first major U.S. exhibition of works on paper by British artist Antony Gormley, internationally acclaimed for his sculptures, installations and public projects that investigate the human body’s relationship to space.
The Phillips Collection

Through Sept. 9
Jasper Johns: Variations on a Theme
One of the most celebrated artists of the modern era, Jasper Johns revolutionized the field of printmaking. This exhibition features some 90 iconic examples of targets, flags, numbers and other subjects the artist explored from 1960 to today and celebrates his visionary response to lithography, intaglio, silkscreen and lead relief sculpture.
The Phillips Collection

Through Sept. 14
Shifting Geometries
Ten contemporary artists from Australia offer their takes on the diverse traditions of abstraction.
Embassy of Australia

Through Sept. 14
United Colors of HIV
In conjunction with the XIX International AIDS Conference, Fabián H. Ríos Rubino (a.k.a. Blitiri) of Argentina uses art to ask what does living with HIV mean today after more than 25 years of its first fatal victims, focusing on the iconic 1991 photo of AIDS activist David Kirby taken by Therese Frare at the hospital, with his father, sister and niece at his bedside.
Embassy of Argentina

Through Sept. 15
Hina/Jaina: On the Threshold of the Mayan Underworld (600-900 AD)
More than 50 “Jaina style” figurines discovered on the man-made island of Jaina off the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula — an extremely important Mayan ritual and religious site in the classic period — depict various aspects of Mayan cosmology, religious beliefs and society, providing fascinating insight into one of Mexico’s most intriguing ancient civilizations.
Mexican Cultural Institute

Through Sept. 16
Worlds Within Worlds: Imperial Paintings from India and Iran
India’s Mughal emperors, who reigned over a vast empire that extended from Kabul over most of the South Asian subcontinent between the 16th and the 19th centuries, were passionate about lavish manuscripts and paintings. The exhibit brings together 60 of the finest folios and paintings from the Freer|Sackler collection, one of the world’s most important repositories of Mughal and Persian painting.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Through Sept. 23
Constellations: Constructivism, Internationalism and the Inter-American Avant-Garde
Drawn from the permanent collection and rich archival holdings of the Art Museum of the Americas, “Constellations” surveys the dynamic, inter-American history of geometric abstraction across the 20th century — a tribute to the curatorial vision of José Gómez Sicre, the founder and first director of the AMA.
Art Museum of the Americas

Through Sept. 23
Richard Diebenkorn: The Ocean Park Series
A pivotal figure in the history of modern painting, Richard Diebenkorn (1922–93) was an innovator whose work inspired legions of artists and greatly advanced the lexicon of abstraction.
Corcoran Gallery of Art

Through Sept. 26
To Know Wisdom and Instruction: The Armenian Literary Tradition at the Library of Congress
The era of Armenian printing began in 1512, when Hakob Meghapart (Jacob the Sinner) opened an Armenian press in Venice. To mark the quincentenary of that event and UNESCO’s designation of the Armenian capital of Yerevan as its Book Capital of the World 2012, the Library of Congress highlights the Armenian literary tradition from the era of manuscripts to contemporary publishing.
Library of Congress
Thomas Jefferson Building

Through Sept. 28
Ocean Fishes and Taxonomy
Working in the tradition of naturalists such as John James Audubon and Louis Agassiz Fuertes, James Prosek reminds us of the role visual representation plays in shaping our perceptions of the natural world with paintings, sculptures and taxidermy specimens exploring the nature of two-dimensional representation and the limitations of classification systems.
The National Academy of Sciences

Through Sept. 28
Painted_Interventions
The third in a series of exhibitions of Austrian contemporary art, which takes place in cooperation with “bäckerstrasse 4 – plattform für junge kunst,” features works by Austrians Elisabeth Wedenig, Matthias Lautner and Markus Hofer, as well as an artist from D.C., who reflect on the importance of the pluralistic world of the media.
Embassy of Austria

Through Sept. 30
Open City: London 1500-1700
Over the course of two centuries, London changed from the capital of England, secure within its medieval walls, to a metropolitan seat of empire. “Open City” explores activities and pressures that altered Londoners’ sense of community, focusing especially on three types of institutions: church, theater and market.
Folger Shakespeare Library

Through Oct. 8
George Bellows
This comprehensive exhibition, the first in more than three decades, looks back at the career of George Bellows, arguably the most important figure in the generation of artists who negotiated the transition from the Victorian to the modern era in American culture.
National Gallery of Art

Through Oct. 14
Elegance and Refinement: The Still-Life Paintings of Willem van Aeist
Few artists were more skilled than Dutch still-life artist Willem van Aelst (1627–83) at depicting luscious fruits, luxurious fabrics, and spoils of the hunt — 28 examples of which are featured in this first exhibit devoted solely to the artist.
National Gallery of Art

Through Oct. 14
The Deep Element: Photography at the Beach
This exhibition brings together photographs of the beach from the late 19th century through the present day, revealing the many ways that artists have explored and been inspired by this rich subject.
Corcoran Gallery of Art

Through Oct. 28
Charlotte Dumas: Anima
Dutch-born artist Charlotte Dumas travels the world making evocative portraits of animals, characterized by their utility, social function or by the way they relate to people. “Anima,” her first one-person museum exhibition in the U.S., centers on the majestic burial horses of Arlington National Cemetery that carry soldiers to their final resting place in traditional military funerals.
Corcoran Gallery of Art

Through Oct. 31
The Big Picture: A Photography Exhibition in Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the IDB Cultural Center
Comprising 44 striking images from the Inter-American Development Bank’s permanent collection, as well as pieces previously shown at other art events held by the D.C.-based international finance institution, “The Big Picture” highlights the cultural wealth and diversity of the Latin America and the Caribbean, as seen through the lens of 22 leading contemporary photographers from 13 countries.
Dulles International Airport Gateway Gallery

Through Dec. 9
African Cosmos: Stellar Arts
In the first major exhibition to explore the historical legacy of African cultural astronomy and its intersection with traditional and contemporary African arts, some 100 objects consider how the sun, moon and stars and celestial phenomena such as lightning and rainbows serve as sources of inspiration in the creation of African art from ancient times to the present.
National Museum of African Art

Through Dec. 30
Growing up AFRO: Snapshots of Black Childhood from the Afro-American Newspapers
In honor of the 120th anniversary of the Afro-American Newspapers, this pictorial exhibition features 120 images from the AFRO’s archive collections that demonstrate the vital role young people played in African American history.
Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, Md.

Through Dec. 30
Prêt-à-Papier: The Exquisite Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave
A selection of iconic costumes and haute couture dresses — reflecting the rich history of fashion in European paintings and designs of the grand couturiers — are reinterpreted in trompe l’oeil paper masterpieces by Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave.
Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens

Through Jan. 6
Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep
In the Spirit of the East Asian calendar’s Year of the Dragon, this exhibition highlights objects drawn from cultures as diverse as the ancient Mediterranean world, imperial China and contemporary South America, portraying dragons as everything from fire-breathing beasts to beneficent water gods.
The Textile Museum

Through Jan. 13
Dark Matters
“Dark Matters” brings together works from the Hirshhorn’s collection that draw upon the associations and implications of darkness and its notions of mortality, silence, solitude and loss.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Through Feb. 24
Lalla Essaydi: Revisions
Lalla Essaydi, a Moroccan-born, New York-based artist, pushes the boundaries of Arab, Muslim and African perceptions of women’s identities with her art, which includes themes of feminism, gender, identity and the private inner lives of women while drawing on Arabic calligraphy for its decorative and communicative potential.
National Museum of African Art

CAMP

Aug. 6 to 10
Hallyu Camp 2012
The Korean Cultural Center presents a five-day immersion experience for fans of Korean pop culture, offered through the embassy’s King Sejong Institute Washington D.C. Korean pop culture, including K-pop music, dramas and movies, has become a global phenomenon in recent years, growing a passionate fan community that spans cultures and languages worldwide. Students will experience this trend through a variety of interactive workshops, lessons, discussions and creative projects related to Korean traditional and pop culture. The fee is $230. For information, visit www.dynamic-korea.com or www.tinyurl.com/HallyuCamp.
Korean Cultural Center

DANCE

Thu., Aug. 2, 11 a.m.
Step Afrika!
The dazzling D.C.-based company Step Afrika! is a global ambassador for “stepping,” the uniquely American genre that is descended from African song and dance rituals. Tickets are $15.
George Mason University
Hylton Performing Arts Center

DISCUSSIONS

Wed., Aug. 8, 7 p.m.
Julia Child’s Bon Appetit for Life
What more is there to say about Julia Child, who changed America’s attitude toward food? Quite a lot, actually. Biographer Bob Sptiz portrays her life as an adventure story: work for the OSS, spying in Ceylon with husband Paul Child, attending the Cordon Bleu in Paris, where the idea of adapting French cuisine for mainstream America began to stir, and a long career on public television. Tickets are $25. For information, call (202) 633-3030 or visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Thu., Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m.
Monkey Around at the Sackler Gallery
Sip the evening’s specialty cocktail, enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, and have more fun than a barrel of very artistic monkeys during this Asian-inspired Mingle in the usually serene spaces of the Sackler Gallery. Tickets are $35. For information, call (202) 633-3030 or visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Sun., Aug. 26, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814 
All-Day Tour
In the summer of 1814, British troops made a 50-mile march to capture the American capital, routing pitiful citizen militiamen, while President James Madison rode out of town. Historian Anthony S. Pitch leads a full-day exploration of sites associated with this monumental event. Tickets are $171. For information, call (202) 633-3030 or visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.
Departs from Holiday Inn Capitol, SW

THEATER

Aug. 1 to 26
Little Shop of Horrors. Little Shop of Horrors
In this musical romp, a hapless florist shop worker raises a mysterious plant that brings the florist attention from everyone, including his crush, but eventually he gives in to the plant’s appetite for human flesh and blood. Tickets start at $26.
Olney Theatre Center

Sat., Aug. 4, 12 to 10 p.m.
Signature Theatre Open House
Virginia’s Signature Theatre opens its doors for its annual open house, with free live performances on five stages as well as demonstrations, kids’ activities, master classes, a dance-n-karaoke party, Signature Idol Competition and a “Concert on the Plaza” grand finale.
Signature Theatre

Through Aug. 5
The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs
By examining the human price we pay for our high-tech toys, Mike Daisey influenced drastic change in the corporate practices of Apple and its supplier in China. But he came under fire for fabricating parts of the story. So Woolly is restaging an all-new version of Daisey’s play that addresses the controversy head on, using the struggle over fact and fiction to tell an even better story that pierces the heart of our human relationship with our labor. Tickets start at $40.
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Through Aug. 5
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
This rowdy and irreverent musical imagines President Andrew “Old Hickory” Jackson as a rock star, following young Jackson from his boyhood home to the spotlight of the White House and beyond. Tickets are $38 to $43.
The Studio Theatre

Thu., Aug. 16, 8 p.m.
Moizi & Schwab Rock the US Tour
Peter Moizi and Christian Schwab, two popular Austrian comedians known as the Comedy Hirten (Comedy Shepherds), present a cabaret/comedy program in English about major events that made it into Austria’s and the international media. Tickets are $30; for information, call Karl Hofer at (914) 934-0111.
Embassy of Austria

Through Aug. 19
Mein Kampf
SCENA Theatre in-your-face dark comedy by George Tabori about down-and-out painter Adolf Hitler and his relationship with two Jews, Herzl and Lobkowitz, in a Viennese flophouse circa 1900s. Tickets are $25 to $35.
H Street Playhouse

Aug. 23 to Sept. 5
All’s Well That Ends Well
The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s annual “Free For All” returns with the Bard’s story of adventure and romance, set in World War I, as Helena, the daughter of a physician, pursues the non-committal Count Bertram, who in turn tries to escape her advances through harsh words and disdainful actions.
Sidney Harman Hall