Home The Washington Diplomat January 2014 Events – January 2014

Events – January 2014

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EVENT CATEGORIES

Art

Dance

Discussions

Music

Theater


ART

Through Jan. 5
Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris
The first retrospective exhibition in the United States, and the only scholarly catalogue on the renowned 19th-century French photographer Charles Marville (1813-79), presents recent groundbreaking discoveries informing his art and biography, including the versatility of his photographic talents and his true identity, background and family life.
National Gallery of Art

Through Jan. 5
A Democracy of Images: Photographs from the Smithsonian American Art Museum
More than 100 photographs selected from the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s permanent collection celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the museum’s photography collection, examine photography’s evolution in the United States from a documentary medium to a full-fledged artistic genre, and showcase the numerous ways in which it has captured the American experience.
American Art Museum

Through Jan. 5
Earth Matters: Land as Material and Metaphor in the Arts of Africa
Some 100 exceptional works of art from the late 18th to 21st centuries come together for the first major exhibition and scholarly endeavor to comprehensively examine the rich relationship between African artists and the land upon which they live, work and frame their days.
National Museum of African Art

Through Jan. 5
Northern Mannerist Prints from the Kainen Collection
Some 50 works embody the sophisticated imagery, extraordinary stylization and virtuoso technique of the printmaking industry that flourished in the northern Netherlands and at the imperial court of Prague in the late 16th century.
National Gallery of Art

Through Jan. 5
Wanderer: Travel Prints by Ellen Day Hale
A selection of prints, drawings and original printing plates demonstrates Ellen Day Hale ‘s passion for travel and her mastery of printmaking.
National Museum of Women in the Arts

Through Jan. 5
Yes, No, Maybe: Artists Working at Crown Point Press
Featuring 125 working proofs and edition prints produced between 1972 and 2010 at Crown Point Press in San Francisco, one of the most influential printmaking studios of the last half century, “Yes, No, Maybe” goes beyond celebrating the flash of inspiration to examine the artistic process as a sequence of decisions.
National Gallery of Art

Through Jan. 12
Living Artfully: At Home with Marjorie Merriweather Post
From the glamour of Palm Beach, to the rustic whimsy of the Adirondacks, to the distinguished social scene of Washington, D.C., heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post brought to her multiple residences a flawless style of living and entertaining that was made possible only through the gracious management of loyal staff.
Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens

Through Jan. 12
Pakistani Voices: A Conversation with The Migration Series
In April 2013, the Phillips partnered with the State Department to conduct a series of workshops in Pakistan focusing on art and social change. This exhibition features 29 works by emerging Pakistani artists and 20 works by students and orphans who worked together to create visual narratives about identity, personal struggle and Pakistani history.
The Phillips Collection

Through Jan. 17
Bojagi & Beyond
Showcasing the artistry and originality of the traditional quilted Korean wrapping cloth known as bojagi, this exhibition features seven Korean and American artists who highlight traditional textile techniques along with the modern reinterpretations of this centuries-old family practice.
Korean Cultural Center at the Embassy of South Korea

Jan. 17 to April 13
Judy Chicago: Circa ’75
The iconic body of work from the 1970s by Judy Chicago demonstrates the prominent feminist artist’s firm belief in the power of art to redress gender inequalities.
National Museum of Women in the Arts

Through Jan. 24
GOLS for Development
This digital and photographic exhibit narrates the impact of sport as a vehicle for social transparency, taking as an example the life of Pelé, the king of soccer, in parallel with several sports development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center

Through Jan. 25
Explorations
“Explorations” presents the winners of the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, a nationwide art competition that aims to discover the next big names in urban photography, painting and multi-media arts, and to celebrate today’s diverse up-and-coming artists on a national stage.
International Visions Gallery

Through Jan. 25
A Night at the Opera
The grandeur of opera — its unforgettable music, stellar performers, and lavish scenery and costumes — has transfixed audiences for more than 400 years. This 50-item display will feature manuscripts, printed scores, librettos, photographs, correspondence and set designs dating from the late 18th century through the beginning of the 20th century.
Library of Congress James Madison Building

Through Jan. 26
Van Gogh Repetitions
In the first Vincent van Gogh (1853-90) exhibition in D.C. in 15 years, the Phillips Collection takes a fresh look at the van Gogh’s artistic process, venturing beneath the surface of some of his best-known paintings to examine how and why he repeated certain compositions during his 10-year career.
The Phillips Collection

Through Jan. 26
Yoga: The Art of Transformation
Through masterpieces of Indian sculpture and painting, “Yoga” — the first exhibit to present this leitmotif of Indian visual culture — explores yoga’s goals; its Hindu as well as Buddhist, Jain and Sufi manifestations; its means of transforming body and consciousness; and its profound philosophical foundations.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Jan. 28 to June 15
Shakespeare’s the Thing
Marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, this exhibition presents a miscellany of treasures in the Folger collection from Shakespeare’s 1623 First Folio to modern fine art prints, revealing the Bard’s influence on performance, adaptation, scholarship, printing, fine art and even in mild obsession.
Folger Shakespeare Library

Through Jan. 31
Icons of the Desert
This exhibition of early indigenous Australian paintings from Papunya, from the private collection of John and Barbara Wilkerson, took more than 10 years of development in close consultation with the aboriginal community and descendants of the artists.
Embassy of Australia Art Gallery

Through Jan. 31
Linger On! (Verweile doch)
Capturing fleeting moments in time, these diverse works by six artists present extraordinary encounters with contemporary art, ranging from documentary photography that enhances reality via the deft use of framing and lighting to precisely staged productions.
Goethe-Institut

Through Jan. 31
Portraits of Power: Works by Alejandro Almaraz of Argentina
Since 2006, the Organization of American States’s Art Museum of the Americas has aimed to promote OAS values of social progress and cultural exchange through the visual arts. Continuing along this path, Alejandro Almaraz’s examinations of popular authority figures encourage conversation on vital OAS interests such as democracy and good governance.
Art Museum of the Americas

Through Feb. 9
Lines, Marks, and Drawings: Through the Lens of Roger Ballen
This exhibit considers the 40-year-plus career of Roger Ballen, one of the more recognized photographic artists working today, through a new approach: an examination of line and drawing in his photographs.
National Museum of African Art

Through Feb. 14
Illuminating Opportunity: A Photography Exhibit for Social Good
This photography exhibit by Trees, Water and People explores the organization’s solar energy program in Honduras through the eyes of photographer Darren Mahuron. Viewings are by appointment only; for information, call (202) 370-4618 or (202) 370-0151.
Organization of American States

Through March 2
Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections
In the first exhibition devoted to Byzantine art at the National Gallery, some 170 rare and important works, drawn exclusively from Greek collections, offer a fascinating glimpse of the soul and splendor of the mysterious Byzantine Empire.
National Gallery of Art

Through March 2
Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art
Nearly 100 works in all media by 72 leading modern and contemporary artists present the rich and varied contributions of Latino artists in the United States since the mid-20th century, when the concept of a collective Latino identity began to emerge.
Smithsonian American Art Museum

Through March 9
Alex Prager: Face in the Crowd
Los Angeles artist Alex Prager’s first solo museum exhibition in the United States debuts her latest series — elaborately staged crowd scenes, both poignant and revelatory — alongside earlier photographs and video works.
Corcoran Gallery of Art

Through March 15
Man at the Crossroads: Diego Rivera’s Mural at Rockefeller Center
This exposition centers around the mural that Mexican artist Diego Rivera painted in New York City, reconstructing its history with unedited material, including reproduced letters, telegrams, contracts, sketches, and documents, following Rivera’s commission, subsequent tension and conflict, and finally, the mural’s destruction.
Mexican Cultural Institute

Through March 16
The Dying Gaul: An Ancient Roman Masterpiece from the Capitoline Museum, Rome
Created in the first or second century AD, the “Dying Gaul” is one of the most renowned works from antiquity. This exhibition marks the first time it has left Italy since 1797, when Napoleonic forces took the sculpture to Paris, where it was displayed at the Louvre until its return to Rome in 1816.
National Gallery of Art

Through April 27
Work by Hand: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts
Over time, quilts have been revered as nostalgic emblems of the past, dismissed as women’s work, and hailed as examples of American ingenuity. This exhibition breaks new ground by examining quilts through the lens of contemporary feminist theory.
National Museum of Women in the Arts

Through May 4
In Focus: Ara Güler’s Anatolia
Ara Güler, the “Eye of Istanbul,” is famous for his iconic snapshots of the city in the 1950s and ’60s, but with an archive of more than 800,000 photographs, Güler’s body of work contains far more than these emblematic images — as seen in this exhibition of never-before-shown works by the legendary photographer.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Through May 26
Damage Control: Art and Destruction Since 1950
The first in-depth exploration of the theme of destruction in international contemporary visual culture, this groundbreaking exhibition includes works by a diverse range of international artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, film, installation and performance.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Through June 8, 2014
Perspectives: Rina Banerjee
Born in India and based in New York City, artist Rina Banerjee draws on her background as a scientist and her experience as an immigrant in her richly textured works that complicate the role of objects as representations of cultures and invite viewers to share her fascination in materials.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Through July 13
Dancing the Dream
From the late 19th century to today, dance has captured this nation’s culture in motion, as seen in photos that showcase generations of performers, choreographers and impresarios.
National Portrait Gallery

Through Aug. 24
Africa ReViewed: The Photographic Legacy of Eliot Elisofon
“Africa ReViewed” showcases the African photography of celebrated Life magazine photographer Eliot Elisofon and explores the intricate relationships between his photographic archives and art collection at the National Museum of African Art. Elisofon’s images had a huge impact in framing America’s perceptions of Africa and its diverse cultures during the 20th century.
National Museum of African Art

DANCE

Jan. 21 to 26
Shen Yun 2014: Reviving 5,000 Years of Civilization
Shen Yun Performing Arts, a classical Chinese dance and music company, returns with a lavishly colorful and exhilarating show that includes legends, characters and tales from both the ancient and modern world, presented by the Falun Dafa Association of Washington, D.C. Tickets are $50 to $250.
Kennedy Center Opera House

Jan. 24 to 26
GOLD
Canada’s Cas Public dance ensemble uses everyday sounds and objects in to explore the joy, humor and mischief of childhood — all performed to Canadian pianist Glenn Gould’s famous recording of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Goldberg Variations.” Tickets are $20.
Kennedy Center Family Theater

Jan. 28 to Feb. 2
Mariinsky Ballet: Swan Lake
St. Petersburg’s historic Mariinsky Ballet — one of the most influential classical companies for more than two and a half centuries —returns with Konstantin Sergeyev’s bewitching 1950 production of “Swan Lake,” based on Petipa and Ivanov’s immortal 1895 masterpiece and danced to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score. Tickets are $29 to $150.
Kennedy Center Opera House

DISCUSSIONS

Sat., Jan. 18, 2 p.m.
Scotch Whisky Master Class with Dougie Wylie
Take a memorable journey down the historical Scotch whisky trail with Dougie Wylie, the “Scotch Whisky Man,” sampling Scotch whisky from the Lowlands to the Highlands and from the islands to the small distilleries on the mainland. Tickets are $45.
George Mason University Hylton Performing Arts Center

MUSIC

Thu., Jan. 2, 8 p.m.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Viennese Favorites
The magic of New Year’s in Vienna comes alive as Andrew Grams conducts enchanting miniatures of Mozart, the effervescent favorites of Johann Strauss Jr. and more. Please call for ticket information.
Music Center at Strathmore

Sat., Jan. 4, 8 p.m.,
Sun., Jan. 5, 3 p.m.
National Philharmonic: Sounds of Central Europe
The “Serenade for Strings” by Dvorák is laden with hauntingly beautiful melodies suffused with the spirit of Czech folk music; performed by Nurit Bar-Josef, concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra, Mozart’s “Violin Concerto No. 5,” often referred to by the nickname Turkish, is full of energetic and lively melodies; and “Symphony No. 29,” one of Mozart’s early symphonies, is a personal work that combines intimate chamber music style with a fiery manner. Tickets start at $28.
Music Center at Strathmore

Fri., Jan. 10, 8 p.m.,
Sat., Jan. 11, 8 p.m.
Folger Consort: Brave New World – Music of the Tempest
The Folger Consort hosts a program exploring and celebrating the musical interpretations of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” including Matthew Locke’s 1674 incidental music for orchestra and voices. Tickets are $30 to $50.
Washington National Cathedral

Sun., Jan. 12, 4 p.m.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Known as Britain’s national orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra founded in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham, who envisioned an elite ensemble of the country’s finest musicians. For this concert, guest conductor and violin virtuoso Pinchas Zukerman leads the orchestra to perform Bach’s “Violin Concerto in A minor” and Schoenberg’s romantic masterpiece, “Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night).” Tickets are $37.50 to $75.
George Mason University Center for the Arts

Fri., Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.,
Sun., Jan. 26, 4 p.m.
Fusion: A French-American Musical Exchange
The Cultural Service of the French Embassy, in partnership with the Phillips Collection and under the label France Musique, presents its first edition of “Fusion,” a program that seeks to build a bridge between French and American musical talents. Through “Fusion,” an American musician (violinist Miranda Cuckson) will perform a concert at the French Embassy, followed by a performance of a French musician (Quatuor Eclisses) at the Phillips Collection. Admission for the Jan. 24 concert is free and $30 for the Jan. 26 concert. For information, visit http://frenchculture.org. 
Embassy of France (Jan. 24)
The Phillips Collection (Jan. 26)

Fri., Jan. 24, 8 p.m.
National Symphony Orchestra: Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9 – Whose World?
For aficionados and newcomers alike, this series uses actors, narration, excerpts, and multimedia to share captivating stories behind a score, in this case Dvorák’s towering “New World” symphony, followed by a full performance of the work. Tickets are $10 to $50.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

THEATER

Through Jan. 5
The Apple Family Plays
Studio presents the first two plays in Richard Nelson’s quartet of plays about the Apple siblings and their extended family. Set at successive meals over the course of four years, the tensions and compromises, affections and resentments of the Apple family’s personal lives play out against a rapidly changing America. Presented in rotating repertory; tickets are $39 to $75.
The Studio Theatre

Through Jan. 5
A Christmas Carol
Ford’s Theatre has delighted Washington audiences with “A Christmas Carol” for more than 30 years. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Please call for ticket information.
Ford’s Theatre

Through Jan. 5
Edgar & Annabel
From one of Britain’s most promising young playwrights, this dark and cheeky look at what the future might hold features undercover agents, surveillance algorithms, and explosive karaoke. Tickets are $30 to $35.
Studio Theatre

Through Jan. 5
Elf the Musical
Buddy the orphan leaves the North Pole to find his true identity in this modern Christmas classic that will make everyone embrace their inner elf. Tickets are $25 to $150.
Kennedy Center Opera House

Through Jan. 5
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
This fun musical farce based on the classic plays of ancient Roman playwright Plautus tells the bawdy story of Pseudolus, a slave in ancient Rome, who goes to great lengths to gain his freedom by securing a courtesan for his young master, Hero. Tickets are $20 to $110.
Shakespeare Theatre Sidney Harman Hall

Through Jan. 5
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Broadway and Arena Stage favorite Kenny Leon returns to direct Malcolm-Jamal Warner (in his Arena Stage debut) in a new adaptation of the beloved film “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” Please call for ticket information.
Arena Stage

Jan. 8 to Feb. 23
Tribes
When Billy, who was born deaf into a garrulous academic family that raised him to lip read and integrate into the hearing world, meets Sylvia, who is going deaf herself, he decides it’s time to speak on his own terms in Nina Raine’s moving play, the second offering in Studio’s yearlong New British Invasion Festival. Tickets are $39 to $75.
The Studio Theatre

Jan. 10 to Feb. 16
The Tallest Tree in the Forest
Daniel Beaty brings to life the true story of Paul Robeson, hailed as the “best-known black man in the world” for his incomparable singing and acting, brought low by accusations of disloyalty to America. Please call for ticket information.
Arena Stage

Jan. 16 to March 2
The Importance of Being Earnest
Keith Baxter returns to direct Oscar Wilde’s most perfect of plays — a comedy of class, courtship, and avoiding burdensome social conventions. Please call for ticket information.
Shakespeare Lansburgh Theatre

Through Jan. 19
Flashdance – The Musical
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the pop culture phenomenon of “Flashdance” is now live on stage, with the inspiring and unforgettable story of a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of becoming a professional performer. Tickets are $45 to $150.
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater

Jan. 24 and 25
Wedding of Ordos
The Inner Mongolia Ordos National Song and Dance Theatre presents a moving epic that depicts the poetry, music, and dance of a traditional wedding in the ancient Mongolian city of Ordos. Tickets are $10 to $180.
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater

Through Jan. 26
Gypsy
Set during the 1920s on the fading vaudeville circuit, Momma Rose, the archetypal stage mother, steamrolls everyone on her way to propel her daughters into child stars. But when the younger, more talented daughter defects, Rose sinks all her hopes (and claws) into the elder. Tickets start at $40.
Signature Theatre

Jan. 28 to March 9
Richard III
Explore Shakespeare’s portrait of maniacal ambition and dig into the truth about this king’s real nature with this celebrated history play — staged, for the first time in Folger history, in an Elizabethan Theatre reconfigured to allow for a production “in the round.” Tickets are $39 to $72.
Folger Shakespeare Library

Fri., Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m.
Chinese New Year Gala – 2014
The Chinese American Association presents more than 300 artists from throughout North America in a performance that celebrates the Chinese New Year 2014 and Chinese culture and art. Tickets are $20 to $100.
George Mason University Center for the Arts

Jan. 31 to March 9
Mother Courage and Her Children
Kathleen Turner returns to Arena to star as a tough-as-nails matriarch who profits off the very war that steals her children from her one by one. But will the cost of war be higher than she’s prepared to pay? Please call for ticket information.
Arena Stage

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