June Exhibits & Events

Some June art exhibits and events are worth mentioning for their unusual use of media and interesting subject matter.

Cell-Like Paintings made with glue medium by Kevin Kepple (text from the Washington Post):

EXHIBIT: Patterned Paintings With a Cell-Like Feel Kevin Kepple’s solo show at Addison/Ripley Fine Art features square-shaped art in such colors as aqua, red and peach. He uses glue, ink and varnish to create the works, with images akin to the view through a microscope in biology class. Free. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Through June 21. 1670 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-338-5180.

I missed this one but it’s worth mentioning for the medium — wax, or encaustic paintings, “The Divas and the Iron Chefs of Encaustic” through June 7th at the McLean Project for the Arts.

This article, Paint: The Message Vs. the Medium, by Michael O’Sullivan really describes the opposing views about paint — should it be used as a means for representational creation or to create art abstractly? Personally, I don’t know if an answer is necessary or do I believe there’s a right answer. How the viewer is engaged can make the difference. I think these artworks rightfully achieve their goals by winning the Bethesda Painting Awards. They are on display through July 5th at the Fraser Collection. I am equally fascinated by B.G. Muhn’s painterly portrait (shown here) as I am with Suzanna Fields. “Orange Crush” piece, which is made with congealed paint extractions that resemble colorful paint pom-poms.

The huge nature photographs by Richard Misrach currently on view at the National Gallery of Art through September 1st, are meant to question man’s relationship with Nature but they remind me of decorative finishes, particularly this one on the water because I like the color — how it changes and its iridescent quality. Man’s role in it seems minimal.

An event more than an exhibit, unless one could say it is an exhibit of interior design samples, Design House, Spring 2008 “What Inspires You” at the Washington Design Center through June 28th. I’ll be checking this one out in the next week or two.

Here’s a link to other posted exhibits, some of which may still be ongoing, like “Blue” at the Textile Museum through September 18th.

Also, if you like jazz and even better, free concerts, then you might want to attend the summer concert series at National Harbor. They are June 20th (Top of the Line Steel Band) and June 27 (Jaared Arosemena), Fridays 7 – 9 pm.

Happy weekend and first official day of summer!