Welcome to Artful Weekend, our guide for enjoying area art events and activities in person or at home.
This weekend: Open Exhibit and Petite December at The Art League; expressions on immigration at Healing Arts; a cool art project for kids; and more!
December Exhibitions at The Art League
December 2020 Open Exhibit
This month’s group exhibition, juried by New York-based illustrator and fine artist Mark Bischel, features an array of artworks in mediums ranging from painting and photography to sculpture and fiber art. It is on view through Sunday, January 3 in the Gallery, or view it online. Learn more about Bischel and read his remarks about the his best-in-show and honorable mentions picks in the latest Juror Profile.
Petite December
Our perennial favorite is back! This year’s Petite December Exhibit, juried by Baltimore Museum of Art Chief Curator Asma Naeem, features 74 small works (priced at $150 or less!) that are available for immediate purchase during the holiday season. It is on view through Sunday, January 3 in the Gallery, or view and shop the exhibit online.
Old Town Holiday Lamp Post Art Walk
Get into the holiday spirit with the first annual Old Town Holiday Lamp Post Art Walk, presented by Old Town Business Association and The Art League! Starting this Sunday, December 5, you can take a self-guided tour along King Street and selected side streets to see lamp posts adorned with festive works by Art League artists. They will be up through January 8. Chart your path with this handy map.
Artul Giving
Holliday shopping this weekend? Make The Art League your one-stop destination for gifts that your favorite artists and art lovers will appreciate and cherish. Check out our gift guide for ideas.
Aceptar: Una Exposición Colectiva
In Aceptar: Una Exposición Colectiva, eight area artists of Latin American heritage examine the struggles and extraordinary efforts of immigration, with dreams, traditions, and cultures ingrained while becoming immersed in a new life. Says curator Irene Clouthier-Carrillo, whose ink and watercolor works appear in the exhibition, “With Aceptar, we hope to highlight diversity in our immigration stories and open a dialogue about race, inclusion, class disparity, and gender equality.” It is on view at Through Dec. 19 at Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery, 1632 U St. NW, or online.
Quanxuan (Q.X) Shuai
Contemporary Chinese artist and new Oakton, Virginia resident Quanxuan ‘QX’ Shuai began painting as a response to his father’s struggles with depression. His eponymous exhibition at Athenaeum Gallery, features serene landscapes and still lifes, and fulfills his aim to create work that is calming for viewers; see it here, or at Athenaeum Gallery through January 10, 201 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA.
Think Inside the Box
This neat, weekend art activity from the Hirshhorn—and inspired by Iranian artist Siah Armajani’s Picture Window with Two Chairs—prompts kids to think about space, scale, and design while creating a unique interior diorama.
Enjoy the weekend, wear your mask.