Welcome to Artful Weekend

-our listing of area art exhibits and events-

This weekend: March Open Exhibit and The Human Vibe: Patterned Portraits and Color by Jimmy James Greene at the League; Intuiting Landscapes at Artists & Makers Studios; Second Nature at Morton Fine Art; and Hacia la Vida | Toward Life at Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art.

March Open Exhibit

Diverse artworks by member artists are the feature of Open Exhibits at The Art League. Over 80 pieces—painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, sculpture, and more—are on view in this month’s show. It was juried by Katherine Tzu-Lan Mann. 

The March Open Exhibit is on view through April 2.

The Human Vibe: Patterned Portraits and Color by Jimmy James Greene

March solo artist Jimmy James Greene utilizes exaggerated hues and striking designs in his paintings to weave narratives about Black people. In The Human Vibe: Patterned Portraits and Color, the emotions of his subjects are conveyed through subjective colors, while their concerns, conditions, or social constructs are referred to by immersive patterning. 

“I respond to an image that I am intuitively attracted to–it could be a person’s expression, the way light hits their body, or an activity they’re engaged in,” Greene explains. He renders his subjects realistically, then goes beyond what they look like to narrate what he calls “their internal and external vibrations.”  His works on paper begin as pencil and pastel drawings that he later paints over using watercolors to create rich color and fluidity. Some of those paintings serve as studies for larger acrylic-on-canvas pieces. Essentially, says the New York-based artist, “I am a visual storyteller, a griot.”

The Human Vibe: Patterned Portraits and Color is on view through April 2.

Intuiting the Landscape by Jean Hirons

Artists & Makers Studios presents Intuiting the Landscape, Jean Hirons’ series of pastel landscape paintings created during 2022-2023, a time of change and challenge. Her goal was to create paintings not completely based on any one photo that would have strong value shapes and harmonious color based on her intuition. Meet the artist this Saturday, March 11, from 1 – 3 pm. Intuiting Landscapes is on view throughout the month of March; 1810 Parklawn Drive, Suite 210, Rockville, MD.

Second Nature by Vonn Cummings Sumner

Morton Fine Art presents Second Nature, a solo exhibition of new paintings on paper and canvas by artist Vonn Cummings Sumner. First rendering Krazy Kat, George Herriman’s influential comic strip character, during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sumner returns to the wandering, curious avatar with Second Nature, escorting the titular figure through newly verdant, water-pooled landscapes, open spaces and art historical-coded landscapes, longing for escape and a reconnection with nature. The opening reception is this Saturday, March 11, from 2 – 4 pm. Second Nature is on view through April 8;  52 O St NW #302, Washington, D.C.

Hacia la Vida | Toward Life

Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) presents Hacia la Vida | Toward Life, an exhibition featuring work by Baltimore-based artist Hoesy Corona and California artist duo Cog•nate Collective. Each of Mexican descent, the artists create a new framework for understanding the position of the immigrant as deeply optimistic and full of hope. An Opening Reception and Artist Talk will be held at Tephra ICA on Saturday, March 11, from 5  – 7 pm; 12001 Market St #103, Reston, VA.

Enjoy the weekend!