Welcome to Artful Weekend

-our listing of area art exhibits and events-

This weekend: May 2024 Open Exhibit and Cape Cod Waters: Photographs by Meg Clarke at the League; Coroto: Masks of Power by David Camero at the Athenaeum Gallery; Jonathan Edge: Polaroid — Painted at Willow Street Gallery; and Solace and Sisterhood at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington.

May 2024 Open Exhibit

Diverse artworks by member artists are the feature of Open Exhibits at The Art League. This month, 92 artworks—painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, glass, and mixed media—are on view. The  May 2024 Open Exhibit was juried by painter, printmaker, snd former Art League Gallery director Rosalie O’Donnell. It is on view through June 2.

Cape Cod Waters: Photographs by Meg Clarke

Since glaciers formed the outer reaches of Cape Cod tens of thousands of years ago, water has continued to shape and define this narrow land. In this unique place, light, shapes, colors, and patterns shift constantly with the tidal cycle, the time of day, the season, and the weather.

In Cape Cod Waters, photographer Meg Clarke captures a moment composed of those waters and the surrounding landscapes, expressing her vision.

Join us for the closing reception of our May exhibits on Saturday, June 1, from 3:30–5 p.m. in The Art League Gallery.

Coroto: Masks of Power | David Camero

Artist David Camero’s pieces are masks that draw inspiration from the cultural celebrations during Corpus Christi in the Venezuelan town of Yare. Camero’s work breathes life into symbolic representations of power, in reference with the current socio-political landscape of South America. The artist intertwines elements of ritual and satire, utilizing masks as a medium to commentate on the turbulent political climate. Coroto is on view at the Athenaeum Gallery through June 23 with a reception on May 30 from 4–6 p.m. Also on view, mixed media works by Robert Stuart Cohen through June 23; 201 Prince Street, Alexandria, Virginia.

Jonathan Edge: Polaroid — Painted

In his exhibit Polaroid—Painted, at Willow Street Gallery, artist Jonathan Ege juxtaposes the instantaneous and impermanent against the durational and enduring in this playful exhibit of portraits on canvas, presented in the guise of a polaroid snapshot. Inspired by deep feelings of nostalgia for old photographs of friends and family, Ege approaches his richly-colored imaginative paintings with a sense of the momentary, the impression his subject gives him in an instant. Polaroid—Painted is on view through June 28 with an artist talk on Friday, May 31, from 6-8 p.m.; 6925 Willow St. NW, Washington, D.C.

Solace and Sisterhood

Solace and Sisterhood, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, brings together the work of three artists of African descent who are friends and “sisters”: Lavett Ballard, Amber Robles-Gordon, and Evita Tezeno. Through their artwork, viewers are given an intimate look into their experiences and their sisterhood, which has developed over several years. By digging deeply into historical and contemporary perspectives on African American life, exploring traditions in the African diasporic community, or remixing commonly known objects, these artists span media and aesthetics. They tackle topics of self-identity, Black female beauty, and spiritual discovery. They resist single affiliations and simple answers to difficult questions. All the while, they maintain deep bonds that now transcend friendship. They are now sisters. Solace and Sisterhood is on view through May 26; 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia.

Enjoy the long weekend!