Arts & Entertainment
SPRING ARTS 2020: Galleries galore
David Amoroso, Delita Martin, Volkmar Wentzel among artists in current exhibitions


Local gay artist David Amoroso pays homage to ā70s TV with his exhibit āRaised by TVā at Artists & Makers Studios (11810 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, Md.) featuring paintings of Agnes Moorehead (āBewitchedā), Florence Henderson (āThe Brady Bunchā), Fred Rogers (āMister Rogersā Neighborhoodā), Bea Arthur (āMaudeā), the cast of āThe Jeffersons,ā the cast of āCharlieās Angels,ā Carol Burnett, Jean Stapleton (āAll in the Familyā), Mary Tyler Moore and more. The exhibit runs through March 26. Amoroso also displays his work in the back room at Miss Pixieās.
The Teresa Lozano Long Gallery of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Ave., N.W.) displays āDelita Martin: Calling Down the Spiritsā through April 19. This exhibit contains seven large prints of black individuals, which Martin created and decorated using a variety of means in order to ācreate a new iconography for African Americans based on African tradition, personal recollections and physical materials.ā Admission is $10 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors. Members and those 18 and under enter free.

The American University Museum at the Katzen Art Center (4400 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.) exhibits both the paintings of late AU Professor Emeritus Robert Franklin Gates (in a showing titled āPaint What You Seeā) and the work of late National Geographic photographer Volkmar Wentzel through May 24. The AU Museum is open to the public and admission is free.
The National Gallery of Art (6th and Constitution Ave., N.W.) hosts āTrue to Nature: Open-Air Painting in Europe, 1780ā1870ā through May 3 in the inner tier of the ground floor of its West Building. This exhibit features around 100 oil sketches of landscapes across Europe, created by artists among the likes of Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, John Constable, Simon Denis, Jules Coignet and AndrĆ© Giroux. Admission is free.
CulturalDC presents āRenditionā by ZoĆ« Charlton at CulturalDCās Mobile Art Gallery in Union Market (5th and Neal St., N.E.) through March 22. According to CulturalDC, this collection of sculptures and assorted artwork āaddresses cultural identity, race, commodity and cultural tokenism.ā Admission is free.
The Phillips Collection (1600 21st St., N.W.) showcases āMoira Dryer: Back in Businessā through April 19, describing the assortment of paintings and sculptures as āthe first comprehensive museum exhibition to consider the early work of Moira Dryer.ā Admission to this exhibit and other ticketed exhibits is $12 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors. Museum members and those 18 and under enter free.
Zenith Galleryās Upper Northwest Gallery (1429 Iris St., N.W.) displays āCarl Alexander: The Last Washington Color School Painterā through March 21, on which day a closing reception will be held from 2-6 p.m. Alexander studied under famous artist Morris Louis as an early member of the Washington Color School movement, which went on to become world-renowned. Admission is free.

Hillwood Museum (4155 Linnean Ave., N.W.) exhibits āNatural Beauties: Exquisite Works of Minerals and Gemsā through June 7. The items presented in this showing āare crafted from materials like jade, agate, onyx, rock crystal, amethyst, jasper, malachite and lapis lazuli.ā Suggested donation is $18 for adults, with lesser amounts requested of seniors, college students and children ages 6-18. Children under 6 and Hillwood members are not asked to donate.
The National Gallery of Art (6th and Constitution Ave., N.W.) hosts āRaphael and His Circleā through June 14 in Gallery 22 on the ground floor of its West Building. The gallery celebrates the 500th anniversary of the artistic greatās death with a display of 25 artworks, including four drawings and five paintings by Raphael himself. Admission is free.
The Smithsonian American Art Museumās Renwick Gallery (17th and Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) presents āHearts of Our People: Native Women Artistsā through May 17. The Renwick Gallery refers to this exhibit ā a collection of more than 80 artworks crafted through varied means throughout history ā as āthe first major thematic show to explore the artistic achievements of Native women.ā Admission is free.
The Textile Museum at the George Washington University Museum (701 21st St., N.W.) showcases āDelight in Discovery: The Global Collections of Lloyd Cotsenā through July 5. Cotsen āassembled thousands of textile fragments, garments and other artworks that reflected his admiration for indigenous cultures and vanishing artistic traditions,ā with the intent āto create opportunities for a wider audience to appreciate 3,000 years of human creativity.ā Suggested donation is $8 for adults. Museum members, children and current GW students, faculty and staff are not asked to donate.
ARTECHOUSE (1238 Maryland Ave., S.W.) displays āHanami: Beyond the Bloomsā through May 25. According to ARTECHOUSE, in this exhibit, āhand-made ink illustrations by Yuko Shimizu are transformed digitally to follow vibrant cherry blossom flowers on an exciting and interactive journey through land, sea and airā ā just in time for cherry blossom season. Admission is $20 for adults with discounts for students, seniors, military members, children and tickets purchased online.
After being closed to the public for almost four months to allow for repairs, the National Building Museum (401 F St., N.W.) reopens today with āThe Architectsā Photographer,ā which will be exhibited through March, 2021. According to the National Building Museum, this showcase will both feature the work of professional architectural photographer Alan Karchmer and examine āthe practice of architectural photography writ large.ā
Transformer (1404 P St., N.W.) hosts āWhich yesterday is tomorrow?ā by Dahlia Elsayed and Andrew Demirjian from March 14-April 25. According to Transformer, this exhibit āreimagines the Silk Road caravanserai as a potential site for the exchange of ideas and culture,ā taking over the interior of Transformer with its furnishings, soundtrack and aromas in the process. An opening reception will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, March 14.
The Kreeger Museum (2401 Foxhall Rd., N.W.) presents āObjects from the Studio: The Sculptorās Processā from March 17-May 23, describing it as a showing that ābrings together maquettes, sketches and other objects from sculptorsā studios to explore how outdoor sculptures are made, focusing on works from The Kreeger Museumās Sculpture Garden.ā The āsuggested donationā is $10 for adults, with less requested of students, seniors and military members. Members are not asked to donate.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (8th and F St., N.W.) showcases āAlexander von Humboldt and the United States: Art, Nature and Cultureā from March 20-Aug. 16. This exhibit is the first to examine the impact that Humboldt, a famous Prussian explorer, had on āthe visual arts, sciences, literature, politics and explorationā between 1804-1903. Admission is free.
The National Gallery of Art (6th and Constitution Ave., N.W.) displays the work of Lynda Benglis from March 22-Jan. 24, 2021. It displays 33 works made between 1966-2003 revealing āhow Benglis has forged new forms by constantly exploring different techniques, materials and mediums.ā Admission is free.
The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (1050 Independence Ave., S.W.) exhibits āMeeting Tessai: Modern Japanese Art from the Cowles Collectionā from March 28-Aug. 2, describing this showcase as āthe first one held at a major museum in the United States in more than 50 years to explore the significance of pan-East Asian influences ā a pertinent topic in todayās interconnected world ā through the work of Tessai and modern Japanese painting.ā Admission is free.
The Smithsonian American Art Museumās Renwick Gallery (17th and Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) is suspending ā1.8 Renwick,ā an installation by Janet Echelman, from the ceiling of the Rubenstein Grand Salon from April 3-Aug. 14, 2022. This massive work consists of āknotted and braided fiber with programmable lighting and wind movement above printed textile flooring,ā with a shape inspired by data gathered from the earthquake that rocked Japan on March 11, 2011. Admission is free.
Hirshhorn Museum (7th and Independence Ave., N.W.) presents āOne with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collectionā from April 4-Sept. 20. Describing Yayoi Kusama as āa visionary artist whose revelatory practice has captivated audiences around the world,ā the Hirshhorn Museum announced that this showing would āaffirm Kusamaās legacy within the Museumās collection and art history with three significant new acquisitions.ā Admission is free, but due to this exhibitās inclusion of small, enclosed spaces, same-day timed passes ā available at the Hirshhorn Museum on a first-come, first-serve basis ā are required for exhibit entry.
Waverly Street Gallery (4600 East-West Hwy #102, Bethesda, Md.) showcases āVisual Paradiseā by Stephane Themeze from April 5-May 2, with an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. on April 10 and an artistās reception from 1-3 p.m. on April 26. According to Waverly Street Gallery, the works in this photography exhibit encapsulate Themezeās conviction that āthere is visual pleasure to be had at almost every corner and moment of one’s daily life.ā Admission is free.
Arts & Entertainment
Washington Bladeās Pride on the Pier returns bigger than everĀ with two-day WorldPride celebration

The Washington Bladeās Pride on the Pier will be extended to a two-day celebration in honor of WorldPride coming to D.C. this year. Taking place on Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 at The Wharf, this yearās event promises more entertainment, more community, and more pride than ever before ā all set against the stunning waterfront backdrop of our nationās capital.
With the addition of Friday, the party kicks off at 3 p.m., with the inaugural WorldPride Boat Parade at 7 p.m. As an Official WorldPride Partner event, the boat parade will feature 30 decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. For information on signing up for the boat parade contact Stephen Rutgers at [email protected].
Saturdayās signature Pier Party kicks off at 12 p.m., featuring a drag show, DJ’s, streaming of the WorldPride Parade, and the iconic Fireworks Show Presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation ā one of D.C. Prideās most anticipated spectacles.
āWeāre expanding Washington Blade Pride on the Pier to reflect the excitement and momentum building for WorldPride in D.C.,ā said Blade publisher Lynne Brown. āItās a celebration of our communityās progress and a powerful reminder of the joy and visibility Pride brings to the heart of our city.ā
Now in its seventh year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the cityās annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.
Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access, hosted bars, and private viewing areas for the boat parade and the fireworks show. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.
Friday VIP: 5-9 p.m., enjoy an air-conditioned lounge, private bathroom, cash bar and complimentary drink.
Saturday VIP Session #1: 2-5 p.m., enjoy an air-conditioned lounge, private bathroom, catered food, and an open bar.
Saturday VIP Session #2: 6-9 p.m., enjoy the air-conditioned lounge, private bathroom, catered snacks and dinner, and open bar with a front-row view of the fireworks.
Event Details:
š Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq., S.W., Washington, D.C.)
š
Dates: Friday, June 6 & Saturday, June 7, 2025
š„ļøBoat Parade: 7 p.m. (June 6). š Fireworks Show: 9 p.m. (June 7)
šļø VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP
Event sponsors include Absolut, Capital Pride, DC Fray, Infinate Legacy, Heineken, Leonard-Litz Foundation, Mayorās Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Relish Catering,Ā Washingtonian, and The Wharf. More information regarding activities will be released at www.PrideOnThePierDC.com
Arts & Entertainment
Win a pair of tickets to Grace Jones & Janelle MonƔe @ The Anthem on June 5, 2025!


The Cherry Weekend main event party was “Fire” at Betty (1235 W Street, N.E.) on Saturday, April 12. Detox of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” met with fans.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)














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