The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. hosts a vibrant after hours arts-party called Evenings at the Edge. The theme of the night on Thursday, March 14, 2019 was 'Wonder Woman'. All activities took place in the East Building and was complete with pop-up art talks, live music, and performances.
There were both visual and performing arts aspects to the night's calendar of events. The night's performing arts highlights included performances by the all-female tap sensation: Syncopated Ladies, and DJ Little Bacon Bear. For the visual arts there were pop-up talks and a collage station in the Cascade Cafe where guests, mostly children, were able to tap into their own creativity by making their own female superheroes. Each floor was buzzing with activity and there seemed to have been a healthy mix of those in attendance purely for the art, those for the live performance of Syncopated Ladies, and those who were there just for something 'to do' on a Thursday night after work.
Pop-up talks were led by museum staff and took place in 10 minute increments throughout the galleries. The artworks selected for each talk were either created or inspired by women. There was a total of 21 featured artworks throughout the evening, including:
Alma Thomas: Pansies in Washington
Georgia O'Keeffe: Jack-in-the-Pulpit series
Pablo Picasso: Head of Woman (Fernade), Nude Woman
Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Nets Yellow
These talks provided information on the artists and insight to the pieces that I would have only been able to have gathered from doing outside research.
The information wasn't too advanced and provided interesting background and context that would have provided an interesting learning opportunity to any guest that wanted to participate in a talk.
The only challenge that hindered the experience was the sound-bleed from the performances taking place in the other gallery.
The Pablo Picasso pop-up talk was difficult to hear at points because of the sound bleed, but the Georgia O'Keeffe pop-up talk was much easier to hear because it was further back in the gallery space.
This was a truly enriching experience and if you have the time, I recommend attending one of the events! The lines wrap around the building, so you may want to arrive early.
Once you're inside, take one of the itineraries and maps, then grab a cocktail and explore!
Gallery
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