Wreckfest

Wreckfest's closing party in the Tiffany Gallery of the Arlington Arts Center is going to be a day and night long event filled with a fashion show, live graffiti installations and panel discussions about graffiti art and the influence of Hip Hop Culture. Jobyl A. Boone, one of the co-curators from the Smithsonian’s Recognize exhibit will be speaking on the panel. If you read this here blog then you already know how I feel about the Recognize exhibit, but in any case, I still think the closing night of Wreckfest is going to be dope.

For more information just click on the flyer to enlarge it.

De La Soul and 9th Wonder

De La Soul will be performing with 9th Wonder at MCCXXIII (1223). Even though the choice of venue is odd to say the least, this show should still be amazing. It's been awhile since De La Soul performed in DC, so this is definitely a treat. The only downside is that Thursday is MCCXXIII's 18 and over night, so be prepared to party with folks that probably don't truly remember who the hell De La Soul is. To be honest 1223 isn't one of my favorite spots in town, let's face it; it sucks and is pretty pretentious most nights, but it's worth the ride for De La Soul!

MCCXXIII is at 1223 Connecticut Ave.
Doors open at 8:30pm
This event is free with a pass/ticket.

Laced

The guys over at Laced are doing it again, this with live sneaker installation by SDTV, live art by Greg the Color Slinger, and fashions by Bliki Clothing.

It's going down Thursday, March 20, 2008 at the Cue Bar

For more information visit Sol Source

The Five Senses: More Than Meets the Eye

J. Lewis Takahashi




Sun Kyoun Kim

The Target Gallery of the Torpedo Factory is hosting an exhibit entitled The Five Senses: More Than Meets the Eye. Many of the pieces in this exhibition are three dimensional and functional. F. Lennox Campello of the Daily Campello Art blog curated this event and did an amazing job, I might add.

The Five Senses: More than Meets the Eye runs through April 6, 2008. The opening night is March 13, 2008, 6-8pm. Mr. Campello will give a gallery talk at 7pm.

For more info visit, The Torpedo Factory Arts Center

New Africans Film Festival

The American Film Institute is hosting the fourth annual New African Films Festival. Independent films from all across the continent of Africa will be shown, including the US premiere of Tartina City. Danny Glover will be speaking at the opening night showing of Ezra, the story of kidnapped child forced to fight as a soldier in the rebel’s army. Their will also be a post screening reception hosted by Red Calabash.

The New Africans Film Festival runs from March 7, 2008 – March 17, 2008. The opening night reception is on March 7th and starts at 7pm.

For a schedule of movie times and ticket information for the opening please visit AFI

Lost & Foundling

Eric Pfeffinger’s Lost Foundling is filled with adult innuendos but is animated enough to keep restless children entertained while keeping their parents laughing out loud. Lost and Foundling is a fairytale about a child named Pryce, played by Taisha Cameron who is raised in a mega Price Mart (think Wal Mart). Her family consists of Price Mart a cast of endearing and hilarious Price Mart employees. When Pyce turns ten she sets off to the other side of the store for an adventure that is equipped with monsters; the slasher and the demanding shopper and barriers such as the never-ending line. It’s truly an original play that children (over 6) and adults will love. I went to go see it alone and enjoyed it thoroughly. It’s very modern, fresh and even sarcastic at times.

The last showing of Lost and Foundling is this weekend, so pack up the kids (or just your self) and go see it!

Visit the Imagination Stage for more information

The Street Phenomenon

I’m sure many of you have heard about or seen the hip hop exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. I went to go see it and heard David Scheinbaum speak about his photography and his personal experiences with hip hop, and how he was so surprised at the love that he received in the hip hop community, blah, blah, blah. As a self proclaimed hip hop head, I can’t say I was impressed with the exhibit or Scheinbaum. The exhibit seemed a little patronizing. Hip hop has been around for years; it’s one of the most influential art forms in the modern world. Music, dance and visual art have all been affected by hip hop in some way shape or form. So, I don’t get this new fascination with it or everyones late recognition of it, hip hop and urban art has been around for over twenty five years!

The Washington Project for the Arts is hosting a talk at the Katzen Arts Center with Sara and Marc Schiller discussing the influence of “street art” on the modern art movement. They are also giving a visual lecture on graffiti. No, they're not graffiti artist, Sara works in real estate and Marc does digital marketing. They're the creators of the Wooster Collective; a site “dedicated to showcasing and celebrating ephemeral art placed on streets in cities around the world.”

Ya’ know shit like this doesn’t make me think “street art” or urban art has arrived, it makes me nausea. Yet another art form that is sacred to the artists that make it is being exploited, being pimped harder than one of Goldie’s hoe’s to the mass media.

I am interested to see what you, dear reader, think about all the commercial recognition that hip hop and urban art is getting. Email your comments to ChocolateMilkDC@gmail.com

Laced: Pete Rock's Album Release Party

Pete Rock will be spinning at his album release party this Thursday at Cue Bar on U Street.
His new album, NY’s Finest, will be hitting stores February 26th. There will also be a live art installation by Aniekan Udofia!

Cue Bar is at 1115 U Street NW Washington DC.

The party starts at 7pm

For more info visit The SolSource Group

When Harlem Came to Paris

Even though the tickets to this event are $55, it's totally worth it!

Visit the website for more information on tickets and performances.

When Harlem came to Paris

Urban Code Magazine

Urban Code Magazine is a PDF magazine about art in the Washington DC area. If you haven't heard about it, you need to get a subscription IT'S FREE. Urban Code's online component to the PDF magazine will be launching any day now. In the meantime, Stuart Greenwell (the editor) has created a mass blog of sorts. He has called on bloggers from all over the states to blog about art in their areas. This community blog is a part of the Urban Code online magazine launch.

Check out the Urban Code Blogs here
and
Check out the blog I write for Urban Code; Parallel Visions