by Bruce Schaefer
Following are a number of photography-related exhibits and events occurring now, or soon, in the extended Washington D.C. area. These include gallery and museum exhibits, college exhibits, special events, and sometimes exhibits or events to photograph yourself.
THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
8th & F Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
‘Eye to I: Self-Portraits from 1900 to Today’ – Nov. 4 – Aug. 18, 2019
The self-portrait has taken on entirely new life in recent years, with the rise of “selfies” and the constantly evolving notion of identity. The National Portrait Gallery will draw mostly from its large collection to showcase how artists have portrayed themselves since the beginning of the 20th century, showing the importance of self-portraiture in American history and culture. More than 75 works will be displayed, including portraits by Diego Rivera, Edward Hopper, Elaine de Kooning, Josef Albers and many more.
Recent Acquisitions – Nov. 16 – Nov. 3, 2019
During its 50th anniversary, the gallery acquired numerous prized artworks, including the Obama portraits by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald. In this new exhibit, the museum will display both historical and contemporary pieces that have recently come into its possession. Subjects will include Celia Cruz, Edwin Hubble, Helen Keller, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Louie Pérez, Maurice Sendak, George Walker and Oprah Winfrey. The exhibition will present work by artists including Imogen Cunningham, Harry Gamboa Jr., Brigitte Lacombe, Charles Willson Peale, Shahzia Sikander and Andy Warhol.
One Year: 1968, An American Odyssey
Through May 19, 2019
A one-room exhibition that looks back at an extraordinarily important and memorable time in American history. The show relies on some 30 portraits to tell the story of 1968, the year when the Vietnam War reached a turning point, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law, and television sets displayed everything from the Olympic Games to the first manned orbit of the moon. Representations of Martin Luther King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard M. Nixon will share the walls with portraits of cultural figures such as Peggy Fleming, Arthur Ashe, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Depictions of other significant personalities, notably the Apollo 8 astronauts, will round out the exhibit. The major artists who will be represented include Roy Lichtenstein, Irving Penn, George Tames, David Levine, Robert Vickrey, and Louis Glanzman.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS
1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
‘New York Avenue Sculpture Project’: Betsabeé Romero – Sept. 28 – Sept. 20, 2020
This dynamic project is the only public art space to feature rotating installations of modern works by female artists in the District. Starting Sept. 28, you’ll be able to see four sculptures by Betsabeé Romero, a Mexico City-based artist who uses carved and painted tires to address issues such as the environment and migration. Romero’s sculptures will also be the first in the project’s history to use interior lighting, creating an ethereal glow.
NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
‘Flickering Treasures’ – Open through Oct 14, 2019
The work of photographer Amy Davis colors this fascinating review of the place of movie theaters in the history of American culture, particularly their significance in the nearby city of Baltimore, Md. The Charm City was at the epicenter of the cinema scene during the 20th century, featuring more than 240 theaters since its first Nickelodeon opened in 1905. Flickering Treasures will explore how movie theaters serve as experiences, marvels of architecture, material culture and so much more.
HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN
Independence Ave SW & 7th St SW – Washington, DC
‘Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Pulse’ – Nov. 1 – April 28, 2019
Innovative Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer will bring the largest interactive technology exhibition to the Hirshhorn in the museum’s history starting Nov. 1. Pulse will take up the entire Second Level, with three major installations using heart-rate sensors to create audiovisual experiences from visitors’ biometric data. Together, the biometric signatures will create spellbinding sequences of soundscapes, lights and animations.
THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION
1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
‘Intersections: Richard Tuttle’ – Sept. 13 – Dec. 30
As part of its Intersections series, The Phillips Collection hosts an epic installation from renowned American artist Richard Tuttle. It Seems Like It’s Going to Be will take up the entire second floor of the original Phillips House galleries, merging Tuttle’s 41-verse poem with 41 pieces of art that he created for each verse.
Admission: $10 – 12
SMITHSONIAN FREER GALLERY OF ART and the ARTHUR M. SACKLER GALLERY
1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC
‘Japan Modern: Photography from the Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck Collection’ – Sept. 29 – Jan. 21, 2019
A recent acquisition of major Japanese photography by the Freer|Sackler led to this exciting new exhibition that will highlight influential photographers of the 20th century in all their glory. Expect to see jaw-dropping landscapes and hard-hitting portraits of postwar Japan. The photographs are both rural and urban, serving as social commentary in some cases and deeply personal meditations in others. Photobooks and films will also be included.
Sept. 29 to Jan. 21, 2019. Free.
GLENSTONE MUSEUM
12100 Glen Road – Potomac, Md.
Located just outside of DC in Potomac, Md., the Glenstone Museum combines art, architecture and landscape to create a seamless, open museum-going experience that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Post-World War II art fills marvelously designed indoor and outdoor spaces on a 100-plus acre plot that also features paths, trails, streams and meadows. The museum had an exciting expansion on Oct. 4 that included an all-new building and new outdoor sculptures. Glenstone is open from Thursday – Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with visits scheduled on the hour. Make sure to book yours before you go.
Admission to the museum is always free. Due to the fragility of the works on view, visitors to Glenstone must be 12 or older and all minors (ages 12-17) must be accompanied by an adult at all times. While photography is not allowed inside the museum, guests can take photos of the outdoor artworks for their Instagram and for personal use. Glenstone does not allow the use auxiliary lighting, selfie sticks, drones, tripods or commercial photography of any kind.
The museum also wants to provide you with a relaxing environment fit for contemplation of its thought-provoking pieces of art, hence the scheduled visits. If you’re looking to be truly immersed in both mind and body during a museum-going experience, Glenstone is the perfect fit. dc-guide-to-Glenstone
RENWICK GALLERY
1661 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW – Washington, DC
FoldHaus, Shrumen Lumen, 2016. Photo by Rene Smith
No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man
Through January 21, 2019
Each year in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, a city of 70,000 people rises out of the dust for a single week. The thriving temporary metropolis known as Burning Man is a hotbed of artistic ingenuity. Both a cultural movement and an annual event, Burning Man remains one of the most influential phenomenons in contemporary American art and culture.
The exhibition takes over the entire Renwick Gallery building and surrounding Golden Triangle neighborhood, bringing alive the maker culture and creative spirit of this cultural movement. Immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera transport visitors to the gathering’s famed “Playa,” while selected photographs and archival materials from the Nevada Museum of Art’s show City of Dust: The Evolution of Burning Man trace Burning Man’s growth and its bohemian roots.
NEWSEUM
555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC
75 Years of the World’s Best Photography (through January 20, 2019)
A groundbreaking photography show featuring 70 years of award-winning images from the archives of Pictures of the Year International (POYi), one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious photojournalism competitions. These images depict the people and events that have defined our times, capturing war and peace, disaster and triumph, and the social and cultural shifts that have shaped the past 75 years. The pictures were selected from POYi’s archive of more than 40,000 photos, tracing the evolution of photojournalism from World War II to today.
Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery – Permanent display
“If it makes you laugh, if it makes you cry, if it rips out your heart, that’s a good picture.” — Eddie Adams, winner of the 1969 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography
Photographers record the defining moments of our world and our time, capturing history through timeless images of fleeting moments. With the click of a button, vivid imagery documents the pain of poverty, the ecstasy of victory and the triumph of redemption.
This gallery — a visitor favorite — features the most comprehensive collection of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs ever assembled, including photographs from every Pulitzer Prize-winning entry since 1942, when the award was first presented. The gallery is updated each year when new winners are announced in April.
The following museums are usually a good source of photography exhibits. These can be good locations for your own photographs too:
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
1145 17th Street, NW – Washington, DC
Tomb of Christ On display until Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Learn the fascinating history of the iconic Church of the Holy Sepulcher and be transported to Jerusalem for an immersive 3-D experience unlike anything you’ve seen in a museum before.
National Geographic: Exploration Starts Here – Permanent exhibition
NatGeo’s greatest photographic cover art hits on display in one amazing exhibit.
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The National Geographic frequently has events and exhibitions related to photography. Check these out here: Events Exhibitions
WASHINGTON POST
Here is a link to the online Washington Post’s lists of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia photography-related exhibits and museums. I have found that the various photography-related exhibits appear in different parts of the online paper, making a simple search or link unreliable. You can search within
Photography section: Photography
Going Out Guide: Going Out Guide
Art Section: Art
Online Photo Sites:
THE WILDLIFE COMEDY PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2018
Remember, we are all about conservation. We want you to take up our banner of wildlife conservation, bang the drum, beat the cymbal and make some noise to spread the word – wildlife as we know it is in danger all over the world and we need to do something to help save it. You can start by having a look at what the Born Free Foundation is doing at bornfree.org.uk.
Check the Gallery page for past years’ winners and finalists. Some hilarious animal pictures!
NIKON INTERNATIONAL SMALL WORLD COMPETITION, 2018
Fourth place — Taenia solium (tapeworm) everted scolex, Rochester, N.Y. (Teresa Zgoda)
We know science is cool, but it can also be stunningly beautiful. Every year, Nikon Instruments celebrates the beauty seen under the microscope with the Nikon International Small World Competition, now in its 37th year. It is open to anyone with an interest in microscopy and photography. Experts judge the images based on originality, informational content, technical proficiency and visual impact. The winners were announced on Instagram (@NikonInstruments) this year.
Siena International Photo Award is one of the photo contests with the highest international participation ever. 2018 edition has received nearly 48.000 images from amateur and professional photographers from 156 countries worldwide.
BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
The British Wildlife Photography Awards proudly announce the winners for 2018. The awards celebrate both the work of amateur and professional photographers and the beauty and diversity of British wildlife.
Why North? We can’t do without it. Everything is different here, time flows by in a special way. All that has been precious for you in another place will become useless and in vain here. Testing your maturity, North will make you think about eternal and the most important things in life, and dust and fuss will give way to those… North is also our teacher. All that is good and pure inside you will become the main part of you while you are here, and things will stay like that forever.
Browse our editors’ favorite submissions to the photo contest.