Hirshhorn cocktail party

The Hirshhorn hosted a really nice cocktail party last week in the sculpture garden. It's an annual end of summer event that brings together many DC artists and art fans on a sultry summer evening. Great food and drink in a beautiful setting. I could talk about art for hours!

Yoko Ono's Wish Tree.

I kinda like this candid picture except that I can see how horrible my hair still looks from that disastrous hair appointment back in June when my ex-hair stylist went psycho. There is still an orange band around the top of my head. Dammit.

These images are courtesy of Lee Stalsworth, Chief Photographer at HMSG.

Best shoes ever

Ok, I am no fashionista. My shoe goals typically tend toward the comfy and sensible - witness my broad collection of Dansko clogs (red, brown suede, black, and another pair of black) and flip flops (too many to list). So I am particularly excited to have found these amazing shoes designed by two architects under the label of United Nude. I picked these up on a recent shopping expedition in Nolita and plan to go back for more next time I'm in NY. Not only are these among the most comfortable heels I have ever worn (stood in them for over eight straight hours on Saturday without incident), but they look sooooo cool.

EuroCircle event tonight

In my continuing coverage of cool things that friends are doing, here's something from my buddy Pol Klein, who is the DC coordinator of EuroCircle. Tonight's EuroCircle happy hour will take place at a new cafe on 17th Street called . . . the 17th Street Cafe. Despite the uninspired name, the joint is a nice addition to the humdrum 17th Street corridor. Find out more about the EuroCircle and RSVP for tonight here.

What is EuroCircle, you ask?
EuroCircle is an informal community for European professionals & Europhiles- married or single - with about 50,000 members. With no political, religious or ethnic affiliations, EuroCircle.com is a place where you can exchange ideas, tips, professional contacts, make friends and more.

7th Street Garden

Another really great project from another really cool person, Liz Falk. I met her at Tryst last winter while we were writing our business plans.

About the 7th Street Garden:

Gardens are healing grounds. Gardens evoke awareness, compassion and meaning, while creating connective experiences that engage the individual physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Urban food gardens unite diverse communities through provision of local food.

If you're interested in supporting community gardens, please attend the fundraiser next week, or got to the website to learn more.

The 7th Street Garden Summer Fundraiser
Thursday, September 6th, 6 - 8:30pm
in the Garden

Seasonal Appetizers from Local Farmers
Garden Tours & Live Music
Specialty Drinks & Silent Auction
Suggested Donation $40 in advance, $50 at the gate
RSVP here

Cool friends

Most of my posts tend to be about the arts or about me me meeeeeee! These are both such fascinating topics, however, I am reminded again and again that I have totally cool friends who are doing totally cool things that have nothing to do with art or with me and I'm going to make more effort to introduce them on this blog.

Like my friend Brian Christie who is working on M2Z Networks. Their public service mission is to provide wireless broadband connectivity to at least 95% of the US population. Go to their website to learn more and please sign the letter of support.



This is one of the many short pieces that various video makers have made for M2Z.

'nuff said

Another recent exchange with a person I'd just met:
"You know who you look like don't you?"
"Yes."
"Okay."

If Renee loses anymore weight, no one will think she looks like me.

Media hound

I just found this tiny mention of me in the Washington Examiner. Along with four other art collectors, I helped select art for the current group show of recent art school grads at Irvine Contemporary. I think it's a great idea for gallerists to invite their loyal collectors to participate in this process, rather than always telling us what we should like and what we should buy. Although I appreciate the guidance, I also have a pretty good idea of what I like when it comes to art. Kudos to Irvine for coming up with this unique and innovative approach to curating. The show is still hanging for another couple weeks.

A D.C. art gallery decided to let art collectors rather than curators decide which emerging artists would be featured in its latest exhibition. Irvine Contemporary incorporated the opinions of five local collectors when selecting its pieces for “Introductions3”, which Assistant Director Lauren Gentile says highlights the work of recent art college graduates. Gentile said this is the first time collectors have played this role in a gallery exhibit. Tim Cone, Joseph DiGangi, Philippa Hughes, Henry Thaggert and Melissa Schronder participated, each with distinctly different collections, she said. Irvine Contemporary staff narrowed down more than 250 submissions and then involved the collectors with the final decisions, Gentile said. The artists’ identities were concealed from the collectors during the selection process so they could focus solely on the work itself. The Irvine’s staff wanted to have art selected from the perspective of individuals that artists would reach out to commercially. “These are the people which are going to be supporting the careers of young artists, supplying them with the income they need to continue to create work, and also to eat,” Gentile said. The resulting exhibit is an eclectic mix of 11 artists’ work, ranging from string art to sculpture. Virginia Commonwealth University graduate Erin Colleen Williams creates objects that mix together imaginary inventions and actual technology, such as one featured in the exhibit with the appearance of a mechanical heart. Maura Q. Brewer from School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Sculpture and Drawings, fashioned geometric shapes using men’s dress shirts. Tom Pergola, a Los Angeles-based artist manager, said he had never heard of any exhibit taking the same approach Irvine has for selecting its works. “I think it’s a good idea,” Pergola said. “Sooner or later, art has to get on a wall, and it comes down to whether a buyer likes it or not.”

Happiness

I'm starting a new feature on this blog about happiness, which will appear in the sidebar on the right. I plan to list things that make me happy and I'd love to hear about things that you'd put on your list. You can comment here or email me at philippa@hoogrrl.com.

African Art event

The African Art Contemporaries, supporters of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, will host a cocktail party on September 14. Please come if you're interested in African art and culture.

Friday, September 14
7 to 11 PM
@ 950 Independence Ave, NW

New work from Adam Stennett

Adam's next show is going to be so awesome! He's been working like a maniac for the past several months and buzz is already building for his October solo show at 31 Grand. A UK magazine called Grafik plans to do a piece about him! They interviewed Ryan McGinniss recently so Adam's in pretty good company!

DC's most influential people

Did anyone catch dcist's list of DC's most influential people last week? Read it here. I glanced at it but didn't notice that someone writing as acerbic nominated me in the comments section until a sharp-eyed friend spotted it. It's #26! Thanks Holly! And thank YOU acerbic whoever you are.

"Anne Corbett, Tim Tate, and George Koch should all be on the list for what they've done for the DC arts scene."
You should add to this list Philippa Hughes.
[26] Posted by: acerbic | August 16, 2007 9:10 AM

Gone Surfing

I'm adding this to my collection of surfer art - not art about surfing, but art created by surfers. Captured by surfer and fine art photographer Sean Kelley, this image speaks volumes! I wish I could put up that sign more often.

X - August edition

eightyeight's monthly X event is back and better than ever. This time, my good friend Lauren Gentile is curating and it's going to be totally hot!

Sat. August 18th
6-10pm
A 21st Century Live-Art Happening
$5
Live(Electronica + Projections + Fashion + Art + Performance) + YOU = X
At BeBar
1318 9th St, NW 6-10pm

Above is last month's winning design by Cesar Maxit, inspired by the 3 words selected by curator Billy Colbert: Hype, Cacophony and Spectacle.

This month's X will feature:
Live PA performances from: Eliot Lipp (Brooklyn) and Aligning Minds
Graphic artists: Jessica Phillips, Derek Horton, Juan Zapata
Performance: Asharah
Projections/Live Digital Drawing: Shuhei/Megasleepyhead
Art: Tina Seamonster and Sara Dick
Live Painting: Robin Walker
Curator: Lauren Gentile

Hello Kitty!

Thai police have implemented a new punishment system for dealing with wayward cops: make them wear embarrassing Hello Kitty armbands for infractions like coming to work late. I really do not understand how wearing this cute, pink armband adorned with two happy hearts could be a punishment?

From a New York Times report on this cutting edge solution to recalcitrant law enforcement officials:

Pink armbands for misdemeanors are a start. Stronger measures could be next for corruption and extrajudicial killings.

Perhaps they will force extrajudicial killers to wear under-roos on the outside of their uniforms.

I'm obsessed

Another great Taffety Punk production

"The Devil in His Own Words"

Directed by Lise Bruneau
Music by Kathy Cashel
Text lifted by Marcus Kyd

Who or what is the Devil? Tracing his appearances over the ages, Marcus Kyd has compiled texts ancient and modern to find out. Why is he here? Who does he serve? And perhaps most problematic of all, is there hope for him? Directed by company member Lise Bruneau, with music and sound by Kathy Cashel, the Taffety Punks probe the darkest limits of our dreams to find the lifeblood of the world's oldest anarchist.

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August 10–26, 2007
Thurs–Sun 8:00 pm

Tickets $10.00

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Flashpoint Mead Theatre Lab
916 G Street. NW
Washington, DC, 20001
www.flashpointdc.org

My wish came true!!

Beckham took off his shirt twice last night! Above just before he entered the game for 21 minutes of play. It had been raining hard so he changed into a dry jersey before his performance. And below, at the end of the game, when a DC United player asked Becks for his shirt.


Oooh, look at him stretching!


Lots of screeching filled the stadium at this point. (And a few boos - I assume from disgruntled husbands and boyfriends.)

He barely touched the ball while he was on the field but it was pretty darn exciting to watch him run around. He didn't disappoint his fans!

Introductions3

Opening this Saturday: Introductions3, Irvine Contemporary's show of recent graduates from leading art schools. In selecting artists for this show, the gallery sought advice from a panel composed of a few local contemporary art collectors (including me!). Come by the gallery on Saturday from 6 to 8 PM to see our picks. Gallery location: 1412 14th Street, NW.

Silent Flurry

Silent Flurry, Nicholas & Sheila Pye, Chromogenic print, ed. 4/5, 50" x 50", 2006

Not only did the Hirshhorn recently acquire their work, but the Pyes have been gaining international renown in photography and film making. The Pye's high-design works are cinematic and lush and draw the viewer into an unfolding story. Absolutely gorgeous! Also appealing: their works also relate a sense of absurdity in relationships that reflects the absurdity of many relationships around me. (It helps to see the whole series of which Silent Flurry was a part to understand what I'm talking about.)

Silent Flurry will soon be seen at 1444 Church. For more information about their work, you can visit Curators Office and speak with Andrea Pollan.

Will Beckham play on Thursday??

I have tickets to see the game on Thursday between DC United and LA Galaxy. Although I love soccer and played a fair amount of it back in the day, I have not been a very good fan of our local team. This week's game will be the first I'll have attended since the opening season! And what motivated me to wake up at 5 AM* to buy two tickets to a soccer game? The incredibly hot David Beckham, of course! But will he play? Is he washed up? Did he leave Europe just as his aging body was starting to break down? Maybe he thought that as a relatively new nation of soccer lovers, we wouldn't notice that he's slowed down, that he doesn't have the same magic moves anymore. Even if he doesn't play, I heard he might show up to wave to his devoted fans. That'd be ok with me, as long as he takes his shirt off, too.

*I was in LA the day tickets went on sale at 8 AM EDT.

Virgin Festival

An incredibly fun day spent with good friends at the Virgin Festival to see a favorite band - The Police. But also got to see Ben Harper and the Beastie Boys! It was beyond hot and dehydrated people were dropping like flies left and right. But we found a nice little spot to lay out our beach towels in the VIP section (Thanks, Iona!) and soaked in the memories of hearing some of the greatest bands of our youth.