May 17, 2005

Dateline

GW's Guide To Happenings Throughout Metropolitan Washington

Ongoing Exhibitions
Exhibition “Nabokov’s Lolita: 1955–2005, Celebrating 50 Years,” a visual history of Vladimir Nabokov’s life and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the publication of Lolita, is a cooperative venture of The George Washington University Department of Romance, German, and Slavic Languages and Literatures and the Gelman Library. Through July 29. For more information visit www.gwu.edu/~slavic/ nabokov and www.gwu.edu/ gelman/news2005.html.

Exhibition “André Kertész” The National Gallery of Art is featuring an exhibition focusing on several themes André Kertész (1894–1985) explored throughout his 70-year career, including the unexpected and often bizarre juxtapositions that often occur in modern urban life. This retrospective of approximately 113 photographs, including some of the most celebrated works in 20th-century photography — such as Chez Mondrian and The Satiric Dancer. The exhibition runs West Building, Ground Floor, Inner Tier, through May 15. For more information call 737-4215 or visit www.nga.gov.

$ Exhibition “The 48th Corcoran Biennial: Closer to Home” This Biennial focuses on contemporary artists making use of traditional arts methods. Closer to Home marks a return to the exhibition’s origins and considers the familiar territories of traditional media — such as canvas, paint and wood — while giving prominence to the work of Washington, DC-based artists. The exhibition opens March 19 and continues through June 27. For more information call 639-1770, or visit www.corcoran.org.

$ Exhibition “Maiolica: Italian Renaissance Ceramics from the Corcoran Collection” This exhibition features Italian Renaissance maiolica, a high-quality, beautifully decorated tin-glazed earthenware. Examples include plates, apothecary jars, inkwells and other types of decorative objects. The Corcoran’s collection contains works made in all of the major centers of Italian Renaissance production including Faenza, Urbino, and Tuscany. Exhibition continues through July 11. For more information call 639-1770, or visit www.corcoran.org.

Exhibition “Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre” The National Gallery of Art is featuring more than 250 paintings, drawings, posters, prints, sculptures, zinc silhouettes from the Chat Noir shadow play primarily by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) examining the artists’ fascination with the decadent spirit and glamour of bohemian life in the Parisian district of Montmartre at the turn of the 20th century. The exhibition runs in the East Building, Mezzanine and Upper Level, through June 12. For more information call 737-4215 or visit www.nga.gov.

Exhibition “Boating on a River” Boating on a River surveys the role of boats in the history of later Chinese painting. Exhibition runs through Aug. 14 at the Freer Gallery. For more information, call 633-1000, or visit www.asia.si.edu.
Exhibition “Cotton Puffs, Q-tips, Smoke and Mirrors: The Drawings of Ed Ruscha” Exhibition runs through May 30 at the National Gallery of Art. For more information, call 737-4215, or visit www.nga.gov.

$ Exhibition “Figuratively Speaking: The Human Form in American Art 1770–1950” Drawn from the Corcoran’s permanent collection, the exhibition explores the stylistic diversity of American artists’ depictions of the human form and chronicles the nation’s artistic and social histories. Through May 23. For more information call 639-1700 or visit www.corcoran.org.

$ Exhibition “Pueblo Pottery: A Living Tradition” This collection celebrates the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian. It features eight works from four pueblos of the American Southwest, along with a display showing how the pottery is created and a documentary film on the art form. At the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Admission $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, and free for members and those under 18. Exhibition runs through May 15. For more information, call 783-5000 or visit www.nmwa.org.

Tuesday / May 17
GW $ Theatre

$ Performance The Cellists of the National Symphony Orchestra with Christine Brandes, soprano For the final concert of the Fortas season, the entire National Symphony Orchestra cello section comes together as one sonorous unit, to present a program encompassing much of the scintillating — yet not often heard — repertoire for cello ensemble. 7:30 pm at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theatre. Tickets $32. For more information, call 467-4600, or visit kennedycenter.com.
$ Performance “Samson et Dalila” Washington National Opera closes its season with Saint-Saëns’ most famous opera, Samson et Dalila, based on the Biblical tale that tells the story of Samson's downfall at the hands of his lover, Dalila, after he leads the God-fearing Hebrews to victory over the Philistines. Runs at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House through June 4. Tickets $45–$290. For times and more information, call 467-4600, or visit kennedycenter.com.

$ Lecture “Presidential Retreats, from Mount Vernon to Crawford” Ken Walsh, award-winning chief White House correspondent for US News & World Report, offers an insider’s view of presidential history and the places where our commanders-in-chief have gone to escape the pressures of Washington. 6 pm at S. Dillon Ripley Center. General admission $15, members $12. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

$ Lecture “Harry Blackmun’s Supreme Court Journey” Linda Greenhouse presents a backstage look at the Supreme Court and the personal transformation of this legendary justice through his newly revealed public and private writings. 6:30 pm at S. Dillon Ripley Center. General admission $15, members $12. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

$ Lecture “Spectacular Gems” Master gemologist Martin Fuller discusses what the experts know about gems — their origins, characteristics, folklore, and mysteries. 6:30 pm at S. Dillon Ripley Center. Six sessions through June 21. General admission $129, members $84. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

$ Special Event “Art Visit, Modigliani and Gold Room Lunch” Olga Hirshhorn, leads a tour of her wonderfully art-filled home — all works, by major modern and contemporary artists, in scale with the size of the residence. Following the tour, participants are also invited to view the Modigliani exhibition at the Phillips Collection. 11 am–2:20 pm. Pre-registration required. Members $130, non-members $140. For more information please call 639-1770 or visit www.corcoran.org.

$ Theatre “Signature Theatre Presents Pacific Overtures” The award-winning combination of Stephen Sondheim, Eric Schaeffer and Signature Theatre are taking audiences on a Far East musical journey. Pacific Overtures is a tale of culture clash sparked by America’s 1853 mission to Westernize Japan. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 pm; Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm and 7 pm, through July 3. Tickets are $30–$49, discount for students, seniors (60 plus), and military with valid ID available through the Signature Theatre Box Office. Tickets are available through Tickets.com at 800/955-5566 or 703/218-6500 or online at www.signature-theatre.org.

Wednesday / May 18
$ Lecture “Toulouse-Lautrec and the Artists of Montmartre” In an illustrated lecture coinciding with the National Gallery of Art exhibition Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre, Kimberly Jones examines the rich artistic tapestry of the district at the fin de siecle. 6:30 pm, location indicated on tickets. General admission $15, members $12. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

$ Lecture “On the Atlantic Edge” In this illustrated lecture British writer Adam Nicolson recounts his adventure sailing the Atlantic coast from Cornwall to the Faeroes. 6:30 pm, location indicated on ticket. General admission $15, members $12. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

GW Seminar “Pelvic Floor Disorders & Repair” Dallas Johnson, MD, presents this free seminar discussing the origins of pelvic floor disorders and treatment options. In the GW Hospital Auditorium, 7–8:30 pm. To register, call 1/888-4GW-DOCS.

$ Lecture Francine du Plessix Gray — Them: A Memoir of Parents In this remarkable evening, Gray presents an unflinchingly honest and forgiving portrait of her famous parents. 7 pm at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Members $15, non-members $20. For more information, call 639-1770, or visit www.corcoran.org.

Thursday / May 19
$ Performance Tenth Annual Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival Jazz’s greatest female performers come together for three days - including pianists René Marie, Hiromi, and others. Runs through May 21, at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theatre. Tickets $30. For times and more information, call 467-4600, or visit kennedycenter.com.

$ Performance “Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem” Present by The Choral Arts Society of Washington. 8 pm at the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall. Tickets $17–$50. For more information, call 467-4600, or visit kennedycenter.com.

Friday / May 20
GW Exhibition Opening MFA Thesis Show “LURE” by Amanda Davies Opening Reception, May 24, 5–7 pm in the Dimock Student Galley, Lisner Auditorium (Lower level). The show runs May 20–June 3.

$ Film “Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance” A documentary on the plight of American Indians. 7 pm at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Tickets $5 general admission, $4 members, students, and seniors. For more information, call 783-7370.

$ Lecture “Preserving Life: Mummification and Medicine in Ancient Egypt” Bob Brier traces the story of ancient Egyptian medicine. 6:30 pm, location indicated on ticket. General admission $23, members $18. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

$ Special Event “Adventures in Greenland, One of the Earth’s Last Wild Places” Join some of Greenland’s leading scholars, artisans, and performing artists as they recreate that world of rare beauty. 7–9:30 pm. On Saturday, experts from Greenland offer an adventurous exploration as they traverse this awe-inspiring land, summarizing the aspects which make the Greenland adventure a unique one.10 am–4:30 pm. Both programs, general admission $121, members $75. Friday evening only, general admission $45, members $30. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

Saturday / May 21
$ Performance “Hecuba” Presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Runs through June 12 at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre. Tickets $25–$78. For times and more information, call 467-4600, or visit kennedycenter.com.
$ Lecture “Roots of Human Behavior” Barbara J. King explains new discoveries by anthropologists who observe living apes and reconstruct our human ancestors’ ways of life. 10 am–3 pm at S. Dillon Ripley Center. General admission $111, members $65. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

$ Lecture “Mr. President! Mr. President! — Reporting from the White House” Veteran White House correspondents share their experiences in a morning session covering presidential administrations from Eisenhower to George W. Bush. 10 am–3:15 pm at S. Dillon Ripley Center. General admission $111, members $65. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

Sunday / May 22
$ Lecture “Unlocking the Hebrew Bible Through Words and Images” Judaic scholar Erica Brown offers a rich understanding of Biblical narratives by merging written and image-based interpretations. 10 am–4:15 pm at S. Dillon Ripley Center. General admission $121, members $68. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

Monday / May 23
$ Lecture “LBJ Presidential Recordings: Let Us Continue” Moderator Evan Thomas leads a discussion on the latest release of LBJ tapes, portions of which are played during the program. 6:30 pm at S. Dillon Ripley Center. General admission $20, members $15. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

Tuesday / May 24
$ Lecture “Gilgamesh” Created a thousand years before Homer’s Iliad, The Epic Gilgamesh is brought stunningly to life in a new translation by Stephen Mitchell. 6:30 pm, location indicated on ticket. General admission $15, members $12. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

$ Lecture “Washington: Paris of the Imagination” In this perceptive talk, Mina Marefat explores the links between Paris and Washington, DC, and the myths shared by the two cities. 7 pm at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Members $12, non-members $16. For more information, call 639-1770, or visit www.corcoran.org.

Wednesday / May 25
$ Lecture “Theodore Roosevelt After the White House” Author Patricia O’Toole tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt’s last decade, in which he led a Smithsonian safari, ran for president again, became chief critic of American neutrality in World War I, and tried in vain to raise a division of soldiers once the US entered the war. 6 pm at S. Dillon Ripley Center. General admission $15, members $12. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

$ Lecture “Making Sense: Meaning in Old English” Drawing on a comprehensive database of Old English Professor Antonette diPaolo Healey analyzes the Old English vocabulary from a wide range of texts. 6:30 pm, location indicated on ticket. General admission $15, members $12. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

$ Lecture “Jack Welch — Insights on Winning” In a conversation with Geoff Colvin, Welch discusses his business philosophy as the foundation for success. 7 pm at Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural History. General admission $22, members $18. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

Thursday / May 26
$ Lecture “Elizabethan Stages: Early English Drama” Discusses the plays, performers, venues, and dramatic conventions that shaped the work of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. 6:30 pm, location indicated on ticket. General admission $30, members $25. For more information, call 252-0012, or visit residentassociates.org.

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu

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