First Friday Dupont: Art Walk

Bon Beke’s Bakehouse will be open for First Friday as they showcase seven pieces from J. Thomas Wells. Wells’ assemblage work follows in the tradition of indigenous cultures, the Eskimo, African and Native American, where found objects are the raw materials from which their religious and ethnic icons are created. Wells considers himself as an archeologist sitting beside a dig at the edge of infinity, selecting and reconstructing artifacts of both past and future. Bon Beke’s is located at 1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW.

The Church of Scientology, National Affairs Office is proud to host an art exhibition with two artists spreading happiness in their own community. Visit the historic Fraser Mansion, enjoy the art, and get your free copy of THE WAY TO HAPPINESS™ booklet. Meet the Artists! Astrid Reeves shows bold paintings which capture the lively colors and swirling abstract forms of nature itself. She has developed her own fluid art technique that she calls “breath art”. These paintings are created solely by using her breath to push the paint around in delicate layers and patterns using mainly acrylics and watercolor. J. Thomas Wells presents assemblage work that follows in the tradition of indigenous cultures, the Eskimo, African and Native American, where found objects are the raw materials from which their religious and ethnic icons are created. The Church of Scientology, National Affairs Office is located at 1701 20^th Street, NW.

IA&A at Hillyer presents 3 New Solo Exhibitions. Hillyer’s featured exhibitions in January include Kate Fleming, August, Rachelle Wunderink, Your Comfort, My Silence, and Adi Segal, Where are you really from? Take this opportunity to meet the artists in person and mingle with friends and colleagues. Hillyer is free to the public with a suggested donation of $10. Located at 9 Hillyer Ct NW (behind The Phillips Collection.) To learn more, visit www.athillyer.org.

Join us at the Korean Cultural Center Washington D.C., presenting Us Within the World: TalkTalk Korea 2024 Award-Winning Works, 80 selected media entries from the annual global content contest, representing participants from nearly 30 different countries across five categories that highlight Korea’s rich cultural diversity. The award-winning works navigate contemporary creative ideas under themes including Meme and Trend, Art and Craft, Motion Graphics, and more, offering fresh perspectives on what Korea means to people around the world.  Through the lens of international content creators, this exhibition represents a vibrant platform for cross-cultural dialogue where Korea’s unique traditions and modern innovations converge with diverse global interpretations. Each work reflects the creator’s personal connection to Korea, collectively presenting an array of imaginative expressions from playful reinterpretations of pop culture to intricate descriptions of craft and artistry. The Korean Cultural Center is located at 2370 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

Join us at the Museum of the Palestinian People for a presentation of Art as Resistance: Testimonies of Sumud (Steadfastness), an exhibition featuring the powerful linocut paintings of Mohammad Sabaaneh. One of the works, Lines #1 Untitled (2023), shows a young Palestinian man climbing an electric pole. This powerful image asserts Palestinian existence in the face of ongoing attempts at erasure. It captures a moment of resilience and defiance, inviting the viewer to reflect on the enduring strength of the Palestinian spirit. Join us in celebrating art that resists, endures, and amplifies voices of hope. The Museum of the Palestinian People is located at 1900 18th St NW, Washington DC.

Studio Gallery is excited to present this year’s annual outreach show, featuring two powerful exhibitions: Beauty Behind Bars: The Transformative Power of Art in Confinement in our upper gallery and In the Making: A Spectrum of Student Creativity in our lower gallery. Beauty Behind Bars: The Transformative Power of Art in Confinement showcases evocative works by incarcerated artists, curated by a formerly incarcerated artist and a public defender. This exhibition explores the resilience and transformative power of art in confinement, challenging stereotypes and offering a window into the humanity of those behind bars. In the Making: A Spectrum of Student Creativity highlights recent works by students from middle schools, high schools, and universities across the DC metro area. This exhibition celebrates the creativity of emerging artists, presenting a diverse range of perspectives on the world around them, from the beauty of nature to the vibrancy of urban life. Both exhibitions are part of our annual outreach show and will be on display from January 2nd until January 25th, 2024, at Studio Gallery, 2108 R Street NW. We look forward to welcoming you!

The Ven at Embassy Row will be open for its last month of The Wonders of DC Trees, which showcases ZCAF’s traveling exhibition of colorful educational panels funded by Events DC. These seven-foot-tall displays will be accompanied by original artworks featuring tree themes to celebrate DC’s leafy canopy. Included in this exhibition are sculptures, paintings, and mixed media. The exhibition of original artwork not only takes the tree as a starting point, but also repurposes arboreal remains like bark, twigs, driftwood, lumber, or tree pulp as the medium. Subjects vary widely. A path through the woods evokes the stark enchantment of Rock Creek Park. Contrasting veneers suggest the shape of trees. A heron haunts the swampy sphere of cattail and deadfall. Steps lead upward to nature’s cathedral door. In addition, there is figurative work carved in wood and a painting of an elm in front of the iconic Smithsonian Castle. The art gallery is located down the center staircase just past the front desk. The Ven at Embassy Row is located at 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW.

The Washington Center of ADA Art Gallery, an extension of ADA University’s Art Program, welcomes its Winter 2025 exhibition, MEDITATIONS by Steven Kleinrock. “Meditations” delves into the memory and poetry of place through abstract color field paintings and printmaking. Inspired by plein air observation, the work uses landscapes to explore color, light, and texture. Beeswax enhances the tactile experience, while processes like collage and traditional printmaking invite spontaneity and layered expression, capturing the essence of natural spaces like the Shenandoah Mountains and the Southwest. You can find the Washington Center of the ADA Art Gallery at 1627 21st Street, NW on Gallery Row.

Join us in our gallery for First Friday at Washington Studio School featuring XOXO Faculty Show, January 3rd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.! View the works of our talented instructors as we kick off WSS’s 40th year anniversary! This event is free and open to the public. Washington Studio School is located at 2129 S Street NW.

The Arts and Museum Affairs Committee of the Woman’s National Democratic Club is delighted to show the exhibition, “Capturing the Moment” by Ken Bachman, on view until February 4th. Bachman has exhibited widely in local venues and won many awards for his works in juried competitions. In this exhibition, he takes us on his travels as well as to our hometown of Washington. Bachman’s oil paintings often capture not the touristic view but rather his unique perspective of a scene, for example, the laundry hanging above a narrow street of an old European village, or a trawler seen through a pier’s poles. As the artist notes, “I am drawn to scenes where the play of light and shadow in their colors illuminates the specific moment and creates a special beauty and interest. … I enjoy scenes where man-made structures add their own beauty and enhance our appreciation for the beauty of the natural world that surrounds them. A cash bar will be available. The Woman’s National Democratic Club is located at 1526 New Hampshire Avenue NW.