Art of the matter

Many galleries have new exhibits opening this fall season including Touchstone Gallery’s ‘Color Grids’ featuring works by Charlie Dale such as ‘Chesapeake Waterman.’ (Photo courtesy Touchstone)

There are a lot of galleries all over the D.C. area and they all have new shows starting this fall season.

The Corcoran Gallery of Art (500 17th St., N.W.) has many events coming up. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., performer, choreographer and filmmaker Maida Withers will be giving an interactive performance with improvisation and a temporary installation. On Sep. 27 at 7 p.m. for Cosmo Couture 2012, the gallery will be holding “Fashion, Identity and Interiors: The Cosmo Couture Creative Process.” Tickets to this event are $15 for the public and $12 for members.

The gallery is having the first of what is planned to be an annual community day on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is free and for all ages. There will also be an exhibit entitled “Decades: 100 Years of Style and Fashion” on display on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.

For more information on Corcoran and its upcoming events and exhibits, visit corcoran.org.

The Smithsonian’s Freer|Sackler Gallery (105 Independence Ave., S.W.) has a variety of exhibits coming up this season.

On Sep. 28, the gallery will be hosting “Asia After Dark: Asian Soundscape with DJ Spooky” at 7 p.m. The event will feature music set against Asian silent films. Attendees will be able to make their own eco-friendly drum and learn how to play rhythms from Asia. Tickets are $25 in advance,$30 at the door and $15 for Silk Road Society members.

“Nomads and Networks: The Art and Culture of Ancient Kazakhstan” featuring gold objects and gilded horns will be on display through Nov. 12.

“Road of Arabia: Archaeology and History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” opens Nov. 17. It will feature recently discovered archaeological material never seen in the U.S. including alabaster bowls, glassware, earrings and more. The exhibit will be on display through Feb. 24.

The Peacock Room will be on display, restored for the first time to its appearance in 1908. The room will be open through spring.

For more information, visit asia.si.edu.

Touchstone Gallery’s (901 New York Ave., N.W.) exhibits “Color Grids,” featuring paintings by Charlie Dale and “Seen/Unseen” featuring works by Rosemary Luckett, have already opened, but there will be an event on Sep. 20 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

They gallery also has a few exhibits opening in October including a members show, Photoweek show and exhibits featuring work by Ai-Wen Wu Krats, Rhona Schonwald and Michael Lant. In November, a show featuring works by Gale Wallar opens.

For more information on Touchstone and the upcoming shows, visit touchstonegallery.com.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (200 North Blvd.) has multiple exhibits this season.

“Gesture: Judith Godwin and Abstract Expressionism” features 25 paintings by Godwin exploring a critical period in the artist’s development, will run through Jan. 27. “Fine Arts and Flowers” will feature work from more than 75 garden clubs through Virginia interpreting masterworks in VMFA’s collection with floral arrangements and will run through Oct. 28.

“Photography and Abstraction in the 1950s and ‘60s” will open Nov. 17 featuring work by photographers such as Aaron Siskind, Harry Callahan, Minor White and Gita Lenz. The exhibit will be on display through July.

For more information, visit vmfa.museum/exhibitions.

Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington) is celebrating its second anniversary weekend in October with several exhibits. Opening Oct. 4 is “Craig Colorusso: Sun Boxes” at Freedom Park and Waterview Plaza at Le Meridien Hotel. “Forro in the Dark and Alma Tropicalia,” a party featuring Brazilian music and more is Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. in the Ballroom. Tickets are $20. On Oct. 7, there will be a free family day open house from 1 to 4 p.m.

Artisphere will also be holding Yarn Bomb meet-ups and stitch sessions on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. starting Oct. 17.

There are a few exhibits currently on view that will run throughout the fall including “Beyond the Parking Lot: The Change and Re-Assesment of Our Modern Landscape” will run through Nov. 4 and was inspired by the Joni Mitchell song “Big Yellow Taxi” and features contemporary landscapes by artists who are observing these changes, exposing the use of the environment in compromising ways and instigates the discussion of “where do we go from here?”

For more information, visit artisphere.com.

Torpedo Factory (105 North Union St.) is having a free event during the Alexandria King Street Art Festival. The sixth annual Art Activated will give festival attendees not only a place to cool down, but also several hands-on activities. Visitors can do screen-printing, bubble gum art, create their own button and more. There will also be a Q-Art Code Scavenger Hunt with a chance to win a $150 gift certificate to the Torpedo Factory.

For more information, visit torpedofactory.org/artactivated.

Other galleries that always have interesting exhibits and are worth checking out include Aaron Gallery at 2101 L Street NW (aarongallerydc.com), The Art League in Alexandria at 105 North Union Street (theartleague.org), Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens at 4155 Linnean Ave., N.W. (hillwoodmuseum.org), the Fridge D.C. at 516 8th Street, S.E. (thefridgedc.com) the Kreeger Museum at 2401 Foxhall Road, N.W. (kreegermuseum.org), the National Gallery of Art at 4th and Constitution Ave., N.W. (nga.gov) and the brand new Northern Virginia Art Center at 2120-A Crystal Plaza Arcade in Arlington (novaartcenter.org).