Arts & Entertainment
Arts news in brief
Last chance for Long View exhibit; ‘Philip Morris’ finally arrives
A still from 'I Love You Phillip Morris.' (Image courtesy of Europa Corp.)
Closing on Sunday is “We The People,” an exhibit by Scott Brooks at Long View Gallery.
If you have a taste for pop sensibility framed with a dark vision of the current American political scene and nude or nearly nude male physiques, see this exhibit, “We The People,” 12 new oil paintings by D.C. artist Scott G. Brooks in the few remaining days before it closes on Sunday at Long View Gallery, 1234 9th St., N.W.
Drew Porterfield, gay managing director of the gallery, says that Brooks’ work “reflects the political and economic turmoil that takes up the head space of those who are paying attention.” One of his paintings even depicts Fox News commentator and Tea Party advocate Glenn Beck in the altogether, sporting only strategically placed patriotic bunting. Brooks calls Beck “a fake messiah distracting people” from the real issues that surround them.
But Brooks is not much more enthused with President Obama. In the title piece of the show, “We The People,” a 48-by-30-inch oil on canvas, “Brooks’ disillusionment with Washington is central,” says Porterfield about the work depicting a snake-charmer who distracts his followers as his head is illuminated by a Christ-like halo, a possible comment on religion, as what Karl Marx once called “the opiate of the people.”
The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Call 202-232-4788 or visit longviewgallery.com.
New gay-themed films to debut
Opening at area theaters on Friday, Dec. 3, the long-delayed “I Love You, Philip Morris,” a comedy starring actors Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor as gay lovers who meet in prison and then are separated and reunited through a series of joke-filled jail-breaks and impersonations.
“Mary Lou,” a modern-day fable by Israeli filmmaker Eytan Fox, featuring Tel Aviv’s famous drag queen Meir/Mary Lou, playing at 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 as part of the 21st Washington Jewish Film Festival, at the 16th St., N.W., D.C. Jewish Community Center.
“Undertow,” a 2009 Peruvian blend of gay love story and ghost story by writer-director Javier Fuentes-Leon, already selected as Peru’s entry for the 2010 Academy Awards — the “buzz-film” at the San Francisco LGBT Film Festival — will be shown at the DC JCC at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 as part of the Reel Affirmations “R.A. Extra” monthly series of LGBT films.
‘Cave of Crystals’
This is the first time that Lia Halloran, photographer, painter and professor in Los Angeles, has worked with Sarah Strauss, a Brooklyn-based architect, though they bonded years ago as graduate students at Yale University over how nature and science could sometimes intersect with art. Their joint exhibit — “Folding Unfolding: Collider” — is on exhibit at the new Artisphere in Rosslyn’s repurposed old Newseum Building, 1101 Wilson Blvd, through Jan 12.
Collider is the name of their new collaborative group whose work is “all built by girls!” The exhibit includes what appears at first to be large crystals though they are in fact made out of a light-weight wood composite using 3D digital modeling techniques. Their inspiration came from the discovery some 10 years ago in Mexico of underground, half-a-million-year-old crystals, some of them as large as 37 feet long.
Another Halloran exhibit is also now at the Artisphere, a photographic series called “Dark Skate” — photos she took while skateboarding in the dark.
For more information, call 703-875-1100 or go here.
Arlington is for all lovers
Also at the Artisphere in Rosslyn, the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance (AGLA) invites the public at no charge to be part of a video shoot on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., hosted by drag entertainer Destiny B. Childs. The finished video, inspired by a video of LGBT people in Paris embracing, will premiere at the Artisphere on Dec. 20. The tagline will be “Arlington is for all lovers.”
For more information or to volunteer, go here.
The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Music & Concerts
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.
For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.
Friday, May 2
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at P.F. Chang’s. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, May 3
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events for LGBTQ People of Color, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Sunday, May 4
“The Chateau Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Chicatana. Enjoy fabulous Mexican food and cocktails while being entertained by a rotating cast of the DMV’s best drag performers. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
“The Bubble: Queer Brooklyn Comics in DC” will be at 5 p.m. at As You Are. Queer comedians Charlie Flynn, Evan Lazarus and Keara Sullivan are coming down from NYC for a night of fun as they split an hour of standup comedy. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Monday, May 5
“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Tuesday, May 6
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected].
Wednesday, May 7
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older queer women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, May 8
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga with Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
South Asian Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The peer support group is an outlet for South Asian-identified LGBTQ individuals to come and talk about anything affecting them. It’s a secure, judgment-free environment to discuss relationships, sexuality, health, well-being, identity, culture, religion, or anything that is on your mind. For more details, email [email protected].
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