All photos courtesy Art Soiree Productions
From German language lessons in the galleries, to arias by tenor Pablo Heinrich, to dance routines from Carpathia Folk Dance Ensemble, we had a blast at this month’s Oktoberfest Phillips after 5 with Art Soiree! Check out all of the pictures from the evening on Art Soiree’s Facebook page.
In this series, Young Artists Exhibitions Program Coordinator Emily Bray profiles participants in the 2013 James McLaughlin Memorial Staff Show. Join us for the Staff Show reception on October 10, from 5:30 to 8 pm!
Julia Kwon’s abstract paintings are inspired by the act of mark-making; she invents new spaces with expressive brushstrokes. She has received many awards, including Joseph S. Lepgold Phi Beta Kappa and the AAUW’s poster competition: Celebrating Women’s Voice in Politics and Art. She was also selected by the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS) for the Integrative Arts Fellowship.
Julia Kwon, Untitled, 2013, Oil on canvas
What do you do at The Phillips Collection?
I’m a museum assistant at The Phillips Collection.
Who are your favorite artists in the collection?
My favorite artists are Mark Rothko, Vincent van Gogh, and Richard Diebenkorn. I admire these artists for their clear vision, expressiveness, and emotional content.
What is your favorite gallery space within The Phillips Collection?
My favorite gallery is the Rothko Room. The room’s dim lighting not only adds to the depth and resonance of the colors, but also creates a comforting space for viewers to really experience the art.
What would you like people to know about your art and process?
I take pleasure in being present and making creative decisions. Mark-making has been my biggest inspiration as it creates a series of actions-and-reactions between me and my paintings. This state of flux provides opportunities for experimentation and discovery; it allows the paintings to intricately and continuously evolve and expand. Lyrical, intertwined marks gradually emerge from my belief in continuous growth in life and my realization of the complex interdependence between all things. Through painting, I create my own story with new meaning and space that not only intrigues me visually, but also moves me internally.
The 2013 James McLaughlin Memorial Staff Show will be on view September 23, 2013 through October 20, 2013. The show features artwork from Phillips Collection staff.
Emily Bray, Young Artists Exhibitions Program Coordinator
This week brought crowds to the galleries, even without a special exhibition. Photos: Sue Nichols
While the National Mall may have had tumbling tumbleweeds this week due to the shutdown of many of our city’s biggest museums, loads of tourists have been using their SmarTrip cards to take the red line out to Dupont Circle and visit the Phillips. Even though we are between special exhibitions, we have still seen crowds at 3 1/2 times our usual numbers. A typical Thursday in early October with no special exhibition would host 155 visitors. Yesterday, we had 626, and that doesn’t even include the 700+ for Phillips After 5.
Not only have we welcomed many new visitors, we’ve experienced the shutdown in other ways. Delivery schedules for works of art have been changed to accommodate shuttered institutions and furloughed art handlers. Fellow cultural institutions scrambling for venues to host long-planned events have approached us for help. While we hope that the government resolves this round of conflict soon, we have enjoyed welcoming all who have streamed through our doors this week.
