Connect 4: Reception Draws Many to MLK Jr. Memorial Library
Tuesday May 7th 2013
Today was the official kick-off of the Connect 4* visual arts exhibit at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Connect 4 is an exhibit by local contemporary artists that will continue through the summer and highlight 4 local artists, Nekisha Durrett, Brian Davis, Sam Scharf and Ana Tsouhlarakis. This evenings reception at the library brought together a large and diverse group of DC residents, despite the inclement weather, all drawn to the library in support of this public arts project brought to the library by CulturalDC**. I think it is worth saying that the cross section of people attending represented the diversity of the city and showed yet again DC's love for the arts.
The first two installations are in place at the library, with the promise of 2 more over the coming weeks, with additional co-operative works, such as Split This Rock’s youth program, the DC Youth Poetry Slam team, performing original pieces in response to the work of featured artist Brian Davis (May 22nd 4.30pm at MLK Jr. Library).
But it was the featured artists, Nekisha and Brian, who were the real stars of the event. Both were on hand to meet the attendees and talk one-on-one about their artwork and creative process.
A close second was Brian Davis "Circuit" as people flitted from seat to seat activating the lights, looking for others to join them to make up the full 5 seat effect.
Today was the official kick-off of the Connect 4* visual arts exhibit at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Connect 4 is an exhibit by local contemporary artists that will continue through the summer and highlight 4 local artists, Nekisha Durrett, Brian Davis, Sam Scharf and Ana Tsouhlarakis. This evenings reception at the library brought together a large and diverse group of DC residents, despite the inclement weather, all drawn to the library in support of this public arts project brought to the library by CulturalDC**. I think it is worth saying that the cross section of people attending represented the diversity of the city and showed yet again DC's love for the arts.
But it was the featured artists, Nekisha and Brian, who were the real stars of the event. Both were on hand to meet the attendees and talk one-on-one about their artwork and creative process.
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| Artist Nekisha Durrett talks to attendees about "O'er Yonder" |
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| Brian Davis shares his vision with an attendee about "Circuit" |
CulturalDC and the MLK Jr. Library have hit a home run with the Connect 4 exhibit, and with the coming artworks by Sam Scharf and Anna Tsouhlarakis yet to be installed it should be a rich summer at the library.
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| CulturalDC Executive Director Juanita Hardy with artist Nekisha Durrett |
*Connect 4, a CulturalDC public project is generously supported by the DC
Commission on the Arts and Humanities and by Timothy Hyde. In-kind
support for Nekisha Durrett's project was provided by CSI Printing and
Graphics.
**CulturalDC is a non-profit arts organization that makes space for art.
CulturalDC operates Flashpoint at 916 G Street NW and Source at 1835
14th Street NW.
My thanks to Karyn Miller, Dir. of Visual Arts at CulturalDC " a most gracious event host"
The Badwolfdc blog will continue to follow the Connect 4 project throughout the summer.
came across the Circuit installation at the MLK library over lunch while picking up a book on hold, and had an impromptu sit-down with 4 other random strangers (including the security guard) to play with the lights.. unexpected bit of fun interaction with ppl in the middle of a dreary workday :)
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