On September 24-25 2011 Nuit Blanche, aka Art All Night, hit DC for the first time, the streets of Shaw filled with an estimated 15,000 people, enjoying the art, music and food. For the first year of the festival it was an astounding success. In 2012 a smaller Taste of Art All Night, was held in downtown’s Chinatown/Gallery Place/Penn Quarter on October 20. This year the "Full-Scale Overnight Arts Festival" will return to Shaw, September 28-29, run by Shaw Main Streets, the original producer, with the promise to bring together performers, musicians, poets, fashion designers and visual artists.
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| Posing with art at No Kings Collective's Submerge Installation during 2011 Nuit Blanche. (Photograph by Dakota Fine, Courtesy of Shaw Main Streets) |
So what to expect;
Twelve venues in central Shaw along 7th and 9th Streets, NW, will showcase the work of DC painters, sculptors, photographers, fashion designers, musicians, dancers, poets, actors and more, and it will also include international participants.
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| Spain's Digital 21 laid down the beats at the Wonder Bread Factory during Nuit Blanche 2011. (Photograph by Dakota Fine Courtesy Shaw Main Streets) |
The newly renovated Wonder Bread Factory at 641 S Street, NW, will be the largest Art All Night 2013 venue, with 80,000 square feet dedicated to the festival.
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| The light show in front of the Wonder Bread Factory caught visitors attention before and after going inside during Nuit Blanche 2011.(Photograph by Dakota Fine,Courtesy of Shaw Main Streets) |
In 2011, the Wonder Bread Factory was one of the most popular Art All Night venues, with over 7,000 visitors. Many Galleries will open their doors, and a number of street/graffiti artists will be creating, exhibiting their art throughout the area.
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| The Lady Drummers of Bachata helped kick-off Nuit Blanche 2011 with a bang at 7th and I Streets NW (Photograph by Dakota Fine, courtesy of Shaw Main Streets) |
"While several venues will include work from multiple artists in various media, in addition to performances, some venues will be single artist showcases, like the studio of renowned neon sculptor Craig Kraft, which was also included in Art All Night 2011. “People were lined up down the block waiting to get in last time,” Kraft recalls. Kraft’s large outdoor commissions are installed throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including in front of the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library at 7th and R Streets, NW. “I’ll be showing more of my studio work this time,” Kraft observes, including pieces from his Ground Zero and Intentional Drawings series.
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| Art lovers were drawn like moths to a flame by Craig Kraft's neon sculpture in front of the Watha T Daniel Shaw Library during Nuit Blanche 2011 (Photograph by Dakota Fine Courtesy Shaw Main Streets) |
You can expect some good food as well, Shaw has seen many new restaurants and bars open over the past few years and many will participate (including some of the newer ones) so foodies, plan your night for Nuit Blanche.
For the geeky in all of us, there will be a website (coming shortly)
artallnightdc2013.com, check back here for that, as the itinerary will continue to add new artists and venues. There will also be a
Mobile APP that will allow folks to be guided from venue to venue and will provide information on the artists, performers etc. Very Cool!
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| Surrounded by art at No Kings Collective Submerge Installation during Nuit Blanch 2011 (Photograph by Dakota Fine, courtesy of Shaw Main Streets) |
“Art All Night is a unique opportunity to explore the creativity of DC artists of all types, in traditional and nontraditional spaces, ranging from small galleries and theaters to the historic 80,000 square foot Wonder Bread Factory and the award-wining Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library,” says Alexander M. Padro, executive director of the non-profit Shaw Main Streets, which is presenting this year’s festival. “And it all takes place in the middle of a neighborhood that’s booming with new residential and commercial development, including over 20 new bars and restaurants, a number of which will be open in time for the big event.”
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| Dancing at the Wonder Bread Factory closed out the night for many Nuit Blanche 2011 attendees. (Photograph by Dakota Fine Courtesy Shaw Main Streets) |
So there you have it (at least an early look). So you ask, when? September 28th starting at 7PM and ending at 3AM.
Nuit Blanche, originated in Paris, and is now celebrated in 120 cities around the world
Nuit Blanche All-Nighter, literally White Night
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