Photo Gallery: Nuit Blanche 2013 - What you Probably Missed

So you heard about Nuit Blanche 2013 on social media, and dashed off to join the thousands at the Wonder Bread Factory on S Street....and stood in line.
Meanwhile down 7th & 9th Streets there was some fun going on, and more to see than you could fit into one 'allnighter'. I took my camera and hit the streets early in the evening, and spent most of my time at the smaller venues showing a wide diversity of visual arts.

At Touchstone Gallery on NY Ave, Janathel Shaw exhibited "ReBirth"

The "ReBirth"  featured sculptures and joined Linda Bankerd's "Garden Variety" painting exhibit

After Touchstone Gallery I walked across 7th to "Warehouse Theatre" on NY Ave. Here the Emergence Community Arts Collective was putting on performances of dance, poetry and spoken word. I arrived just in time for Belly Dancing.

A full house watches as the troupe swirl's through its performance

Belly Dance Star 'Belladonna' created some excitement dancing and balancing a rather substantial scimitar

With no time to enjoy later acts, I move on to the "Alpersteins Furniture Building" where there is an exhibit of large scale paintings by local artist Suman Sorg, as well as live painting by Michael Guild...and all this accompanied by live jazz...sweet.

Suman Sorg provided large format abstract paintings

Michael Guild's paintings shifted through the color spectrum under hand held lights

Cool Jazz brings the exhibits at 'Alpersteins" together in harmony

So quite a bit going on on 7th Street, a quick refresh in Hogo and on to Civilian Arts Project who had works by Nikki Painter and Marissa Long. Then on  to the "Walker Thomas Furniture Building" who by the way lit there neon signage for the first time in decades (thanks Douglas Development) in side Walker Thomas huge projection screens greet, taking you back to the sixties, by Billy Colbert and music supplied in DJ sets by Champion Superior Soundsystem.

Early shot of interior of Walker Thomas, before the crowds

I got this shot a few days earlier when the neon sign was being tested

The final stop on 7th at L Street is at 1033. The structure is not really safe for folks to walk through, but the windows are filled with joyous photographs by Rosina Teri Memolo. Sorry to say for whatever reason my photo's here did not survive. But the really good news is that, according to Alex Padro (Exec Dir. Shaw Main Streets) this exhibit will stay in place for all to enjoy, until such time as the construction work needs to continue. So you will be able to visit the corner of 7th and L Streets NW, and see the exhibit for some time to come.

Continuing down 7th Street there are things going on all over at the "Taylor and York Salon" artists spilled out on to the sidewalk as they completed for space with art hungry viewers

Paintings - not your finger nails - filled Taylor & York salon

Art in progress outside Taylor & York

And so to the Watha T Daniels/Shaw Public Library, always a hub of activity for events such as Nuit Blanche, again opened its doors (into the wee hours) and provided space for the arts of DC to perform, exhibit, play or whatever. As is usual the area was lively and diverse and here more than any other venue, catering to families. The Fashion and Jewelry Shows drew in large crowds, as did the "Body Painting" and the painting exhibits....fun time here. Another stop was at the La Colombe Coffee truck for espresso's (yes plural) as they had only there 2nd serving in DC.

Iconic and known by all in Shaw, Craig Kraft's light sculpture. Craig also opened his studio on R Street for the event

One of my favorite paintings on the night - by Magruder Murray at the Shaw Library

Lines were long for the body painting ....

......and the line was even longer for La Colombe Coffee

The Shaw Library provided a safe and fun space for families

About 9 pm the Batala Drummers beat the street (unfortunately I missed most of that) The infamous and huge Tricycle rode anywhere it could  (I saw it in traffic on 7th at R Street, much to the horror of passing cars)

I missed most of the performance (although I could hear it) from The Batala Drummers

Next stop Wonder Bread, OMG, so many people. When I arrived the line was down R St to 7th, up 7th to S Street and around the corner. Ahhemm, I left

Lit up for a party, the "hub" of Nuit Blanche was a sea of people

Limited by occupancy laws, the lines grew as people didn't want to leave the building

Video's filled the top floor

and the lines grew on R Street

and on 7th an R Streets

and along 7th up to S Street

So leaving the crazy scenes at Wonder Bread, I headed over to 9th Street and headed south back to my starting point...
But wait more craziness... the new (and yet to be constructed) gallery "Swatchroom" has an event going on.
more crowds, more fun with the Swatchsauce inspiration photo booth - very cool and live painting by Maggie O'Niell...everybody is getting involved in Nuit Blanche this year

The wall at Swatchroom is 'bleeding' colorful paint

live painting

#Swatchsauce photo booth - write a message, pose, and bingo

No shortage of paint and supplies

The walk back to NY Avenue along 9th was a little more tame after Swatch Room.....passing by Pekoe Acupuncture, where I guess people were getting fit to there live DJ while they viewed the exhibit of art bought in by Nicole. Thally's was full, A n D Bar was full, and even Seasonal Pantry seemed busy... people still coming and going as I reached the end of my trip around 'artallnight'.

My takeaway? Huge success, haven't seen the official numbers but I believe it will be much higher than the 1st Nuit Blanche in 2011. I left my little abode to see the range and diversity of art in DC. Shaw provided that with so many venues and so many programs at each venue, that it was easy to OD on art, which is OK.

It seemed that every art form was represented and most people I spoke to embraced the diversity of art and the manner that Shaw Main Streets presented to people. 

For those who had hoped to see the populist view of Nuit Blanche, this year had so much to offer, and there are so many folks blogging (about the main events) I thought that I would limit myself to the smaller venues and more quirky vision of the participating artists.

My Thanks to all the artists who participated - you made the night something very special

My Thanks to Shaw Main Streets for putting this together again.....you just do it right

My Thanks to the Sponsors....you didn't commercialize the event - good job :)

and especially to Douglas Development who provided so many of the venues, and the services that enabled the artists to put on a show.

DC: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARTISTS