Dutch Discovery Exhibit of Mysterious Still-Life Painter Small but Wondrous by Anna Gawel Adriaen Coorte was a Dutch still-life painter in the 17th century—that much has been well established. The rest, however, remains a bit of a mystery, which is what makes his still-life renderings of asparagus, gooseberries, skulls, seashells and other offbeat subjects all the more enticing. Coorte’s gifts were not discovered until the 1950s, and today it is still not known whether the artist took up painting professionally or simply as a gentleman “amateur” painter. In fact, all that is really known about Coorte is that he signed and dated about 100 exceptional works. Although much of his life was spent in relative artistic obscurity, Coorte is now getting his dues in a modest but worthwhile exhibition at the National Gallery of Art titled “Small Wonders: Dutch Still Lifes by Adriaen Coorte.”... See Related Story: Exhibit Celebrates East Building Turning 25 The National Gallery of Art celebrates a major landmark this year with the 25th anniversary of the East Building, home to the museum’s 20th-century art, library and art history research center.... Long Misty Days Corcoran’s Exhibit Shows ‘Impressionist Tradition in America’ by Heather Nalbone No matter how many times we view them, they never get old. Those hazy, interpretive scenes whose formations rely more on the size of the paintbrush that created them than the actual settings on which they are based. The impressionist period is one that Westerners love to replicate, reproduce and showcase in homes and offices everywhere. Framed copies of the original 19th-century oil canvases hang over thousands of fireplaces and in millions of hallways... Targeting Tourism Citywide Initiative Promotes Local African American Heritage by Jeff Davi s In an effort to attract more visitors to the area, several Washington, D.C., organizations are joining forces to spotlight African American culture and heritage while promoting tourism to the city. “Blues & Dreams: Celebrating the African-American Experience in Washington, D.C.” includes more than 100 events, offerings and hotel packages that run from Sept. 15 to Nov. 30... Musical Mixed Bag Coming Season of Washington Opera Has Range of Offerings by Gary Tischler The 2003-2004 season of The Washington Opera consists of a smorgasbord of offerings—from the zesty sophistication of Old World Vienna to the dark forests of Gaul, to the even heavier fare of Wagner, which gives the first part of the season a distinctly Germanic feel. Styles of a different sort take flight in the second part of the season, beginning with tragedy, moving to a variation of the Cinderella story, then a classic, star-crossed opera, and ending with the sweaty, stark environs of New Orleans and the clash of two American sensibilities. In other words, opera lovers should gear up for many treats this year... Beauty of the Void Freer Exhibit Shows Extraordinary Life and Work of Chinese Artist Shanren by Jessica Shyu Born a prince, ordained a monk, and died a lone hermit, Bada Shanren led a life that was far from ordinary. The Ming Dynasty prince became a monk after the fall of his family’s rule, but he returned to secular life 30 years later—only to suffer a mental breakdown, marry briefly, become a professional artist, and then die seeking harmony and solitude. With about a dozen pseudonyms and a life that spans from imperial courts to monasteries, few things are as intriguing as Shanren’s life, except perhaps his artwork. “In Pursuit of Heavenly Harmony: Paintings and Calligraphy by Bada Shanren (1626-1705),” now on display at the Freer Gallery of Art, holds one of the premier collections and studies of Shanren’s works... Fashion Plate Hillwood Exhibit Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Post’s Debut by Gary Tischler After all is said and done and visitors have seen everything there is to see at the Hillwood Museum and Gardens, something very personal lingers around the museum, like a whiff of perfume with staying power. You’ve gone up the staircase and seen the dining room table and alcove where breakfast was served, experienced the lavish gardens, and marveled at the extensive collection of Russian art. But there’s something else to this intriguing museum—a personality that maintains a lingering presence throughout the rooms. It’s not exactly a ghost but rather the willed presence of the woman who once lived here, who helped create this place, and who still makes it important... Finding America Printings at Georgetown Challenge Limits of Geography by Jeff Davis When Georgetown University art technician David Alan decided to spotlight American artwork from the Georgetown University Art Collection, he encountered an interesting problem: What constitutes American art? Is it artwork produced by an American artist, or can it be a piece capturing an American image that was created elsewhere by a foreigner? As curator of “Visual Arts of the Americas,” now on display at Georgetown University’s Lauinger Library, Alan answered this question by including all types of American artwork in the exhibit, which he separated into two parts to highlight pieces from Latin America as well as North America... Food That Rocks Zaytinya Strikes Power Chord with Grand Interior, Excellent Mezzes by Rachel Hunt and Stephen Qualiana If food were music it might sing or soar, swing or sway, or jump or get down, depending on how good it is. Many notable, hip new Washington restaurants like to have their kitchens put a jazz quartet in their dishes, sort of snappy, fresh and tasteful, but without much punch. But at the fairly new Zaytinya, the food rocks...

Events Listing Featuring art, dance, lectures, music, receptions and theater, our comprehensive listing offers an array of options for those interested in international events. Included is a list of all major event locations in the Washington, D.C., area... Events Locations Jumping for Joy Imperial Acrobats of China Bring Friendship, Majesty by Jessica Shyu American audiences can now for the first time see one of the largest Chinese acrobat troupes in action as the Imperial Acrobats of China crosses the United States in a seven-city tour being dubbed the “U.S.A. Friendship Tour,” which includes a stop in Washington, D.C... Extraordinary Etchings Whistler’s Amsterdam Prints Famous for Detail, Realism by Carolyn Chapman American expatriate James McNeill Whistler, known primarily for his oil paintings, spent just one year in Amsterdam concentrating on his etchings, but the exceptional set of works that emerged from his short stay led him to be considered one of the greatest printmakers of his time. And to celebrate the centennial anniversary of his death, Whistler’s famed Amsterdam etchings are now being shown at the Freer Gallery of Art in “Whistler’s Greatest Etchings: The 1889 Amsterdam Set.” See Related Story: 100 Prints, Drawings by Whistler, Cassatt in Baltimore On the centennial of James McNeill Whistler’s death, museums all across the area have had a busy year showing off his work. Whistler fans who have not had enough of the collection at the Freer Gallery of Art should head over to the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) for more... Balancing Reorganization ‘Gyroscope’ Regroups Permanent Work Into New Categories by Heather Nalbone Museum-goers need not get too keyed up for the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden’s “Gyroscope” presentation. The museumwide display is more a restructuring of sorts than an actual exhibit, at least in the traditional sense. Not that sponsoring an exhibit was ever the intent. Curators, headed by Hirshhorn Director of Art and Programs Kerry Brougher, decided instead to plow through storerooms, take stock of pieces already on display, and come up with a new way to showcase the museum’s holdings to celebrate its upcoming 30th anniversary... Worth a Thousand Words 38 Lacquered Boxes, Hand Scrolls, Folding Screens Tell Ancient Stories by Jessica Shyu In “Tales and Legends in Japanese Art,” whimsical and tragic scenes from familiar Japanese and Chinese stories are captured on Japanese artwork dating back to the 13th century... Setting Up a Nice Shot Volleyball Club Trying to Attract Japanese Team to Local Event by Jeff Davis The Washington Diplomats Volleyball Club, based in Gaithersburg, Md., will be competing in the 2004 Cherry Blossom VolleyFest tournament next spring, and they are working to attract a team of girl volleyball players from Japan to join the local festivities... Dream Weaver Nicaraguan Artist Barberena Paints Surreal, Musical Images by Gary Tischler Cesar Barberena doesn’t gesture dramatically or speak loudly. He’s easy to talk to, open, friendly and still carries the accent of his native Nicaragua. He doesn’t look like the kind of man who would produce paintings that resemble throbbing dreams, secrets coming out to roost, universal images, both musical and strange—but he does... International Film Clips Film Locations Unforgettable Day ‘September 11’ Offers Challenging Collection of Global Perspectives by Ky N. Nguyen Any film made about the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, is bound to be controversial. The fictional “September 11” offers an impressive but challenging collection of global perspectives on those events... See Also: Coming of Age in ‘Holy Land’ Wedding Day Jitters Kurosawa in Siberia Hair: A Social Hub A Musical Sex Comedy Repertory Notes