Enduring ‘Faith’ Pope John Paul II Exhibit Reflects on Pontiff’s 25th Anniversary by Heather Nalbone One of the first images visitors see upon entering “Faith’s Great Mystery” is a picture titled simply “1984.” It shows Pope John Paul II stooping on hands and knees at an international airport to kiss the ground, an act repeated in numerous photographs currently on display at the Washington-based cultural center that bears his name. The photo was taken years before the weaknesses of Parkinson’s disease set in, and long before the pope had to begin waiting for someone to bring foreign soil to his lips. It is one of hundreds of pictures produced over the past 25 years for the Vatican’s official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, that are now part of the first installment of a yearlong exhibition to celebrate the pope’s silver anniversary.... Big Fun Johnson’s Work Tours Famous Impressionist Scenes by Anna Gawel J. Seward Johnson Jr. likes his art big—mere paintings won’t do. In fact, judging by the towering, two-story sculpture of a dancing couple in front of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Johnson strives to make his art monumentally big. And judging by the Corcoran’s unbridled enthusiasm for “Beyond the Frame: Impressionism Revisited, the Sculptures of J. Seward Johnson, Jr.,” museum organizers are hoping Johnson’s unique artistic vision translates into big numbers and a blockbuster exhibition for them... Canadian Commentary Cover Artist Anita Kunz Illustrates Astute Observations by Jen DeGregorio Sometimes a little distance offers a lot of insight. As in viewing a Claude Monet painting, the landscape seems clear and understandable from afar, yet the vision is lost when one steps too close. The Library of Congress expounds on that lesson with its exhibit of works by Anita Kunz, a Canadian artist known for her astute observations on U.S. politics and culture... Epic in Glass Renowned Finnish Designer Fulfills Dream With ‘Ilmatar-Skymaiden’ by Carolyn Chapman Impregnated by the wind and sea, Ilmatar, the goddess of air, hovers over the earth and descends into the sea, becoming mother of the waters. For 700 years, she floats on the waves until a wild duck, thinking she’s a rock, builds a nest on her and lays seven eggs. The eggs hatch and break into pieces from which the sky, earth and stars are born. Ilmatar then gives birth to her son, the hero Väinämöinen, who completes the work of creating the world. This is the story of the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic that inspired Nanny Still, one of Finland’s most acclaimed designers, to create “Ilmatar-Skymaiden.”... Hidden Childhood ‘Shadows’ Shows Horrors Experienced by Jewish Children During WWII by Gary Tischler The two newest exhibitions at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum are full of words and information, though they contain very few physical artifacts to look at. They require reading on the part of the visitor, and are in a sense required reading themselves... Positive ‘Proof’ Arena Production of Auburn Play Is Tight, Suspenseful Gem by Lisa Troshinsky Rarely do you hear dramatic “ohs” and gasps for breath during a performance from an otherwise refined and controlled Arena Stage audience. However, this was the reaction at the Washington, D.C., premiere of the Broadway triumph “Proof” on its opening night at Arena... See Also: ‘Downstairs’ Program Returns to Arena ‘Grapes’ of Relevance Ford’s Production of Steinbeck Classic Sheds Light on Today’s Woes by Lisa Troshinsky It would be unfair to compare the Ford’s Theatre’s production of John Steinbeck’s classic “The Grapes of Wrath” to dramas that 21st-century theater-goers are more accustomed to: cutting-edge, sexy, modern plots that dissect the human psyche. Frank Galati’s Tony Award-winning adaptation of the heavyweight epic needs to be judged in a different light... Getting the Picture Seisenbacher Captures Her Sculpture on Film for Austrian Embassy by Carolyn Chapman Instead of transporting her sculptures to the Austrian Embassy for her latest exhibition, “Illusions and Dreams in Wood,” Sabine Seisenbacher turned to photography. Although the Austrian artist is not a professional photographer, Seisenbacher photographed her sculptures and installations—located throughout Europe—which allowed her to display her artwork from an entirely different perspective... Fat of the Land Cuban ‘Manteca’ Portrays Impoverished Life of Three Siblings by Lisa Troshinsky The characters in the play “Manteca” (Spanish for “lard”), staged by Teatro de la Luna for its season opener, are waiting for utopia, but not in the sense most Americans would imagine...

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 Art of Everyday Experience Hirshhorn ‘Directions’ Series Expands With Steinhilber Exhibit by Courtney Mauk Since 1987, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has been highlighting the work of emerging and established artists through its one-person “Directions” series. Past exhibits have enjoyed significant popularity and critical acclaim, but now the museum is making changes to avoid conventionality and to ensure the series’ ongoing innovation and its position as an important feature in the world of contemporary art... Heavy Wait Diana Johnson’s Works Reflect Events in Her Life by Carolyn Chapman Diana Johnson understands what it means to wait and she knows that waiting is pure agony. The Australian-born artist spent years waiting for a lung transplant, worrying that what she was waiting for might never come. During this difficult time, she captured the vulnerability, anxiety and torture she felt by creating two groups of terra-cotta sculptures, which are the standouts of her show “Sculptures 1996-2003,” now at the Australian Embassy... Culture Vultures DCSYP, Euronet Bring People Together Using International Attractions by Carolyn Chapman So you’re sick of going to nightclubs and being buttonholed by the stranger in the next bar stool. You to branch out and do something different—say, learning how to cook a four-course Mexican meal, watching flamenco dancers, or hanging out at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic. Whatever the interest, you’re in luck. The above-mentioned events were only three of several dozen held recently by the D.C. Society of Young Professionals (DCSYP), which offers some great alternatives to yet another night at your local bar... Laughing Matter ‘Chekhov’s Jokes’ Ushers in New Season of Russian Theater Troupe by Gary Tischler Those who have had the chance to see the current production of “Chekhov’s Jokes” at Classika Theatre also had a chance to see what has put the “classic” in Classika since its debut in 1996... Something Old, Something New Fresh Fall Menu Spices Up Washington Favorite 1789 by Rachel Hunt and Stephen Qualiana It may be that 1789 is the prototypical Washington restaurant. It is serious, dignified, refined and formal. It is the opposite of trendy. It captures what might be the Washington zeitgeist on a quaint side street in Georgetown. It’s what one might imagine a fine-dining restaurant in the nation’s capital should be, and if it didn’t exist, someone would have to invent it... International Film Clips Film Locations An Unexpected ‘Life’ Polley Shines in Film About Young Girl’s Terminal Prognosis by Ky N. Nguyen In just about every scene of “My Life Without Me,” the young Canadian actress Sarah Polley gives a tour-de-force performance that carries the movie. Polley has a gift for being able to express changing emotions in a quiet manner. She doesn’t have to resort to overly melodramatic flourishes that can distract the viewer from the performances of other, less accomplished, actors... See Also: ‘Gloomy Sunday’ in Budapest Border Crossing Repertory Notes