Dripping With Atmosphere Gifford Exhibit Shows 70 Paintings of Trancelike, Elegant Landscapes by Heather Nalbone The more than 70 landscapes painted by Sanford R. Gifford and arranged by the National Gallery of Art—some a blaze of glowing pastel skies, others of storm clouds raging over sloping mountain ranges—are the kind that dazzle and enchant. It can be a relatively simple task to find canvases filled with serene, at times inspiring, prairies and valleys. It is less common to find reflections of an artist’s soul in the patterns of a forest or in the view from a summit. Gifford’s paintings are just that—they seem less about detail (although they are intricate) than about atmosphere. The paintings focus on much more than just botany and weather, with captivating colors and daydream-inspiring scenery. Heart and Seoul Wife of Korean Ambassador Puts Everything Into Work, Family, Life by Gail Scott "I couldn’t think of not coming to Washington. Koreans consider the ambassadorship to the U.S. as the number-one diplomatic post," said art historian and prolific author Yi Song-mi, wife of Korean Ambassador Han Sung Joo. "I know that without me, things would not be carried out in this residence," she said sitting on a comfortable yellow sofa just outside her bookcase-lined office, which used to belong to the ambassador, in their stunning Korean residence tucked behind American University. Muslim Montage Huge Exhibit Traces Islam’s History, Interaction With Other Cultures by Gary Tischler Londoner Tim Stanley has a long title: senior curator for the Middle East in the Asian Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It seems to suit him. He has a bit of the academic and specialist about him, and more recently, he’s taken on the role of exhibition organizer. Stanley was here in Washington, D.C., to help with the opening of "Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art From the Victoria and Albert Museum," a wide-ranging exhibition encompassing more than 100 items that showcase centuries of Islamic art from the time of Prophet Moha mmed to the mid-18th century. Getting Serious Ford’s New Producing Director to Change Focus of Theater by Lisa Troshinsky Ford’s Theatre, which has primarily focused on drawing in Washington, D.C., tourists for more than 30 years, is changing its focus to produce more serious theater to attract local audiences. Deep ‘Dimensions’ Sculpture Exhibit Addresses Weighty Ideas but in Playful Way by Deanna Murshed Rarely does one encounter art that is undoubtedly deep and metaphysical in its subject matter and at the same time manages to stay light and playful in its treatment. In other words, it’s serious art that does not take itself too seriously. However, this is the delicate balance that has been achieved in the Art Museum of the America’s latest exhibit, "Sculpture in Four Dimensions." Extraordinary Properties of Ordinary Things Freer Gallery Depicts Everyday Life in Japan Dating Back to 1500s by Christine Cubé "Life and Leisure: Everyday Life in Japanese Art" depicts the traditional, but not quite prosaic aspects of ordinary life in Japan that date back to the Edo period and a time when shoguns reigned and the West was but a distant dream.. Form of Escape Prison Arts Exhibit to Include 100 Artists’ Work at One-Day Show by Carolyn Cosmos The arts and crafts of more than 100 prison artists from federal and state prisons around the United States, will be exhibited and offered for sale on Sept. 18 at a one-day Prisons Arts and Crafts Show sponsored by the nonprofit Prisons Foundation and held at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.

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 Come All Ye Faithful Exhibit Focuses on John Paul II’s Role as Pope of the People by Deanna Murshed The very word "Catholic" means universal, international, if you will. And that is exactly the idea that the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center projects in its current photography exhibit, which shows us a series of pictures of the pope ministering to people from around the world. Man of Letters Best-Selling Author on Mission to Save War Correspondence by David Tobenkin Historian and best-selling author Andrew Carroll, who is on an international mission to save the world’s war letters from oblivion, has a simple message for diplomats in the United States and abroad: Thank you for your vital work, and there’s much more that can be done. Barry Original Founder of Embassy Concert Series Says Program Keeps Growing by Gary Tischler Jerome Barry is a singer, a stirring baritone, and above all, he’s an organizer, an originator, and an original. And what he’s accomplished and built is also original. The Embassy Concert Series, which he founded in 1994, has grown by leaps and bounds, going from single-digit performances to 32 concerts this year. Going Downtown Restaurant Kolumbia Offering Eclectic Mix of International Cuisine by Rachel Hunt and Stephen Qualiana Since opening Restaurant Kolumbia early last fall on K Street in downtown, chef Jamie Stachowski has continued to build his already substantial reputation for creative international cuisine. International Film Clips Film Locations World-Class ‘Hero’ Zhang Yimou Directs Beautiful Martial-Arts Action Masterpiece by Ky N. Nguyen After two years on the shelf, Miramax is finally releasing "Hero," a mesmerizing, beautiful Academy Award-nominated martial-arts action flick. See Also: Civil Disobedience in ‘Rosenstrasse’ 6 Million ‘Paper Clips’ and Counting Siamese ‘Braveheart’ A Yakuza Horror Repertory Notes Memorial for ‘Rosenstrasse’ German Filmmaker von Trotta Talks of Inspiration for Film by Ky N. Nguyen At an outdoor cafe on a pleasant summer day, The Washington Diplomat met with the equally warm German filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta.