Welcome back to the FORM + FUNCTION monthly newsletter. If you’re new here — hi, and thanks for subscribing! I’m Alexya, and this is now my fifth (!!!) month putting together this list of events across D.C. hosted and supported by independent creative forces in the city.
This newsletter comes just over a week before D.C.’s annual Art All Night weekend — the boundaryless festival that welcomes tens of thousands of people across the city to enjoy art and arts-adjacent programming in a real, tangible way. It’s an unbelievable feat, but especially this year after starting this project I couldn’t help but to think about the small, independent galleries who make art and visual creativity accessible in D.C. all year long — not just for one night.
This edition of FORM + FUNCTION is about Art (all night, and all day, and every day) in our city, presented by independent galleries, curators, and artists who keep interesting and urgent conversations at the forefront of their work all year long.
In this latest F+F letter, you’ve got
THE D.C. ART GALLERY GUIDE, with local artist and writer Shelby Hubbard of @warp_dmv.
THE CALENDAR, as always, the printable F+F Community Calendar for SEPTEMBER
THE HIGHLIGHTS, a.k.a. five events worth putting on your schedule right now.
F+F RUNS ON YOUR INTEL. Share details for a D.C. event you want me to include in the next newsletter by email or on Instagram @formandfunctiondc.
Need friends to FUNCTION with? Forward this email to a pal and help us build our subscriber community.
See you out there,
Alexya ☆
Artist and writer Shelby Hubbard started warp_dmv as their own personal action pushing back against the decline in arts coverage in local D.C. journalism. In the last 10 years, and certainly in the last 24 months, we’ve seen execs at sources big and small slash their local arts sections and lay off journalists with the interest and sources that made these sections so urgent and refreshing.
But the storytelling is not collapsing, it’s just finding a new way to get brought forth. In warp_dmv, Shelby sends out dispatches from new displays across the region, Q+As with visual artists, details on new things to see and do in the arts scene, and questions about the structural state of D.C.’s art institutions on a whole.
I’m excited to share Shelby’s words on where to go to get immersed in what’s happening in D.C. arts, right now. Follow @warp_dmv and the Substack to read more vital arts coverage. In Shelby’s words! ☆
People say local artists and galleries operate in the shadows of the Smithsonians. Well grab your flashlights — we’re checking out what’s apparently hiding in the dark. From an actual elevator to the lobby of a YMCA, these spaces are supporting local artists through intentional installation and fun community activations. These certainly aren’t the only galleries you should see outside of the Smithsonian network, so just consider this a beginner’s guide to exploring the shadows.
2204 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC 20018
This gallery takes the most risks and gains the most rewards. If you want to see what exciting exhibition design looks like, visit a show at Art Enables. The team manages big swings that don’t undermine or distract from the artwork - from bold color choices (deep green walls!) to concepts (yard sale!) to murals (giant graphite drawings recreated from the original artwork!). The shows don’t shy away from the complex with concepts investigating taxonomy, contemporary relics, and what it means to be an outsider artist. When visiting, you venture through the studio space upstairs, which also has rotating artwork on display and for sale, before venturing downstairs to two gallery spaces which often have different shows. This is a great place to start or sustain your art collection with art available at a large range of prices (or you can pick up some stellar merch). It’s good art and a good cause: Art Enables supports “the creative and professional growth of artists with disabilities.” You can check out their 20th annual show Outside Forces, right now or meet the artists at the opening reception: Saturday, September 12. They also have free family-friendly workshops. On September 26, attendants can design their own zipper pouch.
1404 P St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
The gallery you’re most likely to walk past even when you’re looking for it, Transformer DC is such a cool, experimental gallery. After entering, you may be shocked to find yourself alone in a small room with no other people, I mean, don’t people work here? Just look up! They’ve utilized those gloriously tall ceilings to create a second floor office. It’s like being greeted by heavenly voices from above who will do their best to answer every curiosity you may have. I’ve seen solo shows and multi-person shows in this compact space, but they all have felt true to the artwork being shown. They also host activations with exhibitions, like the typical artist talk, but also intimate craft nights and unique events directly related to the exhibited work. Right now they are showing the cumulative work from their annual Exercises for Emerging Artists program that trains artists in a specific discipline. This year the focus was comics! See what the artists made during open hours or attend one of the upcoming workshops, one is on collaborative, sequential making (September 3) and the other is an introduction to creating flip books (September 10).
1325 W St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Take a break from leg day at Anthony Bowen YMCA to check out Gallery Y. Located in the lobby area, so there’s no membership required to view, Gallery Y is a unique exhibition space. The shows range in concept, but each are thoughtfully installed and because of its integration into a community space, Gallery Y is an excellent example of how stellar art can be shown in accessible, hybrid locations. The talks and events I’ve attended have been one of the best ways for me to meet local artists. When we talk about making art accessible or how a traditional gallery space can be snooty and suffocating, Gallery Y demonstrates that compelling work can and should be shown in unexpected, routine spaces. On view now is My Favorite, a show with 26 artists' favorite artwork they have created. You can see the show and meet the artists at a reception on September 17.
4318 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, Maryland 20783
To get to the gallery at Pyramid Atlantic, you enter through the gift shop, follow painted arrows on the floor between printing presses, jars of ink, carefully organized wooden-handled tools, and spotless stainless steel tables. Artists wearing ink stained aprons carefully print their latest designs. You wander past studio doors and up the stairs to a massive, light-filled gallery space. I guarantee that at least one work in any Pyramid Atlantic show will have you mystified! Awestruck! Inspired! Right now there are “paper-cast life-size gold leaf doors, a translucent endangered species installation, printed Chinese papers, exquisite custom paper drawings, large scale pulp paintings, innovative artist books, and more” in the current show Ruminations: Our Stories IN PAPER. Get the scoop at a panel discussion on September 16 or up close and personal during the Curator’s Tour: September 27.
2414 Douglas Street NE Washington, DC 20018
This is the one elevator that you’ll be glad isn’t moving. Freight Gallery operates in a non-working freight elevator in the Off the Beaten Track warehouse (connected to District Clay Center) and it opens only for the duration of the show, usually two hours. You wouldn’t believe what an elevator can be until you see an artist transform it. The docked 1925 elevator has hosted fiber installations, performances, DJs, projections and so much more. The next show is Bread & Circus, an experimental film by Othello Banaci which “asks us to examine what we give our attention to, what we neglect in exchange, and whether constant entertainment is feeding us—or keeping us from recognizing our hunger.” See it on September 13 from 4-6 PM.
Shelby Hubbard is a soft sculptor and arts writer. You can find her writing on local artists at warp_dmv and on Instagram. 🌀
Many events require tickets or RSVPs. Find everything you need to know about the SEPTEMBER calendar lineup here.
F+F MEETUP??? It’s finally time for the first-ever F+F event meetup. Back in July I surveyed to see who might be interested: if you replied back then, expect an invite very very soon.
Wanna join us this month and meet some new friends? Stay tuned for the announcement (I’m just sewing up a few details as you read this).
FIRST FRIDAYS ART HAPPY HOUR — SEPTEMBER 4 AT 11:ELEVEN GALLERY @6PM
This one’s for the downtown baddies getting off from work and needing something cute to do. Nicola Charles’ 11:Eleven art gallery is hosting a free night of drinks, old school hip hop, and art exploration. If you’ve got family in town for the long holiday, I’d take them here.
ZAP OUTDOOR MUSIC FESTIVAL — LABOR DAY WEEKEND AT CAMP TALL TIMBERS
It’s true — this event does not take place within D.C. city limits. But its origins are rooted in the DIY etc. music communities of this city, so alas, we ZAP. You too could jump around on a remote campsite with dozens of the region’s most exciting DJs, bands, and artists of all kinds. Shuttles, lodging, and other details are thoroughly outlined on the ticket page.
CAPITAL CITY SOUNDSYSTEM PRESENTS A SHOW AT CAPITOL HILL BOOKS — SEPTEMBER 18 @ 7PM
DIY can be anywhere. As if Capitol Hill Books wasn’t already a portal into a different dimension, F+F friends Captial City Soundsystem are hosting Tracey Nelson (NYC) and locally grown Janitors for the first-ever show on the bookshop patio.
GROUP PROJECT 1ST EVER PARTY — SEPTEMBER 19 AT DOUBLES CAFE @ 10PM
You know how it feels when you see a tour announcement for one of your favorite artists and the supporting acts are also several of your favorite artists because that’s how I felt seeing the flyer for GROUP PROJECT 001. Chije and Madalin have finger-on-pulse syndrome in a major way.
REWIND STORYTELLERS SHOWCASE — SEPTEMBER 19 AT L’ENFANT GALLERY @ 6:15PM
My friend Chelsea put me onto this show called Rewind and I think you’d like it, too. Eight performers have spent a lot of time perfecting their stories and on the 19th they’ll share wild, wonderful, deeply personal and unforgettable details with all of us.
