Foggy Bottom brings sculpture to the public with its inaugural Foggy Bottom Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit opening on Saturday, May 3, 2008. This six-month exhibit will showcase 12 area sculptors whose work will be displayed in the front yards of private residences in the Foggy Bottom Historic District. To commemorate the opening, there will be a curator-led tour starting at 4:00 p.m. at the corner of New Hampshire Avenue and I Street NW. The tour will end with a reception at the Watergate Gallery from 5 to 8 p.m. located in the Watergate Shopping Mall at 2552 Virginia Avenue NW. Both the tour and reception are open to the public.

During the run of the exhibit, artist-led tours will be offered on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 11 a.m. Brochures may be picked up at each sculpture site for a self-guided tour — they provide photos of sculptures on display with a corresponding map of the neighborhood. “We are so proud of the caliber of DC area artists on exhibit in our neighborhood,” says Shirley Koller, curator of the exhibit and a Foggy Bottom resident. Ms. Koller has curated exhibits for the Art and Science program at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at the DC Headquarters building for the past ten years. She has also curated sculpture shows for the Tri State’s Sculptors Education Association at Washington Square in Washington, DC for the past 20 years.

“This exhibit brings sculpture to a much larger and more diverse segment of the viewing public than if it were in a museum or gallery,” says sculptor Mike Shaffer. “I think people can relate more personally and intimately to modern sculpture when they see it against an interesting backdrop of historic homes and their surroundings.” Sculptors selected include Alan Binstock, Pamela Burris, Robert Cole, Alonzo Davis, Nancy Frankel, Craig Kraft, Philippe Mougne, Sam Noto, Ethan Rochmis, Craig Schaffer, Garrett Strang, and Mike Shaffer. All of the artists live or have studios in metropolitan Washington area.

Educational programs and lectures will be announced during the span of the exhibit and special tours for groups will be available upon request. For more information on events, participating artists, and to download a brochure, please visit the Foggy Bottom website at http://savefoggybottom.com/.

About Arts in Foggy Bottom

Arts in Foggy Bottom is a special initiative of the Foggy Bottom Association — a 501(c)(3) community organization in existence since 1959. The objectives of the Foggy Bottom Association are to further the civic, cultural, social and economic welfare of the Foggy Bottom/West End community, preserve and enhance the residential character of the community, and promote historic preservation in the area. Arts in Foggy Bottom will be holding more events in the near future to include a juried photography exhibit, and a painting exhibit in partnership with Miriam’s Kitchen. ~ Alishia Frey Lifestyle.com 6|17|2010