National Museum of Women in the Arts

The New York Avenue Sculpture Project begins this summer and runs through 2015, featuring outrageously fun, larger-than-life art.

Catch This, June 2010

A Justice Supreme
Whether he’s playing a futuristic leader in The Matrix or an ornery crime-solver on TV’s CSI, Laurence Fishburne’s deep tenor is that of decisiveness and justice. He has a knack for bringing levity to sobering stories, and his turn as the groundbreaking Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in the Kennedy Center’s (2700 F St., NW; 800/444-1324; kennedy-center.org) production of Thurgood is no exception. The Tony and Academy Award nominee plays the title role in this Broadway hit about Marshall’s rise from Baltimore’s backstreets to become the first African-American justice on the Court. At the Eisenhower Theatre from June 1–20.

Musically Inclined
When art spontaneously mirrors life, it can be a beautiful thing. But when it intentionally mirrors life, it can get wacky. As it is with [title of show] (yes, that’s really the title), a musical by two struggling writers penning a musical to be presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival about … two struggling writers penning a musical. Got that? Based on the book by Hunter Bell, it’s an honest and hilarious account of the creative process when deadlines loom. Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va.; sig-online.org) through June 27.

On the Bayou
Toast the beginning of summer June 13 at the Louisiana Swamp Romp at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center (1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, Va.; wolftrap.org). It’s a day of lively (to say the least) music from the Bayou State, including zydeco, jammin’ blues and spicy Cajun. In its 21st year, the Swamp Romp’s lineup is nothing short of inspired and features award-winning performers Marcia Ball, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, BeauSoleil and Rosie Ledet.

Museums, Galleries

Abstract Talent
Art is widely celebrated posthumously in the nation’s capital, but there’s also no shortage of contemporary talent on the local art scene. Tory Cowles and Karen Hubacher (an American University graduate and Corcoran alum) are two emerging artists who will exhibit their abstract work at Gallery plan b (1530 14th St., NW; 202/234-2711; galleryplanb.com), located along the 14th Street arts corridor. Both use color with abandon, though they have very different takes on texture, line and surface treatments. Runs through June 20.

Art on the Avenue
Street art takes on a whole new meaning with the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ (nmwa.org) New York Avenue Sculpture Project that features installations of contemporary art by women. Designed to take up five blocks from 9th to 13th streets, the first phase went up at the end of April and features four monumental sculptures of dancing ladies created by French-born artist Niki de Saint Phalle. The project runs through 2015.

A Beat in Time
The life and times of the Beat Generation come alive with poet Allen Ginsberg’s photography collection chronicling his friends, who just happen to be people named Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Gregory Corso and Neal Cassady. The exhibit, on display at the National Gallery of Art (4th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW; nga.gov) through Sept. 6, is the first scholarly examination of Ginsberg’s photographs of two eras, the first spanning the late ’40s to early ’60s and the second covering the early ’80s. The snapshots and portraits evoke an intimate photo album of the Beats meant to preserve the “sacredness of the moment.”

Festivals, Special Events

Glory Riffs
Jazz music will pulse all over town at the DC Jazz Festival (dcjazzfest.org) from June 1–13. Paquito D’Rivera, James Moody, Dianne Reeves, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars and Quartette Indigo headline 100 performances at more than 50 area galleries, clubs, restaurants and hotels in all four quadrants of the District. In addition to some of the world’s most talented musicians, the weekend festivities include family events, master classes and student concerts.

Silver Screen
Documentary film has the power to move us and foster a greater understanding of the world. That power is honored once again at SilverDocs (silverdocs.com), one of the Washington area’s best film festivals. It returns to Silver Spring’s AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md.; 301/495-6700; afi.com) from June 22–27 and showcases extraordinary (and free) films, as well as special programs and post-viewing discussions with directors.