Three spring exhibits serve as a springboard for exploring cultural identity and the intersection of history and contemporary creativity.
Lyle Ashton Harris, “The Watering Hole III” (1996, chromogenic print), 35 1/2 inches by 29 inches is part of Essex Hemphill: Take Care of Your Blessings at the Phillips Collection
ESSEX HEMPHILL: TAKE CARE OF YOUR BLESSINGS
The Phillips Collection presents the first exhibition to explore the connection between the poet, activist and writer Essex Hemphill and contemporary visual art. The exhibition highlights Hemphill’s influence on artists past and present who, like him, challenged conventions around race, gender, sexuality and HIV/AIDS.
Joyce Wellman “Someone Different” (1989, oil paint stick on paper drawing), 50 inches by 38 inches at the Phillips Collection.
A defining voice in DC’s art scene of the 1980s and ’90s, Hemphill’s poetry was raw, politically charged, and deeply personal. His legacy endures through artists such as Lyle Ashton Harris, Tiona Nekkia McClodden and Diedrick Brackens, whose works reflect Hemphill’s spirit of resilience and artistic defiance. “This exhibition honors the lesser-known connections between Hemphill’s literary work and the array of visual artists who knew or have been inspired by his writings,” says Camille Brown, associate curator at The Phillips Collection. “It reflects the deep roots of his legacy, which has continued to resonate profoundly.” May 17-Aug. 31, 1600 21st St. NW,202.387.2151,phillipscollection.org
Chakaia Booker, “It’s So Hard to Be Green," at the National Gallery of Art
IN THE TOWER: CHAKAIA BOOKER: TREADING NEW GROUND
For over 40 years, Chakaia Booker (@chakaiabooker) has reshaped discarded tires, cutting, coiling and twisting them into striking abstract sculptures. The National Gallery of Art showcases three monumental wall reliefs alongside “Foundling Warrior Quest (II 21C)” (2010), a six-part photogravure series where Booker embodies a mythical figure navigating an industrial landscape.
The artist’s sculptures reflect the history of the materials she repurposes while opening up new ways of seeing and interpreting them. Amid ongoing environmental crises and the urgent call for ecological responsibility, Booker’s work offers a powerful vision that transforms industrial waste into art and reimagines the possibilities of renewal and resilience. April 5-Aug. 3, Seventh St. and Constituion Ave. NW,nga.gov
Shannon Zembriski, “Overthere” at Cabada Contemporary in Georgetown through April 15.
DRESS CODE: SHANNON ZEMBRISKI
Georgetown’s Cabada Contemporary Gallery presents Philadelphia-based artist Shannon Zembriski’s (@shannonzembriski) striking series that examines the intersection of fashion and identity, using her wardrobe as subject and storyteller. Each painting portrays a version of herself dressed in garments collected over the years, rich with memories and emotions. Influenced by her background in textile design, Zembriski’s work celebrates clothing as a powerful tool for self-expression, brought to life through bold compositions and a carefully restrained color palette. Through April 15, 1054 31st St., Ste. 009, NW,703.629.5751,@cabada_contemporary
Photography by: COURTESY OF: THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK; COURTESY OF: THE ARTIST; COURTESY OF CABADA CONTEMPORARY; LEE STALSWORTH
