Summer Activations Cool Down

Spring has seriously sprung and with it, there's more than flowers popping up out of the ground. Look around and see all at the latest in seasonal activations, festivals, and pretty fabulous art installations:

The 50 States Project
Kate Fleming and Tom Woodruff of The 50 States Project, a mobile artist residency spanning 46,000 miles, two years, and all 50 states, are opening two overlapping exhibitions across DC: People from Away at 2900 M and The Hum of the Road at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. People from Away is at The Meridian Group and Martin-Diamond Properties’ premier 2900 M block in Georgetown through  Sunday, September 11. The exhibition is a sweeping overview of the two years Fleming and Woodruff spent documenting America, including over 150 works and a site-specific video installation in a two-level exhibition space. The Hum of the Road is in the gallery of Fleming and Woodruff’s longtime partner, Capitol Hill Arts Workshop from Tuesday, September 6 to Friday, September 30. This exhibition takes a closer, more intimate look at the artists’ life on the road in their 2000 Ford Econoline diy camper van. The artists lived a nomadic life for 12 months as they painted and photographed America, facing car troubles, extreme weather, and the endless heartbreak of falling in love with and leaving a new place every other day. These two overlapping exhibitions tell the story of Fleming and Woodruff’s travels to all 50 states in a quest to document and better understand their nation, and their year stuck at home in the DC area during the pandemic. Both artists work directly from life — Fleming as a plein air painter and Woodruff as a street photographer — and the images they make are direct impressions of moments in time. Free. 2906 M Street NW; 545 7th Street SE; the50statesproject.com

Artechouse: Aṣẹ: Afro Frequencies
ARTECHOUSE kicks off the celebration of its 5th anniversary with the debut of a groundbreaking cultural exhibition, Aṣẹ: Afro Frequencies, in the nation’s capital. Created by ARTECHOUSE Studio featuring designs by Vince Fraser, a London-based Afro-surrealist visual artist, the sensory-filled, immersive exhibition takes visitors on a journey that celebrates historical and social aspects of the African diaspora and Black culture through the artist’s lens. Open to all ages, Aṣẹ: Afro Frequencies will be on display through fall 2022. The main audiovisual installation in the Immersion Gallery, Visions of the Black Experience, employs 18-channel, 270° floor-to-wall surround projection array, and a 22.5-channel hyperreal spatialized audio system to shed light on the cultural and diasporic triumphs and social justice issues facing the Black community. The word itself Aṣẹ (ah-shay), a philosophical belief held by the Yoruba people of West Africa, is drawn on to invoke power to produce change. Multi-sensory installations throughout the art space depict the journeys of African kings and queens reimagined in a new digital context. Furthermore, visitors can virtually “try on” African masks, which are assembled around the viewer’s computerized reflection like an Instagram filter. Aṣẹ’s visuals are echoed by pulsating rhythmic drums and stirring spoken words from Philadelphia-based poet and musician Ursula Rucker. A Leeway Foundation’s Transformation Award winner, Rucker’s words intricately narrate the exhibition, connecting the dots of Fraser’s imagery and speak to similar themes of empowerment, ancestry, and social justice. ARTECHOUSE DC is open 10:00 am-10:00 pm daily at 1238 Maryland Avenue SW. ARTECHOUSE DC’s XR Bar is open Monday–Thursday 4:00 pm-close and Friday–Sunday 11:00 am-close. Tickets are $17-25 with special pricing for families Monday–Friday. To purchase tickets online, visit:  artechouse.com/location/dc.

Cirque du Soleil: Kurios
Cirque du Soleil returns to the Washington, DC area this summer with its most critically acclaimed touring show KURIOS — Cabinet of Curiosities. You are invited to escape reality and step into a world of extraordinary imagination under the iconic Big Top at Lerner Town Square at Tysons II for a limited series of performances. An escape from reality, KURIOS unveils a festive, steampunk-inspired universe where the unexpected lies at every corner. In an alternate yet familiar past, KURIOS steps inside the mechanical lab of an inventor convinced that there exists a hidden, invisible world. Once the inventor succeeds to unlock the door to this world of wonders, time comes to a complete stop and an uplifted cast of otherworldly characters invades his curio cabinet, bringing his makeshift creations to life one by one. Tickets are available at cirquedusoleil.com/kurios. 

Sunset Cinema in Georgetown 
After a two-year hiatus, the Georgetown Sunset Cinema outdoor movies series will make its way back to Georgetown Waterfront Park this summer. Free and open to the public, the six-week series will feature “Fan Favorites” on Tuesday nights from August 2 – September 6. Set up a blanket, bring food from a local Georgetown restaurant, and enjoy an evening along the beautiful waterfront during the following featured sunset offerings:  
Knives Out (PG-13) - 9/6 
Georgetown Waterfront Park is located at the intersection of K/Water Street NW and Cecil Place NW. Films start at sunset - around 8:30/8:45 p.m. Arrive early to picnic and to get the best seating! For additional information, please visit www.georgetowndc.com/sunsetcinema.

The Safari at Hook Hall 
Hook Hall’s backyard is being turned into a Safari, complete with *air conditioned* tents at the yard’s perimeter that seat from 12 to 50 guests. This is now the coolest place – literally – to have a large party. Palm trees, animal printed pillows, and African masks are part of the décor inside the tents. Banyan trees line the middle of the yard surrounded by umbrellaed  picnic tables. The Springbok Savana tent that holds up to 50 is decorated with couches, swings, rattan furniture, big pillows, colorful footrests,  large coffee tables and chandeliers. The beverage menu includes cocktails like “A Peachy Cheetah” with Ketel One Botanicals peach and orange blossom paired with Makers Mark and ginger beer and peach bitters, or the “Hippo Hibiscus Fizz” that incorporates Haku Rice Vodka, Bushido Sake, hibiscus syrup, lemon and bubbles. Tent rental prices are as follows: Safari tent (up to 12 guests) $75 for 2.5 hours; Parrot Island group seating– (30-35 guests) $150 for 2.5 hours; Springbok Savana (up to 50 guests) $350 for 2.5 hours; Safari tables (picnic tables  for up to 8 guests at the center of the yard) $15 for 2.5 hours. Bar service and a full bar menu are available for additional charge. hookhall.com/safari

Mexican Geniuses: A Frida and Diego Immersive Experience
Theis immersive exhibition, which first came to life in London earlier this year, is dedicated to the legacy of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and will showcase the passion, beauty, and emotional relationship that left a profound impact on the art world and beyond. With over 300 projections of bold and vibrant colors, this highly innovative digital experience immerses Washingtonians in the work of two of the most prolific artists of the 20th Century. Curated by a diverse and multi-disciplinary team of art historians and specialists, creative writers, stage designers, and multimedia producers, the life and art of Frida and Diego is explored and embraced in a unique exhibition of light, color, and sound. The iconic artwork of Frida and Diego will come to life with the latest video-mapping technology in a strategic layout that is designed with an all-digital, hands-free experience in mind. The immersive exhibition is structured in four galleries that tour through Frida and Diego’s individual and shared spaces, with the projection of paintings, photographs and animations, in a multisensory experience that will be captivating to audiences of all ages. Tickets are on sale now through Fever’s website, with adult tickets available for $36 and children for $19.90, children under 2 are free. This experience has been co-produced by Brain Hunter who have brought Mexican art and culture to the world in all its forms and expressions, and Fever, who have revolutionized the world of entertainment through immersive experiences. 1235 W Street NE. feverup.com/m/105148

NaLa Beach Club
National Landing BID is bringing the beach to Northern Virginia with the launch of the NaLa Beach Club. The tropical-inspired installation will transform Gateway Green, located at the entrance to Long Bridge Park esplanade at 201 12th Street, into a summertime oasis that will be home to community and family-friendly events all season long. From live music and refreshments from local businesses to outdoor workout classes and sea-inspired crafts, a visit to the NaLa Beach Club will feel like a trip to the beach, without the travel. The NaLa Beach Club will be open for public use 24/7 and will host a diverse lineup of events for all ages and interests, including:
Bark at the Beach, September 7: Time at the beach with your furry friends is a must for the dog days of summer. 
Sunset Hour, September 14: Celebrate the final days of summer with live music, food, giveaways and more. nationallanding.org/events/nala-beach-club 

Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience at National Geographic
Commemorating the discovery of King Tut’s tomb 100 years ago, take the opportunity to enter the tomb at the National Geographic Museum. Experience cinematic projections of King Tut’s treasures, meet the gods of the underworld, and learn more about the Explorers who continue to study the mysteries of the Boy King’s life. Descend into Tut’s tomb and enter a 280-degree projection room where you will come face-to-face with a replica of King Tut's golden burial shrine. You’ll discover more about Egyptian mummification and follow Tutankhamun's journey through the afterlife. End your trip with a photo opportunity featuring the iconic National Geographic golden border. 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 1145 17th Street NW; nationalgeographic.org/tickets

Notre Dame de Paris: Augmented Exhibition
The National Building Museum brings French heritage back to life with a major new exhibition, Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition, a 360-degree augmented reality immersion into the 850-year history of the cathedral and its ongoing restoration. The exhibition’s North American debut at the Museum runs through Monday, September 26.  To navigate the exhibition, each visitor will use a HistoPad™, an augmented reality touch-screen tablet developed by Histovery. The hand-held device creates immersive and interactive reconstructions, visually transporting visitors back in time. They can choose their own experience to explore the cathedral being built in the Middle Ages, witness the coronation of Emperor Napoleon I, see the iconic Viollet-le-Duc spire being erected, or be guided through the complex operation designed to safeguard the structure since the fire, prior to the start of the restoration. Vinyl replicas of the cathedral’s flooring, stained-glass transfers on the Museum’s historic windows, audio of Notre Dame’s organs and tolling bells, as well as a projection of the cathedral’s famed rose window, that miraculously survived the 2019 fire, complete the multi-sensory experience. For more information, visit nbm.org; or listen to the full 411 with Nycci on the latest Industry Night.

The Office Experience
This summer, fans of The Office will be transported to the world of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company with The Office Experience. Celebrate your favorite moments and characters from the widely acclaimed television series in the largest-ever official interactive fan experience based on The Office, created by Superfly X and Universal Live Entertainment in consultation with The Office’s U.S. creator Greg Daniels. This interactive two-story experience features 17 areas filled with original props and costumes, set re-creations and more, allowing fans to visit Scranton Business Park and other sites associated with the beloved series. Guests will be able to set foot inside the Dunder Mifflin office including Pam’s desk, Michael’s office and Ryan’s closet, as well as relive iconic moments such as Kevin’s Chili Spill and Beach Day. The Office Experience includes an on-site themed retail store replicating the Warehouse, featuring exclusive products for sale and open to ticketed and non-ticketed guests. Open through January 16, 2023. Timed entry tickets start at $35.50 plus taxes and fees. 1020 G Street NW. www.TheOfficeExperience.com