Weekend Buzz, Jan. 8, 2025
Cabin fever getting to you? Don't let it!
Here are some fun, entertaining, and enriching activities in Falls Church and around town for your weekend enjoyment (notwithstanding any possible dustings of snow.)
Trivia: By the end of this article, you should know which gallery owns the "largest American sculpture collection in the world."
Visual Arts
Falls Church Arts: Opening of ‘Full Circle’ Exhibit
Attend a meet-the-artists reception for the opening of FCA's "Full Circle" exhibit exploring circularity, Sat. Jan. 11, from 7 - 9:00 p.m. at FCA's gallery at 700-B West Broad St. During the program, the Juror’s Choice Award will be announced. Here's our story about the show and reception:
Christopher Jones
Don't Miss 'Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment' at the National Gallery of Art
This weekend and next, you still have a chance to see the National Gallery of Art's popular show, "Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment." The show ends Jan. 19.
To tease the show, NGA asks: "How did impressionism begin?" Then they promise viewers will "Discover the origins of the French art movement in a new look at the radical 1874 exhibition considered the birth of modern painting."
This "remarkable presentation of 130 works includes a rare reunion of many of the paintings first featured in that now-legendary exhibition. Revisit beloved paintings by Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, and Camille Pissarro and meet their lesser-known contemporaries. See the art norms they were rebelling against and learn what political and social shifts sparked their new approach to art."
"Don’t miss the unique chance to immerse yourself in the dynamic Parisian art scene of 1874 — we are the only American stop for this historic exhibition." For more info go here.
Check Out Alliance Gallery's 'Natural Connections'
Alliance Gallery, at 2700 Clarendon Blvd. in Arlington, is pleased to present "Natural Connections," a small group show featuring select Arlington Artists Alliance members’ artworks reflecting "an underlying tone of the natural world, while also celebrating the camaraderie experienced as members of this arts organization." Artworks depict nature, or are made from natural materials, or balance natural elements with man-made components. For more information go here. Jan. 12, 6:00 p.m.
New at SAAM... The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture
The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture examines the role of sculpture in understanding and constructing the concept of race in the United States. The exhibition brings together 82 sculptures created between 1792 and 2023 and ranging in size from palm-sized coins to monumental statues created from diverse media such as bronze, marble, shoes, paper, and hair. Made by 70 different artists, these sculptures are displayed to allow for juxtapositions of historical and contemporary works that invite dialogue and reflection on notions of power and identity.
The exhibition draws extensively on works from SAAM’s collection, which is the largest collection of American sculpture in the world. Through Sept. 14, 2025. Admission free. For more information go here.
Learning
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
Take an American Sign Language Class, Sun. Jan. 12, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. All ages. Registration open. Upper Level Conference Room. Course taught by members of the Meridian H.S. ASL Honor Society (ASLHS). The four-session series of classes is intended for beginners. 120 N. Virginia Ave. Phone: 703-248-5030. See here for more information.
Theater
Last Weekend for Signature's: 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'
[Trigger warning for men: Ancient Rome about to be mentioned...]
Be sure to catch Signature Theatre's "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" about "three households resid[ing] next to each other in ancient Rome," before it closes Jan. 12. Sondheim's "zany, hysterical, Tony Award-winning musical romp" is blurbed as "one of the greatest musical comedies of all time."
"Just outside their doors, the exploits of a quick-thinking Roman slave, a braggart soldier, a beautiful courtesan, a lovesick young man and others devolve into uproarious chaos in a fast-paced, witty and monumental escapade," Signature says. "With mistaken identities, wily ruses, madcap chases, a love story, and a happy ending of course," the show's "audacious and irreverent spectacle has something for everyone." For ticket info go here.
Now Extended, Studio Theatre's 'Summer, 1976'
Extended by popular demand, two of Washington's most-acclaimed stage actresses shine in the two-person show, Summer, 1976. "It's midsummer in the mid-seventies. The second wave of feminism is cresting somewhere while two very different women are thrown into one another's orbit in college-town Ohio," the theater blurb reads.
"Iconoclast artist Diana looks down on faculty wife Alice, but their young daughters' friendship forces them together. Featuring two tour-de-force performances by D.C. favorites Holly Twyford and Kate Eastwood Norris, David Auburn's (Proof) recent Broadway hit traces each woman's growing disquiet with the compromises they've made, and the transformative power of a friendship at the right time." For more info go here.
Check Out This 'Out of Character' One-Man Show at Theater J
From Jan. 8 - 26, Theater J is featuring "Out or Character," Tony Award-winner Ari'el Stachel's one-man show" which "brings to life a full ensemble of characters from his past to illuminate what it means to pursue – and accept – our complex identity."
"From hilarious sweat-gland cures to earnest investigations, Out of Character weaves an expansive autobiographical tale of his Yemeni Jewish mixed ethnicity, mental health, and success – all to the tune of relentless humor and extraordinary talent," the show's blurb reads. "Few artists can embody such a wide repertoire of true stories, from childhood to fame, with such compassion and specificity."
For ticket info go here.
DANCE
Don't Miss the 3rd Annual DC Public Schools Dance Festival
This year, the DCPS Dance Festival 2024 is hosted by The Atlas Performing Arts Center (APAC). The celebration will feature "a dynamic evening showcasing the extraordinary talent and creativity of student dancers from across Washington, D.C."
According to APAC, "This uplifting performance is the culmination of a yearlong journey, bringing together a diverse group of young artists who have explored various dance styles, honed their technique, and discovered their personal artistic voices under the guidance of dedicated teaching artists and community leaders. From contemporary and modern to hip-hop, jazz, and cultural traditions, the program features a wide range of styles that reflect the richness and depth of our city’s artistic landscape." At 4:00 p.m. on Jan 10. All ages. For more info go here.
Live Music
Passport Music Festival at Creative Cauldron
"Featuring some of the most talented and diverse musicians in the metro area and beyond, this annual series, now in its 14th year, is one of the most popular events of the Creative Cauldron season," Creative Cauldron says of this exciting show in the City of Falls Church at 410 S. Maple Ave., running Jan. 10 through Feb 1. "The concert series offers musical styles for every taste: latin, jazz, blues, folk and world music. Presented in a cozy club format that has been described by one of our frequent performers musicians as 'one of the best listening venues in the DMV.'" For more info go here.
Check Out the 45th International Saxophone Symposium
You have a few chances this weekend not to miss the GMU Center for the Arts's 45th International Saxophone Symposium.
On Fri., Jan. 10 at 12 p.m. and Sat., Jan. 11 at 9:00 a.m., enjoy "over 150 performances, masterclasses and lectures designed for musicians of all ages." Hosted by the U.S. Navy Band, the shows will feature soloists Makoto Hondo, ~ Nois, and Musician First Class Harrison Clarke, on Friday evening, and special guest Will Vinson on Saturday evening, Jan. 11 at 8:00 p.m.
The event is open to the public and no tickets are required. First hosted in 1978, the International Saxophone Symposium features world-renowned saxophonists while highlighting the prominence of the saxophone in both classical and jazz literature.
For more information visit the U.S. Navy Band’s website.
The State Theatre's "One Irish Rover: A Celebration of Van Morrison"
The State Theatre invites you to: "Take a ride with Pat [Garvey] through Van’s collection of Blues, Soul and Rock ballads all blended in a Celtic Stew of uplifting beats, heart-felt searching for understanding, soul-touching melodies, and jazzy compilations that deliver you back to a rustic Irish Pub somewhere in the countryside of Ireland where the beer, Irish whiskey and music flow warmly together until the 'wee hours of the mornin.'" 8:00 p.m., Fri. Jan. 10. Only a $1 fee when you buy your ticket in person at the box office.
See The Breakdown at Clare & Don's
Clare & Don's pitches The Breakdown as an "audacious yet heartfelt band specializing in live performance across rock, blues, funk, and jazz." Friday, Jan. 10, at 6:00 p.m. For info go here.
Check out Curtis Knocking at Solace Brewing Co.
"We'll be rocking at the best brewery restaurant in Falls Church," Curtis Knocking posted on their Facebook site to promote their Sat. Jan. 11 show at Solace Brewing Company from 8 - 11:00 p.m. "Curtis Knocking is a Northern Virginia-based classic rock band, playing your favorite covers from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s," Solace says.
Have You Explored Live Music at Earp's Ordinary in Fairfax City?
This weekend, check out the following live acts at Earp's Ordinary at 10420 Main St., Fairfax.
Ken Demith Collection and Chevre, Friday, Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Homer's Donut, Sat. Jan. 11, 8:00 p.m.
King Street Bluegrass and No Part of Nothin', Sun. Jan. 12, 5:00 p.m.
For more info call (703) 539-6960 or go here.
Looking for a Long Strange Trip? Try 'Born Cross Eyed' at Settle Down Easy
Focusing on the "jam music of the Grateful Dead," Born Cross Eyed will be at Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. at 2822 Fallfax Drive, Falls Church, Jan. 11, from 7 - 10:45 p.m. $10. cover. For more info go here.
By Christopher Jones
Member discussion