D.C. is not just a city of government worker bees — the District is also a place for cultural celebration.
From watercolor classes to on-campus dance sessions, D.C. is chock-full of experiences that celebrate all artistic mediums. Here are some highlights to experience the expressive side of the District.
To fulfill your artsy-craftsy side:
Centrally located in Penn Quarter, the National Portrait Gallery spotlights iconic faces from throughout history. From an exhibit on “America’s Presidents,” with paintings ranging from former President Barack Obama posing in front of lush greenery and an abstract painting of former President John F. Kennedy, to portraits of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Toni Morrison, every piece tells a part of the American story that D.C. weaves together. The National Portrait Gallery is open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Just a short stroll across the National Mall is the National Museum of Asian Art. The museum exhibits pieces of different mediums, like painting and jewelry, created across centuries and displayed in a variety of ways, including one room with a painting surrounded by shelves of colorful vases and prints covering the walls. The Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room is a must-see, featuring centuries-old silks with flowers blossoming all over, woven carpets and intricately made bronze figures. All of the pieces are laid on different platforms, and the dark lighting of the room creates a calm ambiance to experience the different works together.
If you’d prefer to see your own work in those galleries rather than admire the portraits done by others, D.C. has options for budding artists as well. To destress from mounds of homework, Georgetown-based boutique Shop Made in D.C. hosts weekly watercolor classes ($25) every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. The tickets include the whole shebang, with watercoloring tools and a seat next to other amateur painters, encouraging you to make new friends as you blend yellows and blues together.
Embrace your inner theater kid:
Just a quick 10-minute walk from the Foggy Bottom Campus is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The venue hosts a wide range of performances, including dazzling ballets, dramatic musicals and even shows from stars like Julien Baker, who sang with the National Symphony Orchestra this past summer. The grand theaters feature glittering chandeliers, red tapestries lining the auditorium and seats filled to capacity. This fall, performances at the Center include the musicals “Mamma Mia!” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” as well as pop artist Sara Bareilles.
For those who want to be on the stage, student-run theater groups on campus like Forbidden Planet Productions and Generic Theater Company hold auditions at the start of the semester. The former are known for their annual Halloweekend performances of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” an audience participation-filled showcase inspired by the 1975 cult film. In addition to “Rocky,” the group will be putting on productions of “Newsies” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” this fall.
Generic Theater Company puts on a “Freshcase” each fall, where new students can jump into scenes and musical numbers directed by veteran student thespians. This year’s performances range from dramatic renditions of scenes from the 2002 film “Scooby-Doo” to a concert of Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” ballad.
Dance like nobody’s watching:
For those who are glued to Gelman Library 23 hours a day and can’t leave campus, Balance: The GW Dance Group puts on two captivating shows at the end of each semester. A culmination of a semester’s worth of rehearsals, dancers of all different abilities and genres bust out jetés and pirouettes. From hip-hop to contemporary to ballet en pointe, students choreograph and direct the entire show surrounding one driving theme like last year’s topic of Renaissance. For those wanting to explore different genres, dance groups like GW Bhangra and District-wide group Capital Funk are also open to join.
Singing outside of the shower:
Right off the Washington Channel next to a lineup of restaurants and shops is The Anthem, a grand music venue that welcomes acts from alt-rock stars, like Weezer and St. Vincent, to pop chart toppers, like Zedd and Gracie Abrams. Most tickets are general admission with prices as low as $35, and the box office outside of the venue is an option for those who dread waiting in Ticketmaster queues.
A more intimate venue, the Columbia Heights-staple 9:30 Club hosts many smaller artists before they blow up the charts, like pop princess Chappell Roan, who graced the hall’s presence last fall. As strobe lights hit the audience, energy is constantly bouncing off the walls with each song. This iconic D.C. venue will be hosting artists like Haley Heynderickx, singer of the hit “The Bug Collector” this fall.
For those who want to warble a tune, campus a cappella groups like Sons of Pitch, MotherFunkers and The GW Pitches host auditions at the start of the year and put on several performances throughout the semester. Sons of Pitch are all-male, The GW Pitches are all-female and the MotherFunkers are coed. No matter your chosen artistic field of interest, there’s a way to throw yourself into it while in D.C.
