Alan Sonneman’s The Last Washington Painting (1980), oil on canvas

At the same time Maura Judkis and I worked on the Chocouture story, she unearthed The Last Washington Painting and wrote about it for the City Paper.  Alan Sonneman’s photorealistic doomsday oil was buried beneath a “pile of stuff” in collector Timothy Egert’s house for many years. It’s now hanging amidst an impressive retrospective titled “Catalyst,” running through December 19th that celebrates the Washington Project for the Art’s 35th anniversary.  On Saturday at 4pm, curator J.W. Mahoney will discuss the WPA exhibition.  (Word to the wise, give yourself at least an hour to see the work on all three floors. I was here for 90 minutes but that wasn’t enough time to digest it.)

My favorite image from the show is inside a book on display called Photography by and about the Homeless.  One black-and-white photograph in particular was taken at the Capitol City Inn by Daniel Hall in 1989 and depicts a child halfway through a back flip.  Aptly titled “Flip,” it shows a u-shaped body hovering in mid-air, impossibly curled and alive, that contrasts sharply against the bleak linear facade of a hotel in the background.  If you have more information about this photograph, its subject, or creator, please leave us a comment.

Also, outside in the sculpture garden you’ll find a street art installation featuring work by Blake Martin, Michael Murphy, Erik Otto and DC’s own Kelly Towles.  Wall Snatchers, Ghost Market, was created on top of 100 doors Towles received via donation or found dumpster diving.  You’ll see all kinds of virtual closets and cabinetry, but look closely and you might find the ladies room.  This is the kind of project that you assume takes months to build, transport, and assemble, but nope. Kelly told me it began a week before the exhibition.

I’ve been to the American University Museum at the Katzen before, but this was my first visit via metro.  It’s not hard.  You don’t have to drive or [GASP] take the bus.  Take the red line to Tenleytown and either hop on a campus shuttle or [DOUBLE GASP] walk there in 15 minutes.

Kelly Towles, Wall Snatchers, Ghost Market, 2010 (photographs above and below only represent a portion of the group installation)

Photo Credits: Joshua Yospyn (please ask permission to use our images)

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