Let the Beat Bop: NEXTfest, the city’s largest free festival of jazz, funk, and go-go music culture, returns to Malcolm X Park on the 24th it’s September. CapitalBop, the nonprofit organization promoting, promoting, and preserving jazz in the region. , made the announcement today, August 8, introducing an “all star lineup” featuring go-go hotshots UCB, TOB Band & Show, and New Impressionz. Jazz vocalist Cecily will also perform as will visiting multi-instrumentalist Ben LaMar Gay. The Malcolm X Drummers & The dancers, known for leading the Sunday sports, will open the second pleasure every year, prepared through partnership with Long Live GoGo and Washington Parks & People. The lineup, which will include several artists, was co-hosted by CapitalBop’s Luke Stewart and Long Live GoGo’s Justin “Yaddiya” Johnson. NEXTFest was first held last year to celebrate the evolution of Black music in D.C. According to a CapitalBop press release, the special event brought 4,000 fans to Malcolm X Park “for a historic day of music and culture, making a strong statement about the resilience of D.C.’s music scene in the in the midst of disease and the spread.” This year’s event, which runs from noon to 9 p.m. on September 24, will include a second day of cultural programming that includes workshops, panel discussions, and additional exhibits. On September 25th it will be held inside and outside the Josephine Butler Parks Center on the other side of the park.
Night at the Museum: Ben Stiller doesn’t show this, but this fall, the National Gallery of Art’s East Building will once again host after hours on the second Thursdays in September, October, and November. Each night will feature a variety of experiences from live entertainment and music to film making and promotional talks. As always, entry is free, but registration is required. (Tickets are available the first week at noon through nga.gov/nights.)
Bringing the Nation Back to the National Gallery: Speaking of the NGA, the museum continues its quest to expand its collection to four showing off the country called home. The Gallery recently acquired eight works by four Black photographers: Adger Cowans, Chester Higgins Jr., Herman Howard, and Herb Robinson. Each is famous for their efforts to document their Black communities during the civil rights movement. Cowans, Howard, and Robinson were part of the Kamoinge Workshop. Formed in 1963, the group of Black photographers not only studied together, they also shared their work and ideas. Higgins began photographing friends, family, and civil rights protesters during his time studying at Alabama’s Tuskegee University. Known for documenting Harlem’s Black community and its spiritual ties to Africans, Higgins worked as a photographer for The New York Times from 1975 to 2014.
Crybaby: Currently, at the Baltimore Museum of Art, about 90 works from the collection of the film John Waters will be shown this November. A portrait of the Bawlmer, Waters’ collection offers an intimate look at the criminal creator’s taste as well as a selection of the 372 items he gave to the BMA as part of his bequest. Produced by photographer Catherine Opie and artist Jack Pierso, two longtime friends of Waters, Coming Attractions: The John Waters Collection features works from Diane Arbus, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, Gary Simmons , Cy Twombly, and Andy Warhol among many others. “The selected works capture the essential elements of Waters’ collection vision, including a commitment to serious artists and artworks that express confidence, intelligence, and humor,” said the Aug. 4 announcement. . Will see what’s coming from Nov. 20 to April 16, 2023.
Award: Two Northern Virginia poets will receive $50,000 from New York’s Academy of American Poets. KaNikki Jakarta and Holly Karapetkova, Alexandria and Arlington’s poets laureate, are two of the 22 state, city, and county 2022 Poet Laureate Fellows. Individuals are named for their outstanding contributions to their communities. This money is intended to support the general programs of the poets for the year ahead. In April, Jakarta—Alexandria’s first Black poet laureate—was named the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association’s first poet in residence. He is the author of two collections of poetry, and plans to launch an eight-week seminar starting from writing, marketing, and writing good performance opportunities as well as role models to young poets. Similarly, Karapetkova has written two collections of poetry and, together with Day Eight, will conduct a youth poetry anthology open for all residents of Arlington High School.
