8/17-8/30
This week: Explore the global power of textiles through centuries of tradition, learn how graffiti transformed from rebellion to artistic revolution, and more.
Additions to Last Week's Lineup
Jazz at The Kreeger: The Robert Papacica featuring Langston Hughes II [Concert] August 16, 3-4 PM | The Kreeger Museum | $35
Head to one of DC's most intimate museum settings for an afternoon of jazz. Robert Papacica honed his modern take on traditional guitar sound through study with legends like Peter Bernstein and John Scofield, while 23-year-old Langston Hughes II represents the possibilities for the future of jazz with a distinctive sound that emanates beauty and passion. Hughes II, a Juilliard student who's already toured with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, has captivated audiences from Blues Alley to the Kennedy Center. Your ticket to this event includes access to the museum galleries and sculpture garden, making this a perfect afternoon of visual art and music. Tickets
Enduring Traditions: Celebrating the World of Textiles [Exhibition Opening] August 16-December 20 | The Textile Museum | FREE
As part of The Textile Museum's centennial, this exhibition proves that textiles are far more than just fabric; they're cultural DNA and stories woven into cloth. From festival robes that celebrate community milestones to palace carpets that tell stories of power and luxury, these treasures reveal how communities across continents have used textiles in celebrations, performances, and religious ceremonies. This exhibit takes you on a global journey through various traditions and values that have shaped civilizations, told through the threads that weave us all together. Visit
This Week
Style Wars [Film Screening] August 18, 6-7:30 PM | Washington Studio School | FREE
Before Banksy, there was 1980s New York and the teenage "writers" who turned subway trains into moving masterpieces. This documentary follows legends like Seen, Dondi, and Futura as they transformed urban decay into expressive public art, battling Mayor Ed Koch and transit officials who viewed graffiti as a threat to public order. Winner of the Grand Prize for Documentary at the 1983 Sundance Film Festival, Style Wars captures the explosive birth of hip-hop culture through its three pillars: graffiti, breakdancing, and rap. It's a vivid time capsule that elevates what authorities called vandalism into lasting artistic movements that reshaped urban culture worldwide. Register
Looking Ahead
State Fairs: Growing American Craft [Exhibition Opening] August 22-September 7 | Renwick Gallery | FREE
After five years of behind-the-scenes research, this exciting exhibition celebrates the unsung artists who give America’s state fairs their magic. With over 240 artworks from the mid-19th century to today, it's the first major show dedicated to the role of crafts in America's great fair tradition. Prepare for big Tex's iconic size 96 boots from the State Fair of Texas, a life-size butter cow created on-site by Iowa State Fair's official butter sculptor, and a pyramid of 700 glass jars of preserved fruits and vegetables. Artists and 4-H clubs from 43 states and tribal nations show that fairgrounds aren't just about cotton candy and Ferris wheels—they're vibrant centers of American creativity. Visit
Opening Reception and Artist Talk: A Land and River [Gallery Opening] August 23, 5-7 PM | Tephra Institute | FREE
Two artists, two powerful explorations of place, history, and identity. Kimberly M. Becoat uses everything from acrylic paint to candy wrappers to investigate urban displacement, focusing specifically on Seneca Village—the 19th-century free Black community that was destroyed to build Central Park. Hong Hong, a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow, presents her first thematic research project about water as both nurturer and destroyer, creating a paper-based installation that reads like a long-form poem documenting rivers, immigration, family, and the texts she and her mother both love. RSVP
Music Free-for-All [Music Festival] August 30, 12-6 PM | Glen Echo Park | FREE
Labor Day Weekend kicks off with six straight hours of live music you can dance to at this family-friendly festival. The Bumper Car Pavilion transforms into an extended summer concert venue, proving that the best things in life really are free. It's the kind of community celebration that makes you remember why live music and lazy weekend afternoons were made for each other. RSVP