After hosting their G40 Art Summit in Richmond last year, Art Whino is taking the event back to DC for its fourth year to a venue which has been turned into a piece of art itself.
The DC art gallery Art Whino exhibits a number of different art forms and styles making it their mission “to bring together the pioneers and freshest talent from around the world.”
Shane Pomajambo is executive director and editor-in-chief of Art Whino who said Art Whino is a gallery like no other because they work with thousands of artist where as other galleries usually focus on a few local artists.
“It’s different in that we are trying to bring the scene for the new brow and lowbrow art worldwide into one place,” Pomajambo said.
The first G40 Art Summit, which took place in DC in 2010, brought in 500 artists from all over the world and a collection of over a thousand pieces. Visitors were able to view art from numerous cultures and were engulfed with art to view.
This year the theme is the “Art of Transformation,” which can be seen through the revival of their new art club in Southwest DC, Blind Whino, - the new venue will also host the exhibit.
A vacant 19th century church was adopted as a non-profit art project for Art Whino. The collective converted the building into a community art space which will be used to hold art events and workshops. The exterior of the building was painted by Atlanta muralist HENSE while the performance space was painted by Australian mural artist, MEGGS.
“The building will also serve as a beacon that exemplifies the positive impact that mural art can have on a community,” Art Whino states on their website.
Heineken, the official sponsor of this year’s Art Summit, makes for a good collaboration after they’ve shown support of mural art by starting the Heineken Mural Project. The project which began in Atlanta is going to highlight four muralists in DC making it the newest addition to the project. These muralists will also be showing their work in the G40 Heineken lounge of the host venue to inspire creativity within the community.
Pomajambo says the mission of Art Whino is to put DC on the map for this kind of art and events like the G40 Art Summit allow big house names to get involved.
The exhibit will be opening on Sept. 13, at 700 Delaware Ave. in DC, and will continue until Oct. 6.