Heads Up: ‘Street Art Across America’ From the Kennedy Center

Look up! Look out!

If you’re out and about in the city between May 6 and 12, whether you’re walking, reading a newspaper or texting on the Metro or bus, or on a bench or eating at your favorite restaurant across the city, check it out. Look up! Look out!

Look out is probably the operating phrase because May 6 through 12 marks the duration of the Kennedy Center’s “Look Both Ways: Street Arts Across America,” featuring dozens of artists of all kinds and genres popping up and sideways, doing their special thing at far-flung locations throughout the city.

Between May 6 and 12, you won’t have to go to Capitol Hill to see fools in action. The free festival celebrates the now-and-new energy of live right there beside you or up above you interactive performance. You may stumble upon or plan to see a circus-punk marching band, political puppet theater, jugglers, contortionists, stunt dogs, dancers, acrobats and fly-by-nighters, for all we know, throughout the city.

You can find them at such locations as Eastern Market, the Half Street Fair Grounds, Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Farragut Square, the Old Post Office Pavilion (Look up!) and Yards Park as well as the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

You will see, hear, feel and be dazzled and amazed by:

Acrobuffos, Ambush, Karen Beriss, Bert the Nerd, the Bread and Puppet Theater, Nick Cave, Circolombia, Entomo, the Exit Studio’s Edwon Fontanez, Happenstance Theater, Oesole’s Dance Project, Midnight Circus, Mutts Gone Nuts, Valesa Aaria Populoh, the Project Bandaloop, the Red Trouser Show, Mamomanem and Yo-Yo People, among others.

“Look Both Ways: Street Arts Across America” is one in a series of festivals produced and sponsored by the Kennedy Center, which have included “Country: A Celebration of America’s Music,” “A Cappella: Singing Solo” and “Gospel Across America.”

On May 6, Bert the Nerd, Happenstance Theatre, Mouth Monster and Nana Projects will kicks things off by invading Eastern Market at 225 7th St., S.E. On May 11 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., there will be action at the Old Post Office Pavilion, up and down the building as a matter of fact. Performers that night include Ambush, Bert the Nerd, Entomo, Paolo Garbanzo, Project Bandaloop and Rob Torres.

Pretty much all of the performers will show up at noon at the Yards Park (entrances at 3rd, 4th and Water Streets, S.E.) on May 12.