DC Artswatch 1-11-17

The Smithsonian’s 22nd annual orchid exhibition, opening Jan. 14, will take place in an unusual location: the **Hirshhorn Museum**. “Orchids: A Moment,” a collaboration among **Smithsonian Gardens**, the **U.S. Botanic Garden** and the Hirshhorn, will be on view through May 14. Among the innovations will be time-lapse videos of orchids blossoming, shown on monitors interspersed with displays of live plants.

On Jan. 14, Washington National Opera will present the world premiere of three 20-minute operas inspired by the ideals of John F. Kennedy. (The centenary of JFK’s birth is May 29.) The works — semi-staged and accompanied by chamber orchestra — are: “What Gets Kept,” with music by Frances Pollock and libretto by Vanessa Moody; “Adam,” with music by Zach Redler and libretto by Jason Carlson; and “Lifeboat,” with music by Matthew Peterson and libretto by Emily Roller.

The **Washington Ballet’s** “Icons” series of conversations with dance legends continues with Judith Jamison, artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, who succeeded Ailey in 1989, on Feb. 5 and Patricia McBride, associate artistic director of Charlotte Ballet, who danced for Balanchine and with Villella and Baryshnikov, on April 9. Both talks are currently labeled: SOLD OUT.

The largest literary gathering in North America, the **AWP Conference & Bookfair**, organized by the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, will be held Feb. 8 to 11 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Featured presenters at the event, celebrating the association’s 50th anniversary, will include Ta-Nehisi Coates, Rita Dove, Jonathan Galassi, Margo Jefferson, Azar Nafisi and Ann Patchett. More than 800 presses, journals and literary organizations will exhibit at the fair.