Arts & Society

Robert Devaney • July 13, 2011

Volta Park Day lived up to its familiar, neighborhood charm: hamburgers, hot dogs, coconut cake, popcorn, snow cones with the slide, water dunk, sprinklers, band and flea market. Moms, dads and the kids were still smiling, although the picnic was cut short by thunder and light rain around 5:15 p.m. on June 12. The park’s C.M. Anderson reminds us that the Volta Park pool opens its full summer schedule on June 21: Tuesday through Thursday, 1 to 8 p.m., public; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.; closed Monday.
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Shannon McGovern •

From the beginning, the relationship between Norman Parish and his wife Gwen centered around a deep appreciation for talent and beauty, values that come to life in the Norman Parish Gallery’s 20th Anniversary exhibition, “Living Embodiments: Artistic Expressions of Being” which will run until July 12.

Norman met his wife, Gwen, 23 years ago after moving to D.C. from Chicago. They spent their weekends driving through the mountains of northwestern Maryland. They would park on the side of the highway where she would sunbathe and read while he painted landscapes, and together, they mused about the idea of opening an art gallery. One day, walking home after enjoying an oyster meal at Manhattan’s, the couple noticed an ad for the sale of a gallery.

Twenty years later, they celebrate not only the anniversary of their gallery’s opening, but also the talent and development of the family of artists who, Norman says, contributed work of consistent quality.

“My reference to quality is that the subject matter may not be to one’s liking, but the art works can truly be called fine art. The diversity of the artists shown over the years has one thing in common . . . quality,” said Norman in a press release.

The Parishes entertained a full house at the gallery’s opening reception for the exhibition on June 17. While exhibitions usually feature the work of one artist, in honor of the anniversary, Norman selected the work of a range of artists with whom he worked over the years and whose work he feels is “meaningful and impactful.” The works of master painters Herbert Gentry and Robert Mayhew were given recognition as well as upcoming artists Mason Archie and Morris Howard, pencil drawings by Kenneth Pasley, photos by 11 photographers and a piece by Sam Gilliam. Some are personal friends of Norman’s including Richard Hunt, a former classmate from the Art Institute of Chicago, and Evangeline J. Montgomery, who advised him while he was opening the gallery.

Collectively, the Parish Gallery features mostly, but not exclusively, artists from Africa and the African Diaspora whose art covers a broad spectrum of styles in contemporary fine art. In the past two decades, the gallery hosted artists from over 25 different countries.

Reflecting back on the life of the gallery, the Parishes remember a few exhibitions that were particularly notable. For both Norman and Gwen, Willard Wigan’s microscopic sculptures in his exhibition “Art in the Eye of a Needle” stood out, particularly for the notoriety and intriguing concept. During the two-month exhibition, 3,500 people visited the gallery to peer into microscopes to view the miniscule sculptures set in the eyes of needles.

Norman noted the development of Yvette Watson, an artist who he introduced to the gallery business. In her first show at the Parish Gallery, she sold 14 of the 16 pieces on display – one of the only sellout shows.

An oil painting by Parish himself also hangs among the work of his friends and colleagues, a brilliantly colored landscape that’s what he calls “expressionism in the form of stylized realism.” Despite his talent, Parish considers himself more of a businessman.

“I spent my life pursuing an art career and I was in my late forties when I realized it wasn’t happening. Someone said, ‘Why don’t you open a gallery?’ So I became a businessman,” he said.

Parish opened the gallery because few galleries consistently allowed diverse art in terms of style.

“My primary concern is that these artists have a place to be seen,” he said.

Jillian Rogers •

Comcast and NBC Universal celebrated the 15th anniversary of MSNNC on Thursday, July 7th, at America’s Square 300 New Jersey Avenue. Guests toasted to “The Place for Politics,” while enjoying Japanese and Mexican appetizers, and indulging in Sprinkles cupcakes. [gallery ids="100237,106585,106574,106582,106579" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Ambassador of Monaco and Mrs. Gilles Noghes celebrated the sixth anniversary of Prince Albert II’s accession to the throne and his recent wedding to Charlene Wittstock at a July 7 reception at the Metropolitan Club. Following a rendition of national anthems, the Ambassador said that the Prince had found the Princess he was looking for and shared that Prince Albert had quoted poet Robert Frost in honoring his new Princess as being the one he found on “the road less traveled.” Guests enjoyed a video presentation of the nuptials followed by an eloquent ambassadorial toast to US-Monaco friendship and, of course, to the newlyweds. [gallery ids="102536,120113,120119,120097,120105,120131,120125" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

On June 30, Ambassador of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova hosted a buffet dinner at her residence to introduce her diplomatic colleagues and US officials and friends to the Azar Foundation for Children of the World founded by Shahin Mafi. The foundation focuses on issues related to underprivileged and orphaned children as well as women’s issues internationally. The Ambassador spoke of children as often a “threatened species.” In welcoming the support for Azar, Shahin said “The smile or cry of children has no language. It is universal.” The evening was enhanced by the delightful singing of Bulgarian artist Elitsa Yordanova Stoyneva. [gallery ids="100235,106539,106565,106561,106544,106557,106549,106553" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Ambassador of Turkey Namik Tan held a June 28 reception to celebrate the Washington Ballet’s upcoming cultural mission to Turkey and participation in the international Dance Festival in Bodrum on the Turkish coast. Board Chair Sylvia de Leon thanked the Ambassador for Turkey’s leadership in the arts and acknowledged the presence of Turkish dance students. The Ambassador traced the history of the residence and its role as a jazz center when Turkey’s second ambassador in Washington Münir Ertegün hosted black jazz musicians during the 1930s and 1940s in a racially segregated capital. The Ballet’s eight day tour in late August will include visits to historic sites in Istanbul and Ephesus, Whirling Dervishes and a performance at famed Bodum Castle. [gallery ids="100234,106524,106545,106529,106541,106534,106538" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird • July 7, 2011

In conjunction with the current exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), on June 6 outgoing Co-Presidents of the Women’s Committee Cyd Everett and Isin Ludlow invited members to join them for a champagne brunch in the museum board room and the chance to touch the amazing jewels of Tiffany jeweler Paloma Picasso. The designer honors her family name as the daughter of the famed artist and her mother Francoise Gilot. Paloma Picasso is represented in the Smithsonian’s famed jewel collection. NMWA Director Susan Sterling spoke of Cyd’s “spark and oomph” and thanked Isin for hosting an event and her constant support. Tiffany representatives Mary Adams and Bryant Rice traced the designer’s evolution from early designs to the current Moroccan inspired theme and brought outstanding pieces to hold and admire. [gallery ids="100049,100050,100051,100052,100053" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

The stunning Luxembourg residence was the place to be on May 17 as Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger and Mrs. Louise Akerbloom entertained supporters of Deborah Sigmund’s Innocents at Risk (IAR). The Ambassador said that women’s advancement should be a centerpiece in government plans. Barbara Harrison of NBC championed the evening’s honoree Melanne Verveer, President Obama’s Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues. The Ambassador previously served as Chief Assistant to First Lady Hillary Clinton and as Chair and Co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership. Deborah has garnered staunch international backing for her campaign to combat the scourge of human trafficking. [gallery ids="99833,99834,99835,99836,99837,99838,99839,99840,99841" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird • July 6, 2011

On June 3, Ambassador of India Meera Shankar in conjunction with The Nooristan Foundation hosted a Spring Soirée, “The Evening of Hope for Afghanistan.” The Nooristan Foundation is a volunteer, non-profit organization established in l999 to provide humanitarian, medical and education support for rural areas of Afghanistan. Current projects include assisting 91 refugee families outside Kabul, a village school in Nooristan and midwife training. Board President Marie Kux thanked the Ambassador and her guests for empowering women through their support for literacy programs and grassroots projects. Ambassador
Shankar said that India views itself as a development partner with Afghanistan “for the long term.” Ambassador Thomas Pickering stressed the importance that schools for girls stay open even under Taliban control.
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