Brightest Young Things

All photos Raul De Leon

We've had our share of upstart spaces in D.C, though admittedly nowhere on the scale of our annoyingly thriving neighbors in Baltimore whose ample warehouse space and MICA spending money have afforded the city a continuously active (if nothing else) art scene.

There was the Hosiery, which thankfully Wakeman and co. have saved from death. There was 611 florida, but Scott Verrastro moving to Philly laid that to rest (and got me a job...) and also there was the Borf space, for a little while. Fight Club remains, and is really the place in this city where I've felt the most potential-- for what? I dunno, maybe art, maybe new bands forming, maybe just sloshing around and fist pumping, maybe getting in a fight and then 20 minutes later having your arm around the same guy and, like brothers, screaming "i aint no goddamn sonofabitch!" It's really about the possibility of the place. The unfinishedness of it's architecture and the vagueness about what the space is for is comforting, even methodical towards it being an environment where anything can happen. That's where art happens.

This is what I felt at the DC Mini Gallery which had it's party and "soft opening?" last night in the far corners of Columbia Heights...Columbia Depths...I guess it's Petworth. Whatever. It's actually near the Lighthouse, another DC underground show space which is on 14th and Buchanan.

Owner and proprietor and noise maker Michael Andrew Harris, drummer of the prodigious band The Laughing Man, has rendered the place a show space, consignment shop, potential art gallery, meeting house, party-central. A first floor that is lined on one wall with cooky clothing/vintage stuff for sale and a small bar island where one could serve herbal ecstacy or Malt Liqour ice cream or whatever. There's a full-on-stage straight ahead when your back is to the street. The basement has even more possibility; exposed brick, and a generally utilitarian feel. It's perfect for installations and for trying things out artistically--because it's not finished! You could hold a seance down there, or a science experiment, you could decorate it like the surface of Mars and get DJ Gavin Holland to play 1950s exotic music until the cops come. Who cares! Rip it up and start again, as someone once said.

I told Michael he should be proud of himself, because this is exactly, EXACTLY, what we need around here. WAY 2 GO BROSEF!

SUPPLEMENT:

Hey Andrew Bucket,
I am a cool person with a mind for new and provocative ideas, not to mention non-institutional art and music spaces that are independently owned by regular citizens like you and me, but how in the world do I get to DC Mini Gallery...

yours,
Monica

Dear Monica,
I like your enthusiasm for seeking show spaces that aren't decorated like a rock and roll TGIFridays...good for you. Here's the deal, you can walk from the Georgia Ave Metro but that's a little snaky and weird, so I would suggest getting off at Columbia Heights Metro and then taking the bus up 14th street until you see Buchanan--then pull the little chord, and hop off. It's a block up at 14th and Crittenden.

I know you'll do fine. Oh the other option is driving. Sayin...

ever yours,
andrew b.

Previously in I Heart DC:

• 2/13: 101 Reasons To Love DC-Part 1
• 2/10: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
• 2/9: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
• 2/8: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
• 2/8: Perfect Date Outfits + Outings
• 2/7: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
• 2/6: DC News You Can Maybe Use:
• 2/2: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
• 2/1: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
• 1/31: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use