A Forbidden Photoshoot at The Blind Whino
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The Blind Whino
This old church turned art gallery in DC will make your head combust from pure joy and artistic peace. I found out about The Blind Whino in an article about D.C venues for local artists and art enthusiasts.Owned by the South West Arts Club, The Blind Whino is a neighborhood gem situated within the quiet block of H St SW D.C.The church acts as a venue showcasing various local artists, organizations and public events during different times during the seasons. The best part is that admission to this gallery is free!
Blind Whino in D.C.
I visited this gallery on a wet, hailing Saturday afternoon when the venue was, essentially, empty which I feel was great timing. Being a freelance photographer, I really wanted to get a general sense of the vibe and test out some shots without the many bodies that usually populate these museums. Unfortunately, professional camera's are not allowed in the venue. I was not aware of it until one of the patrons informed us half way during our takes. Make sure you equip your phone with proper lighting sources because sometimes the flash just isn't enough... or just be sneaky enough to use your real camera. Nevertheless, the venue is quite challenging for picture taking, as there is very little adequate light, but its a great place to experiment with different techniques. Be sure to walk every inch of the church because there is artwork, E V E R Y W H E R E .
Snippit of the Shoot
Snippit of the Shoot
The Church, itself, is fun to explore. The outside is painted with very bright colors and every single nook and cranny of the inside is spray painted as well...even the bathrooms. Upon entrance, you run into a decent sized room with a uniquer vibe. There was graffiti art on one side and the other was decorated in vines and greenery.
To the left of the venue, you will find a well lit space used as the gallery for local artists to showcase their work. You may even meet a few of the local artists who are featured.
When I visited, I was able to meet and mingle with David Elliot who had his work on display. His work featured portraits of famous black artists and black bodies, creatively painted without the use of browns. The concept of painting without browns for people of color was neat because it allowed for the shapes to speak for themselves.
Another artist that I found lovely was Chanel Kennebrew. Although I did not have the opportunity to meet her, her portraits spoke for themselves. The art is composed of media collages accompanied by young black female subjects and/or children. I felt as though she was depicting the "imagined" perception of the "futures" perpetuated by our media; and how that may affect young children, particularly black children, who find it extremely difficult to accomplish those dreams that they so easily see in the media. Of course, Art is subjective so there are so many conclusions that you can derive from her portraits, but I absolutely adored it and the multiple interpretations.
If you head upstairs, there is another open stage and dance floor space which most of their special events are held. The walls are painted in black with eclectic collages of huge roses and fierce animals on the walls. As you can tell from below, I was feeling the space.
I am am impressed with the preservation of the framework of the church despite its physical modern and colorful design. I am glad that I was able to visit and enjoy the space and art that it encompassed.
Visit:
If you ever want something different to explore, check out The Blind Whino. I've heard that, during the summer days, the gallery grounds host food trucks and non profit community events!
Keep track of the events on the calendar, here! There is also an Open Mic Night on the second Wednesday of every month. I am not sure if it is seasonal, but be sure to check out the website for more info.
Open Gallery:
No tickets necessary, unless there is an actual event.
Saturday & Sunday | 12p - 5p
Location & Contact:
700 Delaware Avenue Southwest, Washington , DC, 20024
(202) 554-0103 INFO@SWARTSCLUB.ORG
Photography:
** Note, that professional type cameras are not allowed INSIDE this venue.. such a bummer... I called this the forbidden photoshoot because I actually didn't check the photo rules when I visited so I actually got a few photos with my real camera until they caught me...that's another story because I was not happy. However, you can get some pretty nice shots with your cell phone. Just make sure that it is equipped with the necessary enhancements for picture quality. For recommendations, comment below!
