The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has started presenting exhibitions unconventionally with the introduction of its monthly event, -Remix Nights.
While the Smithsonian and the National Portrait Gallery are synonymous and often associated with high-brow art more inclined to attract older visitors, the museum on March 29 is starting a monthly event that will bring dance music and DJ’s to the Old Patent Office Building. The event, entitled Remix Nights, the museum says is “the Portrait Gallery like you have never seen us before.” Once a month, as local DJ’s provide the musical entertainment, guests will sip on cocktails while enjoying the gallery’s latest exhibitions. These exhibitions are guaranteed to be quite different from the typical lecture and discussion programming put on by the Smithsonian museum and its curators.
The first Remix Nights Event on March 29 features the well regarded local DJ Ayes Cold who will be dropping Club and Bass mixes as the event observes Women’s History Month with tours highlighting the work of female artists on display in the museum’s collections. Remix Nights has one event per month planned through August which are uniquely different, next month’s event on April 26 will be a Poetry Jam put on by local poetry venue and cafe Busboys and Poets and Drawbridge Collective which will celebrate the life and work of Sylvia Plath.
May’s event will feature Swiss music, dance, culture, and portraits while in June Remix Nights will celebrate Capital Pride by focusing on social awareness and activism with “The Struggle for Justice” exhibit. July 12 will incorporate arcade sports games, ballpark concession foods and the museum’s “Champions” exhibit while on August 30 the party will celebrate and incorporate the night’s theme based on the “Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now” exhibition.
Whether you care for electronic music or not, Remix Nights is a great opportunity to check out some cool portraits and exhibits for FREE while mingling with other art buffs and dance music fans. Each Remix Nights event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and conclude at 8:30 p.m. The National Portrait Gallery is located at 8th and F Streets in Northwest and is easily accessible by Metro via the Gallery Place/Chinatown Stop on the Green line. Click here to view the full schedule of program events.
