“The body is the ultimate canvas,” says Amy Cavanaugh, director of D.C.’s new art space, the Honfleur Gallery. Which explains why skin ornamentation has served as a means of self-expression through the ages in cultures around the world.
Considering its power to make an impression, the tattoo offers a fitting theme to launch a gallery likely to add kindling to Anacostia’s art scene.
Honfleur opens its doors this evening with No Scratchers, curated by D.C. photographer and tattoo artist Imani Brown. The ample, well-illuminated space shows off the artistry and skills of about 10 D.C.- and Baltimore-area artists through photographs of body art, paintings on non-skin surfaces from canvas to sneakers, live video, and upstairs, what Brown calls an “art fusion” — a large collaborative art panel on which visitors can doodle, draw or embellish others’ creations.
You won’t find “scratchers” — aka artless practitioners — here. Instead, there’s Renee Azcra’s photo of “Jess,” a glam goddess whose upper arm bears a bewitching black-and-white design. John Shea checks in with his “Sex and Drugs” ceramic skulls, whose baroque images tell stories. Other artists include Miya Bailey, Andrea Hope and F. Lennox Campello.
Imani Brown, who practices her art at D.C.’s Pinz-N-Needlez Tattoo shop, seeks help skin-deep decoration reclaim its place as a fine art form.
Honfleur’s official grand opening will take place Feb. 24, when it debuts East of the River, a group exhibition of Anacostia artists. Gallery construction delays pushed this show back, but a sneak preview suggests it will be worth the wait.
The Honfleur Gallery is a project of ARCH Development Corporation, a nonprofit serving the Anacostia for 20 years. While the the first-floor space will host an array of artists from near and far, the second floor art studio and teaching space will help germinate new talent in the community. A 10-minute walk from the Metro stop, Honfleur offers a new reason to visit the Anacostia waterfront.
No Scratchers
On view through Feb. 17
» Venue: The Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE
» Info: 202-889-5000;
www.honfleurgallery.com
» Opening reception: 7 p.m. Saturday
» Grand opening: 7 p.m. Feb. 24
» Tix: Free
