Contemporary art joins the D.C. museum scene

By Sasha Vesensky Staff Writer

The first thing you see when you enter the Rubell Museum is a gymnasium-sized gallery, massive paintings, and sculptural pieces hanging from the walls. Through the glass double doors across the room, visitors face three levels of varied contemporary artwork. D.C.’s first contemporary art museum brings a wide array of artists and styles.

The museum is a private collection owned by the Rubell family—Don, Mera, and their children. They began collecting art in the 1960’s through their connections to Studio 54, a club frequented by artists, which had been opened by Don’s brother, Steve Rubell. Then, in the 1990s, they opened their first museum in Miami, Florida, and then a new location in D.C. in fall 2022.

Caitlin Berry, the director of the Rubell Museum’s D.C. location since its opening, explained why they chose Southwest D.C. for the collection. “We believe that contemporary art and artists play a pivotal role in encouraging dialogue and contributing to the national conversation, making D.C. a fitting environment to showcase the Rubell’s collection,” she writes in an email to Silver Chips. “Southwest D.C. offered a meaningful opportunity to make the museum integral to the life of the neighborhood, as opposed to [being confined to] a more specialized district like the mall.”

The Rubell building was built in 1906 as the Cardozo Elementary School, and then in 1927 it became the Elizabeth G. Randall Junior High School, a historically Black public school. Now, it hosts the Rubell Museum. Berry writes that the museum makes an effort to connect to the building’s history as a place of education.

“The museum preserves the school’s original layout, with former classrooms and teacher’s offices transformed into gallery spaces,” Berry states. “This unique setting underscores the role of artists as teachers, and we are excited that the historic building once again provides a resource for a new generation.”

This unique setting underscores the role of artists as teachers.

Visitors from all over the DMV come to see the art exhibited in the Rubell Museum. Maryland resident Katherine Staden says that the museum is a welcome change in D.C. “Some of [it] is pretty provocative [art] that you wouldn’t necessarily see [in] other places, so I’m glad to have the opportunity to see it here,” Staden says. “It’s a nice alternative to a Smithsonian, [which] we’re very lucky [is] free, but [which] we’ve all been to.”

As D.C.’s first contemporary art museum, Rubell also provides opportunities for today’s artists to showcase their work in the nation’s capital, which has always had a rich art scene. Christopher Myers visited D.C. from New York with his family to see his own work exhibited. He says that he is friends with many of the other artists, and in this unique position, he can see how many of the works reflect each other.

“All of this work is part of a larger conversation, and that’s exciting to me,” Myers says. “You can see how [artists] are having conversations with each other.” His piece, “Earth,” is a large quilt that hangs to the right of the initial doors on the first floor, and it looks at protests and struggles during a period when COVID-19 and racial violence were both extremely prevalent.

The museum also makes an effort to showcase the work of D.C. artists as well. “We are also committed to spotlighting the work of local artists—currently on view are a series of paintings by D.C. artist Sylvia Snowden.” Five paintings from Snowden’s “Shell; Glimpses” are on display. The paintings are about Snowden’s daughter and highlight ideas of strength and femininity with thick and colorful layers of acrylic.

Another artist featured in the museum is Keith Haring. The Rubells discovered him when he was still struggling for recognition, and some of his work is also displayed in Miami. His D.C. exhibit is called “What’s Going On” and consists of 20 artworks by Haring in a classroom of their own, titled “Untitled (Against All Odds).” When a visitor enters the room, they will hear music by Marvin Gaye—whose music inspired the exhibit—playing in the background while they browse the art. Haring dedicated the works to Steve Rubell, who passed away from AIDS in 1989. Haring later passed away from AIDS-related complications.

As the Rubell Museum gains prominence among the D.C. museums for showcasing well-established contemporary artists like Haring, more people will learn about it and come to see it. Staden had only heard of Rubell a short time before she decided to buy tickets for her mother’s birthday in February.

“It was a museum we hadn’t ence, the family-owned Colombian restaurant opened its doors in the midst of the pandemic. Despite its quiet beginnings, however, Nadas has made a name for itself in the Lower Manhattan food scene, gar nering a reputation for dedication to authentic Colombian flavors and recipes.

Courtesy Ofkatalinali

By Sedise Tiruneh Culture

Enveloped in the sounds and smells of New York City, streets and alleyways glow with the warm lights and ambience of the evening dining fare. Crowded around candle-lit tables are couples, families, and friends celebrating anniversaries, traditions, and milestones. The “City That Never Sleeps” is a foodie’s paradise and offers no shortage of cultures and cuisines to explore.

NYC upholds its reputation for being one of the world’s most di verse collections of nationalities, languages, and ethnic diversity in the high concentration of cultures representing numerous communi ties from China, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and more. The source of these constantly shifting demo graphics is the city’s perpetually evolving patterns of immigration.

Compared to 17th and 18th century waves of migration, which created more isolated ethnic dis tricts such as Chinatown and Little Italy among others, the diversity of modern-day New York City has flourished into a potpourri of identities. The last 50 years have brought a blurring of these cultural lines and integrated a wide range of languages and backgrounds into smaller spaces where a single street can reach a world of flavors and history.

Tucked in between the sparkling storefronts of Greenwich Avenue in Manhattan is Nadas.

Its menu features traditional empana das like carne, pollo, and chorizo con queso, which offer slow-braised and generously seasoned fillings enrobed in a crispy corn wrapper. Nevertheless, Nadas does not constrain itself to stay stagnant in tradition and tries experimental flavors combinations with dessert empanadas that include blueberry goat cheese and guava and cheese—sweet and rich alternatives to the classic smoky and savory flavors of Colombian cuisine.

Beyond its unique piquancy, Nadas shows off its creativity in its signature rainbow-colored wrappers. The aesthetically pleasing and “Instagrammable” branding has helped make this small family chain gain recognition while also adding a fresh and innovative twist to a food that has been passed down for genera-

A short walk down Greenwich and 6th Avenue invites pedestrians into the aromas of the heart of the West Village. Situated near Washington Square Park is Spicy Moon, a quirky Szechuan eatery with tropical themed decor and a vibrant ambiance to match. Chef Nick Wang gone to before [and that] we hadn’t heard of. So, we decided to try this one out,” she says. “I like the size; I feel like you can really get through it, not be overwhelmed, and take your time.”

Berry maintains that while Rubell has no plans for expansion, she hopes to see contemporary art in D.C. continue to grow. “We are founded the restaurant in 2019 to

Luciawang

son, its one-of-a-kind charm and atmosphere shot it into success.

Despite initial difficulties adapting traditional Szechuan recipes, which typically include ingredients like pork and beef tongue, Spicy Moon has created a menu full of fan favorites. Upon being seated, the restaurant offers patrons a choice of tantalizing appetizers called “small bites” that provide a rous ing window into the Szechuan flavor palate. One popular small bite is the vegeta ble wontons in chili oil, a flavorful starter featuring traditional Chinese dumplings stuffed with a richly seasoned mélange of mushrooms, spinach, and garlic.

A generous dousing of Spicy Moon’s smoky and piquant homemade chili oil accompanies the dish. This starter is best paired with the Dan Dan Noodles, a spicy noodle dish with an aromatic sauce seasoned with the smoky and nutty flavor profile of traditional Szech- thrilled to join the diverse cultural landscape that D.C. has to offer, and look forward to being part of its continued evolution,” she says.

“The arts community here is flourishing, with new galleries opening and collaborations happening across organizations, and I’m excited to see what’s next for the contemporary arts scene in D.C.” uan peppercorns.

Another popular entree is the Vegetable Ramen, a Szechuan take on the classic staple of Eastern Asian cuisine. The tenderly cooked noodles are immersed in a rich and flavorful broth with the spice and sting of chili oil and rice vinegar cutting through fragrant notes of sesame and pepper. This faithful yet innovative recreation of the distinct flavors and recipes of the Szechuan palate is the reason why restaurants like Spicy Moon have gained success and a cult following in the New York City restaurant scene.

Across the board, urban areas present culinary microcosms, offering a dense and rich concentration of cultures and cuisines from around the world. New York City is a prime example of this—within a single block, the aromas of fares from Columbian to Chinese envelop passersby. Thanks to ever evolving demographics, authentic and fusion restaurants are abundant and easily accessible in all corners of the city. Residents and tourists alike are able to stamp their gastronomical passports and walk into worlds of culinary gems.