On Sept. 29, American University Photo Collective will be showcasing 23 works in the student-favorite eatery SEOULSPICE during the annual Art All Night Tenleytown event. Neighborhoods across D.C. will join the nonprofit organizer Tenleytown Main Street to celebrate diverse local talent in the visual and performing arts.
Local businesses, public spaces and community institutions will be transformed to feature various artwork, jewelry, classes, programs and interactive activities from local vendors and organizations. Photo Collective will participate in the neighborhood event by decorating the walls of SEOULSPICE with images from their “Distressed and Distorted” collection that was first exhibited last fall.
Margarita Lopez and Matt Francisco, the co-directors of AU Photo Collective, said they believe the eent will be a great way to engage with the Tenleytown and greater D.C. community. Additionally, they hope the event will be inspirational to student photographers at AU.
“Having events like Art All Night in the community offers students an opportunity to see their work and the possibilities of what they can do if they are really passionate about photography,” Lopez said. “That broadens their idea of how far they can take their work … there are opportunities to expand past the ‘four walls’ of the school.”
Art All Night also provides an opportunity for AU students to connect with one another for the event. Lopez and Francisco said that AU Photo Collective has been working with WVAU co-general manager, Calkie Fisseha, to create a music experience that compliments the visual components.
Fisseha said she usually does background research on the events she curates music for and focuses on who the audience will be.
“As a curator, you have to do research because you have to make people happy,” Fisseha said. “I could look at local artists for this in the DMV area. The whole thing is that everyone wants to jump immediately into playing Drake and stuff, but there are so many talented artist from the DMV area that people need to get hip to.”
Events like Art All Night, which connect AU students to the local music, arts and culture of D.C., are important, Fisseha added. She encourages fellow students to engage in a more appreciative relationship with the D.C. area rather than just a transactional one.
“Even if the D.C. area is our home for four years, we still have to respect what’s been here for a long time,” Fisseha said.”We have to appreciate the community.”
Art All Night runs from 7 p.m. until midnight and admission is free. Those who visit AU Photo Collectives’ gallery at SEOULSPICE can also take a photo at the Polaroid photo booth to commemorate the event. SEOULSPICE will extend their happy hour offers and full menu till midnight.
