When people think of Anacostia or S.E., most do not think about art. It is not well known for being a artistic center within D.C. However, people can now get a nice taste of local artitic flavor, as well as nationally and internationally known works, at the Honfleur Gallery located on Good Hope Road. Although there was much debate over if this was the type of establishment Anacostia needed in the neighborhood, in the end, the gallery was opened.
This art gallery hosts shows and exhibits of both fine and contemporary artists as well as social issue exhibitions. Honfleur was orignially established in January 2007 by the Action to Rehabilitate Community Housing. Their mission is to provide better access to the arts for residents “East of the Anacostia River,” D.C., provide an affordable artist workspace, and provide a diverse range of artistic opportunities. Artists featured in the gallery includes Cyril Anguelidis and Renee Azcra Woodward to name a few. After being closed for a brief period for installation, the Honfleur Gallery will re-open on June 30th at 6:30pm.
Personally, I was very excited to see that this gallery existed within Anacostia. I think it is a very good thing to have within the neighborhood which has a reputation of being a violent, run-down, area of the city. Looking at the website and the exhibit summaries, I'm going to have to make a trip down there to visit the gallery myself! I think this even has the potential to open up artistic opportunites to the youth in the area as opposed to violence and getting into trouble. Who knows...a young boy or girl could walk in there and become inspired to become an artist. Good influences like this are always needed in any neighborhood for outlet, learning, and new experiences. I'm glad Anacostia specifically gets a taste of this.
Gallery Hours: Noon – 5pm , Tuesday through Friday and 11am to 5pm on Saturdays.
Gallery will be closed on Sundays and Mondays
Gallery Location: 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE Washington , D.C. 20020
Offices at: 1227 Good Hope Rd. SE Washington , D.C. 20020
Gallery Phone:Office Phone: 202-536-8994 Fax: 202.889.5035
I thought that your blog was very interesting. I didnt know that there was an art gallery on good hope road and that it was such a prestigious one.
ReplyDeleteThis gallery is also a sister gallery to Vivid Solutions, which we had be working on earlier. They are both very artistic centers of Anacostia; however it seems evident through their Facebook images that there is not enough involvement with people in the community - a.k.a. black people.
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