Wesley Clark grew up in Silver Spring and went on to earn a BFA at Syracuse University and an MFA at George Washington University where he now serves as an adjunct professor teaching visual arts. I first discovered Clark’s genius and unique insight into GO GO culture that he channeled into an original piece called ‘The New American Pastime’. The diamond shaped duplicate of the District’s borders but a closer look reveals GO GO ‘tags’ and the name of well-known crews and neighborhoods in DC.
DMV202ARTS has chosen Clark’s emblematic image as the defining centerpiece to define the cornerstone of a bold new publication that we hope will reflect the new confluence of arts, entertainment and creative places and people.
Anacostia is one of those places that is developing a critical mass of cutting edge art venues such as the Honfleur Gallery which recently hosted the “DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR” gentrification discussion of the “How We Lost DC” exhibit. Akili Ron Anderson of Howard’s Fine Arts department led a stimulating discussion with Larry Cook, Amber Robles-Gordon, Jamea Richmond-Edwards, and Wesley Clark as their art surrounded the cozy confines of the gallery.
Wesley Clark’s “New American Pastime” cutout of the DC diamond with footprints depicting the changing landscape; Amber Robles-Gordon’s Female, Oracle, Nurturer, Source Within circles; and Jamea Richmond-Edwards’ Allegory series were in my opinion best-in-show.
But Anacostia’s opening of the 11th Street bridge has also drawn patrons to the Anacostia Playhouse which is now hosting a month-long run of ‘Chocolate Covered Ants’, by the only Black professional theater company – RESTORATION STAGE – in the DMV!
