WASHINGTON–A photograph of SpaghettiOs hangs against the wall.
Paintings of bare women, one smoking a cigarette, line a nearby hallway.
A portrait of a cowboy, made of colors and oils, is framed and hung.
These are just some of the many works on display this summer in sixth temporary exhibits at the Katzen Arts Center on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. The works are all on loan and contribute to the museum’s international, local and political messages, according to Lucy Crowley, an administrative and marketing assistant at the museum.
“You can take pictures and even small videos,” Crowley said.
The local art exhibition is a donation from the Franz and Virginia Bader Fund, a 13-year-old organization that gives grants to artists within 150 miles of Washington, D.C.
In order to be eligible to receive a grant, an artist must be at least 40 years and must write an essay on why it would advance their lives as an artist, according to the Bader Fund website. Donations are given out every year, with minimum grants awarded of $15,000.
The exhibit opened on June 14 and closes Aug. 17. Artists include Aaron Brown, Hadieh Shafie and Rik Freeman, all of whom are long-time painters still trying to master their craft.
“My favorite piece is this one,” said Maia Plesent, a 20-year-old who works at the museum. She pointed at one of the works done by Emily Piccirillo. It is a photograph of what looks like the branches of trees.
“All of it so strange and interesting,” Piccirillo said.
Genevieve Stegner-Freitag, 20, is a gallery attendant at the Katzen Arts Center and she feels that it is a great idea to promote artists in the local metropolitan area.
“It is a way of expressing your individual personality, who you are,” Stegner-Freitag said. “It’s fun.”
To find out more about the Franz and Virginia Bader Fund, visit the website.
Summer museum hours are 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Located at 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016