Art for Humanity @ Wooly Mammoth Theater

Usually ads on sites like washingtonpost.com are annoying, easily ignored and best clicked "away" as soon as possible to get down to the business of reading the news - or flicking through photo galleries of post-Oscar parties. (For the record: Michelle Williams and Jessica Chastain were among my favorites this year.)

But a quietly resilient ad for the following event caught my eye - perhaps not surprisingly somewhere amid the Post's arts pages - for an upcoming DC event entitled:

ART FOR HUMANITY: AUCTION AND COCKTAIL RECEPTION 2012

This event is taking place on MARCH 29 at the WOOLY MAMMOTH THEATER.

The bad news: Ticket prices are steep - ranging from $150 (individual) to $350 (VIP).

The good news: Proceeds from this event will support the valuable work of DC HABITAT.

The auction will feature artworks by more than two dozen artists.

Let there be art!!!

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama help paint along with other volunteers at a Habitat for Humanity site in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2009. (c) White House (Peter Souza) / Wikimedia Commons

Spring Arts Preview @ WPOST

The Washington Post has released its SPRING ARTS PREVIEW, including a GOING OUT GUIDE: EXHIBITS featuring a comprehensive listing of 401 upcoming museum and gallery exhibits.

Feeling spoiled for choice?

The Post has added nifty little "check marks" to signify which shows have been singled out as Editor's Picks.

Among these  Editor's Picks one of my personal favorites is No. 399:

THE PEACOCK ROOM COMES TO AMERICA

"The Freer Gallery's Peacock Room, designed by James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), will get a makeover to appear as it did in 1908, when it was the dining room of museum-founder Charles Lang Freer." - WPOST

Detail of The Peacock Room at the Freer Gallery of Art (c) TomR/Wikimedia Commons

I have taken several visitors and art lovers from out-of-town - some from as far afield as Vienna (an international jewel in the crown of top art cities if there ever was one!) - to the Freer in the past to see the Peacock Room and the Whistler paintings on display there.

All of them - including my creatively cerebral art lover friend from Vienna - were charmed by both the Peacock Room and the bemusing story behind its creation.

As the FREER points out on the joint FREER / SACKLER Web site:

PEACOCK ROOM SHUTTERS OPEN NEXT

ON THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012, Noon - 5:30 pm 

To learn about The Peacock Room (1876-77) before you go, visit A CLOSER LOOK.