Peeps, Artomatic 500, and Mambo Sauce highlight Artomatic’s fourth weekend

The ever-popular Peeps will be honored on Peeps Day, Saturday, May 31, at Artomatic, the Washington, D.C. area’s homegrown art extravaganza hosted by the NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) Business Improvement District (BID). Peeps Day, held in conjunction with the winners of The Washington Post’s Sunday Source Peeps Diorama Contest, will include a “meet the artists” Peeps Party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., along with a children’s tour and workshop from noon to 2 p.m.

Another highlight of Artomatic’s fourth weekend in NoMa is the first-ever Artomatic 500 on Sunday, June 1, during which Artomatic’s participating artists will run wearing homemade decorated cardboard “vehicles.” Winners will be selected based on “some combination of garishness and ingenuity yet to be determined,” said organizer Sal Ferro.

Among the dozens of free live performances and activities to be held throughout the weekend is an appearance by the popular band Mambo Sauce at 10 p.m. on Saturday. The go-go band is well-known for its Billboard chart-topping song “Welcome to D.C.,” which has been used as the official introduction song for Washington Wizards home games.

Additional weekend highlights include:

Friday, May 30: Dance by Joy of Motion and Mavi/DCTribal; open screening and “jukebox movies;” music by Skydivers, The Mesmers, Mike Clayberg and Caryn Fox.

Saturday, May 31: Free workshops on field sketching, art collecting and creating Peeps dioramas; children’s collage workshop and Peeps workshop; improvisational comedy by Yap and 5-6-7-8; outdoor fire performance by Fire Conclave; music by Mambo Sauce, Alejandro Alegria, Birds and Buildings, Flip Red, Bliss, Lil SoSo Productions, Ronald Mulero, DJ Grun and others.

Sunday, June 1: Artomatic 500; free workshops on large format photography and mobile-making; poetry and prose by Kathy Morris; and live music by Daniel Gage, Michael Blumenstock, Raucous Caucus Brigade, Alexis George, Pet Parade and House of Echo.

Also on Thursday nights in the NoMa neighborhood is the James Bond Film Festival, with free films beginning at dusk. This Thursday’s movie is Thunderball. For a schedule of festival movies, visit www.nomabid.org

All Artomatic events are free. For the full weekend schedule, visit the Artomatic calendar at www.artomatic.org/event. For more on children’s activities, visit www.artomatic.org/kids.

Seeing all that artwork can work up an appetite, so check out D.C.’s latest craze in street vending, On The Fly. On The Fly’s bright green electric vehicle will be parked in front of Artomatic and at the James Bond Film Festival, serving great food from some of D.C.’s favorite local restaurants like Julia’s Empanadas, Rocklands BBQ and more.

The Artomatic 500 is coming and you don't want to miss it.

All Artomatic participants are invited to join in the fun and build a colorful, creative, cardboard conveyance to "race" on June 1 in front of the building. Participants can use the back of the Cabaret Stage to build and paint their creations. The area is roped off, you can't miss it. This is about fun and creative corrugated expression. Your vehicle doesn't even have to look like a car if you don't want. Make a painting on wheels -- but with legs instead of wheels!

A supply of cardboard has been stacked in the Cabaret Stage for all to use. That space is available for building during all open Artomatic hours. If you have your own supply/piece of larger cardboard, all the better. If you want to build at home or your own studio.

The only rule is: there are no rules. That's not true: there are two more rules:

• 1) no engines. you gotta be people-powered
• 2) have fun

This event is being publicized in the media and is a great opportunity for Artomatic artists to have some fun in the sun.

You can also participate as a race official or assistant. More details are at http://artomatic.org/artomatic500

Please contact sal.ferro@gmail.com to find out more.

Can't make a volunteer shift? Let us know!

If you have signed up for a volunteer shift and find you can't make it, be sure and let us know in advance. We may be able to find you a shift on another day. In a pinch, you can also send someone responsible to serve your shift for you. If you have shift problems or questions, send us an e-mail at volunteer@artomatic.org.

But please don't leave us high and dry -- this weekend quite a few folks failed to show up, which left us in a bind. Anyone who skips their shift without notifying us first may be asked to serve two additional shifts and artists that fail to meet their required volunteer hours will be banned from future artomatics -- and we'd hate to lose you!

Help keep our community arts event going!

Local artist Frank Warren, the talent behind the well-known PostSecret project - www.PostSecret.com will be signing copies of his books at Artomatic.

Copies of one of Warren’s best selling books, which contain images of some of the many postcards he has received, will be available for purchase during the Artomatic signing events. All proceeds from the book sales benefit Artomatic.

The PostSecret signings will take be held in the Artomatic’s 11th floor store on:

• Friday, June 6 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and
• Friday, June 13, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Visitors to Artomatic can also watch a video presentation of some of the PostSecret postcards Warren has received in the Artomatic Film and Video Theater, which is located on the ninth floor. The videos will be shown before and after the two book signings.

Join in the Peeps art fun at Artomatic this Saturday, May 31

The fun of Artomatic comes together with the marshmallow-sugary goodness of Peeps this Saturday, May 31. In honor of the three dozen Peeps dioramas on display at this year’s event, Artomatic is holding a day of Peeps art-related events aimed at both kids and adults.

Kids and families will be able to join into the Peeps fun with a special children’s tour of the dioramas and Peeps diorama-making workshop. The kids events, both of which are free, will be held Saturday, May 31, from noon to 2 p.m.

A second Peeps diorama workshop, taught by Sunday Source contest winner Sillers, will be held Saturday, June 7, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. To RSVP for any of the kids Peeps events, visit www.artomatic.org/kids.

The dioramas can be viewed anytime on the 10th floor during Artomatic regular hours. While there, visitors can cast a ballot for their favorite diorama in the Artomatic Peeple’s Choice Awards. The winner of the vote will be announced at the Saturday night Peeps Party.

To see the slideshow of contest finalists, visit The Washington Post Web site at www.washingtonpost.com.

We've set up a ballot box on the 10th floor by the Peeps area so you can vote for your favorite Peeps diorama. We'll announce the winner of the first-ever Artomatic Peeples Choice Award at the Peeps party on Saturday, May 31, from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

While you're there, check out the new chalkboard playground next to the Peeps. Everyone is invited to chalk one up!

Time Shadows
Thursday, May 29, 9:00 – 10:00 pm
Time Shadows, the neighborhood poetry collaboration between the Chinatown Community Cultural Center and the Goethe-Institut, presents Chinese, German and American poems. Come to Artomatic to hear poets Lane Jennings and Karl Zhang, and others, read their favorite poems and accompanying English translations.

Mavi / DC Tribal
Friday, May 30, 10:00pm-1:30am
Belly dancing and more!

Saturday, May 31

Alejandro Alegria
6:00 pm – 6:50 pm
Latin singer/songwriter. Acoustic guitar, electric bass and live percussion. Mixing various forms of latin music with rock music. Alejandro Alegria is from Guatemala and is set to have his first U.S release sometime in the late Summer. Alejandro Alegria will be supported by various local D.C musicians.

Neida L. Perez
9:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Poetry Reading in Spanish - Lectura de Poesía en Español.

MAMBO SAUCE
10:00 pm – 10:50 pm
There are three things that you can only get in Washington DSC: The President, GoGo Music, and MAMBO SAUCE! We can help you out with 2 of these!

• “Welcome to DC” #95 on BILLBOARD HOT 100 HIP-HOP/R&B SINGLES 1.19.08!
• Winners of 93.9 WKYS’ 2007 Go - Go Awards for BEST CURRENT SONG, “MIRACLES” and BAND OF THE YEAR!
• Current Single “Welcome to DC” used as official intro song for all Washington Wizards home games at the Verizon Center!
• “Miracles” & “Welcome to DC” both used for Redskins Highlight Reels on Comcast Sportsnet!

Capoeira Angola Showcase (Dance)
Sunday, June 1, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
The International Capoeira Angola Foundation will host an evening of capoeira performance.

Plans are set for this year’s Artomatic Marketplace, which will be held Saturday, June 7, from noon ‘til 5 p.m. All the vendor slots are now full. Make plans to come and check out the art for sale and take home a special one-of-a-kind creation.

Artists are invited to contribute their ideas and talent to the first-ever Art in Fashion show, to be held Saturday, June 14, at Artomatic.

The fire-themed event, to be held from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., will bring together models, designers, photographers and artists. Costume and fashion design is sought, as well as performance art, dance, mime, hair design, body piercing, body paint and tattoo art. Wall art and standing displays are also needed.

Take part in the show or just make plans to attend. For full details, e-mail artinfashion@artomatic.org

The West Elm-furnished lounges at this year’s Artomatic have really helped class up the event. Now you can bring some of that stylish vibe home at bargain prices.

Artomatic will be auctioning off all the furniture from the West Elm-furnished lounges, with bids starting at half-off retail. The pieces includes sofas, lamps, coffee tables and rugs. Stop by the lounges to check out the full selection.

The auction is only for West Elm furniture at the event, and all furniture is sold as is. Auction forms and signs go up this week and bidding closes on the last day of Artomatic, June 15. Look for auction forms at each West Elm Lounge. Great deals are to be had!