Art All Night Returned to Shaw with Eight Hours of Fun for All Ages, 09/25/21!
Art All Night Shaw returned as an in-person festival after a year as a virtual celebration in 2019. Neighbors and friends from across the city and the DMV came together for a 10th anniversary celebration of the first Art All Night in 2011.
The Shaw festival's theme this year was "Welcome Back," and Shaw Main Streets presented a mixture of All Star artists and entertainers, some of whom have been part of the festival since Day One. Popular muralist Aniekan Udofia live painted a mini-mural for the occasion. Internationally-renowned video artist Robin Bell once again offered a new three-story-tall projection in honor of the event. Grammy-nominated Hip Hop human beat box Christylez Bacon thrilled the crowd at the Shaw Art Market once more. Perennial festival favorites Batala Washington, DC female drum corps led a crowd down 7th Street in the traditional #LoveShaw parade. A new favorite, Rayceen, was back with his popular cabaret. And the Washington Convention Center once again offered a tour of their multi-million dollar art collection.
In addition, new artists showed and sold their work at over a dozen venues, ranging from a Black Beer Block Party organized by Right Proper Brewing to gym-turned-art-gallery-for-a night Urban Athletic Club. Visitors created their own art at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, got free henna tatoos at Wanda's on 7th, and caught a wrestling demonstration at the former Lincoln Temple. Kids went to the Shaw library for activites created just for them.
And while they were out, the crowds visited favorite restaurants and bars, or a new ones, for something to eat and drink before, during or after their exploration of the arts.
To find out everything that greeted festivalgoers, in some cases until 3:00 AM tomorrow, go to artallnightdc.com. The map and program listing that was available at the Welcome Center at Parcel 42 at 7th and R Streets, NW and other venues casn be found on the website.
Masks were required at all Art All Night Shaw 2021 venues, indoors and outdoors.
Art All Night Shaw 2021 was presented by Shaw Main Streets with financial support from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Department of Small and Local Business Development, and DC Main Streets, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor. Sponsors included ArtBoxDC, Beyond Studios, Capital Community News, DC Water, and Three 8 Communications. A full list of partners is available at the festival website.
