Halcyon's By The People Returns to All Four Quadrants of Washington, D.C. June 13-28

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- An enormous and colorful net sculpture of braided fiber and projected light by artist Janet Echelman will be installed high over the Union Market District as part of this year's By The People, Washington, D.C.'s largest international arts and dialogue festival. Spanning an entire intersection, this monumental sculpture will be the first public outdoor presentation of Echelman's work in the District. The expanded festival, taking place over three weekends from June 13-28, includes large-scale art installations, dialogues that focus on the future, pop-up performances, and other programming in every D.C. ward as well as suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. The free festival brings people together around the founding principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. By The People is organized by Halcyon – a nonprofit supporting emerging artists and social entrepreneurs – in association with the Smithsonian, Destination DC, and other D.C.-based organizations (see list of partners below).

"By The People visitors love to see something new and different, something that pushes boundaries – and that's what we are planning for the 2020 festival," said Halcyon CEO Kate Goodall.

This year's primary festival hub will be Union Market District in Northeast D.C., where it is the only hub location to have hosted By The People. In partnership with EDENS, the D.C.-based retail real estate developer who envisioned Union Market District, By The People will program the festival's kickoff event as well as installations by artists like Janet Echelman, whose massive fiber pieces have been installed everywhere from the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery to Oxford Circus in London. Artists-in-residence and national and international partnerships have made Union Market District a launchpad for emerging and established artists alike and a 45-acre haven for creative expressionists.

"Our partnership with Halcyon's By The People festival activates Union Market District's creative landscape with an additional layer that reflects the community's vibrant artistic identity," said EDENS CEO Jodie McLean. "Art keeps us connected in real life, giving us a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves, which is when true prosperity happens – economically, socially, culturally, and soulfully. Janet Echelman's immersive installation this year will continue to engage the community in thought-provoking conversations that bring us closer."

2020 festival highlights include:

• A full-on arts takeover of D.C., with locations across the city including Union Market District (NE DC), Georgetown (NW DC), the Hirschhorn (SW DC), and the Anacostia Community Museum (SE DC).
• Art curated by D.C.-based multidisciplinary artist Sheldon Scott. Scott's curatorial vision is based on the concept of "Culture Supreme," an idea that art and culture drive today's world. Scott is director of culture at Eaton DC and was the first artist selected to perform as part of the National Portrait Gallery's prestigious Outwin portraiture competition.
• Dialogue events curated by Svetlana Legetic, founder of BYT Media and Exactly Agency, and art fairs curated by Nina O'Neil, founder of Monochrome Collective.
• Installations presenting emerging artists side-by-side with established artists. In addition to Echelman, confirmed artists include French artist Olivier Grossetête, known for his large but ephemeral cardboard architectural works, and the eight current Halcyon Arts Lab fellows.
• A continued partnership with the Smithsonian and Solstice Saturday, with By The People partnering to present programming at the Hirshhorn and the Anacostia Community Museum. Both will be among the Smithsonian museums open until midnight Saturday, June 20, in celebration of the solstice.
• Pop-up performances ranging from dance to music to spoken word and featuring both local and visiting artists.
• Satellite locations expanding the festival's core programming to reach every D.C. ward, Maryland, and Virginia.

Festival registration is now open. Registration is the best way for festival attendees to stay up to date on programming and schedule announcements.

Partners and Sponsors

Partners and sponsors (as of Feb. 10) include: Bank of America Private Bank, Bernstein Family Foundation, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Destination DC, EDENS, Georgetown Business Improvement District, Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation, The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), S&R Foundation, Union Market, WUSA9.

Volunteers

By The People is grateful to the many volunteers who make this event a success. Individuals or groups interested in volunteering can contact [email protected].

About Halcyon

Halcyon is a new kind of nonprofit organization. We lift up innovators and creators who seek to make the world a better place, giving them the tools and opportunities they need to bring their ideas to life. Halcyon's signature programs are residential fellowships: the Halcyon Incubator and Halcyon Arts Lab. Other programs include By The People, an arts and dialogue festival, and the Halcyon Awards, which celebrate extraordinary accomplishment in areas like art, social enterprise, and policy. Since its founding, Halcyon has built programming around the core tenets of space, community, and access, continuously evolving to identify and provide a haven for big dreamers and risk-takers the world over. www.halcyonhouse.org 

About The Union Market District

Located a short walk from the United States Capitol and NoMa/Gallaudet Metro station, the Union Market District is a 45-acre historic urban development now averaging nearly 3 million visitors annually. With Michelin-recognized restaurants and retail concepts from both coasts, the District has hosted more than 500 pop-ups and events and is also home to several artists in residence, including John Dreyfuss, Maggie Michael and Dan Steinhilber. Since 2013, Union Market has partnered with local, national and international artists including The Hirshhorn, Yoko Ono, Mr. Brainwash, Brooke Bronner, and local KIPP art students. For more information, please visit www.unionmarketdc.com or follow @UnionMarketDC on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

About EDENS

EDENS is a retail real estate owner, operator and developer of a nationally leading portfolio of 125 places. Our purpose is to enrich community through human engagement. We know that when people come together, they feel a part of something bigger than themselves and prosperity follows— economically, socially, culturally and soulfully. EDENS has 250 employees across offices in key markets including Washington, D.C., Boston, Dallas, New York, Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, Houston and Denver. For additional information about the company and its retail real estate portfolio, visit www.edens.com or follow @WeAreEDENS.

Media only: Nicole Weissman, 202-431-1025, [email protected]

SOURCE Halcyon

Related Links

https://halcyonhouse.org