Artomatic returns to D.C. with a 7-week festival

Here’s everything you need to know about the free seven-week event, which will showcase more than 1,000 visual artists in about 300,000 square feet of repurposed office space, including two DJ stages, at least one film screening room, a small theater for plays and readings, and a dance stage/open performance space. “I always say, ‘We know how to make lemonade,’” says Artomatic founder and interim president George Koch, of the all-volunteer operation. “We take small things and make them larger.”

Artomatic was born in 1999 at 14th and Florida in the former Manhattan Laundry, conceived as a massive, un-curated, open-entry art exhibition — open to all comers — with a twofold mission, according to Koch: “to build community among artists and build an audience for art.” Since then, there have been 10 more shows, including in the old Hechinger’s home improvement store in Tenleytown, a decommissioned office of the Environmental Protection Agency on the Southeast waterfront, and several office buildings in suburban Maryland and Virginia. (The total number rises to 13 if you count three satellite Artomatic events in Frederick, Md., part of Koch’s mission to one day take the brand national.) This is the first Artomatic in D.C. proper since 2009, when the festival took place in a brand new but unoccupied building next to Nationals Park.

Over the past 25 years, Artomatic has occasionally showcased work by artists from Sunderland, England, one of D.C.’s sister cities. This year’s show will feature art from Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Cameroon and Ghana (all on the eighth floor), as well as Ukraine (on the seventh). The lineup features painting, sculpture, photography, craft, video, prints, cartoons, graffiti, installation and immersive experiences, including a re-creation of a funeral home viewing room, complete with a life-size coffin you’re encouraged to lie inside.

What kind of events should I expect?

Many workshops are geared toward career enhancement and community building for artists. But there are also offerings for folks who just want to do something interesting, like kite-building workshops and oracle card readings. Highlights include:

• Risers Fest. Up-and-coming musical acts will perform Saturday from 2 to 11:30 p.m., Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m., April 26 from 2 to 11:30 p.m. and April 27 from 2 to 8 p.m.
• Makers Marketplace. Artists and craftspeople sell smaller works on the third floor every Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.
• Guided Tour. On March 24 from 1 to 3 p.m., the James Renwick Alliance, a group of art enthusiasts, collectors, artists, educators, students and art professionals who love craft, will host a tour of Artomatic craft artists. Meet at the fifth floor elevators.
• Meet the Artists. Many Artomatic artists will be on-site at or near their installations to talk about their work March 23 and April 13 from noon to 11:30 p.m.

The work is not curated. Is it any good?

Despite Artomatic playing host to — and in some cases advancing the careers of — many amazing, well-respected artists, there’s a long history of the event being trashed by the art-reviewing press, often unfairly, because it has no bar to entry. Koch acknowledges as much, but makes an excellent point about what hard-looking can ultimately teach the viewer. “You go into Artomatic and you say, ‘Oh, I like this, I like this, I don’t like that, I don’t like that, I don’t like that.’ What’s really happening to the visitor is they’re starting to develop their own curatorial skills,” he says. “If I go to a gallery or museum, somebody has selected everything for me. When I go to Artomatic, I’m making my own decisions.” In other words, stiffen your spine and take the plunge.

Light snacks and alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks will be available by donation. Diners are encouraged to patronize neighborhood restaurants, and organizers hope to offer discount restaurant coupons to visitors.

2100 M St. NW. Paid parking is available in the building’s garage (entrance on 21st Street south of M) during the run of the show. Additional paid parking is available in other nearby garages on weekdays. According to Koch, Artomatic is working with the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District to open up additional weekend parking at those garages. The building is a 10-minute walk from the Foggy Botton/GWU and Dupont Circles Metro stations.

Artomatic begins Friday and runs through April 28. Regular hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 9:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to midnight, and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. Hours are subject to change, and new events will be added throughout the run. Check artomatic.org for the most up-to-date information.