Artomatic media contact: Marina Reiter, 202-271-4748
NoMa BID media contact: Leslie Braunstein, 703-234-7762

For immediate release: June 11, 2008

This weekend is Washington’s last chance to visit Artomatic as the five-week homegrown arts extravaganza goes out on a high note on Sunday, June 15.

In addition to disfree plays and sales by over 700 visual artists, the weekend’s activities include tours, flamenco and Indian dance performances, a children’s mask-making workshop, film, fire-dancing, and performances by dozens of bands. All events are free and open to the public. Weekend highlights include:

Friday, June 13: Book signing by PostSecret author Frank Warren; a movie on witchcraft; an original play titled “Sole Survivors” accompanied by a mariachi band; comedy by Off the Wall; flamenco by Suspiro Andaluz; a baseball painting party; and live music by the dead husbands, Attention Shoppers!, PupTent, 302Acid, and other local bands.

Saturday, June 14: Sculpt-a-story and seed mosaic workshops for children; the first-ever fire-themed Art in Fashion show; Tehreema Mitha Dance Company performing dances from India; the ever-popular Flights of Fire; and live music by Yumi, Randy Colors, Elikeh, DoS, and more. Free tours of Artomatic at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Sunday, June 15: Artomatic’s final day will include a mask-making workshop and storytelling for children ages three and up; jukebox movies; CityDance Ensemble, and live music by Icarus Rising, Society of Strangers, Betsy Wright, and other performers.

Artomatic is open Wednesdays and Thursdays as well, so be sure to check the Artomatic Web site for schedules for those days. 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 “Diamonds are Forever.” 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.

The NoMa BID is hosting Artomatic 2008 at the Capitol Plaza I building, located at 1200 First Street (1st and M Streets), N.E., in Washington, D.C., just one block west of the New York Avenue Metro station. Artomatic hours are Fridays and Saturdays: noon–2 a.m.; Sundays: noon–10 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays: 5 p.m.–10 p.m.; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Artomatic’s closing day is June 15.

For more information, call the Artomatic info line at 202-339-9007. Visitors are strongly encouraged to take Metro to Artomatic.

Held regularly since 1999, Artomatic transforms an unfinished indoor space into an exciting and diverse arts event that is free and open to the public. In addition to displays and sales by hundreds of artists, the event features free films, educational presentations and children’s activities, as well as musical, dance, poetry, theater and other performances.

ARTOMATIC
May 9–June 15
1200 First Street, N.E.,
(Corner of First and M Streets)
Washington, D.C.
(New York Avenue Metro station: Red line)
Free, but donations accepted

HOURS
Wednesday–Thursdays: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Fridays–Saturdays: Noon to 2 a.m.
Sundays: Noon to 10 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

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About Artomatic: Artomatic is a creative community that collaborates to produce and present a free arts spectacular. Participation is open to all, from recognized artists to undiscovered talents, who work in a variety of arts forms. In partnership with the development community, Artomatic transforms unused building space into a playground for expression, serves as a catalyst for community growth in up-and-coming neighborhoods, and helps to grow our creative economy. The nonprofit Artomatic organization is headed by a volunteer Board of Directors and is funded in part by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.artomatic.org.

About the NoMa BID: NoMa is an emerging mixed-use neighborhood north of the U.S. Capitol and Union Station in Washington, D.C. Private developers have invested over $1 billion in 2007–2008 alone, with plans to develop more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel and retail space in the 35-block area covered by the NoMa BID over the next 10 years. For more information about the BID, including an interactive development map, see the BID Web site at www.nomabid.org