Blues and Dreams

"Blues and Dreams," a three-month program of art, dance, and music celebrating the African-American experience in Washington, D.C., surrounds an exhibition of 130 of gifted artist Romare Bearden's works that are currently on display at the National Gallery of Art. A black-tie gala on September 15 at the Ritz-Carlton benefiting the Romare Bearden Foundation featured a special jazz performance by Branford Marsalis and the Branford Marsalis quartet. The benefit brought together such guests as Alma Brown, political consultant James Carville, actor/producer George Clooney, Pat Skantze, and Gwen Russell. The Bearden exhibition includes many works that have never been shown in public before and will be on display at The National Gallery of Art through January 2004.

1) Dr. & Mrs. Billy Taylor 2) Nicole Marsalis, Branford Marsalis & Misty Brown 3) Alma Arrington-Brown & Scott Bolden 4)Rynthia Rost & Robert Valette 5) Dr. Carlotta Miles, Leigh Slaughter, Gina Adams & Eugene Adams 6) Tallal ElBooushi and artists from St. Martin 7) Karrie Lynne Spicer, Diedra Harris-Kelley, Erie Harris, Donna Spicer, Charlene Muhammad, Ann Marie Henderson & Sheila Mitchell 8) Carole M. Randolph, Ferman Patterson & Angela McGlowan 9) Wayne & Dina Curtis and Jarvis & Stacey Stewart 10) George Clooney & Steven Soderbergh 11) Coreen Simpson & Pat Skantze 12) Ann Marie Willkins & Suzan Jenkins

Photos by Vicky Pombo