Dinner with An Artist this Thursday

Would Rembrandt find inspiration in the complexion of a lobster bisque? Could Salieri speak of anything but professional jealousy while spooning his custard pie? Fillmore Arts Center cannot reveal those distant truths, but it is offering a chance for you to share an intimate and elegant dinner with one of Washington’s current and most creative artists.

On this night only, the Fillmore Arts Center is creating a “salon experience” for Washington’s arts patrons. Your participation in this event will benefit arts education in DC Public Schools through the Fillmore Arts program, dedicated to providing opportunities for young people to acquire knowledge and self-confidence through study and participation in the arts. For 30 years, Fillmore has served DC Public School students in grades K–8, offering choice from a wide variety of classes in music, drama, dance and the visual arts.

The Fillmore Arts Center, is an award-winning DCPS program that provides training by super talented local artists in drama, music, dance, and visual arts to students at 10 schools (including Ross) across the city in grades K-8.

The idea of the dinner is to create a "salon experience for Washington's art patrons by matching the area's most eminent artists with a perfect host in a cool and intimate setting.

How does it work? You go online HERE to register and mark your 1st choice for a dinner. Filmore then makes the best attempt to ensure you have that pick. Tickets are $175 and tax deductible. You will then be notified of the home where you will enjoy dinner for the night with more details on the "salon". Dinners are limited to eight guests.

This year's artists:

--Chuck Brown, musician and DC's own Godfather of Go-Go, is renowned worldwide as a pioneer of the thumping go-go groove.

--Brianne Bland, ballerina with The Washington Ballet, spent last summer as a guest with the Copenhagen International Ballet.

--Nina Burleigh, author of Unholy Business and other heralded non-fiction, including books on the Smithsonian and the killing of presidential mistress Mary Meyer.

--Matt Mendelsohn, photographer whose work Washingtonian hailed as "a breed apart." He's taken pictures of presidents, soldiers and celebrities.

--Margaret Boozer, sculptor whose unique clay works are in many prominent collections, including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

--Todd Gray, chef and founder of the super-hot Equinox restaurant, is known for his pioneering use of produce and beef from local, organic farms.

--Philip Kennicott, culture and architecture critic at the Washington Post, is a former senior editor of Musical America and a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

--Eric Schaeffer, artistic director and co-founder of the Signature Theatre, has directed and acted in countless productions, winning 11 Helen Hayes awards.