Things to Do: NIH Children's Inn Gala

“A Night for the Children” Gala to Benefit the Children’s Inn at NIH

Saturday, April 14, 2012
Ritz Carlton - Tyson's Corner
6:30 - UNTIL

The NIH Children Inn was founded in 1990, and has helped more than 10,000 children and their families who are dealing with serious illnesses. Their services are provided free of charge.

Every year, the Bethesda Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA Bethesda) The Children's Inns largest annual fundraiser, “A Night for the Children” Gala. The event brings together nearly 1,000 attendees, including senior executives of leading government contractors, high-level government officials and local philanthropists.

A little about The Children’s Inn at NIH...
It's a non-profit “Place Like Home” on the campus of NIH in Bethesda, MD. The Inn’s mission is to facilitate research at the world’s leading biomedical research center while offering families comfort and support. AFCEA Bethesda’s Children’s Inn Gala has raised more than $4.1 million since its inception in 1999.

“The Inn continuously operates – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – to serve the emotional and spiritual needs of children and their families at no cost to families, “ said Robert Guerra, chair of The Children's Inn Gala. “In these difficult economic times, this Gala has become the Inn’s single largest fundraiser; therefore, the Gala’s contributions are absolutely essential for the Inn’s continuing ability to serve these children and their families in the future.“

For information, visit the event website at http://www.childrensinngala.org/.

Things to Do: Frida Kahlo Exhibit @ Artisphere

Recently, I was excited to learn a exhibit featuring the work of Mexican artist Frida was on display at the Artisphere in Arlington.  The FREE exhibition runs through March 25, 2012. 

I first fell in love with Frida and her work after watching the movie based on her life that came out ten years ago and starred the beautiful Salma Hayek.  She was quite a controversial figure in her day and it's reflected in her art.

According to Artisphere's website: Artisphere is the first and only venue in the United States of America to present this exhibition of photographs revealing moments of this extraordinary figure's private life. 

For more information about this exhibit as taken from Artisphere's website, see below.

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)'s extraordinary life and iconic biographical paintings have earned her international renown in the world of modern art. Upon Kahlo’s death in 1954, more than 6,500 personal photographs and items belonging to her and husband/artist Diego Rivera were sealed and put in storage. For more than half a century this great collection of personal memorabilia remained hidden from the public. In 2007 this collection was opened and Mexican photographer and curator Pablo Ortiz Monasterio inventoried and catalogued 240 images to create the Frida Kahlo: Her Photos exhibition. To read more, click here

Another interesting fact, although Frida's work is on display in Virginia.  According to Diego Rivera's will, he specified that the original images belonging to him and Frida Kahlo should never leave Mexico. As such, the images on view in this exhibition are carefully crafted reproductions.

Make sure to check out this FREE exhibit before it's too late!
Artisphere1101 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22209
703.875.1100http://www.artsphere.com