AT THE SMITHSONIAN

PHOTOS: What You Missed at Friday’s Asia After Dark at the Sackler

Dancing, drinking, cavorting: that was the scene at Friday night’s bash at the Smithsonian’s Asian art musuem

Leah Binkovitz

The Sackler Gallery welcomed visitors for a night of fun, music and art. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

The federal buildings were mostly dark, save for a single floor lit up by the night cleaning crew. The expansive roads stretching to Capitol Hill were mostly empty, punctuated only by the yawn of a solitary passing car. The capital had gone home. But outside the Sackler Gallery, the party was just getting started.

For those in the know, the after-hours happenings at the Smithsonian are the place to be and Friday night’s Asia After Dark was no exception. Dressed to the nines, D.C.’s young and hip queued up in the shadow of the Castle, the electronic thump-thumping of DJ Spooky luring them inside. Food trucks, cash bars, glow sticks, crafts, curator tours and live music from instrumentalists Danielle Cho and Jennifer Kim awaited the eager crowd. As one anonymous party-goer declared. “Let’s go get some culture!”

A crowd begins to gather promptly at 7 p.m. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

With its winding staircases and peekaboo windows, the Sackler is the perfect place for a party. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

Drinks provided by Ping Pong included a signature cocktail and Chinese beer. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

After getting a drink, guests could wander through the exhibits, including “Shadow Sites” and “Nomads and Networks.” Photo by Leah Binkovitz

Of course, some guests just wanted to groove. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

DJ Spooky provided the night’s entertainment with silent screenings from 1940s movie star Anna May Wong’s career running in the background. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

Party-goers brought their fashion A-game and then some. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

An elegant entrance was enjoyed by all who ventured to the gallery’s lower levels. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

Electronic beats mixed with live performances. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

Down the hall, guests crafted their own instruments. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

Visitors enjoy the music before heading off for guided-tours of the exhibits. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

Film, music and installations scored this night high on the arty scale. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

…and drinks and glow sticks gave the evening a well-rounded feel. Photo by Leah Binkovitz

 

 

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Leah Binkovitz

Leah Binkovitz is a Stone & Holt Weeks Fellow at Washington Post and NPR. Previously, she was a contributing writer and editorial intern for the At the Smithsonian section of Smithsonian magazine.