District Playground

Local Bar :: Local Artists

District Playground is happy to announce a new partnership with Tonic Restaurant and Bar in Mount Pleasant. After some renovations which expanded the bar area, Tonic has a lot of additional wall space to show off all kinds of art! Since Mount Pleasant is our home, too, we jumped at the opportunity to show off the creative work of the neighborhood community.

Please take a look and pass along this information to artist friends you think may be interested in submitting their work. If you'd like to receive information on upcoming shows, please email us!

Submission Requirements and Process

Artists eligible to show their work will meet one or both of the following requirements:

They are residents of Mount Pleasant or Columbia Heights*
They work in the bar/restaurant industry in the Washington metro area**

District Playground will consider submissions from artists of all levels of expertise. Whether you’re an artist who has never taken a formal class or you show your work professionally, you are welcome to submit your work!

Submissions are welcome on a continual basis, as shows will change quarterly. Artists may submit as many pieces as they'd like - but please be reasonable!

To submit a piece, send an individual email with the following information for each piece:

Title and date of the piece
Artist's name
Materials used
Dimensions
Sale price (and if possible, sale price without the frame)
Story, if any, behind the piece that we could include with the display
Incorporation of earth-friendly techniques and matierals, if any
Artist's address if they live in Mount Pleasant
Artist's place of employment if they work in a bar/restaurant within the Washington metro area

Dimensions of available wall space and photos are here. We will try to accommodate a variety of pieces from a few artists each month. While we will try not to censor the work, we ask that pieces be appropriate for a restaurant/bar environment. For instance, we will deny pieces that contain excessive amounts of blood, gore, or pornography.

District Playground will work with curators to help choose pieces, and occasionally we may put together shows with specific themes. Artists may be chosen to show their work more than once a year.

Liability

Artists should remember that their pieces will be hanging in a bar. While it is unlikely to happen, it is possible that the pieces will be splashed with drinks or food (we know, we’re not really sure how either… but it does happen). Also, while we will do our best to hang all work securely, we cannot guarantee that a piece will not be accidentally leaned on, knocked down and/or broken. In other words, we’re not a gallery, and neither Tonic nor District Playground assumes liability for any of the work displayed. We welcome prints and glass or Pexiglass covered pieces to avoid damage. Sculptures that are ready to be hung are also welcome.

One other major difference between Tonic and an art gallery is that there are usually some sort of promotion posters in place around the bar advertising upcoming events. These posters may temporarily cover some of the art pieces. District Playground will work with Tonic to ensure that pieces are not covered during opening parties or receptions, and will try to anticipate when such posters will be hung for extended periods of time.

Artwork Sale

Artists are encouraged to sell their pieces during the show. Interested buyers can contact Patty Gaffney at District Playground to make arrangements for purchase. Please note: All artwork sold will remain on display for the duration of each exhibit. Any work not sold will be returned to the artists after deinstallation. Our curator will receive a nominal 15% commission on each sold item. Neither Tonic nor District Playground will earn income from the sale of artwork.

Opening Parties and Events

District Playground will work with the artists to promote opening receptions of their show, and we will work with Tonic to arrange special food and drink deals. Artists displaying their work will be encouraged to hold receptions during the run of their show, and additional events may also include public discussions with the artists.

* We define Mount Pleasant by the ANC 1D map. Harvard St. on the south, Adams Mill Rd. to the west up to Piney Branch Rd on the north and 16th St. on the east. Information on Wikipedia indicates that the streets defining the Columbia Heights boundaries are 16th St. to the west; Spring Road to the north; Georgia Avenue to the east; and Florida Avenue and Barry Place to the south. If we learn of significant interest from residents of Adams Morgan or Petworth who want to participate, we may reevalaute our submission requirements for future exhibitions.

**We have not determined exact boundaries for the Washington metro area. Our goal is to provide industry folks with an opportunity to show their work in a place where their friends can see it.

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