Washington, D.C.'s Art Museum of the Americas Hosts ART AFTER DARK 5 Tonight

AMA | Art Museum of the Americas of the Organization of American States and the Friends of AMA announce Art After Dark 5. Now in its fifth year, the popular after-hours event brings art and music lovers together for one night to celebrate al fresco in the lush garden of the OAS. ART AFTER DARK 5 will take place tonight, August 22 from 9PM to 1AM.

This year's performers include singer João Fénix from Brazil, Washington's Incredible Change, performing live music, and DJ Shea Horn, of the famed MixtapeDC. In addition, the event will showcase video art from Chile, Argentina, Peru, Spain and Portugal projected onto the OAS headquarters building facade, contemporary dance, and performance art. Currently on view at AMA are the exhibitions Femininity Beyond Archetypes: Photography by Natalia Arias and Small Guide to Homeownership: Photography by Alejandro Cartagena of Mexico. For AAD5, AMA will stay open until 1am.

"As a cultural component of the Organization of American States (OAS), Art After Dark is our signature fundraising event that supports our effort to engage communities and advance the work of the OAS promoting democratic values, peace, justice and human rights across the Americas through contemporary art that transcends through craftsmanship, ingenuity and content," says museum director Andrés Navia. "Funds raised from Art After Dark allows the museum to maintain a vigorous schedule of exhibits and programs for our members and museum visitors."

With its unique regional focus, AMA exhibits works by established and emerging artists and alternates its with permanent collection exhibits. AMA's collection of modern and contemporary Latin American and Caribbean art is one of the most vital of its kind in the United States.

Staged in collaboration with the Friends of AMA, Art After Dark allows AMA to brings out some of the more innovative emerging artists of the Americas.

Cost:
- General $50
- VIP $95 (includes private bar and area, hors d'oeuvres, Pisco cocktails (http://www.macchupisco.com), a one-year AMA membership, and express check-in)

Drinks: Drinks included with admission: wine, beer, cava, juice, and water

Raffle: 3 raffles, $5/tickets: iPad, Wine Tasting experience for a group of 20 people by Total Wine ($500 value), and a Day at a Spa with dinner for two at Taberna Del Alabardero and a bottle of Cava.

Entertainment:

-Music by João Fénix and Incredible Change

-Dance performance by Sylvana Christopher, collaborating with Iván Chanis Barahona

-DJ Shea van Horn

-Outdoor, projected video art

-Performance Art

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Incredible Change

Synth-laden electronic dance music influenced by everything from Italian house to early Factory Records, featuring members of Ra Ra Rasputin and Lode Runner. Brock Boss channels Bauhaus vocals over arpeggiators, syncopated rhythms, chorus-drenched guitar, eliciting kinetic vibrations with a cast of DC musicians, including DeenaOh, Rob Hart, Patrick Kigongo, and Ed Porter. Pulling in classic dance elements and pairing them with dark analog sounds and distinct lyrical presentation, the hope is to connect and provide energy. Incredible Change will release an album this summer.

João Fenix

With four studio albums and performances directed by Gerald Thomas and Wolf Maya, songwriter and performer João Fénix takes cues from such Brazilian mainstays as Caetano Veloso and Milton Nascimento. Noted for his powerful voice and androgynous timbre, Phoenix has collaborated with singer Ney and percussionist Marcos Suzano. His aesthetic is distinctly Brazilian, through a contemporary and global lens.

DJ Shea van Horn

Co-founder of Mixtape, DJ Shea van Horn spins an eclectic mix of electro, alt-pop, indie rock, house, nu-disco, and anything else he thinks you can dance to. The Mixtape party began in 2008, has been voted "DC's Best Gay Dance Party" by Washingtonian Magazine, "Best Men's Party" by The Washington Blade, and "Best Monthly Party" by Brightest Young Things' BYGays.

Carolina Mayorga and Craig Garrett

For the first and only time, attendees to Art After Dark 2014 will have the opportunity to become Carolina Mayorga's partner in her 1hr live-postcard performance Tropical Paradise (1hr performance, 10-11pm). Participants will join the Latino artist in a stereotypical Colombian scene and complete the piece by having their photograph taken by American Instagram artist Craig Garrett. Photographs will be posted in real-time. Performance includes two performers in costume, stage, lights, photo equipment.

Sylvana Christopher and Ivan Chanis Barahona

Sylvana Christopher is DC-based dance performer, teacher and choreographer with a BFA is in Dance Performance & Choreography. "Soul Infiltration" brought her to study with Cutumba Ballet Folklorico in Cuba in 2002. In 2012, she went to Petit Mbao, Senegal with Papa Dame Gueye to learn drumming and dance. Christopher danced for many DC choreographers and has attended the East Coast Contact Jam, American Dance Festival, OFFJAZZ and MELT. Christopher has presented work at Dance Place, The Jack Guidone Theater, Woolly Mammoth Theater, The Warehouse Theater, The Millennium Stage and The Phillips Collection and taught dance at Holton-Arms, Lowell, and Sidwell schools. Currently, she is on faculty at Joy of Motion and City Dance. She is a founding member of Glade Dance Collective.