As linen shirts fluttered in the light, humid D.C. breeze, the setting sun cast a golden glow on visitors carrying sangria pitchers and picnic. Some settled beneath towering trees that offered shade from the lingering summer heat, while others nestled beside the larger-than-life sculptures that dot the garden landscape.
This past Friday evening at the National Gallery of Art sculpture garden, locals and visitors from across the country gathered for Jazz in the Garden, the museum’s annual summer concert series. The event, held as part of Washington’s ongoing celebration of 250 years of American history, brought together hundreds of attendees to enjoy the sounds of jazz, Appalachian music, country blues, and American genres.
For a few hours, the sculpture garden transformed into a green oasis where Washingtonians could leave behind the stress of the work week. People dressed in denim, cowboy boots, and flowing summer dresses. Conversations, laughter and music filled the air. Tenderness, connection, and community lingered throughout the evening.
The concept behind the event is simple but effective: surround people with art while introducing them to musical traditions from across the country.
“It’s really nice that people can just lay out in the grass of a metropolitan area and listen to soothing jazz music,” said publicist and communications specialist Nyree Berry. “This is a rare time when one can reach over, share a charcuterie board, and maybe even share a laugh.”
Amid the sea of people, music, and dancing inspired by the Appalachian performers, one couple became part of the evening’s visual landscape. Dressed in coordinated vintage-inspired cowgirl attire, they strolled through the garden with drinks in hand, exchanging smiles and laughter. One sported a head full of curls that formed an unruly mohawk-like silhouette, paired with a vibrant blue patterned button-down and crisp white pants.
When asked about her outfit, S.J. Jones, 33, immediately said she was headed to a gathering afterwards.
“North Hall, 7 p.m., Saturday night,” she said, “queer country line dancing.”
Beside her, her partner, O’Malley Steuerman, smiled beneath yellow-and-black sheriff-style sunglasses reminiscent of the 1990s.
For many attendees, fashion served as a form of artistic expression. Just as the sculptures transformed the landscape, personal style transformed the crowd into an ever-changing gallery. Creative outfits, bold accessories and carefully curated picnic spreads became extensions of the art surrounding them.
Families played hide-and-seek around the colorful house-shaped statue. Couples shared wine and cheese while enjoying date night beneath the trees. Some visitors quietly read books, while others engaged in conversation.
“The weather is so beautiful,” said Tani Marshall, 23, a local attendee, “and everyone is having a great time.”
