When: Through Jan. 3, 2010

Info: Free; 202-633-7970; americanart.si.edu/renwick

2. “make/shift”: Christine Gray presents the sculptural models that provide inspiration for her oil paintings along with the paintings themselves, trying to capture the suspension of disbelief that painting entails. Sculptures by the Temple University-trained Andrea Cohen are featured as well.

Where: Project 4 Gallery, 1353 U St. NW, 3rd Floor

When: Through Sept. 12

Info: Free; 202- 232-4340; project4gallery.com

3. “Laura Read: Through the Green Fuse”: Self-taught multimedia artist Laura Read uses found objects, wood, vintage photos and other tools to probe at man’s relationship with nature.

Where: Civilian Art Projects, 406 Seventh St. NW

When: Through Sept. 5

Info: Free; 202-347-0022; civilianartprojects.com

4. “Innocence & Arrogance: The Art of Arabella Proffer and Brandi Read”: “Punks, Goths, Muses, Models and Royalty” as depicted by the pop-surrealist and, respectively, neo-realist painters Arabella Proffer and Brandi Read.

Where: Art Whino, 173 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md.

When: Through Sept. 14

Info: Free; artwhino.com

5. “Introductions 5”: Irvine’s annual showcase for promising recent MFA recipients from around the country features multimedia works from recent grads of the Pratt Institute, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and others.

Where: Irvine Contemporary, 1412 14th St. NW

When: Through Sept. 5

Info: Free; 202-332-8767; irvinecontemporary.com

Gatherings

1. “I Love the ’80s Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival”: A free outdoor film festival held in Rosslyn every Friday from May to September celebrating films from everyone’s favorite decade — the ’80s. This week: “Meatballs” – PG.

Where: Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway, Arlington

When: dusk, Friday (festival runs through Sept. 4)

Info: 703-522-6628; rosslynva.org

2. “Mary McFadden: Goddesses”: More than 40 works from the fashion designer’s collections that show the inspiration she drew from ancient cultures

Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; through Aug. 30

Info: $8 to $10; 202-783-5000; nmwa.org

3. “National Small Works Exhibition”: This 12th annual juried exhibition spotlights prints that are a maximum size of 170 square inches

Where: Washington Printmakers Gallery, 1732 Connecticut Ave., NW

When: noon to 6 p.m. Thursday; noon to 8 p.m. Friday; noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; through Aug 30.

Info: 202-332-7757; washingtonprintmakers.com

4. “Alan Bean: Painting Apollo, First Artist on Another World”: Get a glimpse of the surface of the moon, courtesy of the Apollo 12 astronaut’s impressionistic paintings.

Where: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW

When: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; through Sept. 7

Info: Free; 202-633-1000; nasm.si.edu

5. Maryland State Fair: This summer favorite offers agricultural and livestock shows, home arts, farm and garden demonstrations, 4-H exhibition hall and midway rides

Where: Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Timonium

When: through Sept. 7; times vary, check Web site for details

Info:Free to $8; 410-252-0200; marylandstatefair.com

Music

1. B.B. King: The legendary King of Blues celebrates a lifetime of incomparable playing topped off with 11 Grammy awards, the 1997 Living Legend Award, the Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences’ Lifetime Achievement Award and dozens more.

Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center

When: 8 p.m. Sunday

Info: $42 in-house, $25 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org

2. “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”: The U.S. premiere of the complete second installment of the trilogy in HD with the City Choir of Washington, orchestra and soloists performing Howard Shore’s film score.

Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Info: $45 to $55 in-house, $25 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org

3. Shen Yun Performing Arts World Tour 2009: Traditional Chinese culture, ancient legends and modern tales of courage relived by costumed dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists.

Where: Kennedy Center Opera House

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 1:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

Info: $39 to $150; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org

4. 105 Voices of History National Choir: One singer from each of the nation’s 105 Historical Black College and Universities, four conductors and the Take 6 gospel group lift their voices in song, hosted by radio performer Tom Joyner.

Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall

When: 5:30 p.m. Sunday

Info: $15 to $35; 202-467-4600, kennedy-center.org

5. Teena Marie: An intimate evening with the Grammy-nominated Motown artist singing selections from “Congo Square,” her 14th album, and past hits with a Q&A session.

Where: The Birchmere

When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday-Monday

Info: $75; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com

Also worth noting:

6. Classics and Steel: The Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago celebrates the 47th anniversary of the nation’s Independence with an operatic performance by award-winning BP Renegades Steel Orchestra and leading singers from Trinidad and Tobago.

Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Info: $35 to $60; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org

7. Kim Waters: Jazz saxophonist/composer from Maryland, the king of Urban Smooth jazz. performs numbers from his latest recording, “All for Love,” and other favorites.

Where: The Birchmere

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Info: $27.50; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com

Theater

1. “Much Ado about Nothing”: Free Summer Shakespeare at Olney. The National Players’ outdoor production tells the story of the battle of the sexes, when old adversaries Beatrice and Benedick wage their merry war of wits. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. A limited number of bleacher seats are available. Reservations are recommended.

Where: Root Family Stage at Will’s Place, Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney

When: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Info: Free; 301-924-3400; www.olneytheatre.org

2. “The Shakespeare Theatre: Free for All”: A much-loved D.C. tradition, the Free for All offers free Shakespeare to the public. This year there will be 21 free performances of “The Taming of the Shrew,” Shakespeare’s comedy about the institution of marriage, played out in the no-holds-barred romance between the spirited Katherine and the arrogant Petruchio. Tickets are distributed 2 hours prior to curtain time, 2 tickets per person in line.

Where: Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St., NW

When: ThroughSept. 12, showtimes vary, check Web site for details

Info: Free; 202-547-1122; shakespeare-theatre.org

3. “The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)”: A parody of some of the most famous Broadway composers (Rodgers, Hammerstein, Sondheim, Kander, Ebb, Herman), this production has a book by Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart, and stars Donna Migliaccio and Bobby Smith.

Where: MetroStage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria

When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; ; 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday; 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through Oct. 18

Info: $45 to $50; metrostage.org

4. “Dublin Carol”: Conor McPherson’s dark comedy about an alcoholic undertaker’s assistant, his desire to connect to another human being and his fear and possible inability to do so.

Where: Scena Theatre, H Street Playhouse, 1365 H St., NE

When: Through Sept. 20

Info: 703-683-2824; scenatheatre.org

5. “False Romance: An Intergalactic Farce”: Joe Baker’s exploration of the unexpected tribulations of the future and the everlasting conventions of young love.

Where: Theatre on the Run, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington

When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Saturday; pay-what-you-can: 8 p.m. Thursday

Info: 703-892-0202; keegantheatre.com