Sam Gilliam’s recent, small-scaled work currently at the Marsha Mateyka Gallery may surprise exhibit visitors more familiar with Mr. Gilliam’s large “drape paintings” and acrylic-and-wood “constructed assemblages.” One of Washington’s most renowned artists, Mr. Gilliam decided to concentrate on smallish, acrylic paintings — he sometimes combines acrylic with mixtures of paper and canvas, and inserts piano hinges — in Sam Gilliam, New Work: “3.” The “3” refers to the three series here: The beautifully painted, hinged acrylics-on-birch named “Fire on Water”; the “Stile” series — the artist plays on the word “turnstile” here — with geometric and colorful forms; and the “Birch Like Canvas” works, in which Mr. Gilliam attaches square wood shapes to long, horizontal birch panels. At the Mateyka Gallery, 2012 R St. NW. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday through May 22. Free. 202/328-0088.
— Joanna Shaw-Eagle
The most ambitious historical spectacle of the month, if not the season, The Alamo gets a five-week jump on “Troy” and returns to the subject matter of a rousing but far from definitive John Wayne epic of 1960. The new version of”The Alamo” was initiated by Ron Howard and inherited by John Lee Hancock, who directed the admirable baseball yarn with Dennis Quaid, “The Rookie.” Mr. Quaid now plays Sam Houston, who declines to relieve the defenders of a mission fortress in the path of Gen. Santa Anna’s invading army in the insurgent Texas of 1836. The most famous of the defenders — Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and William Travis — are played by Billy Bob Thornton, Jason Patric and Patrick Wilson, respectively. Mr. Hancock, Mr. Howard (still a co-producer) and the screenwriters, Leslie Bohem and Stephen Gaghan, vow that this re-enactment will reconcile historical accuracy with heroic dynamism.
— Gary Arnold
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