FBHD Home to Art Shows as Early as 1972

By Denise Vogt

Long before the first “Arts in Foggy Bottom” exhibition in 2007, the Foggy Bottom Association sponsored the “First Annual Left Bank Art Show” in April 1972.  It was held in the vacant lot at 2405 I St. (now the building hosting the Argentina Air Force attaché).  The arts and crafts show hosted over 30 artists. The crowd was estimated at over 500 people and brought in a profit of $150 to the association. You can read more in the Foggy Bottom News, March 1972, p. 5 and May 1972 , p. 2. The Arts Show was held for several years afterwards.  If you have recollections and photos from this event, the FBA History Project would like to hear from you (fleonedc@gmail.com).  (It’s easy to review the nearly 50 years of the Foggy Bottom News starting in 1955 – see here.)

 In fact, the event was continued the next year. This ad from the Foggy Bottom News calls for registration for the 1973 Art Show (FB News, April 1973).