{"id":152403,"date":"2025-09-12T21:49:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T21:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/152403\/"},"modified":"2025-09-12T21:49:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T21:49:08","slug":"smithsonian-fellow-victor-ekpuk-unveils-the-dancer-sculpture-in-logan-circle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/152403\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cSmithsonian Fellow Victor Ekpuk Unveils \u2018The Dancer\u2019 Sculpture in Logan Circle\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/158A6395.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-328267\"  \/><br \/>photo by Adedayo \u201cDayo\u201d Kosoko<\/p>\n<p>From a press release:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Logan Circle Community Association (LCCA) is proud to announce the unveiling of The Dancer, a striking 10-foot metal sculpture by internationally renowned Nigerian-American artist Victor Ekpuk, now permanently installed at the corner of 14th and R Streets NW.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/158A6447.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-328268\"  \/><br \/>photo by Adedayo \u201cDayo\u201d Kosoko<\/p>\n<p>Commissioned by LCCA with the support of community partners, including Whitman-Walker and Fivesquares Development, The Dancer brings vibrant new life to one of Washington\u2019s most dynamic corridors. The bold red form, poised in motion, reflects themes of celebration, resilience, and unity\u2014a fitting tribute to a neighborhood known for its cultural diversity and creativity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Dancer is inspired by the human form in motion, celebrating the universal language of dance as a metaphor for freedom, resilience, and joy,\u201d said artist Victor Ekpuk. \u201cDance is an ancient form of storytelling and cultural expression, and this sculpture is my way of honoring the diversity and dynamism of Logan Circle while creating a gathering place that reflects our shared humanity. I hope this work will be both a beacon and a mirror for the people of DC.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At a time when public spaces are increasingly important for gathering, reflecting, and healing, The Dancer offers an invitation to pause and reconnect. Its presence in Logan Circle continues the District\u2019s tradition of honoring creativity in public life, while amplifying voices from across the African diaspora.<\/p>\n<p>Ekpuk, whose works are held in major collections including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the World Bank, is celebrated for his ability to weave African aesthetic traditions with contemporary storytelling. His latest commission further cements DC\u2019s role as a hub for global cultural dialogue.<\/p>\n<p>The Dancer was made possible through the generosity and support of the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities; Whitman-Walker and FiveSquares; John Guggenmos and Timor Loynab; Brian Smith; Logan Circle Main Streets with the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development; and the Logan Circle Community Association.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"photo by Adedayo \u201cDayo\u201d Kosoko From a press release: \u201cThe Logan Circle Community Association (LCCA) is proud to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":152404,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[228,226,227,229,88],"class_list":{"0":"post-152403","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-artsanddesign","11":"tag-design","12":"tag-entertainment"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=152403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152403\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/152404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=152403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=152403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}