(DC City Blog via the Corcoran) – Starting March 1, the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s 1869 Society presents ARTINI, a month-long special event to benefit ArtReach, the Corcoran’s community outreach program. ArtReach extends the resources of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design to underserved communities in Washington, D.C. through free high-quality arts education programs. Throughout the month of March, 12 of the city’s most creative mixologists will compete to make the most artistic martini inspired by pieces from the Corcoran’s permanent collection, recently installed in the galleries. The public is invited to sample “artinis” at the participating Washington venues and vote for their favorite on the web site of ARTINI press partner Washingtonian Magazine at www.washingtonian.com/artini. On Saturday, March 27, the winning venue will be announced at the culminating event at the Corcoran.

Throughout the month, venues will host “Feature Nights”–when Washingtonians will taste-test “artinis” with 20% of sales from the night contributed to the Corcoran’s ArtReach program. Participating restaurants include POV at the W Hotel, Wisdom, Tabard Inn, PS7’s Restaurant, Rasika, Art and Soul, The Gibson, Farmers & Fishers, Mei n Yu, Bourbon, J&G Steakhouse, and SEI Restaurant & Lounge.

“Artinis” will be inspired by works of art from the Corcoran’s newly opened A Love of Europe: Highlights from the William A. Clark Collection, on view through April 11, 2010. As an example, Justin Guthrie of POV at the W Hotel will create an “artini” after Henri Fantin-Latour’s Arcadia, Women Bathing. Similarly, Gina Chersevani of PS7’s Restaurant will create an “artini” inspired by Edgar Degas’ The Dance Class.

On Saturday, March 27, the Corcoran will host the ARTINI event from 8 p.m. to midnight. The event will offer a sampling of the “artinis,” a cocktail bar, music and dancing provided by DJ Chris Nitti, and a tour of the museum’s two special exhibitions Turner to Cézanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection, National Museum Wales and A Love of Europe: Highlights from the William A. Clark Collection. Tickets for the event cost $85 for 1869 Society members and $100 for non-1869 Society members.

All proceeds from ARTINI will support ArtReach. The ARTINI co-chairs are Matthew Donohue and Barbara Merola. ARTINI is sponsored by Washingtonian, Cointreau, Piper Sonoma Sparkling Wine, Remy Martin VSOP, Absolut Vodka, Plymouth Gin, Mount Gay Rum, Pernod Absinthe, Pilsner Urquell, Peroni, and Ridgewells Catering. For more information and the ARTINI “Feature Nights” schedule, visit www.corcoran.org/artini.

About the 1869 Society
The 1869 Society is a dynamic young professionals group in Washington, D.C. The group provides exclusive networking and socializing opportunities with other up-and-coming art patrons ages 25 to 42. Members of the 1869 Society have access to private exhibition previews and receptions at the museum, invitations to and discounts on 1869 Society events, unlimited free admission to temporary and permanent exhibitions, guest passes, discounts at the Corcoran Café and the Corcoran Shop, and reduced fees for Continuing Education classes at the Corcoran College of Art + Design.

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