On August 22, something special is happening. You have the chance to meet James Washington Jr., the artist ghost who haunts 26th Street to this day—12 years after his death—and whose continued inspiration on living artists is the subject of the Hedreen Gallery's current exhibition, involving looped ghost video, Edison wax cylinders, palm-sized carvings, and slave weddings.

James Washington Jr. working on his bust of MLK.
  • James Washington Jr. working on his bust of MLK.

But you will also meet living people! Great ones! You'll meet the three finalists for the Stranger Genius Award in Art this year: Sarah Bergmann, Amanda Manitach, and Dan Webb. At dusk in the gardens, I'll moderate a magically sunset-lit slideshow and talk with the artists about what they make, their deepest desires, and their greatest creative fears. The event is called Stroke of Genius.

L TO R Webb, Bergmann, Manitach.
  • Kelly O
  • L TO R Webb, Bergmann, Manitach.

Join us and figure out who you're rooting for to win this year's Genius Award. Tickets are $10, and the night starts at 7:30. Details are here.

HOW? WHY? Find out. (Dan Webbs carved maple Runner, 2011.)
  • Courtesy the artist and Greg Kucera Gallery
  • HOW? WHY? Find out. (Dan Webb's carved maple Runner, 2011.)

Stroke of Genius happens exactly one month before the actual Genius Awards at the Moore Theatre, when the winners in each category—art, music, film, literature, and theater—will be announced! (It's always just a great freaking party, too.) Tickets for the Genius Awards on September 22 are $12 in advance or $18 at the door. Everything you ever wanted to know about Geniuses past and present is here.