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Pavilion Pop-Up: Present Imperfection

Present Imperfection Part Two Opens September 19

“This is not the past. This is the future.” Pat Graham

Present Imperfection, the evolving exhibition of Polaroid and instant photography curated by photographer Pat Graham, expands with new artists and new work on Saturday, September 19, from 6–9 PM at the Pavilion Pop-Up in Friendship Heights.The exhibition celebrates the physical photograph at a time when most images live on screens and can be endlessly edited, filtered or generated by AI.“The key is to focus on those imperfections and not worry about glossing everything over and making everything perfect,” says Graham.

Part Two welcomes KJ Thomas, Luke Walter, Fil Baird, Pete Duvall, Monica Servaites, Ramsey K. Metcalf, Fleurette F. Estes, Claire Packer, Brad Sigal, Scarlet Page, Harrison Stone and more, joining the exhibition's existing group of photographers.Visitors will encounter instant photography spanning different generations, subjects and processes — from contemporary work to photographs rediscovered in personal archives.

Opening Night: Saturday, September 19 | 6–9 PM
Pavilion Pop-Up, Friendship Heights
Free and open to the public
On view through January 28, 2027

Workshops & Events:

All events are FREE; RSVP requested. Visit the event calendar to learn more about each event:

Saturday, September 19, 6–9 pm — Present Imperfection: Part Two of the Exhibit Opens
Thursday, October 15, 6–8 pm — The Photograph You Keep: Archive Stories
Thursday, November 5, 6–8 pm — Live Lab: Portraits and Companions (Pet Photography)
Thursday, December 17, 6–8 pm — Live Lab: Portrait Session with guest photographer TBA
Thursday, January 28, 6–8 pm — Present Imperfection: Final Gathering

Present Imperfection: Part 1

Present Imperfection began as a summer exhibition about instant photography, imperfect memory, DIY culture, and the way photographs keep changing meaning over time.

Curated by photographer and artist Pat Graham with MORENOYCLARA, the exhibition brings together selected international and DC-connected photographers and artists working with Polaroid, instant film, scans, and prints. The project treats instant photography as immediate but never fixed: a small image that can hold friendship, travel, music, place, accident, and time.

The exhibition builds on a 2017 Málaga exhibition Past Perfect: Collective Reflections focused around the Polaroid & Photographic Instant that was curated by Pat Graham and presented by Staf Magazine and MORENOYCLARA. This adapted DC exhibition brings together selected international and DC connected photographers and artists working with Polaroid, instant film, scans, prints, and related photographic materials.

The show will include an opening and closing reception, two instant portrait sessions, a community archive day, and several workshops. In addition, curator Pat Graham will hold ‘live lab’ hours on site on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm as an artist-in-residence. The show is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.

All events are FREE; RSVP requested. Visit the event calendar to learn more about each event:

Opening Reception: June 13, 6-9 pm: Opening reception & live lab

Closing Reception: September 12, 11 am to 3 pm

Workshops: 

Live Lab + Curator Hours with Pat Graham: Fridays and Saturdays, 11 am to 3 pm, June 13 to Sept. 5 (excluding July 3-4)

Getting There: 

The Pavilion Pop-Up, formerly a T-Mobile store, offers 2,113 square feet in the Chevy Chase Pavilion retail center. In fall 2025, the Friendship Heights Alliance transformed the space into a “third place” with a gallery, reading room, and lounge areas for creative and interactive programming. Open to the public multiple days a week, it provides a free, indoor gathering spot for the neighborhood. The Pavilion Pop-Up is at 5335 Wisconsin Avenue NW, next to the office lobby; enter just to the right of Trader Joe's. If you come from the Metro, follow the signs to the office lobby. 

Artist List:

Adam Voith

Alberto Polo

Amanda Marsalis

Andrew Paynter

Antonia Tricarico

Atiba Jefferson

Brandon Harman

Clint Woodside

Craig Stecyk

Cynthia Connolly

Dana Wachs

Danny Clinch

Deanna Templeton

Diane Krauthamer

Ed Templeton

J Grant Brittain

James Joiner

Jason Lee

Jim Jocoy

Josh Wildman

Jude Harrison

Justin Borucki

Lely Constantinople

Nolan Hall

Pat Graham

Robin Bell

Scarlet Page

Shawn Brackbill

Sonny Marr

Susanne Melanie Berry

Thomas Campbell

Tim Kerr

Trevor Kampman