Character Project

Last night I went to the party for Character Project, in which 11 photographers shot slices of American life. Sponsored by USA Network, the photographs are collected into a book, Character Project: A Photographic Journey, for which Tom Brokaw wrote the forward.

It was one of the better parties I've attended lately — champagne was refilled as soon as I drank the last drop, there were actual celebs there (Brokaw and Adrien Brody, whose mother, Sylvia Plachy, was one of the artists), and the art was fantastic. I went back to a couple of the sets more than once.

My favorites? Eric Ogden's theatrical snaps of musicians he's long admired include Sufjan Stevens sitting pensively with a lantern and a colorfully dressed Andre Williams sitting in a Chicago hotel. Richard Renaldi visited the 49th State, Alaska, which celebrates its 50th year of statehood this year, and shot photos of people who make a living by the fishing industry.

There's a lot more, so I'd suggest you swing by some time this weekend. Character Project is on display today through Sunday at Pepco’s Edison Place Gallery, 702 Eighth St., NW. Hours are Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and it is open until 6 p.m. today. Visit the web site for more info.