Most people, when they see a magazine, look at the cover. John Cole looks at the edges. Cole, an architectural and interior photographer who originally trained in print graphic design, has turned the abstract and seemingly random shades of color saturating the edges of magazine pages into grist for his photographs. It’s not an entirely new idea—Cara Barer has pursued similar themes, and magazine-edge images landed Erica Baum in the Guggenheim’s collection—but for Cole, the concept came from being surrounded by magazines in his workspace. “I’m always trying to find a photograph that I haven’t seen, and that, combined with my commercial work tendencies of hypervigilance to details, helped me notice them,” Cole says. He shares an exhibition at Cross MacKenzie Gallery aptly named On Paper with two artists who use different media but explore similar themes: Lyn Horton, who draws abstract, almost obsessively layered forms, and Janice Jakielski, who crafts book-like vases in which she treats clay like paper, cutting and reassembling the work’s “pages.” Read more>>> The exhibition is on view to Oct. 10 at Cross MacKenzie Gallery, 1675 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Free. (202) 337-7970. crossmackenzie.com. (Louis Jacobson)

OH AND ALSO

Rapper Childish Gambino, aka actor Donald Glover, performs at Capital One Arena. 7:30 p.m. at 601 F St. NW. $49.50–$129.50.

Two music legends, The Police frontman Sting and reggae artist Shaggy perform at The Theater at MGM National Harbor. 8 p.m. at 101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill. $74.54–$183.64.

Asheville, North Carolina folk band River Whyless performs at Union Stage. 8 p.m. at 740 Water St. SW. $15–$30.

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