The cliché says a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, at “The Sartorialist” exhibition now being shown at the Adamson Gallery five blocks from Dupont Circle, the photographs are more likely to leave you speechless.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of M Street, Parish Gallery is hosting a unique exhibit that defies the mantra of “Those who cannot do, teach.” Featuring the recent work of 13 members of the Howard University faculty, the exhibition “Visions and Voices” covers a range of media and genres, truly representing the diversity of the artists’ ideas and styles.

Early in the semester, art professor Peter Charles instructed his students to place five black shapes on white paper. The shapes could not touch or overlap, and the resulting composition must take advantage of both the positive and negative space. For a student with a strong background in studio art, this was simply one more exercise in effective composition.

Much like those of Van Gogh, Picasso and Pollack, the average person Annie Leibovitz’s name is recognized by the average person. Even without her artistic byline, it is likely that her photographs are memorable enough for a person to remember a particularly powerful image in itself. But with the brand name of renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, her photographs are instantly respected.

I’ve never been incredibly politically aware, which is why I suppose I write for The Guide as opposed to the opinion section. I try to avoid bringing up politics — namely, the current war in the Middle East — here in D.C. simply because I don’t know enough about it.