Thursday, July 20, 2017

The curious case of Porter Airlines

The Lyft driver arrived a few minutes early, and I was glad, since I am one of those worry worts who's always at the airport two hours early. Since this flight was an international flight... well to Canada anyway, but America' s hat is still an international flight... and because D.C. area traffic is always a challenging variable, I was aiming for a three hour window to Dulles.

We arrived there in plenty of time, and the ride also offered Anderson and I the opportunity to study the massive concrete bunkers being built for the Metro extension to the airport. 

"Won't the Metro trains smash into those wooden fences?", asked Anderson pointing out the temporary fences on the elevated platforms. Once I pointed out to him that they were not permanent, he observed that in the future he could brag that he saw the Metro extension being built,  maybe when they were "falling apart (in the future)."

With this dark foretelling in the air, we breezed through airport security and headed to our gate. Our flights were on Porter Airlines, a Canadian company, and one which was new to me. The flight was scheduled to depart at 2pm, and thus we had over two hours to lounge around in iPad crack house. 

About an hour into the wait, a Porter flight crew arrived. At first I thought that they were our flight crew, but quickly discovered (they sat around us, so I could hear their conversations) that they were a crew which was being returned to Canada, and were thus flying as passengers.

Porter Airlines flight attendants are a throwback to 1960s stewardesses. Not only in appearance, but also in demeanor. The little round, cocked pillbox hat, always at a rakish angle, a pleasant visual surprise.

But this was a full flight, and it was clear (from the conversation) that the four crew members had consumed the last open seats, but were one seat short. As departure time approached, the begging began for someone to trade their seat for a $300 (soon to be escalated to $400) voucher and a ticket on the next flight at 4pm something.

No one bit and no one accepted the offer. From listening to the returning crew conversations, I think that what happened was that this returning crew was being sent home early as they were needed in Toronto to fill in for another crew. But this flight was almost full, and Porter was one seat short. 

The passengers, as usual, were a diverse group, with a lot of Canadians clearly returning home, a lot of Muslim families (women in hijabs, men in western clothes), and  a lot of American tourists. I say tourists because I suspect that nearly all of the Clinton voters who threatened to move to Canada if Trump won are either already there making trouble for Trudeau, or reneged on their self-exile promises.

But no one took the offer.

As 2pm passed, the offer turned into a threat to having to kick someone off the flight. An intrepid ticket holder pointed out that, because this was an international flight, the kicked out person would be owed $1000 dollars - "US not Canadian," noted the sudden sea lawyer.

I don't know how this issue was resolved, but eventually we were loaded into the Bombardier Q400, a handsome Canadian-built prop plane, and at around 2:30 or so, we began to taxi to the departure runway. 

15-20 minutes later, we were still in taxi mode, when the pilot announced that we were going to be waiting for a few minutes because a storm was approaching. As the temperature outside was in the high 90s, and the air conditioning in these Bombardiers apparently doesn't kick in unless the engines are full on, it was really super hot while we waited.

Soon the pilot announced the real bad news: all flights had been grounded due to the weather, and he had to turn the engines off to save gas. "We missed our escape window," I thought, thinking of the 30 or 40 minutes wasted trying to find the Porter crew one last seat.

Over three hours later, and two engine starts and stops to cool off the broiling plane, we began the trek back to the terminal. "The company," noted the pilot," feels that in view of the weather, it is best to return and wait it out at the terminal."

As we approached the terminal, another 10 minutes expired in our precious time window to make our connection in Toronto (we were heading to Halifax), but with a sigh of relief... three things happened.

First, the pilot noted the bad news that there were no open gates available to disembark; and I wondered why that wasn't coordinated before he started heading back to the terminal and lost his place in the departure line. Then he announced the good news that we had been given clearance to take off! The mysteries of 21st century travel decision-making gather another set of examples.

Lastly, using my cell phone I noticed that the airline's website noted that our connecting flight had been also delayed as Porter tried to make time for connecting passengers to arrive. "The company," once again noted the pilot, "is fully aware that there are a lot of you making connections!", he reassured us.

Another precious 15 million minutes passed as we made our way back to the runway, having lost our place in line, and finally became airborne. The irony of the case of the kicked out passenger doesn't escape me. He/she was now probably on the runway line, just a few minutes behind us, with a voucher of either $400 or $1000 bucks in hand -  if the airport lounge sea lawyer was correct.

Once airborne, Porter's wonderful throwback status is confirmed when the crew starts passing out free snacks, free drinks, free wine in real glasses, and free Canadian beer, an awesome Steam Whistle Premium Pilsner!

We landed in Toronto at Billy Bishop Airport - a cool, over the water landing, and because of the connecting flight's own delay, making the connection was still a possibility. Hope hung thick in the air.

But the plane stops before it reaches the terminal and the pilot comes on again. "Folks," he says in that voice that all pilots on the planet seem to share, "we're gonna have to wait a few minutes while they make a gate available to us, as they're all full."

40 minutes later, we deplane. We actually descend down a ladder and walk to the terminal gate, and I wonder why we needed an "open" gate... since we landed near a gate and then walked to it. Couldn't two planes, properly spaced, share a gate, since he passengers are walking to it on the ground? but who's gonna argue with Airport logic.

And then we zipped through Canadian customs, and walked and walked to our domestic gate, hope still alive. As we had cleared customs, I had informed Anderson that we were now "officially" in Canada. He misunderstood my meaning and runs back to the other side of customs, and yells: "Now I'm back in the USA!" The customs officers give him a dirty look and shoo him away.

Arrival to the security area for local flights reveals the fact that we had missed our flight. "Took off about 8 minutes ago," we were advised. All those minutes, in hindsight wasted on the taxi runways of Dulles, and then waiting to deplane in Toronto, have come back to bite us in the ass.

Somehow, by accident, I managed to jump the rapidly growing line of disgruntled passengers waiting for the airport Porter staff to assist them. "You've been booked in the 10 am flight tomorrow," advised the nice and very, very young Porter lad assisting us. "Can you put us in a hotel?", I asked. He picked up the phone and began to talk to someone whose job is clearly to say no.

"It was weather related," he advised. We were on our own, Porter was under no obligation to pay for a room, or assist in any way.

Finding the exit was not an intuitive task, and we decided and then followed signs simply marked "Toronto"  (not "airport exit") and walked and escalated what seemed miles of electric stairs and moving platforms, where Anderson wanted to race me as they were pretty empty of people for some odd reason. 

I don't trust free airport WiFi and thus I turned on my own WiFi jet pack and begin to search for a hotel room. A few minutes later, an alarmed text message comes across my WiFi jet pack: I have just exceeded $50 of data usage! We quickly also discovered that this weekend there's some sort of Grand Prix race in he city, and thousands of racing fans have booked most hotel rooms; and things begin to look bleak.

With the assistance of an outfit called Airport Accommodations, who first informs me that all the discounted rates for stranded passengers have been booked already, I grab the first available room - about $200 at the Comfort Hotel Downtown and grimace as I turn my jet pack back on to book an Uber, as there's no Lyft in Toronto.

Billy Bishop Airport is a very cool small airport, and in spite of the seemingly endless miles of moving walkways (there's a tunnel between the airport entrance building and the departure areas), once you get your bearings, quite manageable. The entrance is literally in the city and you can essentially walk out the airport building, cross the street and have a kabob or a pizza or check into a hotel... if any rooms were available, that is.

20 minutes later, in a nice ride through this most beautiful and architecturally eclectic city, we arrive at 23 Charles Street East. The Uber driver has free candy and gum and bottled water in his car, so Anderson naturally loves him!

Five stars!

The hotel in under construction... "This is a spooky place," notes Anderson as we make our way to room 703. It is not that bad actually... and there seems to be an interesting decor idea aimed at using bare plywood as a decor focus - on purpose! The furniture in the room, the shelves, the tables... but I also notice the nice walk-in shower and the rainfall water faucet.

We leave our luggage in the room, chat a little on the phone (95 cents a minute) with a very alarmed mom waiting for us in Halifax, and head out into downtown Toronto, past 9pm, to get dinner. 

The giant TV in the room hasn't gone unnoticed, and Anderson asks if we can bring our food back to the room and watch TV while we eat. The little guy has been a trooper through the day's saga, and so I agree, hoping that his mom will never find out, and yet fully knowing that he'll rat me out as soon as we get back with her in Halifax.

A wonderful two or three blocks of a gritty neighborhood greets us - ethnic, tiny restaurants of all ancestries dot the streets, a cigar shop boasting that they specialize in Cubans, a Hemp shop... tons of hipsters trying to look like seedy characters and beautifully adding visual spice to the area, impossibly slim-as-rifles young girls doing selfies in front of the Biscuit Lane sign in front of our hotel entrance, and a few hookers here and there.

My mouth waters at the ethnic restaurant offerings... but we need quick and fast and take out... so we end up at... sigh... Popeye's.

Anderson gets nuggets and Mac 'n Cheese as a side. I get chicken wraps and coleslaw.... I let him fill his included drink with Sprite, hoping that he doesn't rat me out for that as well... but he will.

On the walk back I convince him that the only reason that I let him have Sprite is if he doesn't give me any grief over taking a shower. To my surprise, he agrees; there will not be war over a shower tonight.

Back in the room, we discover that there isn't a single kid show at 10pm, and the smart TV's YouTube channel is too difficult to navigate with the remote control, and so we quit attempting boobtoobing while we eat. He also doesn't really like the Popeye's chicken nuggets because they're "covered in granola." I point out to him that it is not granola, but the battle is lost immediately.

I grimace as I log on to the hotel's free WiFi, fully knowing that millions of viruses and malware may be lurking in the RF, and we FaceTime with the still very alarmed mom - after all, Anderson has been under my tutelage now for nearly three days!

The shower goes unexpectedly easy; he loves the rainfall and demands and gets more shower time.

Afterwards, I use the hotel surprisingly nice minty lotion to rub his back and legs and arms... good trick for putting a kid to sleep. We unpack his "guys", which he meticulously counts, and he hits the sack. He reverts to being a little boy in a strange city and strange bed, and asks me to "snuggle with him a little," which I do. A nanosecond later he's asleep.

Outside, loud drunks are clearly having an open door party in the next room, and I push away the temptation to join them... and the partying goes on until three am or so, but, once he's asleep, nothing disturbs Anderson short of a small nuclear device going off nearby. I don't really mind the partying noises, other than some guy with a disturbing cough that would eventually keep me awake; he really should get that checked.

I shower in the glorious rain shower and once again grimace as I re-join the hotel's free WiFi (did I say earlier that these are generally a breeding ground for Malware?) and schedule an Uber for 7am the next morning. The flight is at 10am, but the hotel's Russian-accented check-in girl has planted fear in my heart about getting to the airport in less than an hour. "With all the people leaving the city for the weekend," she advises, "and with all the race fans..."  I wonder why the weekend exodus wouldn't be a Friday start like everywhere else, but her warning resonates in my pedantic, "never be late for anything" Navy training.

I sleep haphazardly, jealous of Anderson's deep sleep, and wake up half an hour before the alarm - another Navy trait. 

Shit, shower and shave (still in Navy mode here); wake up the little guy; He brushes his teeth, and I get him packed and dressed in record time. Just before we leave the room, I ask him to go pee one last time, but he says he's good, and we are downstairs and ready for Freddy by 6:55am, which is when Anderson tells me that he needs to use the bathroom.

Since the lobby is under construction, there's no bathroom, and thus the nice man at the desk gives our room keys back and we trek back to our room, where the little guy does his business and we're back waiting for Uber in no time.

The hotel has apples, and muffins, and yogurt and some bars at a breakfast bar, and I stock up for the flight as the little guy scarfs up a muffin.

Uber arrives, nice man from India with a cross hanging from his rear view mirror. He tells me that when his wife was about due, they drove to the US so that his son could be born in the US and be a dual citizen. The kid is now a sophomore at university and studying Math. I heave an internal sigh of relief, as we really need more American math majors.

In spite of the hotel clerk's warning, there is no traffic, and we arrive at the empty airport two and a half hours before the flight. We had been issued new boarding passes the night before and thus we head directly to the security check, which is blissfully empty. We load all of the carry on stuff onto the conveyor belts, take the iPads out, remove all contents from pockets, and since in Canada the boarding pass check is apparently done there, we hand the security lady our boarding passes; she scans them and it beeps red.

Oh, oh.

She directs me to run back to the Airlines ticket check-in counter and tell them.... since it is still deserted, and since the counter is about 20 feet from the check point, she tells me to leave all the stuff on the belt, leave Anderson there, and go get new boarding passes.

"I will keep an eye on him," she says in a Russian accent, and I notice that her name is Irina.

I run back to the counter... by now some passengers are beginning to trickle in... but I explain the situation and jump to the head of the line. After some conversations between two airline agents, they issue me new tickets and I run back to Irina at the security check.

I hand the security lady the new passes; she scans them in... and they beep red again. By now there are 3-4 people, and their carry-ons... behind us, waiting for the luggage and scanning to get through the security check point.

The puzzled security lady then abandons her station and runs, with my tickets, to the airline counter. I apologize to the people waiting behind us, and it becomes clear to me why the TSA does this part "ahead" of this conveyor belt X-ray part.

Irina returns with new tickets; they scan green, and everyone is happy; she rocks!

When we get to our gate, to my surprise, I discover that Porter Airlines has a very nice waiting lounge, fully equipped with free bottled water, espresso, latte, regular coffee, etc., Walker's Scottish pure butter shortbread, and granola! And real dishes and coffee cups with saucers! The seats are comfortable and padded, and electrical outlets are all over the place, and there are several cleaners constantly picking up coffee cups, dishes and cleaning up.

Porter gets some props back.

I also discover that there are multiple flights earlier than our 10 o'clock flight heading to Halifax. Since we're there two hours early, I inquire to see if the nice airline lady can get Anderson and I on an earlier flight. She looks, but tells me that none of the flights have two available seats.

I sigh, but have to listen to her logic, and walk away. Subsequently, flight after flight departs for Halifax, and I notice a curious and repeating thing: in every departing flight,  as the plane, visible from the waiting lounge, gets loaded with passengers, there are calls for multiple passengers who have not boarded.

"... this is your last call," warn the loudspeakers, "plane doors are about to close." After the second occurrence of this, I approach the airline lady once again, and ask if my son and I can board the plane instead of the missing passenger, since there are empty seats now, and leave in the earlier flight.

Some airline logic dictates no, and flight after flight leaves on time with missing passengers and empty seats while we wait for our 10 o'clock flight.

Our flight, of course, leaves late... but Porter Airlines has free beer and wine. Anderson could care less, he's in iPad heaven, and I've packed plenty of good things for him to chow down on. Seated in front of us is a mother, traveling alone with three children of varying ages and dispositions, and I marvel at her kid-handling skills. Whoever you were, Canadian super mom, I tip my hat to you.

There's a stop in Montreal, or was it Ottawa? no change of planes, but we have to move seats, and thus we relocate two rows behind... airline logic again.


The flight to Halifax is without incident, we scarf up the free snacks, juices and beer, and we finally arrive, a day late and around $400 less, to one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

Wanna go to an opening tomorrow?

1460 Wallmountables 2017 at DC Arts Center


Opening Reception: Friday, July 21 from 7pm to 9pm


DC Arts Center at Adams Morgan Day: September 10, 2017
Installation: July 19th 3-8 pm, July 20th 3-8 pm, and July 21st 3-6 PM
Deinstallation: September 16th – 17th 2-7 pm



The DC Arts Center (DCAC) announces the return of 1460 Wallmountables, DCAC’s annual open exhibition. One of their most popular and inclusive exhibits is also one of their oldest traditions.


Since 1989, 1460 Wallmountables has offered the opportunity for artists of all disciplines and abilities to show in this open hanging. They divide their wall space into 2 foot by 2 foot squares with strings, which creates a floor to ceiling grid on which artists hang their work. The work must fit into the space, and while artists can acquire more than one space, the work may not overlap the squares.


The result is a most remarkable salon-style show that, despite its diversity, has a distinct rhythm. On the last day of hanging, the strings come down, they clean up the gallery, and have one of the busiest openings in town. On Wednesday, July 19th, DCAC will open its doors at 3 pm, beginning a three-day installation process during which artists can purchase up to five 2′ x 2′ spaces to hang their work.


Spaces sell on a first-come, first-served basis for $15 per square, with DCAC members receiving one free space and brand new members receiving four spaces for their membership fee of $30. Work is accepted from a wide range of media created by artists at various stages in their careers. There is no curating; if it fits, it shows. To sweeten the deal, a $100 “Best Use of Space” prize is presented during the opening reception to the artist who makes the most innovative use of their 2’ x 2’ squares. Since the first Wallmountables in 1990, the exhibition has become a celebrated summer tradition at DCAC.


One of the Center’s most important fundraising events, the open exhibition runs from July 21st – September 10th. DCAC is especially excited that Sunday, September 10, the final day of the exhibition, coincides with the annual Adams Morgan Day festival, giving our neighbors and all Adams Morgan day visitors one final chance to see the show.


DCAC is a 28-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting budding artists in the Washington, DC area. Their 800 square foot gallery and 42 seat theater provides a professional venue for both visual and theatre artists. They also provide a structured program through which artists in all media can practice both the craft and the business of art. Today, DCAC is one of the only grassroots organizations available to artists looking to break into the mainstream. Just as artists have come to depend on their support, so too has the community come to associate DCAC with outstanding and original artistic expression.


General Regulations for 1460 Wallmountables:
  • Each 2′ x 2′ space is $15 for non-members (maximum 5)
  • DCAC members receive 1 free space. Additional spaces are available for $10 (maximum 5)
  • Become a DCAC member at the event and receive 3 free spaces for a total of 4 (Regular membership starts at $30)
  • Each artist can purchase up to 5 spaces
  • Each piece must be 2′ x 2′ or smaller. Spaces may not be combined to accommodate larger pieces (if larger pieces can be divided, they can be placed in adjacent squares)
  • All art must be wall mountable
  • No painting or writing directly onto the wall
  • No adhesive materials can be used for hanging (i.e. 3M hooks, spray mount, adhesive Velcro, 2-sided tape or wallpaper glue)
  • Artists must bring their own materials for hanging their work (hammer, nails etc.)
There are no reservations; artists show up with their work on the day(s) of hanging within the listed hours. Spaces are claimed on a first-come, first-served basis as artists enter DCAC’s doors and process their paperwork. There are no age limits or medium constraints so long as the art is wall mountable.


DC Arts Center (DCAC), 2438 18th Street NW, Washington DC. For more information, visit dcartscenter.org.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Art Scam Alert!!!!

Beware of this ass wipe trying to rip off artists:
From: Bruce xujbrucejw04@gmail.com
 Hello dear,kindly send me images of what you have available as I intend to gift my wife with something spectacular as a surprise for our anniversary thank you,Bruce.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Art of Engagement at Touchstone

"Art of Engagement" at Touchstone Gallery

A conversation using the universal language of art about today's important issues and concerns.


Juror: Jack Rasmussen, Director and Curator, American University Museum, Katzen Arts Center.

Opening Reception: August 4, 6 - 8:30 pm
Free, Open to Public
Cocktails Courtesy of Green Hat Gin
Gourmet Frozen Desserts by Moorenko's Ice Cream
Classical Violinist: Nakisa Karimian



Participating artists: Bob Allen, Jenny E. Balisle, E. Balme, Willette Battle, Jennifer Becker, Rachael A. Bohlander, Madison Bolls, Mason Bondi, Silas Boyd, Chad Brady, Annie Broderick, Christine Cardellino, Sabine Carlson, Roberto Salgado De Carvalho, Megan Atwood Cherry, Bret Christopher, Cheryl Clayton, Irene Clouthier, K. M. Copham, Ali Corser, Chris Corson, Delna Dastur, Manal Deeb, Tenley DuBois, Anna Fine Foer, Michael Fischerkeller, Lindsay Garcia, Parisa Ghaderi, Ebrahim Soltani, Roberta Glick, Sonja Heldt Harris, Susan Hazard, Courtney Heather, Erlene Hendrix, Yumiko Hirokawa, Erin Hoffman, Lynn B. Hogan, Rik Holden, Michael Patrick Holt, Robert S. Hunter, Esther Iverem, Warren Alan Jackson, Jay Jacobs, Barbara Januszkiewicz, Amanda Johnson, Timothy Johnson, Sally Kauffman, Jeffrey Kent, Diane Kresh, Amani Lewis (CLR'D), Andrea Limauro, Sandra Malamed, Penny Mateer, Marla McLean, Judith Peck, James Penfield, Alessandra Ricci, Gabrielle Robinson, Jim Roldan, Stephanie Z. Ruyle / Spontaneous Threads, Beverly Ryan, M. R. Shebesta, Ann Stoddard, Grant Strudwick, Sally Schluter Tardella, Patricia Anderson Turner, Andre Veloux, Vidya Vijayasekharan, Jenny Wu, John J. Young.

Monday, July 17, 2017

Kids Looking at Art

I love this photograph by the super talented DMV artist Melissa Ichiuji:


Kids Looking at Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon
Photo by Melissa Ichiuji

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Art Howard County 2017

The Howard County Arts Council is now accepting submissions for Art Howard County 2017. If you are a visual artist, 18 years of age or older, who lives, works or studies in Howard County, MD, you are eligible to apply to this biennial, juried exhibit.  The juror for Art Howard County 2017 is Thomas Engleman, Gallery Director and Professor of Visual Arts at Howard Community College. Details for entry are available in the Exhibit Opportunities section of the Arts Council website, for pick-up at the Howard County Center for the Arts, or by mail by calling 410-313-2787 or emailing info@hocoarts.org. The deadline for submissions is 11:59p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2017.
 
Art Howard County 2017 will be on display in Gallery I at the Howard County Center for the Arts from November 3 through December 15, 2017. A free public reception on November 10 from 6-8 p.m. will include juror remarks as well as the presentation of a minimum of $500 in juror awards. 
 
Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10AM - 8PM, Saturday 10AM - 4PM, and Sunday 12 - 4PM.  To learn more about HCAC programs and exhibits, call 410-313-ARTS (2787) or visit www.hocoarts.org.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Halifax, day one

Street Art on Halifax Boardwalk
USS Jason Dunham getting underway from port visit to Halifax
Anderson climbing whatever this sculpture is in Halifax harbor side
Anderson climbing giant octopus
Getting your Cow's Ice Cream
Canada's national dish
Canada's better known contribution to the culinary arts

Friday, July 14, 2017

Unexpected overnight in Toronto

Anderson Campello overlooking Downtown Toronto
Airline policies, pilot's bad decisions, weather... all contributed to us sitting on the runway at Dulles for nearly three hours, baking in the sun --- so we missed our connections in Toronto and had to spring for a pricey room overnight - we're now scheduled to leave tomorrow morning for Halifax with a stop in Ottawa.

Airborne today



Flying cartoon by Campello
Heading to Halifax, Nova Scotia via Toronto!

And the sculpture comes down

Bowing to a wave of criticism over a gallows-like work intended for its revamped Sculpture Garden, the Walker Art Center will dismantle the piece. 
"Scaffold," a two-story-high sculpture, partly inspired by the gallows where 38 Dakota Indians were hanged in Mankato in 1862, prompted an outcry from the state's American Indian communities. It had been set to debut on June 3, along with more than a dozen new works at the Minneapolis center.
Read the whole article here. 

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Hot sculpture

A metal sculpture in Portishead – fenced off after children suffered nasty burns after touching it in hot weather – was to be removed this weekend.
Apparently this large steel sculpture, which encourages people to play and interact with it, becomes so hot in the sun that it gives people third degree burns! Read the story and see images here.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Happy Birthday Andrew Wyeth

The USPS celebrated what would have been Andrew Wyeth’s 100th birthday today on 12 Forever stamps depicting samples of his iconic work. His son and acclaimed artist Jamie Wyeth helped dedicate the stamps at the Brandywine River Museum of Art in Wyeth’s hometown of Chadds Ford, PA.



















There are some really cool images in this set of stamps, and I suspect that everyone will love“Christina’s World.”  The painting was inspired by Christina Olson, a disabled neighbor in Maine, and remains a rich and enigmatic work that inspired decades of interpretation. The Museum of Modern Art in New York City purchased the painting in 1948. Today, “Christina’s World” is one of the iconic works of 20th-century American art. From the sale of “Christina’s World” to the sensational “Helga pictures” unveiled in the 1980s, Wyeth captured the imagination of the American public and established himself as one of the most prominent American artists of the 20th century.  





#WyethStamps  #MyBrandywine

Hawaii Museum's Goddess of the Sea Sculpture Beheaded

The Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo is asking for the public’s help with finding missing parts from a beloved sculpture at the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Kalakaua Street.
The original work of art belonging to the museum was damaged during the weekend of June 24.
The sculpture depicted Hawaiian goddess of the sea Namakaokahai, elder sister of fire goddess Pele, riding a sea turtle. The heads of Namakaokahai and the turtle were removed from the sculpture.
“That’s the thing that we thought was so strange,” said Marlene Murray, the museum’s executive director. “They didn’t just bash the head off. They took it with them.”
Read the whole strange article here. 

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Studio B July Exhibition

STUDIO B
7475 Wisconsin Avenue,
Lower Level, Bethesda, MD 20814

Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 3-7pm & by appointment
Opening Reception: Friday, July 14, 6-8pm

Located in the lower level of 7475 Wisconsin Avenue, the studio is home to artists Linda Button, Judy Gilbert Levey, Steve Hay and Shanthi Chandrasekar. Each artist creates, showcases and sells their work onsite.

July's exhibition features the Red Dot series by Shanthi Chandrasekar. Regarding the series, Chandrasekar says, "Not long ago I had a dream that filled me with the promise of great joy and limitless possibility, a feeling that unfortunately faded much too quickly upon waking. I was left with nothing more than the memory of a series of red dots arranged purposefully on a white background, an image I found I could not get out of my head. Did the dots represent the pottu or bindi on an Indian woman's forehead? Were they the dots in the kolam? Were they symbolic of the sun? Or did they denote some other energy source?"

Monday, July 10, 2017

Wanna go to an opening?


3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood, MD 20722
(Second Floor, 39th Street entrance)

Artist Reception July 22, from 6 - 8 PM
"She fell into a dream, twenty years into the past, into the face that was not hers for so many years, into the face that vanished when death arrived. She woke up to a mix of unfamiliar faces resembling the one that was never there. Now she stands up twisted looking at herself, in her so many forms."  Juliana Vallejo
Juliana Vallejo is a Columbian artist residing in the Washington Metropolitan area. She received her B.A. in Studio Art from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her main focus has been painting and drawing, although she is continually experimenting with new media that allow her own language and convey her buried thoughts.


In The Corridor Gallery and Summer A.I.R. Kyujin Lee

Born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1972, Kyujin Lee received her MFA from the City College of the City University of New York in 1997 and her MA from the Teacher College, Columbia University in 2000. Since the fall 2001, she has been living, working, and teaching art in Washington, DC.

Sunday, July 09, 2017

Our View From Here

Linn Meyer's wonderful wall drawing/show at the Hirshhorn, Our View From Here closes on August 13!  

Our View From Here, Linn Meyers, The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC
Our View From Here, Linn Meyers, The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC
Photo by Cathy Carver
After that date, the drawing will be painted over and the piece will vanish.  If you haven't yet seen it, I hope you will visit the Hirshhorn before the exhibition is over.  

There have been several articles written about the show. If you're curious to read more, check out: Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington TimesHyperallergicThe Washington Post, and Bmore Art.  


More information on the exhibit can be found on the museum's website here.

Saturday, July 08, 2017

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Heading to Halifax, Nova Scotia to install, and then attend a party for a giant commission that was delivered about a month ago...


Since I'm there already, will stay a few days - anyone have any tips as to what to do and see?

Friday, July 07, 2017

Harry Potter, the NSO, and Wolftrap

We have three Wolftrap stadium seats tickets to the sold out HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE™ - IN CONCERT NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA with EMIL DE COU,  conducting at Wolftrap for tomorrow evening (Saturday) and now can't go.... anybody interested in buying them from me? 

Details here: 

2018 Maryland Individual Artist Award

Deadline: July 21, 2017


The deadline for Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) 2018 Individual Artist Award (IAA) applications is fast approaching. 

These highly competitive awards recognize outstanding artistic achievement, honor the unique contributions of Maryland artists to the state's creative economy, and include grants of $1,000-$6,000 to support artists as they advance their craft. 

MSAC is accepting 2018 IAA applications in the following categories: 


  • Non-Classical Music: Solo Performance
  • Non-Classical Music: Composition
  • Playwriting
  • Visual Arts: Crafts
  • Visual Arts: Photography


  • Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (MAAF) administers MSAC's IAA program.

    Applicants can access IAA guidelines, application, and application assistance resources by clicking the "Maryland" tab here on MAAF's website. 

    The deadline for 2018 applications is
    Friday, July 21, 2017 at 4:30 pm EST
     
    All applications must be submitted online.

    MSAC and MAAF will offer one additional webinar before the deadline to guide IAA applicants through the application process. Advance registration is required. 

    Saturday, July 8, 2017, 10:00-11:30 AM - Register here

    Wednesday, July 05, 2017

    Art Scam Alert

    Beware of this thief trying to rip off artists:
     From: Dennis Smith <Dennis_Smitth02@outlook.com>
    Good Morning,

    Do you Shipped to Poland  ? and Accept Credit Card issued in USA as Payment Method and Regarding The shipping Company l have a Freight Company that you will contact Regarding Shipping Cost ,They can get the items picked up from your location and deliver directly to the final destination without any Problem of additional importation tax.

    Thanks
    Dennis Smith

    Bootcamp for Artists Seminar


    Early heads up!


    On September 30, from 2-4:30 pm, The Brentwood Arts Exchange and I will be once again hosting my well-known “Bootcamp for Artists” seminar at no cost to the artists.



    This seminar is suitable for all visual artists interested in taking their careers to the next level.



    Ever wondered how to maximize the attention your work gets from the press, galleries, and museum curators? How to present your work in a professional manner and save money in the process? How to tap into grants, awards and residencies? How to approach a gallery?



    Then this is the seminar for you! This program is free, but space is limited to 40 persons, and last year lots of artists were turned away because it filled up so quickly!


    As soon as they start taking reservations (and I will announce that soon), I recommend that interested people reserve early, as this seminar always books up very quickly!



    This program will be held in MNCPPC’s Brentwood Arts Exchange on the 1st Floor of the Gateway Arts Center, 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood, MD 20722, just over the District line on Rhode Island Avenue.



    See ya there!

    Tuesday, July 04, 2017

    Duty station ball caps

    A sampling of some duty stations ball caps while I was honored to wear the uniform of the United States Navy (not all of the duty stations... by a long shot... but a "sampling" - missing are NTC Orlando, NTC San Diego, NTC Great Lakes, NTTC Corry Station, NSGD Rota, NSGA Imperial Beach, USS Fresno, USS LaSalle, USS Coronado, USS Virginia, NSGA Edzell, NPS Monterey, COMSPAWARSYCOM, and who knows how many others I've forgotten....
     
    Petty Officer Third Class Campello
    , US Navy

     
    Lieutenant Commander Campello, US Navy

    Happy Independence Day my fellow Americans! 

    Whatever your political views are... always remember that what makes us different is that we are the mongrels that created the greatest experiment and then the greatest nation in the history of this planet!

    Disagree with your neighbors if you have to... but always listen to them... and then shake hands and have them over for a BBQ.

    “I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy." - John F. Kennedy


    USS Saratoga ball cap

    USS New Jersey ball cap

    Nave Ardito ball cap

    USS Aylwin ball cap

    USS Thorn ball cap


    COMIDEASTFOR Ball Cap

    COMNAVSECGRU CNSG Staff Ball Cap

    NSGA Skaggs Isalnd Ball Cap

    Monday, July 03, 2017

    Instagram

    And... nu ......... I broke down: this is my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lennycampello/?hl=en

    Vintage 1997 Mermaid at Auction

    Bid for it here.
     
    "Mermaid"
    Limited Edition Lithograph, circa 1997. 9 x 4.5 inches
    Bid for it here.

    Friday, June 30, 2017

    Ric Garcia and Fierce Sonia

    August 2 - 27, 2017
           
                   Opening reception:  Saturday,  August 5,  5 - 8 pm
     
                               Artists' talk: Sunday, August 20, 5:30 - 7
    Foundry Gallery
    2118 - 8th Street, N.W.
    Washington, DC  20001
    202-232-0203
    Hours:  Wed - Sun 1 - 7 pm, except Fridays 3 - 9 pm
     
        Juror Jack Rasmussen will speak at the opening and moderate the artists' talk.
     
      
        Guest artists Ric Garcia and Fierce Sonia populate their images with iconic superheros, princesses, damsels in distress and empowered queens, all portrayed in contemporary and re-imagined ways.  Their collective vision explores new narratives about struggle, power, and heroism.  Who has been the hero in traditional stories, comic books and fairy tales?  And how do changing roles affect these stories?
     
    Fierce Sonia - Mirror-Mirror - 12 x 12 - mixed media, acrylic and collage
    Fierce Sonia - Mirror-Mirror - 12 x 12 - mixed media, acrylic and collage
        Says Fierce Sonia, "I often work on many pieces at once, obsessively re-telling the story much like a folk tale is folded over the mouth many times.  The images remain decidedly feminine.  I am most interested in universal and unifying narratives found in fairy tales, mythology, advertisement, and religion."
     
    Ric Garcia - GI Cash - 30 x 30 - oil on canvas
    Ric Garcia - GI Cash - 30 x 30 - oil on canvas
         Ric Garcia sees his appropriation of images as a meditation on identity.  "I infuse my art with references to various mythos, focusing on hero worship, literary works, Latino and gender cultures, creating images about Americana filtered by my bi-cultural experience," Garcia says.
     
         Jack Rasmussen is Director and Curator of the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center.

    The Business of the Arts - You're Invited!

    Topic: Crafting the Case: Learn to Write a Case to Raise Funds & Win Support
    Do you want to dramatically increase your contributed income by turning prospects into donors? Then you need a case for funding. A strong case. The kind that incites goosebumps. The kind that pulls heartstrings. The kind that leads to support.
    Join Leila Fitzpatrick and Nadine Gabai-Botero, CFRE for an in-depth
    workshop to crafting an effective case for funding.
     
    You will learn...
     
    • How to write a compelling "Problem Statement" and a powerful solution
    • Effective storytelling techniques that inspire donors 
    • Tactics to cast the donor as the star of your story 
     
    Monday, July 10, 2017
    6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 
    Location: 200 I (Eye) Street, SE, Multipurpose Room Washington, DC 20003 
    Metro: Navy Yard/Ballpark (Green Line)RSVP via Eventbrite
     

    The Business of the Arts
     
    The Business of the Arts Professional Development Series refers to workshops organized by The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) that aim to provide CAH grantees (past, present, and future) knowledge and skills that will increase capabilities for successful grant writing, networking, advancing cultural democracy, and improving operation sustainability.
     
    For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Kali Wasenko at Kali.Wasenko@dc.gov or (202) 724-1445 by Wednesday, July 5, 2017.
     


    Thursday, June 29, 2017

    The curious saga of Bringing in the Turf by William Conor

    Art Recovery International has announced the successful recovery of an important Irish painting, stolen under mysterious circumstances from a private residence in Belfast in 2008.

    Bringing in the Turf by William Conor
    Bringing in the Turf
    by William Conor is considered among the leading works in the Irish folk art movement, popularised by portrayals of working-class life in Ulster. It was purchased in 1948 by Frank and Turid Malpress and was displayed in their family home for 50 years.

    In 2003, the Malpress family received warning from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) that thieves were known to be operating in their area and that the Malpress collection may be at risk. In an innovative plan, the PSNI arranged for copies of two paintings to be created and installed in place of the originals, acting as bait for potential thieves while the family were away. When no theft was attempted, the originals were replaced and the fakes destroyed.

    In 2008, Turid Malpress, now 95 years old, fell victim to a home-invasion and two artworks were stolen. The thieves left a token sum of money in the family home: a method common to thieves known as ‘knockers’. Mrs Malpress immediately called her grandson and the PSNI to report the crime and complete an incident report. The location of the paintings remained a mystery for 5 years.

    In May 2013, Bringing in the Turf was offered for sale at Whyte's auction house in Dublin and, with no claim to the painting revealed by the saleroom’s due diligence processes, it was sold to a collector based in Chicago, USA.  In August 2013, Robin Thompson, the victim's son-in-law, noticed the sale record for Bringing in the Turf listed on Whyte's website and contacted his insurance company who turned to Art Recovery International to recover the painting.

    Christopher A. Marinello, CEO of Art Recovery International, led recovery efforts by bringing together the saleroom’s owner, Ian Whyte, along with representatives from the PSNI, An Guarda Sionchana and the FBI. Following almost four years of negotiations, Ian Whyte agreed to return the stolen Conor to the Malpress family, over nine years after the theft.

    Christopher A. Marinello said: "The recovery of this painting could not have happened without the extraordinary efforts of FBI Special Agent Luigi Mondini. A member of the FBI's Art Crime Team, Agent Mondini went above and beyond the call of duty to aid two foreign police forces and the Belfast based victims in this extremely complex matter.  This case shows that auction houses need to perform due diligence, not only on the artwork consigned for sale, but on the consignors themselves.  Ian Whyte's eventual cooperation was a welcome turn of events."

    Robin Thompson added, ‘We are absolutely delighted to have ‘Bringing in the Turf’ back in our family over 9 years after the original theft.  This would not have been possible without the professional expertise of Chris Marinello, and his team at Art Recovery International, and their persistence in the matter when all seemed to be lost. We are eternally grateful to them for their supreme efforts.”
     
    The Malpress family are still seeking the other stolen painting by Daniel O'Neil, entitled The Prodigal Son