Saturday, December 07, 2024

Clarification: What is the "DMV"?

Because I am receiving a lot of emails from interested women artists with regards to the 2025 "Women Artists of the DMV", to my surprise I have learned that I need to clarify what is meant by "DMV", which is somewhat of the local term for the Greater Washington, DC area.

Baltimore is not in the DMV, neither is Richmond, or Charlottesville, or anywhere where (in my definition (since I apparently may have invented the acronym) from the air it is impossible to tell where one street is inside the District and across the street in Maryland or Virginia.

If there's miles of uninhabited freeway between the District and wherever - Baltimore, Annapolis, Richmond, Charlottesville, Staunton, etc., then that is NOT the DMV.

If you live in Mars, but your studio is in DC, Alexandria, Bethesda, Rockville, etc. - then I am willing to accept that you are a DMV artist.

Baltimore: Especially you! Baltimore is a grown-ass city with its own art scene, art galleries, museums, art schools, colleges, etc.; you are NOT part of the DMV.

Baltimore and DMV from space
Baltimore and DMV from space

Quandary: What if an artist spent 40-50 years working and producing art in the DMV, but now has retired and lives somewhere else?  Tough call!

Leave suggestions as comments - I am willing to listen.