Update on Women Artists of the DMV survey show

Update on the Women Artists of the DMV survey show: 

1. We are up to 15 venues, and working on a 16th! Over 400 artists selected so far! Know of an exhibition venue who may be interested? Email me!

2. The deadline to apply is waaaaay past! But, I keep receiving emails and guess what? If/when I find out someone who doesn't live in the DMV - then I replace!

3. Please pass the word to any and all DMV female artists whom you may know!

4. If you know any politicians, businesses,  or anyone willing to sponsor a prize, please contact me directly! I can use some help with this!

5. All details here: https://dcartnews.blogspot.com/2025/01/women-artists-of-dmv-all-that-you-need.html 

6. In my interpretation of their email to me, the Smithsonian Institution believes that female artists should be segregated in women only museums - read this and help!

The artists selected so far are listed below -- if you have emailed me, and I have not responded with a YES or NO, please email me again.  If I have responded and said YES, and you're name is not on the list below, please email me!

Abramson Cathy

Achu Shiri

Alexander Pixie

Alfieri Nicole

Altman Evie

Alzona Esperanza

Andreozzi Maremi

Antognoli Erin

Applequist Courtney

Arkin Sondra

Armstrong Sharon

Autenrieth Patricia

Azzariti Jennifer

Babich Nadya

Baca Patricia

Baker Caroline

Balamaci Suzi

Banks Michele

Banner Marilyn

Barbieri Ann

Bardin Sara 

Barfield Kate

Barker-Barzel Veronica

Barlow Jennifer

Barnes Victoria

Barnes Anne

Barr Tara

Barr Denée

Barsha Carol

Bass Holly

Battle Lisa

Beaudet Jennifer Lynn

Benderson Judith

Bentley Sarah

Birch Karin

Bishop Jennifer

Blankstein Lucy

Bledsoe Virginia

Blom Liliane

Bloom Julia

Boccella Bagin Carolyn

Bohlander Kristin

Bonds Prudence

Boocks Lori

Boozer Margaret

Borchert Vian

Bouie Anne

Brabant Jill

Bramante Kate

Brandt Claire

Breen Laurie

Brito Maria

Brotman Lisa

Brown Goldberg Carol

Bruce Amy

Buck Patricia

Bugash Dianne

Bullock Shante

Burley Melissa

Burrowes Adjoa

Button Linda

Byron Judy

Calamuci Anne

Calisti Denise

Calvin Stephane

Campbell Susan

Canuteson Sue

Carren Rachel

Casqueiro Elizabeth

Chan Amity

Chandrasekar Shanthi

Chang Mei Mei

Chen Hsin-His

Cherubim Anne

Clouthier Irene

Coelho Amanda

Coffey Elizabeth

Collier Bonnie

Cooper Cabe Diane

Cornett Ellen

Cornwell Kathy

Craigie-Marshall Lea

Crider Sheila

Crocetta Jacqui

Cullins Andrea

Curren Beth

Cybyk Andrea

Dames Sabrina

Danzinger Joan

Daryl KayLee

Dastur Delna

Davis Jenny

Davis Tanya

Davis Anna U.

Davison Elizabeth

Dawson Danni

Day Catherine

de Poel Wilberg Patricia

Dekel Limor

Demovidova Anna

Deninno Kristine

Dorantes Marcela Olivia

Dowell Margaret

Droblyen Jen

Durrett Nekisha

Early Mary

Eder Susan

Edwards Cheryl

Edwards Bria

Ellyn Dana

Elsner Rita

Erickson Hyunsuk

Ernst Sarah

Fakes LoGerfo Randa

Farley Ann

Farrell Johnson Cynthia

Federman Cogut Felisa

Feit Covey Rosemary

Ferrier Jodi

Finsen Jill

Fishel Sharon

Flanders Sheila

Fleming Kate

Folkenberg Judy

Fragione Cianne

Frank Barbara

Frank Mary Anella

Frederick Helen

Freestone Jenny

Fussner Emily

Gallegos O'Neill Helena

Gauthiez-Charpentier Marie

Geffem Roxana

Ghim Genie

Gibson-Hunter Claudia (Aziza)

Giganti Kate

Glatfelter Julia

Goldberg Margery

Goldman Susan

Goodman Judy

Goodman Janis

Goslee Patricia

Grand Freya

Granek Graciela

Greenberg Judith

Haden Josephine

Halprin Debra

Hamblett Beatrice

Harrison Elyse

Hasbun Muriel

Hashem Seemeen

Hassan Rania

Hayes Jennifer

Hecht Mira

Hehlen Alexandra

Helowicz Christina

Herman Michelle

Hester Francie

Hickson Dorothy

Hill Lisa

Hill Ellen

Hipschen Pattee

Hirons Jean

Hitchcock Sara

Hokkanen Mirka

Holt Leslie

Horrom Marilyn

Hostetler Susan

Hoysted Jackie

Hull Sarah

Hunter Michal

Ichiuji Melissa

Ilchi Hedieh

Jackson Selena

Jackson Selena

Jackson Jarvis Martha

Jakobsberg    Pauline

Januszkiewicz Barbara

Jarzynski Teresa

Jenkins Carmen

Johnson M. Jane

Jolles Ronni 

Jones Donahoe Wendy

Joyce Sousa

Kallista Jessica

Kanzler Jenny

Karametou Maria

Katalkina Anna

Katz Lori

Kauffman Sally

Kent Trish

King Kristina

King Megan

King Zofie

Klein P D

Klein Lillian

Kouyoumdjian Camille

Kretz Kate

Lago Arthur Suzanne

Lambert Bridget Sue

LaMont Susan

Lawler Linda

Lay Lauren

Le Ngoc

Lee Jun

Lee Kyujin

Leibman Sara 

Lescault Liz

Lesser Harriet

Levin Carol

Lillis Jennifer

Lin Kara

Lin Amy

Linowitz June

Liotta Barbara

Little Kirsty

Litwak Taina

Longbottom Estrada Hannah

Lowenstein Shelley

Lozner Ruth

Lukaszewski Laurel

Luttwak Dalya

MacKinnon Caroline

Maegawa Akemi

Maher Megan

Makara Susan

Malakoff Julia

Manalo Isabel

Mánlapaz Joey

Mann Katherine

Mansuino Michela

Marchand Anne

Marcus Jai

Marshall Lucinda

Marshall BJ

Marshall Wright Carolyn

Martire Isabella

Marx Amy

Massaro Sheryl

Matthews Sarah

Mayorga Carolina

Maza Borkland Elena

McAleer-Keeler Kerry

McCracken J.J.

McCrocklin Sophia

McCullough Donna

McFall Becky

McGrath Dale

McLean Marla

Meagher-Cook Anne

Mercedes Doriane

Michael Maggie

Miele Regina

Militaru Ramona

Milton Monica

Mojica Marily 

Montalbano Michele

Montgomery E.J.

Moody Sharon

Morgan Ally

Morris Meredith

Moser Lida

Mosley-Pasley Camille

Moumin Adrianne

Mueller Lindsay

Mussoff Jody

Mychajluk Delia

Naguib Heidi

Nassikas Georgia

Nelson Katherine

Neway Cheryl

Newmyer Carol

Niehuss Juliette

Niland Rounds Lori

Noble Sarah

Nolan Leslie

Nzinga Terrel  Zsudayka

Oaxaca Teresa

Offen Ronnie

Okropiridze Tea

Older Susan

Olivos Claudia

Olson Martha

Orgen Erica

Osher Marian

Packard Betsy

Parker Nicole

Parker Peggy

Paszkiewicz Cécile

Patin Dora

Peck Judith

Penhoet Kristina

Perdomo Monica

Pérez-Ramos Sandra

Perlman Gura Amy

Pham Anne

Picot Shelley

Ping Shen Pearl

Pinner Robin

Pocen Naan

Poku-Speight Patricia Edwine

Pollan Annette

Pollock Maryanne

Posey Kelly

Prince Sabiyha

Prinsloo Yolanda

Raab Susana

Raedeke Erin

Ravenal Rebecca

Ravenscroft Heather

Rebhan Gail

Reed Felicia

Reed Carol

Renteria Cindy K.

Ress Beverly

RG Ariana

Riccio Marie

Riley Leslie

Ringwald Marie

Rivarde Cindy

Robles-Gordon Amber

Rodman Sarah

Rogers Alla

Rogers Carolyn

Rojas Roxanna

Rosenstein Lisa K.

Rothschild Gayle

Rubin Leah

Rubin Carol

Ryan Christine

Sandell Renee

Sargent Madeleine

Satterlee Catherine

Sausele-Knodt Jeanie

Sausser Nancy

Schaefer Ann

Schindler Meghan

Schmitz Karen

Schwartzberg  Deanna

Segal Adi

Seifert Jan

Sestakova Martina

Sever Lian

Shah Swetah

Shalowitz Susan

Shaw Janathel

Shaw-Clemons Gail

Shelford April

Shelford April

Shows Gloria

Sigethy Alison

Sikorska Elzbieta

Silverthorne Alexandra

Sinel Ellen

Siple Pauline

Sircar Kannika

Slezak Alexandra

Slottow Joan

Smalls Yemonja

Smith Rhonda

Sousa Joyce

Southerland Judy

Springfield Molly

Srinivasan Pritha

Staiger Marsha

Stockton Eve

Stout Renee

Svat Terry

Swenson Dagmar

Szalus Veronica

Tanglewood Sue

Tanno Eleanor

Tasel Ozlem

Theberge Valerie

Thompson Kat

Thorpe Kim

Thorpe Kim

Tooley Jo Ann

Trow Pamela Joy

Underwood Patricia

Uskievitch Christine

Valk Tinam

Van Brakle Jessica

VanderMolen Neway Cheryl

Vasquez Gloria

Vera Rosa Ines

Vess Claudia

Vidales Marite

Viola Pamela

Volkova Elena

Walsh Anastasia

Walsh Lori

Walton Jenny

Warren Gobar Sandra

Way Andrea

Weiss Ellyn

Welch Higgins Mary

Wellman Joyce

Wilkerson Tracy

Wolf-Hubbard Marcie

Wolpoff Sharon

Wood Helen

Wrbican Sue

Yamaguchi Yuriko

Yancy Shawn

Yang Hana

Yurdin Suzanne

Zealand Alex 

Zeller Paula

Ziselberger Barbara

Zughaib Helen

The curious case of the Smithsonian Institution and Anne Helmreich failing at its most basic task

Time to open up... my apologies in advance for the cursing - you can retire the Navy out of a former sailor, but you can never retire the sailor out of a sailor.

In the spirit of open transparency: As most of you know by now, I am now almost finished organizing a monster of a survey show for 2025 with the aim of not only exhibiting a curated, 15-venue exhibition to survey a snap shot of women artists working in the DMV region, and catalog them digitally, but to also leave a digital footprint of their 2025 presence for the future.

That show is "Women Artists of the DMV." More than 400 artists in (so far) 15 major art venues across the capital region!

As part of that process, starting in December 2024 I wrote multiple emails and mailed multiple old-school snail mail letters to offer the Smithsonian Institution the opportunity to archive the exhibition materials as part of a survey snapshot in time for DMV area female artists - at no acquisition cost - FREE!

The materials that I offered to the SI would consist of a flash drive which would contain a Powerpoint presentation documenting all curated female artists and one image per artist - I also made it clear that any digital format could be used as needed/recommended by then.  Additionally, in view of how fast technology ages, I would also include (at no cost) a digital screen device (a digital frame) to “play” the digital presentation as needed in the future.

Throughout January, February, March, and April I was ignored, and in May I blasted a: "Did you get my email?" email to every email address that I could find online from them.

On May 9, 2025, I got this response:

From: AAACollectionReview - AAACollectionReview@si.edu 

To: lenny@lennycampello.com

Copy: Helmrich, Anne L.

Dear Lenny Campello,

    Thank you for your interest in the Archives of American Art. Upon reviewing your inquiry, the Archives is not the proper home for the proposed collection. This decision reflects the ongoing needs, priorities, scope, and resources of the Archives rather than the value of the collection.

We are excited to see the exhibition when it comes together. A more suitable repository for a local survey show and a PowerPoint documenting the artists who submitted might be the National Museum of Women in the Arts, though each institution has their own priorities and archival acquisition strategy. Such records of exhibition submissions can be challenging for archival accessions, particularly regarding rights issues around images as well as preservation concerns around born-digital materials.

Thank you again for reaching out to the Archives of American Art —

The curatorial team

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My translation: You need to segregate an exhibition of female artists with an institution that focuses only on female art, because female artists are not the same as "American artists."

Am I the only one who sees how fucked up this response is?

Clearly they have no idea who they're fucking with, because I suspect that the SI knows zip fuck about the artists - male or female - in their own backyard.

I've written to my Senators (Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks), and also to all the DMV area representatives... so far they've also ignored me. Have not yet written (but will) to Virginia senators Tim Kane and Mark Warner.

And thus: I need your help.

If you (like me) believe that part of the Smithsonian Institution Archives of American Art mandate and job is to fucking archive American art, and that the digital footprint of 400+ female artists working in the Greater Washington, DC is American art that needs to be archived... then PLEASE help me raise a fire in the tuchis of Anne Helmreich, Chris Van Hollen, Angela Alsobrooks, Tim Kane, Mark Warner, and whoever the fuck is the "curatorial team" that wants art by female artists segregated to a museum for just women artists.

Write to them... if they are on your "contacts" list in your cell phone, call them.

Art is art, regardless of the shape of the reproductive part shape of the artist.

Please help... all that I am asking the SI to do is to accept a free gift of a digital archive and keep it for future generations to know what female artists were doing around the DMV in 2025.

Pearl Ping Shen: This lady can paint!

One of the great benefits of curating an art exhibition of the size and magnitude of the Women Artists of the DMV urvey show which I am currently curating.

As part of reviewing hundreds of websites, Instagram feeds, etc., I came across the work of Pearl Ping Shen.

This lady can paint with a gusto and magnitude that is spectacular to behold.  The work below will be showcase at the American University Katzen Arts Center building as part of the multi-venue survey show.

Late Autumn (Large) Watercolor on rice paper 6.8' x 5'

She tells me about this spectacular work:

This self-portrait, crafted for my graduate school years, encapsulates a moment of personal journey as I rode my bicycle to school each day. Executed with Chinese inks and watercolors on rice paper using the detailed Gongbi technique, the artwork reflects a harmonious blend of cultural tradition and personal narrative. The intricate lines and delicate shading capture the rhythm of my daily commute, symbolizing resilience and introspection.

The figure, poised on a folding bike with a basket of art supplies and adorned with dried bulrush, my favorite decorative motif, merges practicality with artistic expression. The patterned skirt and layered clothing evoke the cool air, while the earphones signaling my enjoyment of music add a layer of personal freedom. The bicycle, equipped with tools of my trade, represents not only the balance between my studies and creative identity but also a powerful symbol of independence. Through this piece, I explore themes of transition and self-discovery, rooting my experience in the meticulous beauty of Chinese ink painting to honor my heritage and mark a significant chapter of becoming.

My prediction:  Pearl Ping Shen will be one of the break-out stars of this show - do not miss a visit to the Katzen Arts Center to behold the spectacular presence of this work!

Women Artists of the DMV: Jeanie Sausele-Knodt at Joan Hisaoka Healings Arts Gallery

The amazing women artists listed below will be all exhibiting at the Joan Hisaoka Gallery for the Healing Arts in Washington DC as part of the Women Artists of the DMV survey show - now officially the largest ever curated fine arts show ever staged in the USA!

Banner Marilyn

Calisti Denise

Dorantes Marcela Olivia

Fakes LoGerfo Randa

Ferrier Jodi

Fussner Emily

Goodman Judy

Greenberg Judith

Herman Michelle

Hitchcock Sara

Lee Jun

Lowenstein Shelley

Marcus Jai

Olivos Claudia

Perlman Gura Amy

Prinsloo Yolanda

Riccio Marie

Rothschild Gayle

Sausele-Knodt Jeanie

Schmitz Karen

Schwartzberg  Deanna

Seifert Jan

Sigethy Alison

Sikorska Elzbieta

Slottow Joan

VanderMolen Neway Cheryl

All together there are over 400 artists in 15 venues!

Ceramic Wall Mount, White

12" x 14.5" x 3"  ceramic with encaustic, 2025

photo credit: Gregory Staley

Delna Dastur at Women Artists of the DMV - Katzen

Delna Dastur grew up in Bombay, India. She notest that "life there is loud and crowded, teeming with humanity filling the air with the sound and aroma of constant flux. These memories are embedded in my subconscious and infiltrate my work through a palette that reflects bright, intense color and through patterns decorating the surfaces. The compositions are dense, brimming to the edge with imagery reflecting my thoughts and memories.

My body of work reflects my continuing investigation into the fraught relationship between Humanity and Nature. Some of the imaginary landscapes I create are abstracted from reality through the portrayal of urban consumption of Nature. Others reflect Nature’s victory in the face of adversity. Some of the paintings are filled with lightness and optimism; others are somber and pensive. I want the work to reflect both the seeds of hope and wonder combined with the irreversible damage caused by the brutal and thoughtless destruction of land.

I use materials and ideas to cross pollinate, juxta positioning the old with the new, the East and the West. The work starts with materials from my Indian roots, printing with primitive Indian woodblocks and using handmade Indian paper for collage. The initial layers, embedded within gels and pastes, are covered by acrylic drips and paint connecting them irrevocably. I do not start with any preconceived ideas. The work grows organically, and I let my instincts direct me to its conclusion. I incorporate varied ideas and tools in my painting and drawings, continually reinforcing the overarching theme of conflict between mankind and nature."

The below work will be at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center in Washington, DC, one of the 15 venues hosting the Women Artists of the DMV show.

The Awesome Foundation does not think that Women Artists of the DMV is awesome enough...

My  application to help one of the 15 venues subsidize the costs of staging the show - will apply again!:

Hello June grant applicants!

Thanks for your recent application to the Awesome Foundation DC for all your amazing projects.

Unfortunately, you were not selected for this month's grant. We had many applicants with exciting ideas and inspiring projects that were heavily debated, and it was a tough decision, but the trustees ultimately chose the Karaoke in the Cemetery project as this month's award.

Please feel free to apply again in the future -- we award grants every month -- and best of luck in the future!

Graham & Amanda

-- 

Awesome Foundation DC  //  AwesomeDC.org

Fast-forwarding awesomeness in DC through $1,000 monthly micro-grants with more than $150,000 given locally over the past decade!