When a painting hits the mark

In room 5015 at Artomatic there is work by an artist named Michelle Ramos, who is new to me.

There are sometimes confluences of things that happen in the process of producing art, which, depending on what the "thing" is, can result in a disaster or in a work of art that moves from the mundane to the sublime.

In 5015 there is such a work.

In that room we find a work where the artist has accepted one of the most difficult challenges in painting: delivering a work of art using colors that reside on opposite ends of the color wheel.

The usual result of that for most of us is a muddy ending,  where the chemical properties of the paint defeat the best artistic intentions. 

And yet, in this work Ramos has not only seduced the combating primary colors into coming into a gorgeous agreement of sorts, but also delivered what can best be described as a triumph of persistence over logic and an enviable and beautiful work of art that defied all painting logic and ends as a brilliant triumph of the brush!

And it is in the middle area transition point where the magic occurs that allow the two colors, always at war with each other, to marry in artistic triumph.

Well done!

26th Bethesda Row Arts Festival

Get ready for the 26th Bethesda Row Arts Festival, happening on September 7-8, 2024! 

They are thrilled to announce that artist applications are now open. Situated in the vibrant heart of Bethesda, Maryland, the festival spans five bustling blocks and has been hailed as one of the top 30 Fine Art Shows in the country by the "Art Fair Sourcebook.

Expect to engage with 25,000 discerning attendees from the affluent and educated communities of the Washington, DC Metro Area, including Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Upper Northwest. The sphere of influence of the festival extends to a three-mile radius, known for its high average household income of $196,910.

They employ a comprehensive marketing plan that encompasses a wide range of platforms, from a robust social media campaign to traditional print and radio ads. With the support of their PR firm, local chamber of commerce, and urban district, they continually strive to involve the community and reach new potential attendees. Notably, their visibility has been amplified by appearances on NBC, FOX, WTOP (news radio), and WAMU (public radio).

These are the 2024 jurors - click here.

Apply here.

Affordable Art Fair New York City - the last day!

 Sundays are always tough because the lurking end of the fair means the re-packing of all the art, loading the van and the long drive home!

By 6:45PM I was packed and escape from New York had begun! Five long days of hard work behind, lots of artwork stayed behind, but one always wishes for more!

Affordable Art fair NYC Spring 2024 - Day Four

Saturdays are historically the best. There are flood warnings all over the area, but that seemed to drive more people to the fair and we saw large numbers and multiple good sales! Two of Yurdin's large abstracts stayed with a young collector couple!

We also had a visit by DMV ubercollectors Steve and Linda Krensky!

Steve and Linda Krensky chatting with Cory Oberndorfer

I sold several major drawings as well as the never-ending flow of Bisque drawings sales.

The Last Copy of the Constitution 

Sleep is the Cousin of Death

And great crowds!

Affordable Art Fair NYC Spring - Day Three

Friday crowds continued to be very good - and a lot of smaller work is moving well, but still waiting for some of the big sales!

The booth was packed most of the day!

Affordable Art Fair NYC Spring 2024 - Day Two

Throughout the day the crowds have been fantastic - the aisles are packed!

In the early afternoon, we delivered the above Dora Patin private commission! It was delivered to a happy collector... and the crowds remained large throughout the day and evening! A lot of those Bisque drawings continued to fly off the wall!

Affordable Art Fair NYC - Day One

Left the DMV at 4AM and made great time though I-95 all the way to the tunnel, which took over an hour to cross!

Cory Oberndorfer setting up in booth D15 at the Affordable Art Fair NYC 2024 Spring

And then the work of Suzanne Yurdin went up!

Abstract paintings by Suzanne Yurdin at the Affordable Art Fair NYC Spring 2024

And then the amazing prodigy that is Dora Patin went up!

Trompe l'oeil paintings by Dora Patin at the Affordable Art Fair NYC Spring 2024

The "Oberndorfer Wall" in booth D15!

The fair opened at 5PM for VIPs and the press, and the opening night crowds were huge as usual. We sold about 20 of my small Bisque drawings, Oberdorfer had a last minute sale and we also sold the below painting by Dora Patin.

More tomorrow!

Heading to New York! Time for the Affordable Art Fair!

Once again, the van is packed and ready to depart in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday as once again we head to an art fair in New York City.

This time it is the Affordable Art Fair New York - Spring, which is taking place May 20-24 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea.

The gallery is hosting Cory Oberndorfer, Dora Patin, Suzanne Yurdin and yours truly in booth D15.

Fridas

The Incantation of Frida Kahlo - Version One

 

The Incantation of Frida Kahlo - Version Two

The Incantation of Frida Kahlo - Version Three

The Incantation of Frida Kahlo - Version Four

New Art Gallery in Georgetown!

I fondly recall when the Canal Square complex in Georgetown at 1054 31st Street, NW off M street and 31st was home to SEVEN independently owned commercial fine art galleries!

Ready for some GREAT news?

There's new blood trying to re-start the DC gallery art scene there! From GeorgetownDC.com:

Cabada Contemporary (1054 31st St NW, #9) on March 21 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the opening reception for BLOOM – an exhibition co-hosted by the neighboring gallery ArtRobin (1054 31st St NW, #6). Enjoy drinks, light refreshments and conversation with other art enthusiasts. The exhibition features works by acclaimed abstract expressionist artist Javier Cabada and his daughter, figurative artist and gallery owner Sabrina Cabada. The two have not exhibited together in over two decades. Cabada Contemporary will exhibit works by Javier and Sabrina, along with a curated selection of established and emerging local artists. Cabada Contemporary and ArtRobin have united to the form the Galleries at Canal Square and will co-host monthly exhibitions.

BLOOM Opening at Cabada Contemporary

GALLERY RECEPTION: It is our pleasure to invite you to our first opening reception. Join us for an art-filled evening as we  celebrate the unveiling of Cabada Contemporary and the reawakening of the coming season.  BLOOM: A Revival Celebration of Art showcases the vibrant colors of spring. Featuring works by Javier Cabada, Sabrina Cabada and Edward Alan Gross.

Opening Reception:

CABADA CONTEMPORARY 1054 31st Street, NW # 9 Washington, DC    20007

Thursday, March 21st, 2024  6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Artomatic - The 8th Floor

Yesterday I reported for duty at ARTOMATIC, which had been given permission by the City Kommissars to re-open at 6PM. Lots of hard-working people behind the scenes deserve a great THANK YOU!

Cute lady named Kira was on duty greeting all the voluntolds for the 3:30 - 8:30PM Friday shift: Maria, Laila, Martinez, Laurel, Danielle and many others. I lucked out and got floor walker/docent duties on the 8th floor with the nice lady Laila, whom I soon bored with my tales of how nice my cousin's wife Fariba is...

The 8th floor at Artomatic is magical becuse it is wide open, so people can flow from artist to artist without room-gallery feeling of some of the other floors.

8th floor view at Artomatic 2024

As a docent/floor walker, I'm really good at walking, and between 3:30PM to 6PM, which is when the building opened up, I was pretty much alone on the 8th floor, and was able to spend some time with the artwork and installations. I was really taken by Sondra Arkin's kinetic sculpture on one of the 8th floor corners... Sondra wants people to gently experience the sounds of the bamboo... "Bamboo Showers"

Sondra Arkins' Bamboo Showers at Artomatic 2024 - Listen to them below

There are a lot of graffiti artists at Artomatic (as usual), and Luis Rosenfeld stood out to me as one of the better ones whom I've seen over the years! The carefully installed and orchestrated space on the 8th floor testifies to that!

Luis Rosenfeld at Artomatic 2024

Luis Rosenfeld at Artomatic 2024

Like Star Wars and Star Trek, Barbie has been an often common theme at ARTOMATIC since 1999... but as we are now in the era of Barbie the Movie, it is a special treat to award the 2024 ARTOMATIC Barbinator Art Award to Sarah Jane Rodman's super cool 8th floor installation titled "Pink Compass, True North"!

 Pink Compass, True North -  by Sarah Jane Rodman at ARTOMATIC 2024

          

I also discovered that some asswipe/assholish mutants had apparently violated Anthony D'Amico's super intelligent and cool installation, forcing the artist to "tape off" his work's approach area.

 

Anthony D'Amico at Artomatic 2024

What does the Lenster think? I think that Marcos Smyth on the 8th floor has won the "Best Ever Driftwood Sculpture Award" in ARTOMATIC history!

Marcos Smyth - Best Ever Driftwood Sculpture Award at ARTOMATIC 2024

And what can I say but WOW! to the mural by Jeff Huntington? The skill alone leaves me in a state of art flux!

Mural by Jeff Huntington at ARTOMATIC 2024

Almost last but by far not least, is this gorgeous and huge piece by Anthony Maderal! Quite possibly the best Star Trek artwork ever (no idea if this talented artist meant it to be?), but darn if this is not the best BORG cube in artistic history! Sculpture by Antony Maderal is titled "I0I0 - In Our Own Image" - I seriously think that the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities needs to acquire it for the city's public art collection! Can you imagine this gorgeous work of art spinning (where it can't be reached or touched, but seen) at a DC building?

I0I0 - In Our Own Image by Anthony Maderal

I also loved the below sculpture by Dorothy Hickson on the 8th floor at ARTOMATIC. Sort of a cool mix of steam punk with a touch of found objects that deliver danger and macabre... she also had some vagina dentata artwork that was really good!

Dorothy Hickson sculpture at ARTOMATIC 2024

I also quite liked Rashia Sawyer's often erotic somantic photography, whih was also superbly and very professionally presented! Very talented and skilled photographer... and while I am discussing photogs, I also give kudos to Cynthia Herrick!

The 8th floor also hosts several countries' "pavilions"... cough... cough... this is quite "new" for AOM, but a really GREAT step forward! Not sure how they achieved this? Maybe working with the local embassies? This is an area ripe for growth in future Artomatics!

The best Pavilion by far was the Mexican Pavilion, which flexed its muscles in that nation's mythical printmaking scene!.

Mexican artists in the area were all printmakers, and they were all really good!  I especially liked the largest print in the show, a wondrous work titled "El Guardian" (The Guardian) by Daniel Hernandez.

"El Guardian" (The Guardian) by Daniel Hernandez at Artomatic 2024

Other than the Communist slogans, I also really liked the skill in Alev Jaguar's proletariat prints on display. My fave was "Hasta la victoria siempre", which every Cuban knows was a harsh Communist slogan written in blood on the back of Che Guevara's gay men in forced labor camps... I give Jaguar a pass for ignorance, as he/she/them also probably is not aware of what the racist Guevara wrote about Mexicans.

But it is a gorgeous print!

"Hasta la victoria siempre" at AOM 2024 in Mexican Pavilion

There's also a Cuban Pavilion, I assume set up by the Cuban Embassy in the US, since Cuban artists are generally not free to just participate in shows such as Artomatic, and their artwork has to be vetted for international exhibition - if you don't believe me, learn about Cuban artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo Pérez.

There I really liked the technical skill in the drawings of Daniel Madruga, who delivers immensely surreal compositions of fantastical animals.

Drawing by Daniel Madruga

Drawing by Daniel Madruga

Homage to Carmen Herrera

From the art school files: "Homage to Carmen Herrera", c. 1979 and done at Printmaking class at the University of Washington of Art in Seattle. It's a viscosity monoprint... I am pretty sure that at the time I was the only person at the school who knew who Carmen Herrera was, maybe in the entire state of Washington!

HOMAGE TO CARMEN HERRERA
1979 viscosity print by Florencio Lennox Campello

Artomatic on temporary hold!

Michael Janis knows why!

Artomatic, the renowned art show that just opened in the Nation's Capital boasting a kaleidoscope of creativity, abruptly shuttered its doors, leaving attendees puzzled and artists outraged. But what if there was more to this closure than met the eye?

Rumor has it that hidden within the vibrant tapestry of Artomatic lies a secret society known as the Chromatic Illuminati. This clandestine group believes that colors hold immense power over human perception and emotion, capable of influencing society on a grand scale. As artists gathered to showcase their works, the Chromatic Illuminati saw an opportunity to manipulate these forces for their own enigmatic agenda.

According to whispers in the DMV underground art scene, certain pieces featured at Artomatic unknowingly tapped into ancient color codes, revealing truths about the world that the Chromatic Illuminati deemed too dangerous to be exposed. Sensing a threat to their clandestine operations, the society swiftly moved to shut down the event, citing vague "security concerns" to mask their true intentions.

But what were these forbidden truths hidden within the hues of Artomatic? Some speculate that certain artworks contained subliminal messages, unlocking hidden knowledge about government cover-ups or cosmic mysteries. Others believe that certain color combinations emitted frequencies capable of altering consciousness or even bending reality itself.

As conspiracy theorists delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a web of intrigue connecting influential figures in politics, art, and academia. Could it be that the closure of Artomatic was just the beginning of a larger scheme orchestrated by the Chromatic Illuminati to control the very fabric of reality through the manipulation of color?

Bwah ah ah!!!

Opportunities for Artists: 37th Annual Northern National Art Competition

The deadline is this Friday for the 37th Annual Northern National Art Competition in Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin! It has my highest possible recommendation for a juried Art Competition! Details  here.

More than $8,500 in prize money will be awarded, including three $1,000 Awards of Excellence!

Another recommendation for Artomatic

Patricia de Poel Wilberg not only has one of my fave artists' names on the the planet, but the lady is another of the great glass masters of the DMV, which seems to be one the planetarian epicenters for unique takes on creating art with glass.

She's in room 5006 at Artomatic on the 5th floor, and her unique visual take on the subject matter, which she then presents using glass as a substrate is unique and refreshing, and like me, clearly the lady loves to tell nuanced stories.

La Licorne by Patricia de Poel Wilberg at room 5006 in Artomatic 2024

See how the horn extends past the borders of the work? Sheer nuance and genius when put together with the title!

Sold at ARTOMATIC on opening night! Guy sees it, texts it to his cousin in Miami, Florida, cousin calls me, we close the deal and now will head to Miami as soon as AOM closes! Done in 1977 and sold almost 50 years later!

ISLA BALSERA from the Cuba Series - 1977 by Florencio Lennox Campello

Artomatic - Opening Night

Attended AOM's opening night last night - I arrived a bit early in order to walk the 5th floor and begin the process of awarding my usual Artomatic awards and eventually pick my top 10 AOM artists.

The 2100 M Street, NW building is a HUGE Brutalist maze - just the 5th floor took me over two hours and towards the end I was rushing in order to be back in my room in time for the evening crowds to arrive. In my opinion, the amount of visitors was steady and decent for a Friday night opening, but based on the 5th floor alone, a little less than my usual recollection from previous (and much smaller) AOMs, so that perception is probably somewhat flawed from both those factors.

Met loads and loads of artists friends, many of whom I had not seen in years, usually since the pre-Covidian Age and in some cases, decades! I was also told that the Washington Post's freelance galleries' art critic Mark Jenkins had been passing through - good luck trying to write a one column art review of a 1,000+ artists art event - to be fair to Jenkins, the WaPo should send him over to AOM multiple times and have him write a column for each floor!

In a preventive strike, the great Michael O'Sullivan, who used to write about the DC art scene, had a great piece on the history of AOM and also covered this iteration. Read that here.

During the opening ceremonies, I am also told that Mayor Bowser had to be rushed away to safety as:

During her speech at the kickoff for Artomatic 2024 Friday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was abruptly interrupted by a group of activists who jumped onstage, advocating for a cease-fire in Palestine. Among the protesters was local business owner Andy Shalal of Busboys and Poets, who passionately stated, “I have family members being killed in Palestine.”

What the Mayor of DC has to do with "advocating for a cease-fire in Palestine" escapes me, but you reap what you sow. On the one hand, Andy Shallal and the other protesters can go fuck themselves for using an artists' event - who never get any press attention in the District - to bring attention to themselves and their cause... may the bluebird of happiness shit all over your birthday cakes.

On the other (third hand), and a perfect example of the law of unintended consequences, because of the protest and rushing the AOM stage, this Artomatic has already received more press coverage on its opening day that probably all other Artomatics put together! So, thank you Andy Shallal and your gang! Thank you and I hope that they arrested all you fuckers!

Back to the arts... as I noted, I strolled through the 5th floor, which seems to have an unplanned concentration of some of the better-known artists of the DMV, such as Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Michael Janis, Alison Sigethy Patricia de Poel Wilberg, (see a glass pattern here?), Laurel Lukaszewski, Andrew Wodzianski, Shanthi Chandrasekar, Ric Garcia, Steve Wanna, J. Jordan Bruns and others.

Let us start a stroll through the 5th floor then... and from my 5th floor walk through at ARTOMATIC, it's gonna be hard and next to impossible to best Melissa Burley in the Best Steam Punk art category! She's in room 5103 and knocking it out of the ballpark with her gorgeous and entrancing sculptures!

Melissa Burley in room 5103 at Artomatic 2024

There's a 16-year-old artist in room 5045 (Evelyn Johns) whose paintings also caught my eye for the natural painting skills that she's already exhibiting (pun intended) and so far she has earned my Best Young Artist award.

Evelyn Johns in Room 5045 at Artomatic 2024

Like previous Artomatics, there's plenty of bad photography and also plenty of spectacular work!  Possibly some of the most powerful photographs that I have ever seen is in the "Scars" series being exhibited by (new to me) photographer Rahul Saha in Room 5026. See all of them here.  They are not only beautiful photographs of (mostly) beautiful bodies, but also deliver a powerful punch to the solar plexus of the mind's eye!

These were my favorites amongst many superb works:

Holly from the SCAR series by Rahul Shah at Artomatic

Lila from the SCAR series by Rahul Shah at Artomatic

And also just like all other Artomatics, this one is full of Star Wars art, and just like previous AOMs, artists love to combine porn and Star Wars, and so far, leading in the Star Wars Porn category is the artist who goes by Lucky Art Studio in room 5090. Please notice how Chewbacca got a full body shave in this treatment of the Wookie.

Lucky Art Studio in room 5090 at Artomatic 2024

Another category usually overloaded with work is food art, and so far Anna Katalkina is leading the Yummy Art award. These are delicious paintings by clearly a spectacularly skilled artist! She's in room 5087

Anna Katalkina in room 5087 at Artomatic 2024

As by my own assessment, I am the planet's leading expert on Washington area glass art, it is always exciting to me when I discover a new talent, and on the 5th floor, close by the elevators in that central area where all the artists from the Washington Glass School are located, I discovered the work of a young new glass artist named Griffon Dillon whose work was really refreshing and new.

Social Media Art Award - Michele Banks' intelligent approach to the monster inside social media - I don't need to visit the other floors! She's in room 5108.

Michele Banks in room 5108 at Artomatic 2024

Salon Hanging Style Award - Easily won by Joseph Shepperd Rogers in Room 5091.

Joseph Shepperd Rogers in Room 5091 at Artomatic 2024

Best Abstract Action Painting on the 5th floor - Marthe McGrath in room 5011... this is a pending review of other floors award - but certainly worth a visit!

Scariest Pussy Award - This is a tentative award, until I visit all floors, as in the past Andrei Trach has always won this coveted category and I do not know if his work is in this edition of Artomatic. Pending further exploration, so far the award is going to Phyllis Mayes in room 5063!

Phyllis Mayes in room 5063

Best Teddy Bear Noir Award - I'm pretty sure that she invented this new category, but the award is clearly merited by this talented photographer! Victoria Pickering in room 5065!

Victoria Pickering - Teddy Bear Noir

Open Invisible Worlds Award - Gorgeous close up photography by Stuart Diekmeyer in Room 5060. This kind of work is soooo hard to do, and even harder to present in such intelligent manner!

Stuart Diekmeyer Gallery of Photos at Artomatic 2024

Best Presentation of the Subject Matter (Ever!) - Easily won by the intelligent substrate used by J.L. Hussey in presenting the Musicians series in room 5014.

J.L. Hussey - Musicians series in room 5014

Little Walter by J.L. Hussey from the Musicians series in room 5014

Best Ever Interpretation of Picasso's Guernica - Judith Benderson in room 5012.

Best Frida Kahlo (2D) in a floor with lots of Frida Kahlos was a really tough category... on just this floor there are a LOT of art pieces about the Fridanator, including a really good one from a Lebanese artist.  But what really stood out to me was this work by fellow Cubano artist Ric Garcia. And at $75 Samolians, this is clearly one of the best - if not the best! - deal at Artomatic! Buy them now!

Young & Frida V by Ric Garcia in room  5033

Most Fantastical Glass - Alison Sigethy in room 5075 - I've said enough over the years about this amazing master... and yet every time that I see her work, it WOWs me!

Another new award category, and I am pretty sure that this artist is the final winner, as perhaps she is the ONLY artist on the entire planet, maybe even the galaxy, focusing on this subject! In any event, the Best Beaker Art Award goes to Jenn Bock in room 5073!

Beaker artwork by Jenn Bock in room 5073 at ARTOMATIC 2024

Best Poor Sport Award is awarded to Andrew Wodzianski who cheated and awarded it to himself before I could check out his brilliant work in room 5061.

Andrew Wodzianski in room 5061.

Best Mixed Media (Ever) - Another "ever" winner is J. Jordan Bruns, who is one of those fantastic artists who can created really good art is pretty much any genre, and also teach it, and also present it really well... and so on! And yet this series of works always stuns me by their unusual ability to cross around art boundaries and deliver.  The Brunsdinator is in room 5062 and you can connect with him in his great Glen Echo classroom here.

J. Jordan Bruns mixed media work at Artomatic 2024

And all of that was just one floor! Do you now understand why Mark Jenkins' task from the Washington Post is impossible!

More floors later...