Does It Matter If Jimmie Durham, Noted Cherokee Artist, Is Not Actually Cherokee?

Does it also matter that Senator Elizabeth Warren allegedly for decades claimed to be Native-American, only to be busted when she turned to national politics? Or is self-identification enough?

All this dates back to June 26, when a group of ten Cherokee artists, educators, and leaders published a letter to the website of Indian Country Today, just four days after his retrospective opened at the Walker. The group’s letter claimed Durham was “a trickster” who is “falsely claiming to be Cherokee” and went on to state that he “has no Cherokee relatives; he does not live in or spend time in Cherokee communities; he does not participate in dances and does not belong to a ceremonial ground.” In the ensuing weeks and months he was labeled everything from “The Artist Formerly Known As Cherokee” to the “Art World’s Rachel Dolezal,” and the Walker issued the following disclaimer to the webpage and wall credits of their show: 

While Durham self-identifies as Cherokee, he is not recognized by any of the three Cherokee Nations, which as sovereign nations determine their own citizenship. We recognize that there are Cherokee artists and scholars who reject Durham’s claims of Cherokee ancestry.

Read the whole fascinating article in Vulture here. 

New pop-up gallery

Torpedo Factory Artists @ Mosaic, a new art venture by Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association (TFAA), opens on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Mosaic District in Fairfax, Virginia. This pop-up art gallery will feature the work of more than 60 TFAA members over the course of three curated shows. The Mosaic gallery will be open until February 28, 2018. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm, with extended hours for special events and by appointment. A grand opening reception will take place on November 4 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this scammer trying to rip off artists!

From: Love&Peace Books and Stationary Store.  info9842@gmail.com

To: @

Sent: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 8:56:48 AM EDT

Subject: Order.

Good Day,
How is everything with you? I picked interest in your artwork and decided to write you. I will like to know if your artwork can be purchased and shipped internationally?.

I can email the artwork of interest and payment will be completed in full once you confirm my purchase order with a quotation.

Kindly let me know when you are in office and ready to take my artwork order also let me know if you accept either PayPal or Visa Card or Master Card for payment furthermore you can email me your recently updated website or art price list in your response.

Best Regards.

Barney.

Edwin Baker III

Last year we started a tradition of "sponsoring" an artist at the Context Art Miami art fair during Art Basel week in Miami. This year that artist is Edwin Baker III.

Petra Wright Curator / Gallery Director GDCA Galley / Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts wrote eloquently about this young artist's work:

There are people whose light shines so strongly that it precedes them. People who exude love and joy and generosity with every movement and word. Ed Baker is one of those people. Love radiates from him. Ed Baker is a 26 year old painter and sculptor born and raised in South Florida with studios in Downtown Los Angeles and Palm Beach. He is a self-taught artist who first started sketching and tattooing in his teens. After years of tattooing he was inspired to explore painting, now his primary passion. Today, he teaches painting classes to beginners in Los Angeles as well as painting live at festivals such as the annual Beat Swap Meet and Art Walk in Downtown LA and Culture Sundays in Pasadena, CA. Rooted in street art, Ed has found inspiration in artists including Picasso and Basquiat. 

Though Ed’s subject matters and colors can be complex, at times even muted, reflecting the inner struggles we all face, you sense the inner strength that guides him through the darkness of hard times and uncertainty. It is there, like an intangible under-layer amongst his shapes. It reaches through his artwork and connects with you. He hopes to inspire others with similar upbringings and tribulations to channel their inner turmoil and transform the energy of destruction into creation through artistic expression. You may become thoughtful looking at Ed Baker’s work, you may feel energy or conflict or sadness, but never hopeless. Despair is not an option. He is right there to pick you back up to hit you with brightness and life force and messages of transcendence and love.

Energy Flow
36x24 inches. Acrylic on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

At the end of time
24x36 inches. Acrylic on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

Take and manipulate
36x24 inches. Acrylic on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

Starring at blink pages
36x24 inches. Acrylic and spray paint on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

Melt With Me
40x30 inches. Acrylic on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

A penny for your thoughts
30x24 inches. Acrylic on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

Virginia Commission for the Arts: Application Assistance Workshops

Virginia Commission for the Arts Presents Statewide  

Application Assistance Workshops

 

The Virginia Commission for the Arts will present a series of statewide application assistance workshops to be held in November and December 2017. Workshop locations include: Fredericksburg, Richmond, Arlington, Newport News, Emory, Lynchburg, and Harrisonburg.

 

VCA staff will provide an overview of grant programs, including information about the new Online Grant Application System as well as updates to the Guidelines for Funding, application and review procedures, and general tips on preparing competitive proposals in preparation for the March and April 2018 application deadlines.

 

Workshops are free and open to the public; pre-registration is not required. Attendance is not required in order to apply for Commission funding; however, workshops can be helpful for first-time applicants preparing requests for:

• General Operating Support Grants for Arts Organizations
•  Project Grants
•  Local Government Challenge Grants
•  Artists In Education and AIE Express Grants
•  Technical Assistance Grants
•  Touring Assistance for Presenters
•  Applications for inclusion in the Performing Arts Tour Directory and the Artist Roster
• Artist Fellowships

 Participants are encouraged to read theOnline Guidelines for Fundingand preview the Online Application Webinar and Tutorials here: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/grants.html. Those persons requiring the services of an interpreter for the hearing impaired should contact the Commission office at least one week in advance of the workshop.

 

Virginia Commission for the Arts Application Assistance Workshops will be held in the following locations:(Note: for specific directions or details for parking for the workshop you wish to attend, please contact the host sites directly in advance of the meeting day.)

 

Area 4B  Fredericksburg

Tuesday, November 28, 2017; 1pm-3pm

Fredericksburg Public Library  

1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

(540) 372-1144 ext. 7226; http://www.librarypoint.org/fredericksburg

 

Area 5   Richmond 

Tuesday, December 5, 2017; 10am-12noon                  
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Pauley Center Parlor
200 N. Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220

(804) 340-1400; www.vmfa.state.va.us

                                                                                                              

Area 4A   Arlington 

Wednesday, December 6, 2017; 1pm-3pm

Arlington Arts Center             
3550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Metro: Silver & Orange Lines: Virginia Square 
(703) 248-6800; www.arlingtonartscenter.org

 

Area 6 Newport News

Friday, December 8, 2017; 10 am to noon

Peninsula Fine Arts Center

101 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606

(757) 596-817; https://pfac-va.org/

 

Area 2 Lynchburg

Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Academy Center for the Arts
600 Main Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504

(434) 846-8499; www.academycenter.org

 

Area 1  Emory

Wednesday, December 13, 2017; 10 am-12noon

McGlothlin Center for the Arts at Emory & Henry College
30481 Garnand Drive, Emory, VA 24327

(276) 944-6333; www.ehc.edu/mca/

 

Area 3  Harrisonburg

Thursday, December 14, 2017; noon-2pm

The Ice House, Meeting Room 117
127 West Bruce Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
540-568-4696; Parking in the Bruce Street garage, one half block from the Ice House

 

The Virginia Commission for the Arts is the state agency that supports the arts through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Commission distributes grants to arts and other not-for-profit arts organizations, educational institutions, educators, artists, and local governments. For more information about the Virginia Commission for the Arts, visit www.arts.virginia.gov or call (804) 225-3132

Opportunity: Postcards from the Edge

Postcards from the Edge 2018 will be held January 19-21, 2018
at Gallery 524, located at 524 West 26th Street in NYC!
The schedule of events is as follows:
January 19, 6-8 PM - Preview Party
January 20, 10 AM - 6 PM - Benefit Sale
January 21, 12-4 PM - Sunday Special Benefit Sale: Buy 2 Postcards, get 1 FREE! 
Reminder: The postmark Deadline for Artwork is
December 4, 2017

2018 will mark the 20th anniversary of Visual AIDS' benefit art sale and I hope that you will participate and join us at the event!

 

Artists: For complete guidelines, information on mailing artwork, and to download the submission form, visit the Visual AIDS website.

PFTE is one of our most important fundraisers of the year, and its success will allow Visual AIDS to produce important art activism projects in 2018. By participating, artists support their mission, enabling them to produce AIDS-focused contemporary art programs and provide supplies and assistance to artists living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom are unable to continue producing work without such support.

Call for Proposals   site-specific installation | learn more >  We are now accepting proposals for site-specific installations for Harwood Art Center's 2018 Encompass show! Encompass is a unique multi-generational art event that takes place annually in March. Featuring four gallery exhibitions, open studios, collaborative art making projects, live music, food trucks and activities for all ages, Encompass is both a reflection of and an offering to our community. Encompass 2018 will focus on "Dream Spaces," as we think about our hopes and dreams for the future. INVITATION We invite artists to submit proposals for large-scale, site-specific installations for the Harwood front lawn. The installation will be honored at the Encompass 2018 reception on Saturday, March 3. All proposed works should: - Achieve significant visual impact - Contribute to the beauty of the Harwood front lawn - Account for safe and secure construction - Engage visitors at Harwood - Relate to the Encompass 2018 theme of "Dream Spaces" APPLICATIONS ARE DUE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017. Apply >

Rare Photographs of Frida Kahlo

See them here.

Upcoming Free Workshops

The Business of the Arts - Professional Development Series 

Upcoming Free Workshops

Universal Exhibit Design for Artists and Galleries (October 30)

Networking for Artists: Getting Down to Business  (November 13)
 

NOTE: While both sessions will be live streamed, guests are strongly encouraged to attend these highly interactive workshops in person.

 

Universal Design 

Monday, October 30, 2017 

2:00PM - 4:00PM 

Location: 200 I (Eye) Street, SE, Multipurpose Room 

Washington, DC 20003 

Metro: Navy Yard/Ballpark (Green Line) 

Click to Register

Networking for Artists: Getting Down to Business 

Monday, November 13, 2017 

6:00PM - 7:30PM 

Location: 200 I (Eye) Street, SE, Multipurpose Room 

Washington, DC 20003 

Metro: Navy Yard/Ballpark (Green Line) 

Click to Register

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Kali Wasenko at Kali.Wasenko@dc.gov or (202) 724-1445 at least 5 business days prior to the event. 

Call for Exhibition Proposals

Deadline October 31, 2017


The Monterey Peninsula College Art Gallery hosts six exhibits each academic year. Artists are exhibited in pairs, groups and solo.


MPC Art Gallery is reviewing exhibition proposals for exhibits in the 2018 - 2019 academic year.


Open to U.S. residency.


All media. Limit 10 images. $25. entry fee. Deadline October 31, 2017


Email for prospectus. Information (831) 646-3060.


Details: 831-646-3060 OR http://bitly.com/2sL9HXd OR melissarpickford@gmail.com

Frankenstein (Bound)

Deadline: November 30, 2017


CALL FOR ENTRIES | WORK INSPIRED BY THE FRANKENSTEIN NOVEL


A juried selection of images inspired by the classic novel will be published in a newly designed layout for its 200th anniversary. Open to artists working in any media. Selected works compensated. Entry Fee.


Details: http://bitly.com/2uJRIof

The Batman Brooding

New work, just finished! Heading to SOFA Chicago - first a video of the work and then some still images...

The Batman Brooding

Charcoal, conte and appropriated vintage video on paper

24x36, circa 2017 by F. Lennox Campello

The Batman Brooding

Charcoal, conte and appropriated vintage video on paper

24x36, circa 2017 by F. Lennox Campello

The Batman Brooding

Charcoal, conte and appropriated vintage video on paper

24x36, circa 2017 by F. Lennox Campello

The Batman Brooding

Charcoal, conte and appropriated vintage video on paper

24x36, circa 2017 by F. Lennox Campello

Museum Visitors To Match Artworks

One of those projects is “People matching artworks”. Although at first Draschan’s images seem perfectly staged, the secret behind them is actually patience. The photographer enjoys visiting different museums mostly in Paris, Vienna and Berlin where he waits for visitors to suddenly match with a piece of art in a funny way. The result is these humorous and unique pictures of unexpected harmony between people and the artworks they’re facing. It’s usually the outfits that match the art, but there are also people who match with the paintings because of their hair styles and colors, or even beards.

You just gotta see these great photographs! Check them out here. And to see a lot more... visit him on Instagram here.

Image Online – What to Do Against Photo Theft

Author: Sophia Höttinger, Copytrack.com

The photo’s online and now at the danger of being used by anyone for free. Nowadays you have to expect that whenever you upload images online you are making yourself victim of photo theft. At Copytrack we work to change this.

It’s about time that we stop this crazy belief that anything online is free to use and finally hammer the law firmly into the heads of online users. Listen up: Photo theft occurs when anyone downloads images found online and uses them for other purposes, without permission of the rightsholder. Frustratingly, this is still unknown to majority of online users, however Copytrack is keen to educate. Thanks to the growing opportunities created by modern technology, which make stealing images just a click away, together with the lack of knowledge surrounding image rights online photo theft is possible.

Copytrack demand creators to know their rights. Before anything you have to understand your rights. You, as the rightsholder, have to know your rights and what you are able to claim. Copyright law, allows authors of work to have the right to claim damages when their rights have been abused.

Take-Down Request

You can start by personally informing the image abuser about their wrong doings, and request them to delete the image. This method is only recommended when your image has been used for private purposes only. Many – especially private users – are completely unaware of their crime when sharing images, and are dumbfounded when they learn that they have broken the law.

If your politely written email, the claim for deletion of the image are ignored, or the image user uses that image commercially you have to be prepared to legally enforce your rights! The job of a photographer is to take photos- not to enforce the law, ensuring that photos are always used legally. Operators of commercial should have no excuse when sharing images. As established online companies they should be completely clued up on online image laws. They ought to know the common requirements such as, making sure that the author is always named and that licenses are always legally purchased.

Cease & Desist

The legal equivalent to a nicely written email is a cease-and-desist letter that informs the user that legal action can be taken if the image continues to be used. This is a quick and easy tactic to state your rights. A cease-and-desist letter does not have to be sent by a lawyer. However, a lawyer might be recommended to ensure that your letter is affective as certain preconditions have to be met and it can quickly become complicated. It could also cost you at the beginning, but if the reminder is affective, the thief must take over any of the costs.

Post-Licensing

There’s also an option for those who don’t have an issue with others using their images, and just want to make sure that they’re paid for each usage of their work. You can sell a license for the use of your image, after they have started using it, allowing a once image rights abusers to become future customers. This is a great opportunity for you to profit from your work and generate new customers- a win-win situation.

Claim of Damages

You can always claim damages when your offer for a post-license is ignored or you have no intention to post license your work in the first place. There are three different grounds that justify claiming damages:

1. Compensation based on the profit generated the image user gained by the illegal use of the image.
2. Compensation determined by the profits lost by the rightsowner.
3. Compensation based on the original cost of purchasing a license or using official price lists that help determine the price of a license based on the image usage.

Copytrack believe that image users should always be informed of photo theft, regardless whether it’s an email, a cease-and-desist letter or even giving them the opportunity to obtain a post-license. In no situation should image theft be ignored. It does not matter if photography is just your hobby. Only when photographers start to stand up for their right, or point out copyright abuse, can future photo theft be prevented. In a situation where your images are used commercially Copytrack strongly suggest that you take legal action and if necessary claim for damages.

About Copytrack:

Copytrack (www.copytrack.com) was founded in 2015 by Marcus Schmitt and currently employs around 25 people from legal, IT, customer service and finance. The service supports photographers, publishers, image agencies and e-commerce providers. It includes a risk-free search of the global Internet for image and graphics data uploaded by users at Copytrack are found with a hit accuracy of 98 per cent. The customers define if images are used without a license and even determine the amount of subsequent fees supported by an automatic license calculator on the portal. Copytrack is fully responsible for an out-of-court solution in over 140 countries as well as a legal solution in the areas relevant to copyright law. If the image has been successfully licensed, the rights holder receives up to 70 percent of the agreed sum. The pure search function is free of charge.

Call for Proposals

Deadline: November 12, 2017


The Photoworks Gallery 2018 Call For Proposals offers artists locally, nationally, and internationally an opportunity to submit up to 15 images with a proposal for an exhibition.


Solo and group exhibitions considered.  This year they are planning two exhibits, March 2, 2018- April 8, 2018 and July 6- August 12, 2018.


There is no fee for submission, selected artists are responsible for $600 exhibition costs.


Photoworks exhibits have been frequently reviewed by the Washington City Paper and mentioned in the Washington Post.


Glen Echo Park is a vibrant community of artists and attracts a large, eclectic audience.


Please click here for full details.


Photoworks Gallery @ Glen Echo Park
7300 MacArthur Boulevard
Glen Echo, MD
Hours: Saturdays 1-4 PM and Sundays 1-8 PMwww.glenechophotoworks.org
@glenechophotoworks

ARTgineering at Otis Street Arts Project

ARTgineering
Beyond the Obvious 
Curated by Gloria Vasquez Chapa

October 21- November 21, 2017
Opening Reception
and Performance by Erin Devine
Saturday, October 21, 5-8 PM

Art, science, math, meta-physics, et. al., think tank generated work. Explorations not considered previously or frequently. The brain’s elasticity can be stimulated by these observations. Present in this exhibition an assortment of explorations generated by the following artists: Alan Binstock, Chris Bohner, Roger Cutler, Erine Devine, Israel Hernandez Fandiño, Adam Hager, Laura Jamroz, Maria Josephy, Liz Lescault, Jassie Rios, Lisa Rosenstein, Barry Schmetter, and Diane Szczepaniak

In exploration of these themes viewers will have a chance to interact and become part of the exhibition. Below are a few examples of what viewers can expect.

Jassie Rio's installation “A Line Becomes a Cone: An Environment for 11 sq. ft.” the artist creates a real-time, interactive light and sound installation that includes software made from scratch.

Barry Schmetter’s “Perturbance” is an installation that addresses the indirectness of perception and action. The viewer uses an electronic frequency probe in conjunction with a modular synthesizer and video synthesizer to explore the theme of memory, perception and human cognitive processes.

Chris Bohner uses recordings in discarded and reclaimed Mortise locks to provide a small window into the radical political debates raging during the Gilded Era and WWII era.

Steven Jones “French Cut Rib” a coin operated kiddy ride allows the viewer to ride a piece of meat.

Performances:
October 21^st Saturday - Erin Devine at the reception
November 18^th Saturday 6pm – Experimental and Ambient Electronic Music: modular synthesizer performance with TL0741, Dave Vosh, Audio Mace, Geoff Wilt, Tom Davis, and Hovercraft.
 Facebook Event Page
Hours:
Saturdays, Noon-5:00
and
By Appointment M-F

Otis Street Arts Project
3706 Otis Street
Mount Rainier, MD 20712 OtisStreetArts.Org

Top 10 Art Reproductions Sold

Online art distributor overstockArt.com released its 10 top-selling masterpiece artworks for the holiday season, culled from sales data collected by the company over the past 16 years between Black Friday and Christmas Day.


OverstockArt.com provides affordable, hand-painted fine art reproductions of classic and new works of art.

Top 10 Works Sold During Holiday Season:

1. Vincent Van Gogh, "Café Terrace at Night"
2. Claude Monet, "Garden Path at Giverny"
3. Gustav Klimt, "Tree of Life"
4. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, "Luncheon of the Boating Party"
5. Gustav Klimt, "The Kiss"
6. Edgar Degas, "Star Dancer (On Stage)"
7. Justyna Kopania, "Moon"
8. Vincent Van Gogh, "Vase with Poppies Cornflowers Peonies and Chrysanthemums"
9. Vincent Van Gogh, "Branches of an Almond Tree in Blossom"
10. Claude Monet, "The Road to Bas-Breau, Fontainebleau"

500 Women Artists at the NMWA

Five hundred local women artists are expected to gather on October 25 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) for a historic group photograph to be taken by D.C. photographer Kim Johnson in partnership with Los Angeles-based artist Kim Schoenstadt, and co-organized by D.C.-based artist Linn Meyers.


The photograph will be titled Now Be Here #4, DC/MD/VA, and the Now Be Here project website will list each artist in attendance.


Previous Now Be Here gatherings have taken place in Los Angeles, New York City and Miami where, collectively, more than 2,000 women artists participated.    

Artists commissioned to do the Obama portraits!

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery announced yesterday that it has commissioned the museum’s official portraits of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Artist Kehinde Wiley—best known for his vibrant, large-scale paintings of African Americans—will create the portrait of President Obama. Amy Sherald, first-prize winner of the Portrait Gallery’s 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, has been chosen to paint Mrs. Obama. The two portraits will be unveiled at the museum in early 2018 and will be added to the Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection.

“The Portrait Gallery is absolutely delighted that Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald have agreed to create the official portraits of our former President and First Lady,” said Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery. “Both have achieved enormous success as artists, but even more, they make art that reflects the power and potential of portraiture in the 21st century.”

At the end of each presidency, the museum partners with the White House to commission one official portrait of the President and one of his spouse. There are two sets of official portraits: one for the White House and one for the National Portrait Gallery. The museum began to commission Presidents’ portraits with George H.W. Bush.

Gallery 209’s Featured Artist for November is Janet Fox

Janet Fox's textured encaustic and mixed-media art will be featured in Gallery 209’s November show, November 1 - 28, with an opening reception on Friday, November 3 from 6-8 pm. Her abstract or representational art is often inspired by the curious images in dreams. The show will also display works by the Gallery’s eleven other resident artists.

Gallery 209 is in the Artists & Makers Studios 2 along with three other galleries and 50-plus studios of artists and photographers. Located at 12276 Wilkins Ave., Rockville, Md.


Free parking is in the rear.

Artists & Makers Studios 2 will also host its periodic Open Studio weekend on November 4th and 5th, from 12:00-5:00 pm. with over 100 artists participating.  Regular monthly viewing days are Tuesdays through Sundays, noon to 4pm.

For information 301-448-2215 or visit the website: Gallery209art.com and www.gallery209art.com/janet-fox.