2012 ====> 2013

What a great year (for me anyway) this was... easily the best "art" year ever, with the most art sales, including sales to not one but two collectors in the Top 100 Art Collectors List, plus an offer of my first ever museum show, plus my best art fair ever, plus continuing and steady sales of my book (look for a couple more to come out next year)...

But by far the best thing about 2012 was my wonderful family, and it is from all of us that I wish all of you a terrific 2013!

See ya there!

Just saying...

Torpedo Factory Opportunities

2013 Visiting Artist Program & 2013 Annual Jury 2013 Visiting Artist Program: June - August 2013 Call for Applicants opens January 10, 2013 Deadline: February 10, 2013 Emerging and experienced artists are encouraged to apply for residencies of one, two, or three months at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (June-August 2013). Visiting Artists are provided with workspace and are able to display and sell original work. Juror: Maria Karametou Learn more about the Visiting Artist Program > 2013 Annual Jury for Artist Members: March 18-21, 2013 Information Sessions: Sunday, January 20, 2013, 2-3PM in Studio 31 Sunday, February 24, 2013, 2-3PM in Studio 31 Drop-off Date: Monday, March 18, 2013, 9AM - 6PM Artists working in fine arts and fine crafts are eligible to apply for the Torpedo Factory Art Center's Annual Jury for new members. Upon selection, the associate artist member is eligible to sublease from resident artists and work toward joining a studio in the future. Ask questions and learn about the jurying process and its benefits by attending one of two information sessions scheduled for Sunday, January 20 and Sunday, February 24. Learn more about the Annual Jury Process >

Drew Storm Graham

(Via) The DC-area knows that Strathmore Hall houses the incredible Baltimore Symphony, but Strathmore is not just for the performing arts anymore - Strathmore features fine visual arts. The organization is in its second season of its Fine AIR program, where the center cultivates local visual arts talent by pairing emerging artists with established professionals in the community in its Fine Artist in Residence (Fine AIR) program and exhibition. Fine AIR residencies last six months, during which time participants expand their craft, build their audience, create a curatorial proposal, solidify their artistic voice and, ultimately, premiere a new body of work commissioned by Strathmore.

"Twisted" Drew Storm Graham

2012-2013 Strathmore class of fine artist-in-residence Drew Storm Graham expands his knowledge of artwork media by working in glass at the Washington Glass School.

Multidisciplinary artist Drew Graham's artwork references imagery steeped in the counter cultures of tattoo and graffiti art. Normally working with airbrushed laminated wood veneers,  under the mentorship of writer and artist F. Lennox Campello, Drew has been exploring new artistic possibilities. 

Drew Graham begins sifting crushed glass powder onto panels of glass for color samples.

Color, texture, patterns, sequence and how depth can be achieved are the goals of the glass workshop.

The culminating Fine Artists in Residence Exhibition  will be on view in the Mansion at Strathmore beginning August 31, 2013.

About Strathmore

Strathmore presents and produces exemplary visual and performing arts programs for diverse audiences; creates dynamic arts education experiences; and nurtures creative ideas and conversations that advance the future of the arts. The hallmark of the arts center is the Music Center at Strathmore, a 1,976-seat concert hall and education complex. The Music Center at Strathmore, located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane in North Bethesda, MD, is immediately adjacent to the Grosvenor-Strathmore station on Metro’s Red Line. For more information, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.

Go vote

Trust me... you want to vote; Details here.

Go enter something...

April 1, 2013 THE ARTIST'S MAGAZINE 30th ANNUAL ART COMPETITION More
than $25,000 in cash prizes will be awarded, and Top Award Winners
will be featured in the December 2013 issue of The Artist's Magazine!
All winners will also appear in a special online gallery. There are 5
categories for you to compete and win. Plus, there's a Special
Student/Beginner Division for new artists. Entry fee. For details and
to enter: Entry Page OR art-competition@fwmedia.com

December 31, 2012 SEEKING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN PAINTING UCR Assist
Prof in Painting beginning 7/1/2013. Artist in painting and
drawing. Salary commens. w/ ed. & exp. Applications incl. cover
letter, CV, state. teaching phil, rep. of prod. & 3 ref. letters in
PDF emailed to Painting Search, Art Department, UCR. Appl review
begins 1/8/2013 until filled. The University of California, Riverside
is an EEO/AA Employer. Details/email for Application:
http://www.art.ucr.edu/employment/index.html OR ArtAPLF@ucr.edu

January 5, 2013 PUBLICATION COVER AND CONTENT COMPETITION Art & Beyond
Publications holds Cover and Content Competition with up to $4000 in
awards. Entry fee. Details:
http://www.artandbeyondpublications.com/art-beyond-magazine-content-competition
OR mryk@art-beyond.com

December 28, 2012 16th INTERNATIONAL JURIED SCULPTURE COMPETITION
Exhibition: May 1st, 2013 to October 1st, 2013. The exhibition is
located in North America's first and foremost international Peace Park
established in 1921. Peace Arch International Park (border crossing)
is the Western United States' International Gateway between Vancouver,
BC, Canada & Seattle, Washington. Stipend $200. No entry fee. Details:
http://www.peacearchpark.org/callforentries.htm

December 28, 2012 MYSTERY BUILD $15K ART CONTEST $15,000 in cash
awards. Create a work of art using ONLY the materials provided in a
Mystery Build Kit, without knowing what's inside! Submit photos or
videos of what you make to compete for cash. Deadline for entry is
October 20, 2013. The 5 lb. kits are 12" x 9" x 3" and contain a wide
variety of materials. $36 entry fee includes materials kit. Details:
http://www.mysterybuild.com OR info@mysterybuild.com

January 4, 2013 LACDA "SNAP TO GRID" OPEN CALL Every entry shown! The
Los Angeles Center for Digital Art seeks artists for an un-juried
international exhibit featuring digital art and photography, Jan 10,
2013 - Feb 2, 2013. All entries will be printed (8.5"x11" on
heavyweight paper) and shown in the gallery arranged in a
grid. Entrants submit JPEG files of original work. Exhibit is limited
to space available, early entry is advised. Entry fee. Details:
http://lacda.com/juried/juriedshow.html

January 7, 2013 10th INTERNATIONAL CALL TO ARTISTS A total of $3,000
in awards for the 10th annual outdoor art exhibit celebrating
diversity to be displayed during April - May 2013, in Sarasota, FL. 38
artists will be selected for the exhibit. No entry fee. Details:
http://www.embracingourdifferences.org

January 15, 2013 MIDWEST ARTIST RESIDENCY The Anderson Center, one of
the premier artist communities in the Midwest, is current accepting
applications for the May - October 2013 residency period. The
residency includes room, board, studio space for visual artists and
the chance to collaborate with other artists. Application
fee. Details: http://andersoncenter.org

January 16, 2013 TEXAS & NEIGHBORS REGIONAL 5-STATE ART COMPETITION
Open to any artist over the age of 18 residing in Texas, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. More than $8,000 in cash prizes will
be awarded in 4 categories for you to compete and win. Over 80
selected artists exhibit at the Irving Arts Center and online
gallery. Deadline for entry is February 5, 2013. Entry fee. Details:
http://www.texasandneighbors.com OR info@texasandneighbors.com

January 23, 2013 INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR STORIES MEMORIES & HISTORIES
PHOTOGRAPHY Explore these themes through personal, familial, cultural
and/or universal imagery. This gallery and online exhibition is juried
by Regina Anzenberger. $750 in cash prizes offered as well as
sponsored awards. Entry fee. Details: 970-224-1010 OR
http://www.c4fap.org/cfe/2013Stories OR coordinator@c4fap.org

January 29, 2013 ARTISTS WANTED : SHOWCASE YOUR WORK IN TIMES SQUARE A
Special Invitation to Join a Global Community of Over Half a Million
Creators. You are invited to celebrate your creative passion with an
international community of over half a million members on See.Me. To
inaugurate our global launch, we're offering over $125,000 in awards
to inspired creators like you. No entry fee. Details:
http://www.see.me/art?f=sm01_adl1 OR hello@see.me

February 1, 2013 INTERNATIONAL JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW Winners will
receive a total of $2,500 in cash awards and winners and juror's
selections will be presented in a group show at the 69 Leonard Gallery
in the SOHO art district in New York City and an online gallery on the
NYC4PA website with the Grand Prize winning image being posted on the
NYC4PA home page. In addition, an exhibition catalog of the group show
will be available and the gallery show will be listed and reviewed in
a NYC Gallery magazine. Entry fee. Details:
http://www.nyc4pa.com/#!winter-2012

February 28, 2013 St JOHN'S COLLEGE NATIONAL JURIED SMALL WORKS
EXHIBITION Less is More: Small Works in a Great Space. Accepting
entries in all media. $2,000 CASH AWARDS. Jurors: Joann G. Moser,
Smithsonian American Art Museum, and Jack Rasmussen, Katzen Arts
Center at American University, Washington, D.C. Online sales
gallery. Open to artists living in the USA and Puerto Rico. Entry
fee. Details: http://themitchellgallery.org/prospectus.php

February 28, 2013 CALL FOR ART BIOLOGIC A thematic exhibition based on
art inspired by the biologic and natural world. Entry is limited to
biologic and nature based artwork and is open to all interpretations
of theme as it applies to landscape, fruits, vegetables, flowers and
fauna; and to human figuration as part of the biological world. The
exhibition will be held at the Limner Gallery, May 18 - June 15,
2013. Entry is open to all artists working in any media. National
magazine publication awards. Entry fee. Details/questions: Limner
Gallery, 123 Warren St, Hudson NY 12534 OR
http://www.slowart.com/prospectus/bio.htm OR slowart@aol.com

March 31, 2013 INTERNATIONAL DIRECT ART MAGAZINE COMPETITION The
Annual International Competition for $26,000 in publication awards in
Volume 20 of Direct Art Magazine, Fall/Winter 2013 issue. Direct Art
has both print and online editions. The print edition has several
distributors, including COMAG Marketing Group, the distributors of Art
News and Art in America. Direct Art can be found in bookstores across
the USA, including Barnes and Noble. The competition is open to all
artists working in any media. The twenty two awards include the covers
of magazine, feature articles and full page displays. Entry
fee. Details/questions: SlowArt Productions, 123 Warren St, Hudson NY
12534 OR http://www.slowart.com/prospectus/spring.htm OR
slowart@aol.com

ARTIST-OF-THE-DAY GALLERY SEEKS SUBMISSIONS Guidelines for submissions
can be found at:
http://artdeadlineslist.com/aotd/submission.guidelines

EROTIC ART GALLERY SEEKS SUBMISSIONS Guidelines for submissions can be
found at: http://artdeadlineslist.com/eag/submission.guidelines

Best Xmas present ever!

Feliz Navidad!

"Family Tree," oil on linen, 24x36 inches by David FeBland

Nervous fish?

We often get together with my wife's family at Hinode Sushi in Rockville, a hidden gem of a Japanese restaurant in Rockville.

One of my nephews is very much into aquariums and pet fish, etc. and next to Hinode is a pet shop with a lot of fish to choose from... anyway, my nephew usually wonders into the pet shop, buys a fish, they put it in a plastic bag filled with water, and then my nephew walks back to Hinode, and eventually we all go our respective ways.

I've often wondered if the fish, elated to be "rescued" from the boredom of the tank in the pet shop, is all excited that someone has finally bought it, and is looking forward to a new place to swim... and then is walked into a sushi shop.

Does the fish think: "oh, oh... crap!"

Campello men

That's three generations of Campello men... Left to right: one blue-eyed, one very light grey-eyed, and one brown-eyed - how's that for throwing genetics to the wind?

World will not end without a fight!

Just in case you were wondering... I'm in the middle of a gigantic struggle fighting the dark side in an epic fight to save the world today!

Battle is still going on, but so far nothing is looking shimmery, like Marty McFly does every time that he's about to be eliminated from the future when he's in the past.

Struggle on!

Score one for the Mayans

Since tomorrow is the end of the world, I'm gonna be saving big bucks, because the day after tomorrow is my wife's birthday, and since tomorrow is the end of the world... do you see my logic?

Of course, no one wants the world to end, except maybe those mutant Ayatollahs in Iran, but there's that whole "present-buying" angle to work...

Hirst leaving his dealer...

But “these superstar artists are self-propelled machines,” said Tobias Meyer, director of Sotheby’s contemporary art department worldwide and its principal auctioneer. “Just as actors left their studios in the 1950s, artists have become bigger stars than their galleries. The world is their oyster, and they know it.”

Read the NYT story here.

When modern art baffles

"If you've ever stared at a piece of modern art and felt you just didn't "get it," you're probably among the majority.

The Smithsonian is trying to change that. The American Art Museum has begun hosting discussions aimed at helping museum-goers grasp the meaning behind some of the museum's more enigmatic works."

Read the whole story by WTOP's Madeline Tallman here.

Wake effect continues

Remember me harping about the "wake effect" of art fairs?

Review: The "wake effect" is akin to the wake that a ship leaves behind as it sails through the water. In artfairese, it is what happens (sales, contacts, articles, etc.) after an art fair is over.

Since Aqua ended, we've closed a deal for four 30x40 photographs by the amazing Dulce Pinzon - all to be sent to a major private collection in NYC which although "private" is open to the public.

And ballsy Cuban photog Cirenaica Moreira will be the focus of a profile article in VOGUE magazine.

And yours truly has been offered his first museum solo!

Yay!

Blake Gopnik Laid Off at Newsweek

Former WaPo art critic Blake Gopnik, who escaped the sinking ship known as the WaPo's Style Section for Tina Brown's nearly submerged Newsweek, has been fired ; according to NY Magazine:

Also leaving Newsweek/The Daily Beast amid substantial layoffs is art and design critic Blake Gopnik, he confirmed to Daily Intel. Gopnik joined Tina Brown's magazine from the Washington Post in 2010, along with Robin Givhan, the first and only fashion writer to win a Pulitzer Prize. Givhan was let go in the downsizing as the company kills its print edition. "It's been a wild ride, and a strange one," Gopnik said.

Before he left, the Blakester had this great article on the coming explosion of the art market bubble... I sorta agree with him. Read that here.

Yoga

In this work, the digital imagery completes the narrative of the visual image. 

We see the woman’s mind begin the effort to clear the mind of all things and achieve the perfect state of a blank mind. 

Her struggles are followed through the digital imagery of food, drinks, candy, space, Mr. Spock and other images before settling on a perfectly blank mind. 

Furthermore, the buyer of this piece has the option to request to have me add some specific “distracting” digital images to the piece, if so desired, and thus become a “contributor” to the work.

Yoga

Charcoal and Conte on Paper with Embedded Electronics

© 2012 F. Lennox Campello

 

Newtown

FROM OUR CHAIR, JUDITH TERRA AND  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LIONELL THOMAS  on behalf of the entire staff...    As our nation returns to its week of work and plans for the upcoming holidays, the hearts and minds of all of us remain with the community in Newtown, Connecticut.  In the arts, the process of creation, separation and renewal is a continued reminder of the majesty of this life and of its, at times, fleeting and, at other times, uncontrolled nature.  Our songs, images, dances and writings, now and in the future, will have moments of either sadness or joy but will always contain our story and shared history. In this way, the arts will always honor the community that so suffered this past weekend and in this way will so participate in its healing and future.  We join in the shared expression of grief through the United States and will hold the same solemn promise to never forget in the unique and singular way that only the arts can do.

Opportunity for Artists

BlackRock Center for the Arts Call to Artists 2014
BlackRock Center For the Arts is accepting entries for exhibits January - December 2014. You can download the prospectus by clicking the link to the right or go to www.blackrockcenter.org Deadline:  Friday, December 21, 2012 Entry Fee: $35 check or money order made payable to BlackRock Center for the Arts Eligibility: Open to all artists 18 years and over residing in  Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC.  Special Consideration: Artists who are willing to conduct a lecture or workshop for a BlackRock standard fee will receive special consideration during the selection process.     About the Gallery BlackRock Center for the Arts gallery is 1500 square feet of gallery space.  Its high white walls and beautiful windows allows in just the right amount of natural light. We take pride in the outstanding artists we have exhibited over the years, which have been reviewed by Claudia Rousseau, Lenny Campello, and other art critics in the area. Eligibility The Call to Artists is open to all artists residing in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC over the age of 18 for original artwork only. All work must be ready for sale and to be presented in a professional manner to the public at the time of delivery. (See Terms for Exhibit for details.) Pedestals are available for three-dimensional work. Selection Process This call will cover exhibits in the Gallery from January to December 2014. An exhibit may include one applicant or a combination of applicants, based on the judgment of jurors (i.e., 1 or 2 wall artists may be combined with a pedestal artist). A jury will select the artists and create eight exhibits to be included in the exhibit year. This season, the jury panel is comprised of Lenny Campello (artist, writer, blogger), Marsha Staiger (artist, Torpedo Factory), and Tim Tate (artist, Washington Glass School). In addition, the panel will have an alternate juror, Krista Bradley (Executive Director of BlackRock).	CLICK HERE FOR PROSPECTUS Send to: BlackRock Center for the Arts Call to Artist 12901 Town Commons Drive Germantown, MD 20874 Questions? Contact: Kim Marshall Gallery Manager kmarshall@blackrockcenter.org All correspondance by e-mail, no phone calls please.

Zero Dark Thirty

As I've noted before, I am not really sure why I continue to get passes to many press previews of movies, but every once in a while, I do have the time and interest to go see one ahead of time and I saw Zero Dark Thirty and came away entertained, but as usual disappointed as to how Hollywood distorts historical events in order to make a film... ahhh... entertaining.

My basic issue with Zero Dark Thirty, and almost every single Hollywood movie allegedly representing a historical event, is that I am a pedantic Virgo, who tends to over notice little "wrong" things about celluloid history... little things such as a military ribbon out of place, an uncovered salute from a sailor, a wrong line.

To start, the very start of the movie is made up and never happened. But even before the start of the movie I have an issue.

"How can you have an issue before the movie starts, Lenster? ", you ask.

The title is wrong.

No one in the military says "Zero Dark Thirty."  The statement used to depict a very early hour in the day is "O Dark Thirty" -- "O" as in the letter; not "Zero" -- and I understand that this may confuse some folks who never served, but if I'm going to be pedantic, then I might as well start with an erroneous title.

Back to the start of the movie.

There were only three people terrorists who were water boarded by the CIA in their effort to gather intelligence from the bad guys (and thousands of US military people as part of the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) school - at least when I was in, being water boarded was part of the school curriculum); the dude being water boarded in the movie was not one of them, so why make that up?

That's two strikes already, and we're not even finished the first few minutes of the film, but Hollywood has already seeded suspicion about nearly everything that follows and that bugs the pedantic me.

The vast left wing nut house is going bananas over this film because it thinks that it is too flattering to the CIA, to the US Government, to whatever... they also rightly complain about perceived historical inaccuracies (although I didn't recall any such complaints on equally intellectually dishonest efforts such as Oliver Stone's "W" or Michael Moore's pick any documentary).

As a work of historical fiction, the film was splendid in its entertainment factor... and Hollywood will tell you that it is a "film and not a documentary." The problem is that a lot more people will see this film, and take it for a full, true story, than will ever read the actual facts about the OBL hunt.