“A lot of young people no longer see the trades and skilled manufacturing as a viable career, but I promise you folks can make a lot more potentially with skilled manufacturing or the trades than they might with an art history degree. Now, there’s nothing wrong with an art history degree; I love art history, so I don’t want to get a bunch of e-mails from everybody."Guess what sir, you will get an email from me and also a letter... in fact it is already sent and it says:
- President Barack Obama, 1/30/14
Dear President Obama,
You recently delivered a speech about jobs at the General Electric manufacturing plant in Waukesha, Wisconsin on January 30, 2014, in which you said:
“A lot of young people no longer see the trades and skilled manufacturing as a viable career, but I promise you folks can make a lot more potentially with skilled manufacturing or the trades than they might with an art history degree. Now, there’s nothing wrong with an art history degree; I love art history, so I don’t want to get a bunch of e-mails from everybody.”
Personally, I think that you appreciate the arts and the humanities, although your art acquisition program for the White House is a little lacking. But, in fact, you are the first president in history to begin issuing official White House proclamations observing the month of October as National Arts & Humanities Month. You have also urged the nation to celebrate the arts and humanities in our cities, schools, and homes because you claim to understand the role that they serve in our nation’s history, cultural identity, educational development, and individual creativity.
However, some of what I thought we knew about you and the arts, specifically the role that it plays in the economy, now seems in doubt (based on that speech) and I would like to take this opportunity to inform you about the important role the arts and humanities serve in our nation’s economy as well.
Did you know that according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts, the nonprofit and commercial arts combined produce a remarkable $504 billion in goods and services annually in the United States, representing 3.2 percent of the nation’s economy?
Did any of your advisors tell you that before that disturbing statement in Wisconsin?
Did you know that according to Americans for the Arts, nonprofit arts and culture organizations alone generate $135.2 billion of economic activity every year and support 4.13 million full-time equivalent jobs—including art historians?
4.13 million Mr. President... that's a lot of jobs in this anemic economy.
Did you know that creativity is one of the most important factors in producing innovation, and that according to the Conference Board, 72 percent of employers say creativity is of primary concern when they’re hiring, yet 85 percent of these employers can’t find the creative applicants they seek?The Arts Action Fund has prepared an open letter to the President that brings to his attention the fact that the arts equal jobs too. We all need your help to send a clear and powerful message to the President. I used their open letter to re-craft it into mine.... but it takes a few seconds to send President Obama a rudder check on his attitude on this subject.
President Obama, the arts equal jobs, too. I urge you to meet with arts policy experts to incorporate the arts and culture into your economic strategies and policies to move America forward.
Call me.
Very Respectfully,
Lenny Campello
Mr. Campello,
Thanks for your thoughtful email.
I wanted to let you know that I agree with much of what you wrote--and that you will be seeing more coverage of the arts in Bethesda Magazine starting with the September/October issue. (You will also see some coverage in our upcoming March/April issue.)
I also agree with you about the Best of Bethesda, and we will have at least one arts category in next year's issue.
Thank you again for taking the time to write.
Steve Hull
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
Bethesda Magazine
7768 Woodmont Ave., #204
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-718-7787, ext. 201
www.BethesdaMagazine.com
"The ownership group of Art Miami today confirmed that it has acquired the Downtown Fair for an undisclosed price. The previous fair organizer will not have any involvement or interest in the new fair."
Steve Hull
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
Bethesda Magazine
7768 Woodmont Avenue #204
Bethesda, MD 20814
Dear Mr. Hull,
I've just finished reading the 2014 Best of Bethesda issue, and once again, I am immensely disappointed to see zero coverage or attention for the once thriving Bethesda visual art scene.
Unless one considers "Children's Photographer" or "Food Art Contest at Walter Johnson High School" to be what your editors see as the best of the Bethesda visual art scene, this huge cultural hole in your otherwise gorgeous magazine is unfortunately a trend that I've noticed with the magazine's apathy towards its art galleries, art spaces, art festivals and visual artists.
Not that your readers do much better; in fact, they ignore (or are not aware) of the city's rich visual art scene. But it is a vicious loop: if the magazine ignores the visual art scene, then it is natural for the readers to be mostly unaware of it.
Unfortunately, this is a trend with Bethesda Magazine. In 2013 the closest that your Best of Bethesda issue came to the visual arts was "Best Plating as Art" under the "Food & Restaurants" category.
That's a real stretch on my part, but, hey! food as visual art seems to be a topic of interest to your editors... if only one of them took a peek at "art as art..."
In 2012, not even food made it as visual art.
It was zip for visual art again in 2011.
And also in 2010.
Here's a small slice of what your editors, and because of their apathy towards the visual arts, what your readers are missing:
- The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival is one of the highest ranked outdoor arts festivals in the nation and it is the highest ranked outdoor fine art show in all of Maryland. There are other significant outdoor art festivals in Bethesda Row and in Rockville.
- The Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards (also known as The Trawick Prize in honor of Ms. Carol Trawick, a Bethesda supporter of the arts who sponsors the prize) is a visual art prize produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District that honors artists from Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. The annual juried competition awards $14,000 in prize monies to selected artists and features the work of the finalists in a group exhibition. It has been going on for over a decade and it produces an exhibition that is usually one of the highlights of the Greater DC area visual art calendar.
- The Bethesda Painting Awards is downtown Bethesda's annual juried art competition that exclusively honors painters from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. $14,000 in prize monies are awarded to the top four painters annually. It also produces an exhibition that is again one of the highlights of the Greater DC area visual art calendar.
I wish that I could still also tell you about the thriving Bethesda art gallery scene, but in the last few years most Bethesda art galleries have closed their doors due to lack of sales or local interest. Closed are the physical spaces for Fraser Gallery, once the DC area's largest commercial art gallery. Gone are Orchard Gallery, Neptune Gallery, Discovery Gallery, Orchard Gallery, Heineman-Myers Contemporary and several other galleries. Nonetheless, Waverly Gallery, Strathmore, VisArts and others continue to offer monthly visual art shows that are routinely ignored.
What can Bethesda Magazine do to help to kindle awareness (and thus develop support) for the Bethesda visual art scene and Bethesda artists?
- Two or three visual art stories and/or reviews a year
- Two or three small highlights a year on Bethesda artists (like you do routinely for authors, and doctors, and chefs, etc.).
- In each issue, highlight one piece of art that is being displayed somewhere in Bethesda.
- And for the love of art, include something dealing with the visual arts in your Best of Bethesda issues!
Truly,
F. Lennox Campello
The Waverly Street Gallery members have invited 24 friends to join them in this fifth annual exhibition which is certain to brighten any wintry day for our visitors. As part of the gallery's celebration of its 20th anniversary, there will be an abundance of paintings, sculpture, prints, ceramics, fiber art, blown glass, mixed media, photographs and jewelry by new artists as well as new work by our members.
This is a show we delight in presenting because it always fills the gallery with new energy and new ideas in art. Please come and see what surprises are waiting for you this year.
Benavent's intense acrylics involve the viewer in complex, layered color fields. In Shifting Gears, her trademark color expressionism explores revival, healing, reinvention and change. “Should I go home or someplace new," muses Benavent. And answers: "Step in, I’ll take you. Turn up the music, roll down the windows, forget the road signs. Faster… slower… I don’t have a reverse gear. “
This new collection of works will be her first solo show and will
feature her mixed media sculptures. The opening reception will be held at the Washington Glass School
on January 11, 2014 from 6-8pm. The exhibition will be on view through January
31, 2014 and is free and open to the public.
Audrey Wilson sculptures are a blend of created and altered elements that reflect evolving science and machinery and explore the relationship between man and technology. Technology is merely an extension and reflection of mankind. In fact, no objects contain more human essence than do tools.
WPA is pleased to announce a preview exhibition of SELECT 2014 works chosen by curator Mera Rubell, Co-Founder of the Rubell Family Collection, during her 36 hour studio visit marathon.
I did a drawing of Marianne Boesky when I was in art school... or somewhere along my artistic timeline, as she is a very impressive-looking person.... I should try to find it and send it to her.... cough, cough...Baltimore Artists + WPA + Mera Rubell = LOVE is an exhibition featuring the 25 works chosen by Ms. Rubell to be included in WPA's SELECT 2014 Art Auction Exhibition. The works included in Baltimore Artists + WPA + Mera Rubell = LOVE will be on view February 27 through March 21, 2014 at Artisphere along with almost 100 works selected by other participating curators. All works will be available for purchase via proxy or at the SELECT 2014 gala on March 22, 2014. Proceeds from the sale of artwork are shared equally between WPA and the artist and support WPA's free exhibitions, programs, and support services for artists year round.
This new collection of works will be her first solo show and will
feature her mixed media sculptures. The opening reception will be held at the Washington Glass School
on January 11, 2014 from 6-8pm. The exhibition will be on view through January
31, 2014 and is free and open to the public.Audrey Wilson sculptures are a blend of created and altered elements that reflect evolving science and machinery and explore the relationship between man and technology. Technology is merely an extension and reflection of mankind. In fact, no objects contain more human essence than do tools.
