Fernando Botero Became Famous Despite the Art World’s Scorn

Botero may be an international, populist favorite, but most North American critics won’t give him the time of day.

Read a really cool article by Scott Indrisek here.

Calling all local printmakers!

Printmaking Coffee and Fellowship
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center

June 21, 3-5PM

Calling all local printmakers! The Katzen invites you to the museum for coffee, fellowship, and networking. Meet printmakers from across the DMV and view our two ongoing printmaking exhibitions! Please let us know if you plan to attend by RSVPing here. 

Solo show!

By now I've told you a few times: I'll be having an (unexpected) solo show of new work at the Stone Tower Gallery in Glen Echo Park in Maryland! 

Opening is July 5th, 6-8PM!

Just finished this little piece, about 14 inches in diameter - "Supergirl Flying Naked", charcoal on unfired Bisque... from my "Obsessive Drawings" series.

"Supergirl Flying Naked", charcoal on unfired Bisque, 14 inches circumference, c. 2019

Gottlieb Emergency Grant Program

Deadline: rolling basis

This emergency grant provides financial assistance to painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation.

Apply here.

Can fine art be funny?

Big News: I'll be having an (unexpected) solo show of new work at the Stone Tower Gallery in Glen Echo Park in Maryland! 

Opening is July 5th, 6-8PM!

Just finished this little piece, about 3x2x1 inches - "An unmarried man begging his cat for forgiveness", charcoal on unfired broken Bisque...

"An unmarried man begging his cat for forgiveness", charcoal on unfired Bisque...

Solo show coming in July!

Big News: I'll be having an (unexpected) solo show of new work at the Stone Tower Gallery in Glen Echo Park in Maryland! 

Opening is July 5th, 6-8PM!

Just finished this little piece, about 2x3x1 inches - "An Unmarried Woman", charcoal on unfired Bisque...

 "An Unmarried Woman", charcoal on unfired Bisque, 2x3x1 inches, c. 2019

Grand daughter #1: Mila Audrey

Mila Audrey Tarasova Campello
Newborn photos done by Lauren Cross Photography
(Red hair courtesy of her maternal grandmother... I think)

Calling all local printmakers!

Printmaking Coffee and Fellowship
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center

June 21, 3-5PM

Calling all local printmakers! The Katzen invites you to the museum for coffee, fellowship, and networking. Meet printmakers from across the DMV and view our two ongoing printmaking exhibitions! Please let us know if you plan to attend by RSVPing here. 

Go to this today

Should art offend? Does it matter if people are offended? Should offensive art be displayed? Should it be censored? Who decides what is offensive or appropriate? Join us to hear a discussion of these questions and more.

A discussion panel featuring Philip Kennicott, Chief Art and Architecture Critic, the Washington Post; Janis Goodman, Panelist, WETA Around Town, Associate Professor of Fine Arts, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, George Washington University; Lenny Campello, Author, Daily Campello Art News; and Jason Kuznicki, Research Fellow, Cato Institute and Editor, Cato Books; moderated by Caleb O. Brown, Cato Daily Podcast host, Director of Multimedia, Cato Institute.

REGISTER HERE

May 22, 2019 
6:30PM to 8:00PM EDT

Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20001-5403

Phone (202) 842 0200

Come to this seminar today!

Should art offend? Does it matter if people are offended? Should offensive art be displayed? Should it be censored? 

Who decides what is offensive or appropriate? Join us to hear a discussion of these questions and more.

A discussion panel featuring Philip Kennicott, Chief Art and Architecture Critic, the Washington Post; Janis Goodman, Panelist, WETA Around Town, Associate Professor of Fine Arts, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, George Washington University; Lenny Campello, Author, Daily Campello Art News; and Jason Kuznicki, Research Fellow, Cato Institute and Editor, Cato Books; moderated by Caleb O. Brown, Cato Daily Podcast host, Director of Multimedia, Cato Institute.

REGISTER HERE

May 22, 2019 
6:30PM to 8:00PM EDT

Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20001-5403

Phone (202) 842 0200

Residency in Portugal

ARTERRARESIDENCIAS | CALL FOR ARTISTS AND PROJECTS 2019

They accept application from artists who work in all disciplines and at any stages of their career. The residency program hosts multidisciplinary artists from all over the world since 2010. 

ARTErra is placed in a green beautiful village between mountains in central/north Portugal. 

No Entry Fee. 

Details: http://bitly.com/1OXhNPg OR arterra.geral@gmail.com

Tomorrow at the Cato Institute

Should art offend? Does it matter if people are offended? Should offensive art be displayed? Should it be censored? Who decides what is offensive or appropriate? Join us to hear a discussion of these questions and more.

A discussion panel featuring Philip Kennicott, Chief Art and Architecture Critic, the Washington Post; Janis Goodman, Panelist, WETA Around Town, Associate Professor of Fine Arts, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, George Washington University; Lenny Campello, Author, Daily Campello Art News; and Jason Kuznicki, Research Fellow, Cato Institute and Editor, Cato Books; moderated by Caleb O. Brown, Cato Daily Podcast host, Director of Multimedia, Cato Institute.

REGISTER HERE

May 22, 2019 
6:30PM to 8:00PM EDT

Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20001-5403

Phone (202) 842 0200

Pencil this in: Lecture: Art with a Twist

Sunday, October 13, 2pm.

Lecture: Art with a Twist

Montpelier Art Center

9652 Muirkirk Rd

Laurel, MD 20708

Join me as I take a fun walk through art history that culminates in contemporary art where I will discuss the work of some DC area artists and our regional art scene, and answer questions.

Lecture is free and open to the public.

Vanessa Campello Strasser

More charcoal on broken unfired Bisque... this is my firstborn Vanessa Campello Strasser...

Vanessa Campello Strasser

Elise Tarasova

More charcoal and conte with a little color pencils on unfired Bisque... this is my second born: Elise Tarasova nee Campello... about 3 inches by 3 inches...

Boot camp for artists scheduled!

Boot Camp for Artists

Saturday, November 2nd, 10am-4pm , in the John Addison Concert Hall of Harmony Hall

Harmony Hall Arts Center presents Mr. Lenny Campello’s seminar, “The Artists’ Boot Camp”, open to all Prince George’s County artists, 16 and up.  Mr. Campello is the Greater Washington D.C. area’s pre-eminent art dealer, critic, consultant and blogger as well as artist. He designed his seminar to deliver information, data and proven tactics to artists, and to allow them to develop and sustain a career in the fine arts. Some of the topics that he will cover are, creating a resume, creating a body of work, selling your art, juried shows and news releases, just to name a few. 

The seminar is free and lunch is included. Seating is limited so please call 301.446.3251 or email stuart.diekmeyer@pgparks.com to register and provide lunch preference.

Deadline is by 5pm, October 25th, but this seminar usually books very quickly, so I'd recommend that you RSVP as soon as possible!

Harmony Hall
10701 Livingston Road 
Fort Washington, MD 20744

Solo show coming up in July!

I have a big announcement to make: I have a solo show coming up this July - more details later... but meanwhile, here are a couple of graphite drawings on broken, unfired Bisque... the subject is Little Junes...

Boot Camp for Artists Scheduled!

The Artists’ Boot Camp

Saturday, November 2nd, 10am-4pm , in the John Addison Concert Hall of Harmony Hall

Harmony Hall Arts Center presents Mr. Lenny Campello’s seminar, “The Artists’ Boot Camp”, open to all Prince George’s County artists, 16 and up.  Mr. Campello is the Greater Washington D.C. area’s pre-eminent art dealer, critic, consultant and blogger as well as artist. He designed his seminar to deliver information, data and proven tactics to artists, and to allow them to develop and sustain a career in the fine arts. Some of the topics that he will cover are, creating a resume, creating a body of work, selling your art, juried shows and news releases, just to name a few. 

The seminar is free and lunch is included. Seating is limited so please call 301.446.3251 or email stuart.diekmeyer@pgparks.com to register and provide lunch preference.

Deadline is by 5pm, October 25th, but this seminar usually books very quickly, so I'd recommend that you RSVP as soon as possible!

Harmony Hall
10701 Livingston Road 
Fort Washington, MD 20744

Lecture: On Identity in the Arts: What Does It Mean to be Latinx?

Lecture: On Identity in the Arts: What Does It Mean to be Latinx?

Montpelier Art Center

9652 Muirkirk Rd

Laurel, MD 20708

Saturday, September 14, 2pm.

I will be delving deep into the history and evolution of the Latino ethnic label and then discussing important questions on the issue while wrapping it around the context of the fine arts in a sometimes funny, but always informative presentation. 

Lecture is free and open to the public.

A hidden Cupid in one of Vermeer’s most famous paintings?

Say whaaaaat?

From Artsy:

Johannes Vermeer’s Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window (1657–59) was recently undergoing restoration when conservators made a groundbreaking revelation. Forty years ago, X-rays had discovered an earlier version of the painting was dominated by a large image of Cupid that comes in the form of a painting within the painting. It was assumed that Vermeer himself had painted over the figure before the work was finished.

Read the whole fascinating article here...