Copywrong????

Recently, three studies have been published suggesting copyright law may have some detrimental affects on creation of new artistic works.

Details here...

Frida Kahlo from Art School...

This Frida Kahlo collage was done in 1978 when I was a student at the University of Washington School of Art as part of a special collage class under the legendary Jacob Lawrence... It is the only piece of my own artwork that hangs in my house... All the collage paper (torn from an art magazine) has references to Kahlo's life in one way or another...

President Obama apologizes to me!

Well... technically to all of us... cough, cough...

Hi Lenny,

I am pleased to share the following breaking news.

President Obama issued a personal, hand-written apology for his self-described “glib” remark that he made on January 30^th, concerning the pursuit of art history degrees and jobs at a manufacturing plant in Wisconsin. The apology, which was recently made public, was addressed specifically to University of Texas at Austin Professor Ann Collins Johns after she submitted a comment through the White House website. Every day, we see the power of advocacy in making a difference. Thanks to citizen-advocates like Professor Collins Johns and the 5,300 Arts Action Fund advocates who signed our online petition to the President, our collective voices were heard.

Please know that Americans for the Arts Action Fund sent its petition to the White House with our special thanks to the President for issuing his apology. We also underscored our request for him to meet with arts and economic policy experts, representing both the nonprofit and for-profit arts industries, to brief him on the untapped potential of these industries to help improve the economic growth, jobs creation, and trade surplus of the United States.

Thank you for your involvement in the Americans for the Arts Action Fund.

Keep advocating,

Nina Ozlu Tunceli
Executive Director

From the Corcoran

Just got the following today - later I may post some internal emails from two of the players involved (GWU has really good OFM going on, so folks there are somewhat uneasy in "sharing", so I don't have anything from GWU...) on this subject that gives an "insider's view" as to some of the politics involved in this (I think) somewhat positive move...

Dear Corcoran Community, 

Following the long period of investigation pursued by our Board, I have wonderful news to report.  The Corcoran Gallery of Art and Corcoran College of Art and Design, the National Gallery of Art, and the George Washington University (GW) today are announcing a proposed collaboration that would safeguard and increase access to the Corcoran's iconic collection as a resource for the public in Washington, DC; maintain the historic Corcoran building as the renovated showplace for an important new program of exhibitions of modern and contemporary art; and strengthen and elevate the Corcoran College and its programs. The collaboration would raise the stature of arts education in the District and expand the benefits, services, and interdisciplinary opportunities that both the National Gallery of Art and GW provide to students, museum-goers, and the Washington community.

Our three institutions are now entering a working period to set the definitive terms of a collaboration, under which the Corcoran College of Art and Design would become a part of the George Washington University. GW would operate the College, maintain its distinct identity, and assume ownership of, and responsibility for, the Corcoran building.  The National Gallery of Art would organize and present exhibitions of modern and contemporary art within the building under the name Corcoran Contemporary, National Gallery of Art. The National Gallery would also maintain and program a Corcoran Legacy Gallery within the building, displaying a selection of works from the collection that are closely identified with the 17th Street landmark. These and other works of the Corcoran collection would become the responsibility of the National Gallery of Art. Works accessioned by the National Gallery would bear the credit line "Corcoran Collection."  For works not accessioned by the National Gallery, the Corcoran, in consultation with the National Gallery, will develop a distribution policy and program.

As you know, this proposed arrangement among three prominent Washington, DC, institutions comes as the culmination of a five-year effort by the Corcoran's Board of Trustees to preserve the 17th Street building as both a museum space and a home for the College and to ensure the future of the Corcoran collection as a treasure accessible to all. Due to the challenges faced by the Corcoran, our Board has sought to achieve these goals by exploring collaborations with other cultural and educational institutions.

I want you to know that this coalition among our three institutions will open important new possibilities for Washington, DC.  The Corcoran's great cultural, educational, and civic resources, which are at the heart of this city, will not only remain in Washington but will become stronger, more exciting, and more widely accessible, in a way that stays centered on the Corcoran's dedication to art and mission of encouraging American genius and opens the galleries to all for free. We are deeply grateful for the bold imagination of the boards of all three institutions for working to make this outcome possible.

Our partner institutions are as thrilled as we are:

"All of us at the National Gallery of Art are excited at the prospect of working with the Corcoran and George Washington University in a unique collaboration that ensures the Corcoran legacy, keeps the core collection in the nation's capital and offers great opportunities for exhibitions of contemporary art and programming," said Earl A. Powell III, Director, National Gallery of Art.  

"The George Washington University will work with the Corcoran to create a world-class arts education program in close affiliation with the National Gallery of Art.  Such a program, situated in this iconic Washington landmark, will offer unparalleled opportunities for students and scholars, and provide a powerful new focus for the arts in the heart of the nation's capital," said GW President Steven Knapp. 

The terms stipulate that the Corcoran would continue as a non-profit organization, committed to its original mission, "Dedicated to Art and Encouraging American Genius," and continuing its 145-year history of pursuing and supporting new art and new ideas. The Corcoran would support the National Gallery of Art's and GW's stewardship of the Corcoran name and legacy, consult with and provide advice to the National Gallery and GW on programs and interconnected activities, and promote the important role of contemporary art and artists in provoking new thinking and realizing exciting new cultural initiatives.

Thank you so much for seeing this through with us. At this exceptional moment, we need your support and words of encouragement as never before.  The Corcoran's legacy is an incredible gift that will now stay in Washington, DC in perpetuity thanks to you and your unwavering support.

All best,

Peggy Loar
Interim Director and President
Corcoran Gallery of Art
Corcoran College of Art and Design

Weird snow

This morning, as I was once again shoveling snow from my driveway, both my neighbor and I commented that his was the oddest, weirdest looking snow either one of us had ever seen.

It looked like fake Hollywood snow.... Like someone had taken a million pounds of white styrofoam and shredded it into little, tiny, fluffy balls.

Bethesda Painting Awards

Submissions must be received by Monday, February 21, 2014. 

The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is currently accepting applications for the seventh annual Bethesda Painting Awards. 

Up to nine finalists will be selected to display their work in an exhibition during the month of June at Gallery B in downtown Bethesda, and the top four winners will receive $14,000 in prize monies. Best in Show will be awarded $10,000; Second Place will be honored with $2,000 and Third Place will receive $1,000. Additionally, a “Young Artist” whose birthday is after February 21, 1984 may be awarded $1,000. 

Artists must be 18 years of age or older and residents of Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C. 

All original 2-D paintings including oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, encaustic and mixed media will be accepted. The maximum dimensions should not exceed 60 inches in width or 84 inches in height. No reproductions. 

Artwork must have been completed within the last two years and must be available for the duration of the exhibit. Each artist must submit 5 slides, application and a non-refundable fee of $25. Digital entries will be accepted on DC in JPG, GIF or PNG format. 

For a complete application, please visit www.bethesda.org, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Bethesda Painting Awards
c/o Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District
7700 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814 

Or call 301-215-6660 x117. The 2014 Bethesda Painting Awards exhibition will be held June 4-28 at Gallery B.


The 2014 competition will be juried by Carrie Patterson, Paul Ryan and Judy Southerland.


Carrie Patterson is an Associate Professor of Art at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from James Madison University and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from The University of Pennsylvania. Her work has been exhibited across the United States and in Bogota, Colombia. Patterson has received a Seedling Painting Award for her work from The Leeway Foundation for the Arts and a Virginia Governor’s Fellowship to The Virginia Center for Creative Arts in 2003. Over the past 10 years, her work has been selected for exhibition by prominent painters such as Sean Scully, Bill Jensen, John Walker, Graham Nickson and Barbara Grossman.

Paul Ryan is a Professor of Art in the Department of Art and Art History at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, VA. He is also a painter, an art critic and the director of Hunt Gallery, the college’s art gallery. Paul has a Master of Fine Art in Painting from the Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Art in English from Principia College. Paul has shown his work in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout Virginia and in Ithaca, NY, and at the University of South Carolina. Paul has been a contributing editor for Art Papers Magazine since 1990. Since 1989, he has contributed to Art Papers Magazine, Sculpture Magazine, Artlies Magazine and the New Art Examiner. He is represented by Reynolds Gallery in Richmond, VA, and his paintings are in numerous public, corporate and private collections.

Judy Southerland is an artist and adjunct faculty at the Corcoran College of Art & Design in Washington, D.C. She has recently exhibited at School 33 Art Center in Baltimore, MD; the Anthenaeum, Alexandria, VA; Greater Reston Arts Center, Reston, VA; Miami University, Middletown, OH; The Arts Club of Washington and Katzen Arts Center, Washington, D.C.; McLean Project for the Arts, McLean, VA; Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE; and College of Notre Dame, Baltimore, MD. Judy received a 2011 Individual Artist Fellowship from the D.C. Commission of the Arts and Humanities, and curatorial projects include Fresh Perspectives and Hillyer Art Space. Southerland received a Master of Fine Art in Painting from American University and a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Auburn University. Along with teaching painting,

Last day for Art Wynwood

That very cool sculpture by DMV artist Michael Enn Sirvet found a home in Miami yesterday at the Art Wynwood Art Fair... Today is the last day of the fair... 

Da booth!

That's the entrance to our booth at Art Wynwood in Miami...mostly video pieces by several DMV area artists....

Cool video sculptures by Sean Hennessey and Tim Tate and light sculptures by Novie Trump, and ahh... sculpture sculptures by Michael Enn Sirvet...

This has been going on for a while

Even while I was in Art School we were aware of the "painting factories" in Asia - mostly in China - where assembly line painting has been pumping millions of paintings on canvas to the rest of the world for decades.

It was only a matter of time before the power of the new technologies introduced a new angle and offer a "painting" on the cheap.

Instapainting, a YC-backed company launching this morning, turns any photo into a hand-painted piece on canvas for under $100 bucks.

If you’ve ever tried to have something like this done before, you probably know: this exists. A few companies have been doing the whole photo-into-art thing for years. Where Instapainting thinks they have them beat, however, is in pricing and speed.

Details here...

Art Wynwood report

On VIP night on Thursday I am told that the fair brought in about 7000 people, which is what many fairs get in total!

Then, Audrey Wilson not only broke the ice by selling one of her wonderful works, but then she sold two of my drawings.... I'm dying to be there!

Friday saw multiple sales of sculptures by Elissa Farrow-Savos, and also multiple sales of video pieces by Tim Tate and sales of two of my drawings!

Snow (ice really) Blues...

And so around mid morning today, the ice plows from the Soviet Socialist Republic of Montgomery County finally shows up and one come through and cleans our street of snow (mostly) and at same time manages to build a four foot wall of ice in front of all driveway... Feh!



But what can one do, right? It's part of the process...

By the late afternoon I had finally managed to take down my wall of ice and also helped a couple of elderly neighbors take down their ice walls....
 
Later in the afternoon.... The snow plow returns for a second pass and rebuilds all walls of ice in front of all driveways...

Down in Miami

While we're all here freezing in the snow... the Alida Anderson Art Projects, LLC crew is down in Miami setting up for Art Wynwood, and I hear that Audrey Wilson even had time for a tan... Feh!

2014 Richmond Mural Project

10 Muralists.  2 Weeks.  20+ Murals throughout the City of Richmond

Art Whino returns to Richmond, VA for the third installment of the Richmond Mural Project.  After completing 48 murals during the last edition of the mural project, Art Whino will work with eight to twelve  of the top muralists from around the world  to curate another round of  murals. 

Last year brought an incredible amount of press coverage and the  murals made it on top lists such as Buzzfeed, which ranked the Etam Cru  mural #3 Best Street art in the world of 2013. Bringing Richmond a  sampling of the great variety of mural work worldwide, just as in past years, the selection of artists will feature a dynamic range of styles  and subject matter which creates a unique experience for visitors,  providing a glimpse into a worldwide movement in one city.  The creation  of another 20 murals this year will bring the number to over 68  throughout the city, further establishing the Richmond Mural Project.  This edition will continue to build Richmond’s reputation as a go to  destination for murals that incite exploration of the city through  weekend visits that result in the discovery of the city Richmond itself,  with its neighborhoods, businesses, and culture, as visitors hunt for  the next mural.

MISSION: The Richmond Mural Project is a yearly event with the goal of creating over 100 murals by world renown talent in the first 5 years  alone. The recurrence and solidification of the project throughout this  time will establish Richmond as a landmark destination for  internationally recognized murals and will create exposure for the city,  establishing it as a premier art destination. By concentrating a large  number of murals throughout the city the project will increase tourism  and will bring the much needed “Feet on the Street” which will help  local business thrive.  Along with this mission there are many  additional benefits that these murals will bring to the city of  Richmond.  These murals will serve as positive catalysts for change by specifically placing them in areas that are in disrepair. These  environments include neighborhoods with abandoned buildings and low foot  traffic, areas with high crime, and newly developed areas in need of  identity.

Dates: June 16th- June 27th
Muralist begin painting the week of June 16th and will finish their
murals by June 27th

Mural Locations: Various Locations
Map will be released soon by their media partner Gungho Guide

Reception: June 21st with their Cultural Partner RVA MAGAZINE
More Details To Be Announced Soon!

Full Information about the Richmond Mural project
http://artwhino.com/2014richmondmuralproject

More evidence of the wake effect

Followers of this blog are familiar with all the writing that I've done over the years about the aggregated effects of doing art fairs... And how what I have coined as the "wake effect" of the art fair is perhaps the single most important reason why artists must participate in art fairs....

And here's another example... This time sent in by my good bud and DMV artist J.T. Kirkland...

A gallerist who was exhibiting at Scope Miami 2012 saw my work in my NYC gallery's booth and it caught their eye. They followed my work for the next year and decided that their interest stuck and they wanted to represent me. They reached out, we talked on the phone and over email, and in January we finalized all the details. 

I sent them about 40 pieces representing works on wood, canvas and paper from the past 6-7 years. We're doing a big show in October and hopefully a couple of art fairs. The gallery is in New Orleans (www.guthriecontemporary.com). 

So over a year after the fair, I got a big bite. Who knows who else is thinking about my work right now? I believe in the wake effect!!

Spotlight on Wellesley College

In case you have missed it... there is an art controversy in Wellesley College over this statue of a sleepwalking man in his underwear by artist Tony Matelli.

A realistic-looking statue of a man sleepwalking in his underwear near the center of Wellesley College has created a stir among the women on campus, especially as more than 100 students at the all-women’s college signed a petition asking administrators to remove it.

 And now, Sarah Mahmood, Editor-at-Large, Wellesley College has written this piece for the HuffPost that calls for the removal of the piece.

She writes:

We don't want the statue moved because we're prim and proper prudes, but because we'd rather avoid looking at a creepy, potentially triggering sculpture on our way to class. Would you want that sculpture in your backyard for the next five months?

I'm already lost... "triggering sculpture?" what does that mean? The answer comes a few paragraphs later, which is not only a fail for structuring the article, but also surprising, considering the source is an editor.

Apparently there's a petition to remove the work of art, and we learn from the petition that:

"This highly lifelike sculpture has, within just a few hours of its outdoor installation, become a source of apprehension, fear, and triggering thoughts regarding sexual assault for many members of our campus community. While it may appear humorous, or thought-provoking to some, it has already become a source of undue stress for many Wellesley College students, the majority of whom live, study, and work in this space."

 That answers my "trigger" question, but it does not answer the stupifying (and well-documented in this blog) and never-ending string of art censorship issues that continue to astound me.

At least Sarah Mahmood (in years to come) can claim the excuse of youth in her over-reaction on the wrong side of this issue, but the lesson here for her, and for all of those whose opinion aligns with her, is simple: "Art censorship is NEVER the answer."

My kudos to the Director of the Davis Museum and the President of Wellesley College for sticking to their principles and declaring that they have no intention of removing the statue until July 20, the duration of Matelli's exhibit.

Putin's gonna be pissed!

All I'm saying is that someone was heading to Siberia a few minutes after this happened...

Cough, cough...

Novie Trump Installation at Art Wynwood

The DMV's own Novie Trump will have a 20 foot wall installation at Art Wynwood next week; the image to the right is a detail of the ceramic work, titled "The Way Home."

We will also feature several new pieces by Trump in booth C-9.

Anyway... the van is packed with artwork and tomorrow Audrey Wilson heads out to the Art Wynwood fair where we will have work by Audrey, Dulce Pinzon, Simon Monk, Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey, Michael Enn Sirvet, Elissa Farrow Savos, Novie Trump and me... 

Not sure how it all fit in the van... But most of it did!

Art Wynwood next week!

This is the first time that we've done this fair in Miami, and we're really looking forward to another successful Miami fair.

We have a large booth (C-9) and we're showcasing mostly DMV artists: Audrey Wilson, Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey (all associated with the Washington Glass School), plus the amazing Novie Trump and Elissa Farrow-Savos, who kicked butt and took names at the last (e)merge art fair. Also for the first time we're showing several spectacular new pieces by the DMV's Michael Enn Sirvet. And we're as usual bringing our top international artists: The UK's Simon Monk and Mexico's Dulce Pinzon!

Sirvet is a contemporary sculptor, designer and structural engineer who creates two and three-dimensional works using metals, hardwoods, plastics and other materials. Michael’s vision makes use of industrial and hand processes to restructure and fuse the organic chaos of nature with the crafted precision of man-made construction. 

Fair Hours for 2014

Thursday, February 13     
VIP Preview: Access for Art Wynwood VIP Cardholders & Press

GENERAL ADMISSION: 6:00pm-10:00pm

Friday, February 14     11am - 7pm
Saturday, February 15     11am - 7pm
Sunday, February 16     11am - 7pm
Monday, February 17     11am - 6pm

Main Office: +1.305.432.2855 or info@art-wynwood.com

Location:

The Art Wynwood Pavilion
Midtown Miami | Wynwood
3101 NE 1st Avenue
Miami, FL 33137

Next week in Miami

"Red Bastion I"

2013

Powder-coated Aluminum

32" x 31" x 9"

By the DMV's Michael Enn Sirvet will be in booth C-9 next week at Art Wynwood in Miami.

Drop me a note if you'd like some passes to the fair...

Art Wynwood 2014 will feature 70 international galleries presenting emerging, cutting edge, contemporary and modern works and will have its own distinct identity and design. A unique feature is the highlight of street art, murals, pop surrealism and other genres from the contemporary underground movement. Art Wynwood is perfectly positioned to further the growing worldwide recognition of this movement by providing the enthusiast and seasoned art world traveler alike a distinctive opportunity to explore, learn and collect one of the most significant art movements of our time.

Art Wynwood 2014 will coincide with the 26th edition of the prestigious Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach (based less than five miles from the Art Miami Pavilion), which transforms Collins Avenue into a multimillion-dollar presentation of yachts and super-yachts. The Boat Show is known to attract qualified buyers from all over the U.S. and around the globe, including France, Brazil, China, Colombia, Russia, Argentina, Mexico, Italy and Sweden.

The 2013 edition of Art Wynwood attracted more than 26,500 visitors during its five-day run, with 6,100 collectors and art enthusiasts attending the Opening Night VIP Private Preview. The fair showcases a diverse range of fresh and edgy works by established, mid-career and emerging international contemporary and urban street artists from around the globe.

Art Wynwood shines a spotlight on Midtown Miami and the Wynwood Arts District as an international cultural destination flourishing yearlong. The fair will continue to distinguish the Wynwood Arts District as Miami’s epicenter where art, fashion, design and the culinary arts intersect.

Another old piece found

I must be getting to the age (mid 40s... cough, cough...) when people start emailing me asking "Is this piece yours?" - I'm now averaging about one a month... a few from the UK (where I lived from 1989-1992), but most from the US.

The vast majority of them are from the mid 90s, when I was an art-producing machine (I did 32 art shows in 1995!) or from my art school days, as I used to sell all my art school assignments at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.... I sold thousands of works there between 1977-1981.

Here's an old friend from my senior year at the University of Washington Art School... this is a pen and ink wash from 1981... images courtesy of the current owner, who bought it at an auction in Hawaii.