The Alper Initiative is ready to accept proposals

 
The Alper Initiative for Washington Art promotes an understanding and appreciation of the art and artists of the Washington Metropolitan Area. They provide and staff a dedicated space located within the gorgeous American University Museum, to present exhibitions, programs, and resources for the study and encouragement of our creative community.

The Alper Initiative space will feature five exhibitions per year. 

Jack Rasmussen, Director and Curator of the AU Museum, and one the DMV's strongest supporters of area artists, will select a curator (or curators) for each exhibition to develop shows that highlight regional artists. Washington area artists and curators are encouraged to submit exhibition proposals and work for consideration.

You can submit your proposal here. 

I plan to submit a proposal! If you have any ideas, drop me a note.

Wake effect

Constant readers already know that I'm always taking about the "wake effect" of doing art fairs.

Tim Vermeulen showed with us at Context Art Miami this past week and sold well.

We've also now just closed the deal on five commissions for him!

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival

Application Deadline: December 20

The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival features 130 booth spaces for artists. All original fine art and fine craft is eligible to apply. All work must be created by the artist; no manufactured or mass produced work is eligible. All artists must provide their own white tents and weights.

Details and application here.

Last chance to see Artomatic!

This Saturday is your last chance to visit Artomatic 2015!

 

This Saturday, December 12th, is the final night for Artomatic 2015!. This is your last chance to meet the talented people who make Artomatic shine. Come out to view artworks by hundreds of artists, watch a film, see a performance, take a workshop and find the perfect gift while supporting your local artists! 

 

Don't miss it - there is something for everyone!

 

Weekend finale highlights:

 

In celebration of the holiday season there is a bad Santa and Ugly sweater competition on Friday at 10PM, winners get an Artomatic swag bag with goodies including a special surprise!

Latino Heritage Night - Join them in celebrating Latino Heritage and Meet the Artist Reception at 7pm; Dance to the beat of DC Cuban All Stars Band from 8pm onwards!

Join the final night festivities on Saturday - anything can happen the last day of Artomatic! Fire, Dance, Food, Art, Photo Booth and More!

Palette 22: New Opportunity!

Alexandria Restaurant Partners (ARP) David Clapp and Dave Nicholas recently appointed Cara Leepson as the arts director for Palette 22, which is opening this January within the heart of The Village at Shirlington at 4053 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA, 22206.  

 

A native of Middleburg, Virginia, Leepson graduated in 2009 with a BA in Studio Art with an emphasis in photography, and minor in museum studies from Lynchburg College.  She earned her MA in Art History & Museum Studies with a focus on public programming and contemporary art from Georgetown in 2011.  Her art education and career path has taken her to Charleston, SC, Washington, DC, Florence, Italy and New York City to study and to work in museums, galleries and in non-profit art centers.  Leepson has garnered experience working with esteemed art institutions, Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum and Hillyer Art Space.  She also worked at the art management firm, ArtSee as Washington’s creative program director, and at Potomac, Maryland’s Glenstone as a collections assistant and docent, before accepting the new director position at Palette 22. 

 

One of Leepson’s first initiatives is to spearhead both art programs that will play an integral role in launching Palette 22, which is opening in January 2016. 

 

All the programs will offer unique opportunities for local artists to showcase their work in a public setting.  Artists within a 90-mile radius of the restaurant, which is located in the heart of The Village at Shirlington at 4053 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA, 22206, are eligible to submit their artwork to be considered for one of two programs: Artist in Residence Program and Merchandising Program.  

 

Artists are asked to submit a sample portfolio of their work and specific the category, to Palette 22’s Arts Director, Cara Leepson, via email at: cara@palette22.com.  

 

Additional information about Palette 22 can be found here.

Artists' Studios Open House

Noon- 5pm  on Saturday, Dec 12

The artist studios around the Washington Glass School are also open -  Artbar, ReCreative Spaces, Otis Street Arts, Project, White Point Studio, Orange Door Studios, Tanglewood Works, Blue Door Studios, and more. Nearby Brentwood Arts Exchange has their craft store and will have specialty beer tastings.

The list of artists in the Washington Glass School: http://washingtonglassschool.com/washington-glass-school-mount-rainier-artist-studio-winter-open-studio-december-12-2015

Don't miss Alma Selimovic's new work at next door's Otis Studio, and of course, see the work by Mordini and Hennessey there as well!

See ya there!

ABMB Report: Final Day

I'm up around 6AM.

Why?
 
Because if you get down to Wynwood early on Sunday, you can get a great parking spot a few feet off the loading docks and it makes a world of difference when 6PM arrives and the fair ends and the dance of trucks and vans start to reload for the trips back home.

Today it was packed.

Humanity crowded the aisles, but this was a "strolling" crowd... not really interested in art; while the aisles where crowded, the gallery booths were empty! The people chatted, interacted with each other, push their strollers and had a nice stroll with little peripheral interest in art.

No matter: We've had a monster art fair - the two previous days set new records and at the end - the bottom line is that lots of new works of art by several artists (most of them from the DMV) have found new homes all over the planet.

At six  the fair ends... two minor sales all day. And at the end, a quick cursory look at the sales book indicates that this has been the best art fair that we've done in almost 10 years of doing art fairs! And the work is going all over the place, not just Miami/Florida area, but Germany, UK, Puerto Rico, Chicago, LA, NYC, Argentina, and one even coming back to DC!

By 7:30PM we're packed and the gallery van is ready to go: new record from scrambling out of there!

Tomorrow, wake up call is around 4:30AM in order to catch the flight back to Reagan National while Audrey drives the gallery van back to the DMV.

Another ABMB week down the hatch.

ABMB Week: Saturday Report

In the morning we departed our cool hotel-by-the-beach at Ft. Lauderdale and that night, after the fair, we'll head to my cousin's fortress house in Little Havana, where we'll stay for the next couple of days.

As soon as we got to Context, yesterday's vibe continued today as the crowds (and the rain) continued to come and fall to Context Art Miami.

There seemed to be good sales all around, and there was definitely a continuation of yesterday's art-buying crowd.

Multiple sales of my work, plus a "come backer" disappointed to find that the piece he wanted was sold - so he ordered a commission.

Also first sale of a wondrous Simon Monk piece as well as multiple sales by Elissa Farrow-Savos.

Elissa also got attention from a press art critic, and we expect to see her mentioned when the review comes out.

The reports from DMV visitors and others about the other fairs also began to pour in - some not so good, but good reports about Scope, Miami Projects and others.

By the end of Saturday, a cursory look at the "numbers" showed that we were having the best fair (from a  financial perspective) ever!

We closed at eight and headed to Little Havana - less than four miles away - on the way we ran into a monster traffic jam in from of the Marlins' Stadium (there was a concert)... we actually stood at a red light on 7th and 17th for 20 minutes before the cops changed it to green.

Once at my cousin's house, his wife had dinner ready for us; a couple of wine glasses later, I punched out.

ABMB Week: Friday Report

Morning starts with the December issue of the super glossy Brickell Magazine, which has done a people focus piece on me! See it here (scroll down a little).

Rainy day again.

Part of being at the big dance in Miami is the fact that Miami weather has a big impact on the fairs. Context is no exception  and this morning there was ample evidence of rain damage to some booths from last night's torrential rains.

At 11AM good crowds begin to pour in, and yesterday's good art "vibe" continues. As the day progresses we get multiple sales by Elissa Farrow-Savos, who once again (this is her second exposure to Miami) is getting extraordinary attention (and 100s of photo-taking events).

 A sale to a New York collector of Alma Selimovic's "Hammer Girl" soon follows - this is Alma's first exposure to Miami.

Hammer Girl by Alma Selimovic

My own work hits a good stride and I sell my latest video work (Mother Nature Observing and Upside Down World Version Two), which goes to a member of the board for the Birmingham Art Museum as he rushes out to the airport - several drawings follow - including two heading to Puerto Rico and one to Boston.

The Bostonian piece is my latest work - completed just minutes before the van had to leave for Miami: How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnets to the Portuguese). 

How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnets to the Portuguese)

Later on, my 2012 video piece on Frida Kahlo finally finds a home with a local collector; this piece has been traveling around in various University shows in the west coast.

Fellow DMV art dealer Maurine Littleton comes by and we chat for a while - she reveals a great secret to minimize feet pain during an art fair: switch shoes several times a day!

Cell phones beep all over the place... we're all getting a weather warning for tonight...

ABMB Week: Thursday Report

There was definitely a different "vibe" today with the crowds at Context. For starts, there were a lot of art students floating around, plus several major collectors finally made their way over from Art Miami and from ABMB itself.

I dropped Audrey Wilson at the fair around 11AM and had her switch a couple of Elissa Farrow-Savos' sculptures. I then headed to Hialeah to visit my mother.

On the way back I stopped at Casablanca Bakery and stocked up on Cuban pastries, yuca rellena, croquetas (ham, cheese and chicken), papa rellena and pasteles de guayaba con queso for the crew back at Wynwood.

Brutal traffic back to the fair, but got there in time to avoid the monster Florida showers which fell all day.

Over the last couple of days we had sold two works by DMV painter Tim Vermeulen, and today he scored not one but four commissions (all from the same DC expat, now Florida-based collector).

I took a little walk to capture a good shot of a terrific piece by the DMV's Mark Jenkins (with Fabien Castanier Gallery).

Back in our booth... hosted a Facetime call from Anderson, and the little dude always brings me good luck... then a visit by the DMV's super artist Akemi Maegawa, and she also always brings good luck.... and I finally broke my personal ice with a major double sale of my largest drawing in the booth and a second smaller drawing to a very beautiful and talented Miami Beach personal consultant.

Soon afterwards, the very talented Audrey Wilson breaks her personal ice with a sale of her electric glass work from her Collection of Abstuseness series to a DC collector!

Collection of Abstuseness: Operation Big Bugs by Audrey Wilson
Pate de verre, kiln formed tempered glass, refractory glass, found objects

Soon afterwards I get a commission from one of the board members of Site Santa Fe based on my works that embed digital components... Five commissions on one day must be a Context Art Fair record!

As the skies continue to fall with thunderous rain (which in these giant tents sound like monstrous WWI trench gunfire), we begin to pack to head off as the fair closes, when one of those magical moments happens when a collector approaches a piece, looks at it and says: "I'd like to buy that."

The "that" is my largest work in the fair.

Nice way to close the day.

ABMB Week: Opening Day

First of all... good morning Atlantic!

We leave Hollywood Beach around 9:30AM (the fair opens to the public at 11AM)... it's a 15 mile drive, which in this area's unpredictable traffic, today takes almost an hour and a half! Last night the drive from Wynwood took over two hours as 95 North was essentially closed - all four lanes closed for miles and one slow row of cars driving on the side of the road - It was because of construction.

The word "construction" is used here ironically, as there was one guy - yep, one dude - with a small painting machine - not the kind that you drive to paint the road stripes, but like a hand held one... and a second dude with a potent flashlight, while the first "worker" was repainting the road's traffic lines.

Miles of closed 95 North for this...

Several DC folks come by (yesterday JT Kirkland and John Adams); today Judy Berman, Gabby from Strathmore Hall, the immensely talented Sharon Moody, as well as other interesting people, such as uber collector Ardis Bartle and blue chip artist Sandra Ramos.

The Lenster with Sandra Ramos

Jodi Walsh's work at Context

Sometime in the late afternoon the horrible news about the terrorist attack in California begin to filter in, casting a shadow on the day.

View of one of the aisles at Context Art Miami

ABMB Week: VIP Opening night

After a dozen hours of so of intensive work... we're ready for opening night: 5-10PM. Photos by J. Jordan Bruns.

The crowds, booze and small food begins to circulate, tightly-dressed women in lethal-looking six inch heels begin their improbable strolls with plastic wine glasses in their manicured hands; third generation Cuban-American girls, four or five inches taller and 25 pounds lighter than their political refugee grandmothers, and slim as rifles, shoot selfies in front of the artwork and languages from all over the world comment on the art.

We almost immediately sell Dulce Pinzon's very last Superman photo. It is followed by a sale of one of DC artist Tim Vermeulen.

Sculpture by Alma Selimovic

Tim Vermeulen at Context

Outside one of the five giant tents that make up Art Miami and Context Art Miami in Wynwood

ABMB Week: Day before the VIP Opening

The key art fairs from the two dozen or so which make up Art Basel week in the Greater Miami area have theor VIP opening tomorrow... so for many galleries, including us, Monday is debarkation time and hanging time.

Thus the dance of the vans and trucks begins as parking space is sought for unloading operations; we get there early and find a Doris Day spot right across from Context Art Miami.

Soon afterwards artist Jodi Walsh shows up and she also finds a good parking spot. Jodi trekked from Texas, and with her husband Ron, will help man the booth.

A few hours later and many sheckels spent in parking fees, the booth looks like this:

Around 4PM exhaustion takes over and we all head our separate ways... during the day we've run into fellow DC area gallerists Adah Rose and Gabriella Rosso.

Back in Hollywood, the piggies get some Jacuzzi love...

ABMB Miami - VIP Opening Night Minus two

Miami's always growing skyline... tomorrow is the van dance of trying to find a parking spot close enough to unload the van... and then installation begins...

Art Basel Week: Big View at ABMB Day minus 3

View from the Hotel Room
(Designed to make the DMV jealous of November)

Airborne today

Heading to Miami for planet's biggest art dance... We will be at Context Art Miami for the third year in a row; this time at booth CTX63.

As usual, daily reports coming... The fairs open a day early, as the VIP receptions are on Tuesday... This will make for a very long week.

Campello heading to Miami

"How Do I Love Thee?"
(Sonnets to the Portuguese)
20x16 inches, Charcoal and Conte on Paper
2015 by F. Lennox Campello

Haze gray and underway...

As we head out to spend Thanksgiving with our families, a salute to all to men and women of our armed forces all over the world, especially those who are away from their families today, with a special shout out to all the American sailors and Marines out to sea... We've got your back.

No more art for Blake Byrne!

A well known Democrat Los Angeles art collector has vowed to stop contributing to Democrats because they joined with Republicans in a bipartisan vote last week.

LA art collector Blake Byrne "sent an email to several Democrats Monday, including California Reps. Julia Brownley (West Lake Village), John Garamendi (Walnut Grove) and Scott Peters (San Diego), saying he is “greatly disappointed” they voted with Republicans and that he will no longer donate in any way to their campaigns."

The LA Times reports that Byrne also sent the letter to the Los Angeles Times,  Echo Lake Entertainment President Andy Spaulding, and others in the entertainment industry.

Cough... Cough...

Here's the thing: no one can dispute Blake's zeal and dogma... And I will defend his right to give his Samolians to whomever he wants to... But this "news release angle" (guaranteed to make the news, especially when the rare bipartisan vote takes place) to what most of the times is a private matter, really smells of a Hollywood dude looking to see his name in Google News... 

Good for you Blake! Next time, keep it to yourself. 

As a result of your Hollywoodesque action, and the way in which it came to my attention... I will no longer sell you any artwork for your collection!

Sorry dude - no more art for you!

Van loaded and headed to Miami

Load van with artwork - Check
Have Audrey Wilson pick up van - Check
Head South - Check

We'll be at CONTEXT Art Miami next week (booth CTX63) for the Art Basel week arts extravaganza as the visual arts world comes to the Greater Miami area.

We'll be showcasing the following DC area artists:

• Judith Peck
• Tim Vermeulen
• Alma Selimovic
• Elissa Farrow-Savos
• Audrey Wilson
• Georgia Nassikas
• Me

Also showing work by:

• Simon Monk (UK)
• Dulce Pinzon (Mexico)
• Jodi Walsh (Texas)