Your artwork on a billboard

Embracing Our Differences is accepting submissions for its 13th annual outdoor juried art exhibit celebrating diversity and inclusion to be displayed spring 2016 in Sarasota, FL USA.

42 artists will be selected. National and international submissions accepted.

Final selections will be made by a 3-judge panel. $3,000 (US) in awards. There is no submission fee nor limit on the number of entries. Details: 941-404-5710 OR http://embracingourdifferences.org OR Info@EmbracingOurDifferences.org

The two Laurens and vocal fry

A while back I accidentally discovered the curious case of vocal fry, a unique vocal affectation which is common to most American (and apparently only American) women.
 
As I noted, it has affected my listening habits, especially radio listening, as I now eagerly await the throaty sentence ending staccato of the affectation.
 
This morning, WAMU's Lauren Ober (the very talented reporter for Metro Connection) was in full swing (in a really interesting report on swimming and DC African-American kids) with what I've now catalogued as partial vocal fry. That is when about a third of the sentences are delivered in a "normal" voice and the rest have the characteristic feline vocal fry ending.
 
Then Lauren Landau came on with an Art Beat report (I wish that they'd just let Ms. Landau talk and get rid of the annoying background 1960s beatnik-type music). Landau has a very elegant, soothing voice, but even she dives into vocal fry land once in a while - maybe in a third of her sentences - which is also interesting in that some women are 100% vocal fried, while others, such as Ms. Landau, seem to be able to float in and out of it.

"Paint the Town" Mural Project

"Paint the Town" Mural Project

Deadline: July 31, 2015

Receive $15,000 to transform the Capital Crescent Trail Retaining Wall!
 

"Paint the Town" is an initiative to promote more public art murals in downtown Bethesda. The first public art mural project organized by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is the Capital Crescent Trail Retaining Wall located on Arlington Road, by Bradley Boulevard and across from the Safeway grocery store.

The Capital Crescent Trail Retaining Wall is more than 400 feet in length, and artists are encouraged to focus their proposed mural on the 150-200 feet in the middle of the wall. The height of the wall is approximately 10 feet in height.

$15,000 will be provided to the artist to pay for supplies and the artist's time. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 31, 2015. Interested artists should visit www.bethesda.org for more information and the application for consideration. The project must be completed by Oct. 15, 2015.

3rd Annual Artist Material Market

SELL, BUY AND TRADE ART SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS AT
THE 3^ND ANNUAL ARTIST MATERIALS MARKET
Torpedo Factory Art Center
Saturday, August 22, 10 am – 3 pm

WHAT	Artists from the greater metropolitan area are invited to sell and swap their gently used art supplies, tools, materials and ephemera for sale or trade during the 3nd Annual Artist Materials Markets.   In addition to helping to purge extra items, it’s an opportunity to find great bargains on new supplies and network with other artists from the region.
WHEN	Saturday, August 22 Public sale: 10 am – 3 pm Vendor hours: 8 am – 4 pm
WHERE	Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union St; Alexandria, VA 22314
WHO	The event is organized by the Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association, The Art League and the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
HOW	There are approximately 20 tables available for purchase at $25. Visual artists from all media are encourage to participate. All spaces must be reserved in advance and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservation deadline is Wednesday, August 19 at 5 pm.   For information or to reserve a space, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artist-materials-market-tickets-17754108015 or contact admin@torpedofactoryartists.com.

Opportunity for Artists

IMPLICIT BIAS: Seeing the Other - Seeing Our Self

 

This exhibition will be presented by Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery and Busboys and Poets. It is scheduled to open Friday, September 18 and run through Saturday, December 5, 2015.

Deadline for Applicants is: Saturday, August 20, 2015

Description of the exhibition is as follows:

 

IMPLICIT BIAS - Seeing the Other: Seeing Our Self is an exhibition that seeks to explore the unconscious racial bias that affects our decisions, choices, friends and beliefs about others. The growing body of social science research suggests that each of us harbors unconscious beliefs and values about race (as well as gender, age, etc.) that are often at odds with our conscious beliefs about our values.  At the heart of discrimination lie powerful unacknowledged biases about the Other, which affect our decisions and choices, and all too often have adverse affects on the lives of others.
 

Given recent news events in Charleston, Ferguson, Baltimore, New York and several places across America today, how do we find solutions?  One suggestion is to begin with ourselves and look at our own bias. With this emotionally charged subject matter, we want work that squarely addresses the issues of racial disparity in our country, as well as work that helps us visualize what an equitable future might look like. We're looking for work that addresses the need for greater self-awareness about our own biases, beliefs and consequent actions. The work does not need to solely imply an introspective view of Bias, but can extend to more prevalent matters, such as injustice in all its forms: Police, judicial, education, voting rights and urban planning for example.

 

We are living in important and dangerous times, where racial bias has stepped into a place that can no longer be ignored by the powers that be. IMPLICIT BIAS - Seeing the Other: Seeing Our Self is an exhibit that wants to reflect these matters with honesty, integrity and an urgency these times deserve.

 

"Maybe, we now realize the way racial bias can infect us, even when we don't realize it.
So we are guarding against, not just racial slurs, but we are also guarding against the
subtle impulse to call Johnny back for a job interview, but not Jamal."

 

-President Barack Obama's Charleston eulogy at the funeral of the Rev. Clementa Pinckney

 

 If you are interested in participating in this powerful show, please click HERE for further details and submissions.

There will be a $5 submission fee for this Exhibition.

Thank you and we look forward to reviewing your work.

Spencer Dormitzer

Gallery Director

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this cockroach:

From: fowwler flint - fowwlerflint2@hotmail.com

Good day,
I am Fowler Flint,A realtor of international estate management,I like to help my client beautify his new purchase home with your art and wish i can get a beautiful one from you ,Can you please email your website or send me an attachment of available artwork with pricing and details and you may please copy me a response to my private email :fowwlerflint2@hotmail.com
Thanks
FOWLER

The Wonderful life of Andy

Dulce Pinzon's The Wonderful Life of Andy is a series of documentary – fictional photographs concerning the life of the beautiful Andy, a young contemporary woman who passionately lives the spirit and aesthetic of the '50s.
 
Andy's peculiar lifestyle has turned into an inspirational example for a generation of Mexican youth – a life that, next to her son, Maximiliano, and Vincent, her husband ( lead singer of Rebel Cats), is closely observed.
 
The marvelous life of Andy is a fictitious series based on the reality of a couple whose musical involvement in the Mexican scene has begun solidifying aesthetic guidelines. Dulce notes that "I find it deeply engaging and thus important to document."


Andy Barroca


Babydoll


Roadtrip


Natural Beauty


Catfight


Wedding


Peluqueria Retro


So Tired


Housewife


Bautizo


Eloisa y Abelardo


Vincent

OZ: THE WONDERFUL LIFE OF ANDY

Todos Behind


How Scary


Hada


Shoes


Andy + Hojalata


Andy + Hada


Bruja III


Lion


Bruja

Andy

Elissa Farrow-Savos at SOFA Chicago

You can get this wonderful piece by Elissa Farrow-Savos now instead of waiting for it to be exhibited at SOFA Chicago later this year. Send us a note.



"to hell and back"
c. 2015  Elissa Farrow-Savos

22 x 10 x 12

 

Bicycle Stories Collaboration Project

From artspace:

Dear Artists,

artspace is collaborating with Richmond Young Writers in a project called "Bicycle Stories." artspace is pairing professional artists with young writers to illustrate their short written pieces about bicycles.

The stories and artwork will be displayed in the Plant Zero Hallways Project Space from September 18 through October 18, 2015. The opening will correspond with a closing event for the August/September artspace gallery exhibitions and is the day before the World Bike Races will begin in Richmond.

We are planning a meet up with the Young Writers on Saturday, August 8, 2015 to determine which artist will illustrate which written piece.

If this sounds interesting to you, please contact the gallery by email: artspaceorg@gmail.com or call (804) 232-6464. Feel free to share with other local artists you think might want to participate.

Thank you,
Dana Frostick
artspace President

The curious case of Vocal Fry

A while back I wrote about the hypnotizing voice of the new NPR ads voice over person, and even postulated what the owner of that melodious voice would be like (somewhat like Parmigianino's Madonna dal Collo Lungo).

Of course, several of you constant readers researched the issue and identified the voice in question, and not surprising (at least to me), she is almost exactly as I described her, based on her voice. She is also a vastly talented actress, by the way.

Case closed; listen to her amazing voice here.

However, in the process of obtaining that last unrequested bit of information, I've also discovered the uniquely young American female phenomenon of "vocal fry", and now I'm afraid that my radio listening habits have been profoundly affected.

If you don't know what vocal fry is, I would recommend that you avoid finding out. If you can't resist, then click here.

Now I hear it everywhere! Especially with younger NPR female correspondents, and it has somewhat affected my listening ear, as I tune to detect it.

Another interesting voice in the air is that of WMAL's Maria Leaf. While the NPR ad voice over person is generally anonymous and her voice is a like a drink of 100 year old port, Maria Leaf's recognizable 150 MPH voice is like a high dose of caffeine mixed with a lot of enthusiasm for the job!

Her voice wakes you up! The manner in which she drags the "L" in the station's call letters (WMAL) at the end of her reports is a thing of beauty, as is when she pronounces the name of traffic guy Matt DeFazio... she drags "De Faaaaazio" as a sport announcer would describe an amazing B-ball three-pointer!

Listen to Maria here.

If you can't resist the vocal fry challenge, then see the below video.

SOFA Chicago

The biggest thing in the 3D art fair world is SOFA... they're the ABMB of the art object universe... and in 2015 they've decided to take on the big boys and girls of the art fair circuit and "add" 2D art to their offerings.

And guess who is a "plank owner" in the first SOFA Chicago that allows paintings and photographs and prints and such other 2D work?

We are!

See ya at SOFA Chicago!

New Hamiltonian Fellows

From Hamiltonian:

As we conclude our seventh year of artist-centric programming, Hamiltonian is proud to announce the five new, distinguished 2015 Hamiltonian Fellows to join our five existing fellows.  We are thrilled to introduce:

• Kyle Tata (BFA, Maryland Institute College of Art)
• Nara Park (MFA, Maryland Institute College of Art)
• Christie Neptune (BFA, Fordham University)
• Jim Leach (MFA, Maryland Institute College of Art)
• Rob Hackett (MFA, University of Maryland)

The 2015 Hamiltonian Fellows were selected from a pool of 144 very promising artists. The External Review Panel, comprised of seven acclaimed art professionals, caucused together and evaluated every application based on criteria regarding artistic merit and relevance to today's art world.  We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the panelists for their generosity and enthusiastic support of this endeavor:

• Camilo Álvårez - owner, director and curator of Samsøñ Projects 
• Dadi Akhavan - art collector and patron
• Brian Dailey - artist
• Joyce Yu-Jean Lee - artist and Hamiltonian alumna
• Susan Main - artist and curatorial consultant at VisArts at Rockville
• Sanaz Mazinani, artist, curator and educator
• Mika Yoshitake - assistant curator at The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Artwork by all five new fellows will be on view in the debut group exhibition new.now., opening at Hamiltonian Gallery on Saturday, September 19th from 7-9 pm.  

Artists: Wanna tour the new Artomatic building?

Wanted to share with you the news about the New Carrollton site for Artomatic 2015 partnership with the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning targeted for October.

AOM has some tours of the building coming up this Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The tours are an opportunity to see the space "before" it is turned into a full blown Artomatic which is planned for this October.

Location
8100 Corporate Drive, Hyattsville, MD 20785 
10 minutes walk from the New Carrollton Metro
Lots of parking 

Dates and Times
Thursday the 16th ­ 6 to 7 pm 
Saturday the 18th ­ 10 11 am 
Sunday the 19th ­ 10 ­ 11 am

Lisa Gold to depart from WPA

Letter from the WPA's Lisa Gold:

7.14.15

 

Dear Friends,

 

I want to share with you the bittersweet news that I will be leaving WPA in a few weeks.  

 

Over the past 6 years, I've had the great fortune to meet and work with so many talented and generous people. WPA has been such an important part of the contemporary art landscape in DC and you have all contributed in myriad ways to its success. I'm very proud of what we've accomplished and the course we've set for the organization. I know you'll join me in ensuring that WPA's growth continues well into the future with your ongoing support and participation.

 

At the end of August, I will take on a new challenge as the Director of Public Engagement at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. You can be assured that I will be a fixture at WPA events and I hope you will visit me at the Hirshhorn in the fall.

 

For now, please join me for one last hurrah on August 15 to watch one of my favorite WPA events--the SynchroSwim. Come say goodbye at the Capitol Skyline Hotel pool on Saturday, August 15 at 5:00 and enjoy some of DC's most entertaining performance art then stick around to celebrate this fantastic adventure with me.

 

I thank you all for the incredible experiences that WPA has given me over the years. I look forward to witnessing the next chapter in WPA's storied history.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa Gold

Executive Director

 

Porn in Word Girl?

There we were, my son and I watching one of his favorite PBS cartoons - Word Girl - when the opening credits showed up...

WTF? Is it me, or is the "World's Best Dad" sporting a world class boner?

Mock theft

Cleveland artist Frank Oriti said the National Portrait Gallery in London, England, has assured him that a painting he submitted for an exhibition is safe and in good condition after having been subjected to a mock theft by protesters on Sunday.

 Read the story here.

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this mutant!

Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2015 08:08:15 -0700
From: mrsmichaelanderson@zoho.com
Subject: Order enquiry

Hi there,

During the last exhibition campaign /competition, I'm just wondering if your gallery would be able to ship to my Country In Europe?And shipping costs shouldn't be  prohibitive for sending paintings overseas

Kindly get back to me with your online portfolio for more information about your available works and price guide list.

Yours sincerely.

Stari Grad, Zelene beretke 

15A Sarajevo

71141 Sarajevo

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hypocritical art or political art?

Gone are the days when modern art used sex to earn your embarrassed attention. The latest Venice Biennale shows that to get international visibility these days, contemporary art must play with something much hotter: politics.

 Hypocritical art or political art? Details here.

Stolen Rodin recovered in NYC

From the folks at Art Recovery Group:

LONDON, 9 JULY 2015 – A version of Auguste Rodin’s ‘Young Girl with Serpent’ stolen 24 years ago has been recovered in New York.

In 1991, thieves stole artwork valued at over $1 million USD in a series of raids on a private residence in Beverly Hills whilst the owners were out of town. Among a number of high-value works of fine art stolen during the robberies was an edition of ‘Young Girl with Serpent’ by esteemed French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917).

The residence was left unoccupied for several weeks, allowing multiple visits by thieves whose access had been arranged by the victims’ trusted housekeeper. It is understood that the individual in whose care the residence was regularly left had bragged about his employers’ wealth at a local bar and was convinced to sell a duplicate of the house keys for $5,000 when propositioned by criminals.

Upon their return, the victims described their home as looking as though it ‘had been hit by an earthquake’ and, with no sign of their housekeeper, they immediately informed the Beverly Hills Police Department of his assumed involvement in the crime. A police search identified the existence of a previously-unknown arrest warrant for the housekeeper, issued in his native Switzerland. He was subsequently tracked to a Miami hotel and arrested whilst sunbathing by the pool.

The location of all stolen items remained unknown until Rodin’s ‘Young Girl with Serpent’ was identified when consigned for sale at Christie’s in New York.  Art Recovery Group was appointed by the insurer and led the negotiations with the consignor’s legal representative. With title to the work unconditionally relinquished by the consignor, the sculpture has been offered back to the theft victims in line with the benefits of their insurance policy.

Speaking this morning, Christopher A. Marinello, CEO of Art Recovery Group, said:

“This case was a perfect example of public and private sector collaboration. We are extremely grateful for the steadfast determination of the Beverly Hills Police Department, and in particular the perseverance of Detective Michael Corren, in keeping this case open for 24 years and seeing through its resolution."

Additional artworks taken in the raid remain unaccounted for but the outstanding losses have been recorded on the ArtClaim Database. The last time the Rodin was offered for sale at Christie’s, its value was estimated at around $100,000.

In accordance with the confidential resolution agreed between the loss victim and their insurance company, this work will now be consigned for sale later this year.

Artist's Talk

My good friend Philip Brookman (former Corcoran photog curator, current NGA) has a new book combining his photos and a novella. 

He's speaking at the new Takoma Busboy on July 21st in the reading room named after Communist poet (and suffocater of Cuban voices while he was the President of the National Cuban Writers' Union), Nicolás Guillén.

Brookman will be in conversation with Henry Allen, a former WaPo journalist, poet, and novelist. He won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2000.
  Details here.