At the MCI

Mexican Cultural Institute 2829 16th Street Northwest Washington, DC 20009 (View on map)

On the return of stolen Cuban artwork

A decade ago I discussed this issue - read it here.

There are a lot of museums in Europe, mostly France, and a lot of collectors in Europe and Asia, and several major auction houses that are nervously looking to what happens in Cuba once its brutal dictatorship finally ends.

They are nervous because worldwide courts have consistently recognized the right of original owners to the return of artwork which has been looted by governments and dictatorships, confiscated, sold and re-sold.

30th National Drawing & Print Competitive Exhibition at Gormley Gallery

On view March 18 through April 26, 2019
Juror: Ginevra Shay, former Artistic Director of The Contemporary

Featuring work by Mark Bischel, Jessica Burke, Suzanne Michele Chouteau, Michael DeLuca, Anne Finucane, Robin Gibson, M. Alexander Gray, Ming Hong, Jennifer Hoskins, Elena Johnston, Andrew Kozlowski, Camila Linaweaver, Sascha Mallon, Kathy McGhee, Lisa Parker Hyatt, Eva Redamonti, William Dean Reynolds, Carmen Schaefer, Charlotte Schulz, Rhonda Smith, Ellen Verdon Winkler, and Lauren Yandell

Reception and Gallery Talk: Saturday, March 23, 4-6pm
Reception and Gallery Talk
Saturday, March 23, 2019
4:00 to 6:00pm
Remarks by juror Ginevra Shay

Gormley Gallery is located on the second floor of Fourier Hall
on the campus of Notre Dame of Maryland University
4701 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210

Invitational Exhibition at Waverly

There was a time when the streets of Bethesda were paved with art galleries from curb to curb: Fraser, Heineman, Neptune, Osuna, etc. - at one point a decade ago there were 13 galleries in the Bethesda Art Walk!

Waverly Gallery is now one of a handful of Bethesda galleries which has stood the test of time, and is still around since its founding in 1993. Part of that survival skills is the fact that this gallery is a cooperative gallery, riding the capricious tides of the economy on the robust shoulders of its member artists.

The gallery recently hosted its invitational exhibit, with work by Henry Winokur, Joan April, Shaune Bazner, Kyujin Lee, JoEllen Murphy, Jill Cantrill, Paul Guilderson, Lucy Louise Derickson, John D. Antone, Jack Allbrittain, Mariana Kastrinakis, Kim Blue, Carol Barsha, Hunt Prothro, John Paradiso, Sue Osterhout, Andreia Gliga, Sara Parent-Ramos, Courtney Applequist, and Diane Szczepaniak.

Dreams and Shadows by Courtney Applequist

My favorite "new" discovery was the work, the very painterly paintings of Courtney Applequist - I was intrigued by the technique - is it a palette which is delivering these immensely sensual paintings? the brush? or a mixture of both? In any event, the sense of moistness, light and volume is palpable in this elegant work - keep an eye on this artist.

Adrift by Kyujin Lee

I've seen Kyujin Lee's work previously - and I am always impressed by the facility with which this artist tackles such interesting subjects.

John Paradiso

John Paradiso is a DMV artrockstar... 'nuff said!

Spanglish Update: Keliabundia

Spanglish Update: The other night, as the gods of RF propagation dictate, an AM station from somewhere in the world popped into my van's radio - I could tell from the accent that it was a NYRican speaking into the airwaves. 

He was rather vociferously trashing a certain new and young Congresswoman from NY, but what caught my attention was his use of the adjective "keliabundia" to describe the lady in question. 

As it was clearly some sort of NewYorkism Spanglish, I had no idea what it meant... until I Googled it and it was not found in the vastness of the Internets... but Google's suggestion immediately clarified it for me! 

That nameless voice in the night sky was comparing @AOC to Kelly Bundy!

Not Googling-linking to Kelly Bundy... you're gonna hafta do that!

Call for Proposals

Howard County, Maryland desires to secure the professional services of qualified artists for the purpose of commissioning up to three artworks to be installed at its new Circuit Courthouse, which is currently being designed by Edgemoor-Star America Judicial Partners (ESJP). Permanent public interior and exterior Artwork pieces are planned. 

The Howard County Arts Council will serve as one of the art advisors for the selection process. Selected artists will contract directly with the County and work with the public art project team to oversee all aspects of the artwork from design through project implementation, fabrication and installation. 

Eligibility: 
All professional artists in the United States may apply. Additionally, to be considered for this commission the artist must meet at least three of the following four criteria: 1) has completed public art commissions; 2) has received awards, grants or fellowships; 3) has had work exhibited in museums or galleries; and 4) has demonstrated artistic merit, excellence and innovation through past work.

Budget Details:
County funding for this artworks project will not exceed $460,000. 

Submission Procedures:
Interested artists may view the complete Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) and apply online at hocoarts.submittable.com. Applications must be submitted no later than 4:00pm EST on March 29, 2019. 

How to frame your work

It is not that hard people!

Regardless of what your framer or your interior decorator, or your mom tells you, the prime purpose of a frame is to protect the artwork and ready it for presentation and exhibition.

Read the rest of this great piece of advice.

Open life drawing sessions

Hyattsville Figure Drawing Group

Tuesday, April 2, 6-9pm
Model: Jalene

Welcome to open life drawing sessions every Tuesday, 6-9pm in Pyramid Atlantic's gallery space in the Gateway Arts District, Hyattsville. Bring along your favorite art materials and draw with us! Chairs, tables and drawing boards provided.

All are welcome, under 18 legal guardian permission required. Drop-ins welcome, no experience necessary!

Where: 
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center*
4318 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, MD 20781
Free parking in rear of building

When: 
Tuesdays, 6-9pm

Cost: 
$20/session or $75/5-session punch card or $15/session for Pyramid Atlantic members (proof required)

For more information: 
https://www.meetup.com/Hyattsville-Figure-Drawing-Group-Meetup

Self and Others at Olly Olly

Olly Olly Presents

Self and Others - a solo exhibition of new work by Jeff Duka

March 16, 2019 – April 27, 2019

Opening Reception: Saturday, March 16, 2019, 7pm-10pm

In Self and Others, Jeff Duka’s works position and consider the self as nebulous, an ephemeral and temporal network. The muted opacity of his portraits suggests the occult and ever-shifting balance between what we do and do not share about ourselves, as well as between what we are and are not permitted or able to know about others. That we exist in a destructive, image-saturated world is the accepted reality from which these works emerge. Considering his painting to be “post-photographic,” Duka has eschewed the paralyzing quandaries of over consideration in favor of showing up in front of his easel. His series of bruises delves into the vulnerability of self while responding to the expectations of the viewer in this digital world. Step up to Duka’s true mirror: in this moment in which the image is everything, in which people have plastic surgery to look more like their edited and filtered selfies, in which destinations ranging from theme parks to art exhibitions surrender to a cultural mandate to manufacture contexts in which we can shape and sculpt our preferred counter realities, who are you? Who are your friends? How might we understand our multiple ways of seeing and of being? How might we understand the distance and content between the perceived and actual self? How might we know our true self and truly know and relate to others? Let a thousand images bloom. 

Join us at Olly Olly on Saturday, March 16, 2019, 7pm-10pm, for an evening reception with the artist. 

Olly Olly wants to nourish the body and the community as well. We will be collecting healthy non-perishable food items for the Food Bridge Program at Britepaths, which provides short-term emergency food assistance to Fairfax County area residents who are in crisis. We encourage you to bring a healthy non-perishable food item to donate. The Food Bridge Program is most in need of cooking oil, brown rice, dried beans, canned fruit in its own juices, canned tomato products and pasta sauce. 

Olly Olly, located at 10417 Main Street, 2nd Floor in Fairfax, VA, is open for special events and by appointment. During the run of a Self and Others, Olly Olly will also be open for special viewing hours Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Self and Others will be on view at Olly Olly from March 16, 2019 through April 27, 2019. 

Please call 703-789-6144 or visit ollyollyart.com for more information.

https://www.facebook.com/events/296344857747027/

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this rip off email artist:

Chris Atkinson chris.atkinson689@icloud.com

Thu 2/28/2019 5:59 PM

hello 

i saw some artworks the last time i visited your gallery 

i took some photos of the artworks

i am interested in purchasing them now 

kindly get back to me if the artworks are still available 

regards

Dr Chris Atkinson

Carolina Mayorga: at the OAS!

“East Meets West” at Potomac Fiber Art

Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery announces the opening of its juried show, “East Meets West”, on 16 April 2019.  The show will close on  19 May 2019.  Ikat weaving, Batik, Sashiko embroidery, Shibori dyeing,  hand stamping, and a myriad of other Eastern techniques and clothing styles are integrated with Western designs and techniques.

The results are very exciting. Our members have created a wonderful exhibit highlighting the theme, East meets West.  Themed work will be eligible for recognition by the jurors. Non-themed work will also be exhibited. 

The Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery, established in 1974, the first gallery for fiber arts in the Washington metro area. It is a cooperative association of up to 70 fiber artists, many of whom teach and have been published. There are 11 themed shows every year with a wide variety of fiber art. Techniques include  felting, quilting, weaving, knitting, dyeing, beading, and crocheting.  Some innovative pieces use fiber techniques with nontraditional materials such as metals, glass, wood, and clay.

Hours: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm daily and weekends, and 10:30 am to 9:00 pm on the second Thursday of each month. The gallery is closed on major holidays.

Deals of a lifetime for framing supplies

My framer (Apex Moulding) is closing one of its two locations and consolidating - they have thousands of frames, framing equipment, matboard, thousands of feet of moulding, etc. at give-away prices - all frames are either $5 or $10 regardless of moulding or size! 

Email Khalid at apexmoulding@yahoo.com or call him at 703/914-1000 and tell him Lenny sent you...

Volta Canceled

WOW! Almost last minute...

Nicole Berry, the Armory Show’s director, said the organization was notified of the issues on Wednesday, and that the fair made the decision to relocate the dealers and scuttle Volta “after considering all feasible options.” 

Read it here... 

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this rip-off scum:

Ralph ralphlauren0072@gmail.com

Thu 2/28/2019 10:30 AM

Good Day How are you doing? My name is Ralph Lauren from NC.I observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of art work,. I stormed on some of your works which i found quite impressive and intriguing. I must admit your doing quite an impressive job. You are undoubtedly good at what you do. With that being said, I would like to purchase some of your works as a surprise gift to my wife in honor of our upcoming wedding anniversary. It would be of help if you could send some pictures of your piece of works, with their respective prices and sizes, which are ready for immediate (or close to immediate) sales. My budget for this is within the price range of $450 to $5000. I look forward to reading from you in a view to knowing more about your pieces of inventory.(ralphlauren0072@gmail.com) Best regards, Ralph

The Bethesda Painting Awards

There is just one week left to apply! 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. They'd love for YOU to apply for your chance to showcase your work in June 2019. THE JUDGES: The competition will be juried by: Kyle Hackett, Professor of Studio Art, American University, and the 2014 Bethesda Painting Awards Winner; Sue Johnson, Professor of Art, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Susan Zurbrigg, Painting and Drawing Area Head, Professor of Art, James Madison University.

TO APPLY: Submit application, $25 entry fee and 5 images of your paintings. Artists must be 18 years of age or older and permanent, full-time residents of Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C. All original 2-D painting including oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, encaustic and mixed media will be accepted.  The maximum dimensions should not exceed 60 inches in width. All works on paper must be framed to full conservation standards. No reproductions. Artwork must have been completed within the last two years and must be available for the duration of the June 2019 Gallery B exhibition. Applications are due Friday, March 1, 2019 APPLY HERE

You Want to Buy Art. Is It About Love or Money?

Collecting fine art is as much about beauty and desirability as it about the investment value. Given how strong the art market has been over the past few years, many collectors may not be prepared if the economy slows and the appetite for art cools.

Read the NYT article here. 

Artists Magazine 's Annual Art Competition

Deadline: April 02, 2019

Artists Magazine 's Annual Art Competition wants to honor your most outstanding work. If your art is deserving of being celebrated in the pages of Artists Magazine, this competition is for you! 

$24,000 in cash prizes plus publication in Artists Magazine. 

There is an entry fee. 

Details: Here

Prizes

CASH & PRIZES

• 5 First Place Awards: $2,500 each
• 5 Second Place Awards: $1,250 each
• 5 Third Place Awards: $750 each
• 15 Honorable Mentions: $100 each
• Winners’ names and work will be featured in the Jan/Feb 2020 issue of Artists Magazine

STUDENT PRIZES

• 5 First Place Awards: free subscription to Artists Network TV for 1 year ($199 value)+ two free on-demand art courses
• 5 Second Place Awards: free subscription to Artists Network TV for 1 year ($199 value) + one free on-demand art course
• 5 Third Place Awards: free subscription to Artists Network TV for 1 year ($199 value)
• Award winners’ names and work will be featured in the December 2019 issue of Artists Magazine

Virginia Commission for the Arts Accepting Grant Applications for FY20

The Virginia Commission for the Arts is now accepting applications for arts activities and projects that occur between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.  

For more information:

• Guidelines for Funding: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/grants_guidelines.html
• Grant Deadlines: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/grants_deadlines.html
• General Operating Support: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/grants_support.html
• Technical and Organizational Development Assistance Grants:http://www.arts.virginia.gov/grants_technical.html
• Project Grants: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/grants_projects.html
• Creative Community Partnership Grants: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/grants_local.html
• Artist in Education Grants: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/grants_education.html
• Presenter Touring Assistance Grants: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/grants_performing.html
• Performing Arts Tour Directory: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/PATD.html
• Teaching Artist Roster: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/roster.html

The Virginia Commission for the Arts supports the arts through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Commission distributes grant awards to Virginia artists, arts and other not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, educators and local governments and provides technical assistance in arts management.

 

For additional information, contact the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Main Street Centre, 600 East Main Street, Suite 330, Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 225-3132. www.arts.virginia.gov

At UMD Stamp Gallery

VISUALIZING NARRATIVES: SHAPING RESISTANCE

Featuring work by: Becci Davis, Malik Lloyd, Leah Modigliani, Susanne Slavick, TUG Collective

Opening Reception Wednesday, February 13, 2019
5:00PM – 7:00PM
Free and Open to the Public

Protests and opposition movements have long been a social tool by which to mobilize groups of people around shared grievances, allowing them to collectively interrogate power structures and enact change through the discursive processes of resistance. Various forms of protest have been an important point at which resistance enters the public space and gains broader visibility, often through media images that become symbols of the movement. The images produced around protests and resistance movements – by artists, the media, or everyday documentarians – thus play a larger role in shaping narratives for public consumption.

This exhibition seeks to explore the role of visual production around protests and forms of resistance. It will consider such questions as: In what ways does the media visually shape narratives around protests or resistance movements? In what ways does artwork respond to, reshape, interrogate, or blur broader narratives? What role does the mass dissemination of images – by artists and the public via new media – play in shaping public perception of protests and resistance movements?

Located in: Adele H. Stamp Student Union
Address: 1220 Stamp Student Un, College Park, MD 20742
Phone: (301) 314-8492

Exposed DC Photography Show – 13th Annual Exhibition

The exhibit will be hosted by Touchstone Gallery

February 13 - 24, 2019, with support from the Touchstone Foundation for the Arts.

Featuring 43 images of the Washington metro area.

Exposed DC Opening Reception: Wednesday, February 13, 6 - 10pm

Tickets to the Exposed DC opening can be purchased via 

Exposed DC website athttp://exposeddc.com

Free and open to public during the exhibition regular hours.

Spain 1975

Lenny Campello, c. 1975 USS Saratoga (CV-60)

Who remembers contact sheets? That's an old one that I recently discovered - that's me around 1975 or so... posing while on liberty in Spain off USS Saratoga (CV-60)