DC Artist bound for Venice Biennale

Christopher Baer

Recent work from the White on White series on display throughout the 2013 Venice Biennale at Ai Reali, located a few steps from the Rialto Bridge. Opening Reception | Weds May 29th, 6 - 9pm | Venice, Italy Hosted by Ai Reali, Castello, Campo della Fava 5527 In addition to the Washington DC studio, Baer is producing work in a new studio in rural VA, two hours south of DC.   For more information about process, upcoming exhibitions and studio life, visit Baer's online visual journal or christopherbaer.com.  Daily blatherings on Twitter.

Sharon's Letter

Dear Friends, 

Please donate $30+ TODAY to fight cancer!  Read below to see why!

In 2012, I participated in the Marin Olympic Triathalon with Team in Training.  I swam .93 miles, biked 22 miles, and ran 6.2 miles in 3.5 hours.  In support of my efforts, 49 people helped me raise over $2,500 to find better cures and treatments for cancer.

It is 2013 and it is time for me to up the ante!  I am going to do TWO Olympic Triathalons, with Team in Training, which have more difficult courses and a larger monetary goal of $3000.

May 5th - Wildflower, CA - .93 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike, 6.2 mile run

June 30th - Pacific Crest, OR - .93 mile swim, 28 mile bike, 6.2 mile run

Last fundraising letter, I told you all about how I have a piece of my ass where my toe used to be. Threatened by a possible future spreading Melanoma, half of my toe was chopped off and a piece of my backside was put in its place. But that's ancient history.

Unfortunately, what isn't history...is cancer.  It is still kicking around affecting the people we know and love.  I can think of three of my peers (women in their 30's) who had to endure chemotherapy this year.  And that pisses me off!

If cancer also makes you mad, take 2 minutes and donate $30+ to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society from my fundraising page:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/paccrstr13/spieczenik

In the great words of my favorite author Dr. Seuss, 

 

“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!” 

So, I'm going to take my half-toe,

And we're going to have fun.  

Kicking Cancer's ass 

As I Swim, Bike, and Run! 

Thank you for the love and support.  Even if you can only donate one dime, please add your donation to the cause.  Ever cent counts.

Sincerely,

Sharon Pieczenik

Young Photographer

This is the latest work in my series of paintings/drawings with embedded electronic components. It is titled "Young Photographer Worshiping at the Altar of Contemporary Photography." It has three small LCD screens embedded into the piece that play about 200+ images of famous photographs, rotating every 3 seconds or so.

Young Photographer Worshiping at the Altar of Contemporary Photography
Watercolor, charcoal and gesso with embedded electronics
8x20 inches, matted and framed to 20x28 inches.

Detail

States of Mind at UM

OPENING RECEPTION THIS THURSDAY -  MAY 9, 5-8PM

MAY 9 – JUNE 22, 2013

States of Mind is the University of Maryland's first nationally juried exhibition, juried and curated by the Stamp Gallery’s student staff. Please join them in celebrating the opening of this fantastic show!  

For more information about the show visit their website.

My pick for this show?: Check out Adam Bradley's work

Gateway Open Studio Tour & WGS Annual Open House

Gateway Community Development Corporation (CDC) presents the 9th Annual Gateway Open Studio Tour on Saturday, May 11, 2013, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., in Prince George's County's Gateway Arts District. 

Home to one of the D.C. metro area's most innovative and exciting arts scenes, the Gateway Arts District brings together professional artists representing almost every visual arts medium. 

The day will end with an Opening Reception and After-Party at the Brentwood Arts Exchange (5pm - 8pm) and the 39th Street Gallery (5:30pm - 8pm). Both are located at 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood, MD.

Reserve your seat for the Open Studio Tour Complimentary Shuttle here.

And as you go around these tours, this Saturday it will be also the Washington Glass School's annual Anniversary Party and Open House....12 years and counting!  

While you're there do not forget to drop by Red Dirt and Flux Studios! It will be a great day to drop by and see what makes this area so hot for art and sculpture!

What : Washington Glass School Annual Open House and Anniversary Party
When : Saturday, May 11th from Noon to 5pm.
Where : Washington Glass School
             3700 Otis. St.
             Mt. Rainier, Md  20712
             202-744-8222

Go Gallery-Hopping with a Contemporary Art Collector

How do you get started collecting art if you’ve never done it before? Go from art outsider to insider in a single afternoon with Laura Roulet.

 Guided by Laura, visit five or six contemporary art galleries in the bustling 14th Street-U Street NW corridor. Meet with gallery directors to learn about the art on view. Laura will show you how to approach forming a collection, how to get invited to openings, how to evaluate galleries and more. Once you’re sufficiently embedded in the scene, finish with a glass of wine on your last stop.

Details here.

An Open Letter from Arts on the Block

Dear Fellow Artist:

 

Both of us have rarely asked fellow artists for a contribution to any the various arts organizations we‘ve been involved with over the years, unless the artist is rolling in money (an all too rare state), but we’re making an exception now. We’re both on the board of directors of a non-profit organization called Arts on the Block (AOB), and it could use a little help financing a very important part of its mission, which as an artist we think you’ll appreciate.

 

AOB's signature program involves high school students, many of whom are  economically disadvantaged, but all of whom identify themselves as creative types and lovers of art.  Mosaics are what the students (called apprentices at AOB) focus on, and over the years they have created a number of great public and private murals in the DC area. As a team the apprentices work with a public or private client to design a mosaic, and then they build it. Through this program AOB does a truly remarkable job of fostering art, life, and business skills. (You can see some to our apprentices’ work by going to the AOB website www.artsontheblock.org and clicking on Buy & Commission Art.)

 

A unique cornerstone of the program described above has been paying the apprentices a stipend while participating in the AOB program. This stipend is a important teaching tool as it adds concrete value and incentive to their creative work. The appentices have historically been paid $30 a day for their participation in the program. 

 

So why are we asking you for money now? Arts on the Block, like the vast majority of non-profit art organizations, is trying to weather the current economic woes. Unlike most non-profit art organizations AOB consistently stays out of debt;.This, however, can lead to budget cuts. Thus, we’re hoping you will contribute $30 for one of our apprentices for one day in the AOB program. We will not stop you if you’d like to finance 2 days for $60, or even a  whole week for $150. But, again, We’re hoping you will at least  consider financing an outstanding young artist for one day’s participation in the of Arts on the Block program.

 

Here's a link for donations: https://npo.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=64-0958139  

 

Or you can mail a check to:

 

  Arts on the Block

  11501 Georgia Ave.,  Ste 104

  Wheaton, MD   20902-1952

 

Whatever you can give will be greatly appreciated.

 

 Best,

Richard Dana and June Linowitz