JFK said...

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

Am I the only one who thinks that the first line above has been reversed in the last few decades?

Wanna find a place to draw?

Looking for a chance to hone your figure drawing skills? Del Ray Artisans offers a range of open life drawing sessions for just this purpose. These sessions operate on a drop-in basis so there is no need to register in advance. Bring your supplies and join them at the gallery to draw or paint their live models. They don't supply easels - only plenty of chairs - but you are welcome to bring your own if you want to use one. All skill levels are welcome.

Gesture Sessions (two hours)
Come to the gesture sessions to loosen up and participate in a fun, fast-paced drawing experience. These two-hour sessions are composed primarily of multiple series of dynamic 1-5 minute poses. Occasionally they throw in a continuous motion drawing exercise to keep things interesting.

Short Pose Sessions (two hours)
Short pose sessions predominantly feature poses lasting 5-15 minutes. These sessions are a wonderful way to get in lots of drawing practice with a wide variety of poses.

Short/Long Pose Sessions (three hours)
The three-hour short/long pose sessions start with some short 1-5 minute warm-up poses and progressively move into longer poses lasting 10-45 minutes. These sessions provide a great opportunity to hone your drawing and observation skills.

Long Pose Sessions (three hours)
If you want to spend an extended amount of time on a pose, come to their long pose sessions. These sessions are generally be composed of two long poses with perhaps a few warm-ups at the start. Please no acrylics or oils; but pastels, watercolor and ink are welcome.

The fee for each three-hour session is $10 for Del Ray Artisans members and $12 for non-members. Two-hour sessions are $8 for members and $10 for non-members.
 

For session dates and times, visit their online calendar at calendar.TheDelRayArtisans.org. If you have any questions, please contact Katherine Rand at 703-836-1468 or LifeDrawing@TheDelRayArtisans.org.

41st Annual Faculty Exhibition at Montgomery College’s King Street Gallery

Montgomery College’s Department of Visual Arts and Design presents In Balance, the 41stAnnual Faculty Exhibition in the King Street Gallery. The exhibit opens December 5th with a reception from 6–8 p.m. This exhibitionfeatures the artwork of faculty and staff in the Department of Visual Arts and Design at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus of Montgomery College.

The prolific faculty and staff of Montgomery College’s Visual Arts and Design Department exhibit recent work in this annual exhibition. The show includes well-known local artists J. J. McCracken, Cory Oberndorfer, Jeremy Flick, and Ellington Robinson, as well as other emerging and established artists.

Representing varied interests and backgrounds, the 41st Annual Faculty Exhibition explores a range of media, including painting, printmaking, photography, installation, and performance. Exhibiting artistsinvestigate diverse themes, from personal memories to global environmental issues.

The 41st Annual Faculty Exhibition runs December 5, 2013–January 30, 2014 at the King Street Gallery. A reception will take placeThursday, December 5 from 6–8 p.m. The event will be held at theMorris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center, where the gallery is located. For more information, visit http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/arts-tpss/exhibitions/. Free and open to the public.

About The King Street Gallery:

The King Street Gallery’s exhibitions serve as a compliment to the academic programs of the Department of Visual Arts and Design, while also bringing art to the community. As part of the Silver Spring arts community, exhibitions focus on current pieces by working artists. The gallery is on the ground floor of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center on the west side of the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. The center is located off of Georgia Avenue at 930 King Street. Parking is available in the West Campus Garage, which is located immediately behind the center.

Contact: ​​Megan Van Wagoner, 240-567-5803, megan.vanwagoner@montgomerycollege.edu

Gallery Website:​http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/arts-tpss/exhibitions/

Gallery Address: ​The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center

​​930 King Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Opportunity for Virginia Artists

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY!

VIRGINIA ARTISTS, the opportunity to make new waves in your art career is closing. The New Waves 2014 deadline is midnight December 1, 2013 - just two weeks away! If accepted, your work will be displayed co-currently with the Vik Muniz: Poetics of Perception exhibition, juried by Charles Moffett of Sotheby's AND you could win up to $2,000!

New Waves 2014 will celebrate its 19th year showcasing the Commonwealth's vast array of artistic talent, diversity of materials and approaches in contemporary art. The exhibition will run from January 31-April 27, 2014 co-currently with the Vik Muniz: Poetics of Perception exhibition.

Last year over 185 artists from across Virginia submitted work of which 33 were selected to show. Shaun Whiteside was awarded New Waves 2013 'Best in Show' for his Rise painting along with a cash prize. Past exhibiting New Waves artists have also been selected for solo shows at MOCA's new Satellite Gallery at Towne Pavilion II.
  
Charles Moffett of Sotheby's will be this year's honorary juror. Charles is presently the Head of the Afternoon Sale in the Contemporary Art Department at Sotheby's maintaining key client relationships throughout North America and Europe, securing consignments for auction, as well as private sales.
 

APPLY TODAY!

Gallery space available...

Gallery Space Available

 

The Anacostia Arts Center has galleries available for short-term and long-term rentals in Historic Anacostia. Daily, weekly, and monthly terms available, starting at $125/day or $1,200/month. We are open to innovative ideas and arrangements. Email Kate (kdavis@archdc.org) for more information.

Getting ready for Miami...

Working overtime trying to get ready for the Context Art Miami fair next month in Miami. I'd like to finish two more pieces before the shipment leaves. If anybody wants some free tickets - and these are good as they you in to not only Context, but also Art Miami and Aqua.

A new idea and a new series begin

Recently I was approached by the chief curator for an outfit that is hired by firms all over the world to acquire artwork for their spaces. In this case this curator was acquiring art to include in the collection of a brand new luxury liner currently being built.

She wanted me to submit a proposal that fit a particular theme for one of the decks of the ship. I struggled with an idea that has been growing little by little in my brilliant mind... cough, cough. 

Here's the proposal:

In response to the request for an art proposal for _____________’s collection for the ship’s third deck along the theme “_______________” I hereby submit the following proposal. It should be noted that the concept is adaptable since it will be created specifically for this project.

“Rock, Paper, Scissors.” This work would be a mixed media piece with three embedded video components. The painting part of the work is a large, colorful drip painting done in the style of Jackson Pollock. Embedded in the piece are three video windows, which start as “part” of the painting (in other words, the video starts as a drip painting window as well, and at first sight it is just a continuation of the painting). After five seconds of the video windows being part of a Pollock-style painting, they all fade into three individual videos of (1) rock, (2) paper and (3) scissors. In all three cases the video will be customized to show a falling object (i.e. a rock, or a sheet of paper, or the scissors) falling in slow motion and bouncing on a hard surface. The video loops and starts all over again. The size of the piece is adaptable to the space, but will be framed under glass and requires access to electricity. The largest dimension that it can be is 40x60 inches.

A variation to this approach could be a Piet Mondrian approach, where one, two or three of a Piet Mondrian-style painting’s squares shift colors, thus forever showcasing an ever changing work. This can also be approached in the same “Rock, Paper, Scissors” playful idea discussed above; that is, three of the painting’s windows shift to videos of rock, paper, scissors.

Installation of this work requires access to US electric wall outlet standards, which all ships generally have. The electrical cord and connection will require an electrician to hard-wire the piece behind the wall, or it can also be channeled on the wall itself to the nearest electric outlet. The work comes with a remote control, which allows the piece to be turned off and on as desired.

The artwork and framing can all be done within the budget assigned for this project ($______ USD), and installation would be the responsibility of ________.

I am honored to be considered for this project. Please feel free to contact me at my cell (301/_______) or via email (lenny@lennycampello.com) if there are any questions.

After I submitted this proposal I decided to see if I could create a variant on the idea for the Miami art fairs... I will be at the CONTEXT Art Miami (within Art Miami) fair in Wynwood in booth E-82. In the variant, I've created a large painting in the style of Jackson Pollock, with a window in the middle where a video plays and shows that part of the painting (where the window has been cut) as it is being created... below is the video itself (still being edited).

Fall at the Torpedo Factory

Nude art censored

Just in case you thought this only happens in post-1800s American public art:

A GROUP of Bundaberg artists are out to show that art cannot be censored in the region by announcing plans to hold a nude-only art exhibition.

The move comes after vision-impaired artist Dennis Mealor's naked photograph of a mature-aged woman, titled Viva Italia, was suddenly withdrawn from the Bundaberg Arts Festival without an explanation last month.

Jacky Poulter, and about seven other volunteers with the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery (BRAG), will hold "Just Nudes" at the Dirty Linen Artspace next March.

The group is calling itself the BRAG Traders, and has created the independent exhibition because of the expulsion of Mr. Mealor's artwork from the 2013 festival.

Details  here...

And (Oh yeah...) Bundaberg Arts Festival: You suck! The winners of the 2013 festival are here, and "Placoderm" by John Olson actually rocks!

PS - Anybody knows what "acquisitive" means? Cough, cough...

Kessler & Weiblinger at BlackRock

Up Close and Personal: Opening Reception

---

Main Gallery | Thursday, Nov 21, 2013 | 5:30 PM | $ Free

Artists: Glen Kessler (painter) and Richard Weiblinger (photographer)

A modern perspective through the eyes of a photographer and a painter

Exhibit: November 13 –December 20, 2013.

These two hardworking artists are great examples of DMV artists who work hard at exhibiting their work and don't waste time complaining about lack of exhibition opportunities... go check them out! 

Details here.

Ahhh...

Red Square has seen a lot over the centuries, from public executions to giant military parades, but a performance artist broke new ground on Sunday when he nailed his scrotum to cobblestones in a painful act of protest.

Read and shudder here.

Thank you to all veterans!

Thank you!


To all US veterans, both those who have served and those who are serving in all corners of the planet while we're home with our families. A well-deserved thank you to all the soldiers, sailors, airmen/women, Marines and Coasties.

Below is Petty Officer Third Class Lenny Campello back in 1975 while stationed aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60) in Mayport, Florida.


And then Lieutenant Commander Lenny Campello back in 1992 while assigned as the Executive Officer (XO) of NSGA Skaggs Island, California.

ABMB Art Fair Guide

In less than a month, the Miami metro area will be the site of numerous contemporary art fairs and art events including Art Miami, CONTEXT, Art Basel Miami Beach, Pulse Miami, and many more.  Art-Collecting.com takes an in-depth look at all the festivities in their free 2013 Miami and Miami Beach Art Fair Guide.

We will be at CONTEXT (within Art Miami) in booth E82.

World's tallest statue

Opposition leader Narendra Modi launched the construction of the world's tallest statue on Thursday, a $338 million project in honour of one of the country's founding fathers, that he is using to undermine the ruling Nehru-Gandhi political family.

Read the story here 

From my collection: Mark Jenkins

Mark Jenkins, Pubic Hair, Photograph, circa 2005

Mark Jenkins is now one of the world's best known and most widely traveled street artists. This very cool photo by Jenkins was part of his 2005 solo show at Georgetown's iconic Fraser Gallery. You can see his work here.

Spectacular sunset tonight (phone pic)

Potomac Sunset, November 6, 2013,

Nazi stolen art found!

Tax authorities in Munich were searching the home of Cornelius Gurlitt, a suspected tax cheat. They surely hoped to find something implicating him in chiseling the tax system. Since Gurlitt is the reclusive son of a Munich art dealer, perhaps the tax authorities thought they might find some art in addition to evidence of tax evasion.

However, they surely didn’t expect to stumble across an astounding 1,500 paintings by masters like Matisse, Picasso and Chagall. The treasure trove of priceless art vanished during the Nazi regime and is valued at $1 billion. 

Read the whole thing here.

La Rubell and Baltimore artists...

Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) has announced the names of the artists whose work was selected by Mera Rubell, Co-Founder of the Rubell Family Collection,  from the WPA  36 Studios/36 Hours marathon in Baltimore October 26 and 27.

WPA, a 38-year-old nonprofit organization presenting contemporary art and supporting artists in the Greater Washington region, invited Mrs. Rubell to serve as one of eight curators for its 33rd Annual Art Auction Exhibition, SELECT 2014. Each year, WPA invites prestigious curators from renowned institutions to select works which are exhibited for approximately one month and then auctioned to benefit the organization and artists. As an artist service organization, WPA is proud of its long history of equally sharing proceeds of the auction art sales with the artists  (a 50/50 split).

Beginning at 6am on Saturday, October 26, 2013, Mrs. Rubell set out on a 36-hour studio visit marathon throughout the city of Baltimore accompanied by Lisa Gold, WPA Executive Director, and a constantly changing entourage of reporters, photographers, collectors, gallerists, curators, and other arts professionals. From School 33 to the Creative Alliance and at many studios in between, Ms. Rubell listened to, questioned, prodded, and bonded with the 36 artists who were selected through the 36 Studios /36 Hours lottery.

The marathon ended Sunday, October 27 at 6pm and culminated in a reception for all of the artists who applied for a studio visit as well as people in the Baltimore art community. The party, held at Rubell's Lord Baltimore Hotel, was attended by over 200 people and brought together the community in a veritable "love fest" of Baltimore art.

Mrs. Rubell was initially tasked with selecting approximately 10-15 works by 10-12 artists. She ended up selecting 25 works by 19 artists. "There were so many amazing artists," exclaimed Mrs. Rubell. "People should know what's happening in Baltimore." As the visits were made in her role as a curator for WPA's Art Auction Exhibition, many considerations went into Mrs. Rubell's decision-making process, such as scale of the work and availability for exhibition. "The choices were very difficult," Rubell professed. "All of the work I saw was of high quality and the artists were extremely professional and talented."

In a surprise announcement, Mrs. Rubell has arranged for the works she selected to be previewed in New York before the WPA SELECT 2014 exhibition. From January 11 through January 18, 2014, Marianne Boesky Gallery's uptown space (118 E 64th Street) will host Baltimore Artists + WPA + Mera Rubell = LOVE, an exhibition featuring the 25 works chosen through the 36 Studios/36 Hours adventure. The New York preview is a first for WPA and the SELECT auction. "I'm thrilled to be able to offer this incredible opportunity to these talented artists, the majority of whom have no gallery representation, and to be able to bring together the Washington, Baltimore, and New York art communities through our inspired adventure and this wonderful exhibition," said Lisa Gold.

The selected artists are:

Amanda Burnham, Michelle Dickson, Dave Eassa, Alex Ebstein, Cliff Evans, Sean FitzPatrick, Ryan Hoover, Jason Hughes, Tiffany Jones, Gary Kachadourian, Magnolia Laurie, Curtis Miller, Cara Ober, Rachel Rotenberg, Ginevra Shay, Jo Smail, Ryan Syrell, Alessandra Torres, and Stewart Watson.

SELECT 2014 will be on view February 27 through March 21, 2014 at Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209. Hours are Wednesday-Friday: 4 - 11pm; Saturday: Noon - 11pm; Sunday: Noon - 5pm; Monday & Tuesday: Closed. Admission is free.

Baltimore Artists + WPA + Mera Rubell = LOVE will be hosted by Marianne Boesky Gallery, 118 E 64th Street, New York, NY 10065 from January 11 through January 18, 2014. Hours are Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 6pm. Admission is free.

From my collection: Grant Silverstein

This is Diana and her huntresses surprised by the sudden appearance of Actaeon by the immensely talented Pennsylvania self-taught printmaker Grant Silverstein. You can buy Silverstein etchings here.

Hey! That's my moustache!

I don't know how long this will be online, but WJLA has the picture of my moustache illustrating this story.

Ahhh... thank you! I think?

The art of the fake...

Frida Kahlo, cough, cough.... click here ... then sort through some of the listings and see how many "undiscovered" Frida Kahlos you can find...

Happy H-day 2013!

And the DCCAH grants go to...

This year, the DCCAH received 632 applications requesting over $18 million in funding. All eligible applications are reviewed by Advisory Review Panels, which are convened by DCCAH board members (yours truly was one of the Advisory Panel members). For FY14, the DCCAH held 20 Advisory Review Panels and enlisted the expertise of over 120 Advisory Review Panelists (I was one of them) who read, discussed, and scored each application.

The DCCAH funded a broad spectrum of innovative and exciting artists, programs, and organizations. For example, individual artists in music and visual arts, programs that teach young people, and institutions that serve residents and visitors across the city will be awarded grants this year. These grantees contribute to the District's cultural landscape that provides an economic impact of over $1.1 billion to the city.

Follow this link to see a complete list of FY14 grant recipients. Below are the key Artist Fellowship program awardees (with a lot of the usual suspects)... Congrats to all of them!

In spite of the severe financial austerity environment, DC seems to be somehow still kicking ass and taking names when it comes to sheckels and the arts...

FY14 Grant Awardees - Artist Fellowship Program

FY14 Artist Fellowship Program Awardees

Name	Ward	Official Amount
Abdul Ali	6	$5,000
Adam Davies	3	$10,000
Alexis Gillespie	4	$10,000
Anna Edholm Davis	4	$7,500
Anne Marchand	2	$10,000
Anu Yadav	4	$10,000
Armando Lopez-Bircann	1	$5,000
Assane Konte	5	$7,500
Ayanna Gregory	4	$10,000
Brian Settles	5	$10,000
Carmen Wong	2	$10,000
Carolyn Joyner	1	$5,000
Cecilia Cackley	6	$10,000
Christylez Bacon	1	$5,000
Dan Steinhilber	6	$10,000
Dana Burgess	3	$5,000
Dana Ellyn	2	$5,000
Daniel Flint	6	$5,000
David Keplinger	2	$10,000
Dean Kessmann	3	$10,000
Elizabeth Acevedo	6	$10,000
Ellie Walton	1	$10,000
Emiliano Ruprah	4	$5,000
Eric Gottesman	1	$5,000
Fawna Xiao	6	$5,000
Fred Joiner	6	$7,500
Gregory Ferrand	4	$10,000
Holly Bass	1	$10,000
James Byers	7	$10,000
Joey Manlapaz	6	$7,500
Jonathan Tucker	6	$10,000
Juan Gaddis	4	$5,000
Julia Bloom	3	$10,000
Karen Baker	5	$5,000
Karen Evans	5	$7,500
Karen Zacarias	1	$10,000
Kate MacDonnell	1	$10,000
Kim Roberts	1	$5,000
Krys Kornmeier	3	$5,000
Linn meyers	4	$7,500
Lisa Farrell	5	$5,000
Liz Maestri	1	$5,000
Maggie Michael	2	$7,500
Marjuan Canady	4	$5,000
Mark Parascandola	1	$10,000
Matt Sesow	1	$7,500
Matthew Mann	6	$7,500
Maureen Andary	4	$7,500
Maurice Saylor	5	$10,000
Michael Janis	5	$10,000
Michael Sirvet	2	$10,000
Michelle Herman	4	$7,500
Mickey Terry	7	$10,000
Miya Hisaka	3	$5,000
Molly Springfield	1	$5,000
Naomi Ayala	1	$10,000
Norman Allen	4	$10,000
Paul Bishow	1	$7,500
Paul Reuther	2	$7,500
Paul Thornley	6	$7,500
Rania Hassan	5	$7,500
Regie Cabico	1	$10,000
Renee Stout	5	$7,500
Rik Freeman	7	$7,500
Ruth Forman	5	$7,500
Sam McCormally	5	$5,000
Sandra Beasley	1	$10,000
Sara Curtin	1	$7,500
Sean Hennessey	5	$7,500
Siobhan Rigg	5	$7,500
Sondra Arkin	2	$10,000
Stanley Squirewell	5	$5,000
Stephon Senegal	4	$7,500
Thomas Colohan	1	$10,000
Tim Tate	2	$7,500
Trevor Young	2	$7,500
Valerie Theberge	3	$10,000
Yi Chen	3	$10,000

White House blues...

Redux: It all depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is...

Cough, cough...

Lisa Montag at AU

Korda at Oregon

Chicoms and fake art...

No Chinese painting had ever fetched so much at auction, and, by the end of the year, the sale appeared to have global implications, helping China surpass the United States as the world’s biggest art and auction market.

But two years after the auction, Qi Baishi’s masterpiece is still languishing in a warehouse in Beijing. The winning bidder has refused to pay for the piece since doubts were raised about its authenticity. 

 Read the NYT story here. And chances are that if you think that you own a real Wifredo Lam, you're in the same boat... cough, cough...

For Miami...

Just ordered the largest frame to date for my most ambitious electronics-embedded project yet... not my largest work of art ever - that monster is in a private NYC collection - but my largest work with embedded electronics.

It will be three feet by five feet and part of the "Contemporary Art" series, where I usually show someone overwhelmed by contemporary art... painting actually. It will start at ten grand; my most expensive piece yet and a natural growth in price over many years.

We will be at CONTEXT in Miami in December, and showcasing Dulce Pinzon, Simon Monk, Ric Garcia, Audrey Wilson and yours truly.

If you are an artist, or a gallerist, or a serious collector in 2013, then you need to go to Miami in December, but before you do that, you need to make sure that you have plenty of the most valuable commodity on the planet: information!

La Rubell all over Baltimore

Over 150 artists entered the lottery to have the opportunity to have Mera Rubell visit their studio and these are a few of the lucky 36 selected. Ms. Rubell and Ms. Gold, Director of the WPA, were joined at points throughout their tour with notable arts professionals from local museums and galleries as well as members of the press from Baltimore and Washington, DC. After the 36 hour marathon Ms. Rubell has invited participants and all applicants to 36 Studios: Part Two to join her for an after party at the Lord Baltimore Hotel on Sunday, October 27 from 6-8:00pm.

 Cara Ober has a very cool report on Mera Rubell studio-visiting tour all over Baltimore... check it out here.

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival Call

Call to Artists

WHAT: An Outdoor Fine Arts Festival 

WHERE: Bethesda, MD

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday 

May 10-11, 2014

 

NOTEWORTHY: 

*Complimentary breakfast and lunch for participating artists. 

*Free parking within 1 block. 

*Limited to 140 booth spaces of juried fine art and fine craft.

*Estimated attendance: 20,000. 

*$2,500 in cash awards. 

*24-hour security. 

*Booth sitters. 

*Entry/booth fees: $30/$425 (10x10); $850 (10x20).

*For more details about the show, click HERE

The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival was ranked #78 of the 200 Best Shows in the USA by Sunshine Artist Magazine in September, 2008, making it the highest ranked fine art festival in Maryland. Artists report consistently high sales every year. Electronic application available on the festival's website. 

Ancient DNA Links Native Americans With Europe

"Im still processing that Native Americans are one-third European," says geneticist Connie Mulligan of the University of Florida in Gainesville. "It's jaw-dropping." At the very least, says geneticist Dennis O'Rourke of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, "this is going to stimulate a lot of discussion."

Details http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6157/409.full

Alex Queral "Face | Book - Phonebook Portraits"

I know this show is in Philly and not the DMV, but my peeps Alex Queral is not only a University of Washington fellow grad, and a fellow YUCA, but also such a terrific artist who has carved a niche (pun intended) like no one else in the art world, that this show deserves a shout out:

November 1 - December 21, 2013
Artist Opening Reception:  First Friday, November 1^st, 6-9 pm

Projects Gallery Philadelphia is pleased to present Alex Queral’s “Face | Book – Phonebook Portraits”.  In his third solo exhibition with the gallery, Alex explores the duality of the recognizable and the anonymous in modern society.  Works being featured include his signature hand-carved telephone books, as well as large-scale digital prints.

Born in Cuba with a migration to Mexico before landing in the U.S., the artist has experienced first hand the sense of invisibility.  Taking, until now, an easily discarded object like a residential telephone book with its lists of thousands of faceless names and numbers, Alex transforms them into three-dimensional portraits of the famous and no-so famous of today’s mass media.  Using the simple tools of an X-ACTO® knife and a little acrylic paint, his talented hands dissect, eviscerate and reconstruct these pages of soft material into incredible art objects.  Utilizing classical carving techniques on an unexpected material, Queral brings forth the individual from the faceless masses. The artist crafts recognizable visages, vaguely familiar but elusively foreign, as well as evoking his own cast of characters from the found sheets of paper.

What happens to these images when you enlarge them five fold, returning them to the cinematic context from which they came?  The graphic details become surprising clear.  The object transcends the material and becomes the focal point of discovery and serendipitous moments appear.  John Wayne’s given name (in the female) appears on his forehead; Clint Eastwood has a listing of funeral homes, perhaps a reference to the many men shot by Dirty Harry; Zimmerman is hidden behind the head of Bob Dylan.   However, with either media, the distinctly iconic work of Alex Queral cannot be denied.

Mr. Queral received a B.F.A. from the University of Washington, Seattle and a M.F.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.  His works have been exhibited around the world and throughout U.S.; most recently at the Philadelphia International Airport and in Hong Kong.  They are in the collections of Ripley's Believe It or Not!®, Sasktel Canada, Jerry Speyer and numerous private collections. His images have appeared in numerous books, including Art Made from Books; 500 Paper Objects: New Directions in Paper Art – A Preview; Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Enter If you Dare!; Playing with Books: The Art of Upcycling, Deconstructing and Reimaging the Book.  Queral's work has gained International acclaim through numerous internet bloggers.   His carved telephone books and prints are exclusively represented by Projects Gallery.

Face | Book – Phonebook Portraits will run November 1 – December 21, 2013 with an artist reception on First Friday, November 1st from 6-9. The reception is free and open to the public.  Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section. A preview of works may be viewed on the gallery’s website at www.projectsgallery.com. For more information and images, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com