Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Announces Commission Appointment

From the Virginia Commission for the Arts Chair:

On behalf of the Commissioners, I am pleased to share with you Governor Northam’s appointment of Janet Starke to serve as Executive Director of the Agency. We are very fortunate to continue to have experienced and enthusiastic leadership to support the work of the Commission and our grantee organizations. We look forward to working with Janet and the Commission staff, as well as each of Virginia's arts organizations dedicated to bringing outstanding arts experiences and educational programs to children and adults across the Commonwealth. – John V. Raneiro, Chair, Virginia Commission for the Arts

Prior to her appointment, Janet served as Executive Director of Richmond Performing Arts Alliance since November 2015, having served as the organization’s Director of Education for six years prior. A native of Chesterfield County, Janet has worked in arts education and performing arts institutions for 22 years, in Richmond, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte and Cincinnati. Janet holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Arts Administration from Shenandoah University, and a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory. She has served as a grants panelist for Virginia Commission for the Arts, Montalvo Teaching Artist Fellowship, The Kennedy Center and US Department of Education. She has presented nationally at conferences and symposia, including those of Arts Education Partnership, Southeast Center for Education and the Arts, Arts Schools Network, U.S. Department of Education, Americans for the Arts, and National Arts Marketing Project.

The Virginia Commission for the Arts is the state agency that supports the arts through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Commission distributes grants to arts and other not-for-profit arts organizations, educational institutions, educators, artists, and local governments. For more information about the Virginia Commission for the Arts, visit www.arts.virginia.gov or call (804) 225-3132.

This Weekend: Last Chance to See AU's Summer Exhibitions

This weekend is your last chance to see: Ralph Steadman: A Retrospective, Figures: Kiley Ames, Janice Nowinski, Kyle Staver, Jo Weiss, Things Unseen: The Fluency of Abstraction, and Latitude: The Washington Women's Arts Center. 

Stop by American University's gorgeus Katzen Museum -- Saturday & Sunday from 11-4PM. 

Call for Video, Sound Art, and New Media - MD

Deadline: October 15, 2018. 

Frame & Frequency 4 Vol. 2 is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts in our In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening October 26, 2018. Video, sound art (up to 8 channels), film, and new media work will be accepted: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles. 

Submission specifications: Video/Sound Art: You may submit up to 3 works. Videos must be in .mp4 file format. Maximum length of 15 minutes. Sound Art files can be either .mp3 or .wav format. Upload files below through our online platform or provide Vimeo links for video previews. $5 application fee. 

Submit here.

Best courtroom artist ever

Those of us claiming to be art authorities and holders of the keys to what makes great fine art from illustration art, usually thumb our noses to the rather difficult art of police sketching - which has really delivered some fascinating and disturbing examples of befuddling "portraits" in the past - and courtroom artists.

And yet, Mr. William J. Hennessy, Jr., has stood out to me - clearly the final word on who and what makes great art - as a really, really good courtroom fine artist.

Hennessy has that somewhat rare ability to not only capture the likeness of the subject (in a limited time period in some cases), but also the evr rarer ability to infuse his portraits with a psychological trait of the character of the subject person.

My favorite set of drawings? The Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal!

Check out his work here.

Can you spot the fake Fridas?

There are lots of copies of Frida Kahlo's works in this pull of sold Ebay items listed under "Frida Kahlo Paintings." There are also several fakes being offered as works by Kahlo in the mix... can you tell which is what?

Click here.

Can You Tell a Real Artwork from a Fake?

Forgeries can be so convincing they become a form of art. Forgers have become famous in their own right, exhibitions have been devoted to fakes, and auction houses like Sotheby’s even hire in-house fraud experts.

But could you tell the difference between a copy and the real deal? Take our quiz to find out, and discover the history of art forgery along the way.

Take this quiz to find out: Click here.

Call for Howard County Artists

Artists wishing to be considered for an exhibit in the Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) galleries are invited to submit a general exhibit application. The HCAC Exhibits Committee meets quarterly to review applications and select artists for the exhibit space. Artists, ages 18 and older, working in all media and styles including time-based and installation artists, are encouraged to apply either individually or as a group. The Committee also welcomes proposals from curators and organizations.

Detailed entry guidelines are available at hocoarts.submittable.com/submit/, for pick-up at the Howard County Center for the Arts, or by mail by calling 410-313-2787 or emailing info@hocoarts.org. The next deadline for submissions is Monday, October 1, 2018.

HCAC manages two galleries at the Howard County Center for the Arts with over 2100 square feet of exhibit space. The HCAC gallery program was established to enhance the public’s appreciation of the visual arts, provide a venue to exhibit the work of local, regional, and national artists in a professional space, and provide leadership in the arts by presenting a broad spectrum of arts in all media from both emerging and established artists.

HCAC presents 11-12 exhibits per year of national, regional, and local artists, including two-person, small and large group, juried, curated, and community shows.

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10am- 8pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, and Sunday 12- 4pm.  To learn more about HCAC programs and exhibits, call 410-313-ARTS (2787) or visit hocoarts.org.  

Naked Girls at DCAC

In the prudish DMV there is almost nothing more subversive than reading banned books. Except maybe reading them naked in public! 

Cherie Sweetbottom, GiGi Holliday, Alice Darling and Sucre a La Creme, of Montreal, are stripping down at the DC Arts Center to show you why these pieces of literary rebellion are important.  

SHOW: Naked Girls Reading Presents Banned Books

DATE: Friday August 24, 2018 Seating at 10 pm, Showtime 10:30 pm

VENUE: DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St NW Washington, DC 20009

TICKETS: $22-$27 at https://nakedgirlsreadingbannedbooks.brownpapertickets.com?utm_source=dcartnews

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this jerk trying to rip off artists:

From: Ross Mattie rossmattie837@gmail.com

Subject: ross

My name is Ross Mattie from Los Angeles. I have been on the lookout for some artworks lately in regards to I and my wife's anniversary which is just around the corner. 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 one 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 $500 to $4000.

I look forward to reading from you in a view to knowing more about your pieces of inventory. As a matter of importance, I would also like to know if you accept check as a means of payment.

Three shows at Artists & Makers Studios

Artists & Makers Studios on Parklawn Drive and Wilkins Avenue in Rockville are featuring three exhibits at two locations. These three exhibits will open First Friday festivities between 6-9pm on August 3rd, and will showcase resident artists’ open studios for browsing as well.

Olney Art Association Invitational“Depths of Strength” with Cherie Redlinger & Klaudia Levin“This Place” with Jabari C. Jefferson
Opening Reception6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Friday, August 3rd, 2018 Artists & Makers Studios 111810 Parklawn Dr., Suite 210 Rockville, MD 20852 

and 

Artists & Makers Studios 212276/12280 Wilkins Avenue Rockville, MD 20852 

Artists & Makers Studios 1 on Parklawn hosts a three gallery invitational exhibit with the Olney Art Association, along with Theremin music by Arthur Harrison as well as resident artists’ open studios. Additionally A&M2 on Wilkins is proud to present the work of Cherie Redlinger & Klaudia Levin, as well as a solo exhibit of the work of Jabari C. Jefferson. Also enjoy a new exhibit by the 21 member artists in Gallery 209, an exhibit with the Montgomery County Camera Club “Architectural Design”, and resident artists’ open studios - all just 9/10’s of a mile from the flagship location on Parklawn with free parking at both locations and the best parties in town. 

These exhibits at both locations open Friday, August 3rd, and continue through Wednesday, August 29th, 2018. Viewing hours coincide with office hours and are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, TuesdaySaturday, and Sundays/Mondays by chance or appointment. 

Artists & Makers Studios on Parklawn Drive in Rockville, established in October 2014 by artist and arts community builder Judith HeartSong, is a 13,000 sq. ft. facility is now home to 66 resident artists. Artists & Makers Studios 2 on Wilkins Avenue in Rockville is a 23,000 sq. ft. facility with 95 resident artists and more to come. A&M Studios is dedicated to providing a supportive and vibrant environment for artists to realize their creative goals - through studio practice, collaboration, education, opportunities, networking and connecting with the community beyond our doors. 

Accepting Exhibition Proposals

Deadline: August 17, 2018. 

1708 Gallery welcomes all artists to submit exhibition proposals. Our Exhibitions Committee reviews proposals annually. This committee includes professional artists from our Board, Curator, and Executive Director. Exhibition proposals are currently being considered for the year 2020. If you are currently a student, you must have graduated by the exhibition year. 1708 Gallery strongly encourages proposals for new or developing projects and bodies of work. In addition to proposals for exhibitions in 1708’s gallery space, public works and other non-gallery based projects will be considered. 

Exhibition periods are approximately six weeks. 

1708 provides a $1000 honorarium, plus shipping, travel, installation and other exhibition support. 

Please contact 1708 Gallery Coordinator Erin Willett with any questions at info@1708gallery.org or 804.643.1708. For more information and to submit a proposal, visit www.1708gallery.org