A few days ago I shared with all of you here and in Facebook the fact that The Gazette newspapers intended to terminate Dr. Claudia Rousseau's visual arts review column
today. As I noted and I now have evidence, this is part of an apparent planned decimation of
arts coverage in general by the Gazette newspapers (owned by the Washington Post).
I am somewhat surprised by a couple of things:
- Seems like most of you don't care - and yeah, there has been some good noise in Facebook postings and a handful of you have emailed, called or otherwise contacted the newspaper in question. But nowhere near enough! There should be dozens and dozens of complaints... if you don't care, then don't ever bitch again about lack of arts coverage... every single one of you who's ever sent a news release about an art show to anyone should be sending a note to the editors of The Gazette.
- I am less surprised by the fact that I've have not heard anything from Mr. Will Franklin.
We cannot just stand by and meekly allow this to happen.
I once again demand that you contact Will Franklin at wfranklin@gazette.net and send him an email on the subject. Here's a copy of the email that I sent a few days ago to Mr. Franklin:
Dear Mr. Franklin,
This
note is to express both my disappointment and even outrage at the news
that The Gazette intends to terminate Dr. Claudia Rousseau's visual arts
coverage in The Gazette as part of an apparent decimation of its arts coverage in general.
While
I suspect that the reasons behind these planned coverage cuts are all
economic and due to reduction in overall coverage and reduction in size,
I shouldn't have to
remind anyone in the newspaper business that a newspaper's mission has
several critical components that make it a newspaper and not just stuff
printed on newsprint.
And coverage of the visual arts is a key one.
Unless
you also plan to eliminate restaurant reviews, movie reviews, local
events, etc. and reduce The Gazette to coverage of local High School
sports, the idea that a "neighborhood" newspaper can be a contributor to
its readership and part of the cultural tapestry of that neighborhood
without critical components such as Dr. Rousseau's columns on the visual
arts is a barbaric lack of understanding of what your readers deserve.
I
also suspect, since The Gazette is owned by The Washington Post, that
perhaps some of this "guidance" has come from above, most probably from
bean counters as far removed from newsprint as possible. This is
predictable, as the Washington Post is the only major newspaper in
America (and possibly the world) without a visual arts critic in its permanent
staff, and for the last two decades, since its last full-time gallery critic
retired, has used a dizzying set of rotating freelancers to cover the
Greater DC area visual art scene in an ad hoc manner.
Claudia
Rousseau has been covering The Gazette's areas visual arts for over 11
years - that span is equaled by just one other published visual arts
critic in the region. Ms. Rousseau's knowledge, access and insight into
the area's visual arts cannot be lost by a simple reason of economics.
I
plan to help rally the DC area's artists, gallerists, curators,
collectors, donors and supporters to make sure that The Gazette (and the
Washington Post) hear about Dr. Rousseau's termination. And for the
first time in the many years that we've known each other, I plan to mix
business with friendship and bring this to the personal attention of
Jeff Bezos, whom as you probably know, is an ardent supporter of the arts.
I
also intend to publish this note in DC Art News, and in the event that I
receive an answer from you, or anyone else in The Gazette, will offer
the opportunity to also publish your response.
Let me close this
note by asking you to bring this issue to the attention of whomever is
making this ill-advised decision; it will not happen without a lot of
resistance from the DMV's visual art scene.
Warm regards,
F. Lennox Campello
Husband and wife, Ron Loyd and Jodi Walsh, team up for an exhibition of
their ceramic artworks exploring organic textural surfaces. His
sculptural forms incorporate Korean Kohiki techniques, where iron-rich
clay is coated with white
slip then altered and manipulated to create unique rhythmic patterns.
Hers capture colors and textures experienced while living in Asia,
Africa and Europe in wall-hung panels layered and draped with masses of
three-dimensional ceramic forms, often dangling
in graceful clusters.
BlackRock Center for the Arts is pleased to present “His & Hers”: Ron Loyd & Jodi Walsh. The exhibition will be on view in the Main Gallery
from Wednesday, November 12 through Friday, December 19, 2014. On
Saturday, November 15, the center will host a Meet the Artist Reception
from 5:30pm to 7:30pm with an informal Artist Talk by the two
local artists. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the
public and it is always free to view gallery exhibitions at BlackRock.
Ron Loyd
www.ronloydart.com
Ron Loyd earned a BFA and MFA in Painting and Ceramics from Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, TX. He studied Animation at the School for Visual
Arts, New York, NY and Film Studies at New York University, New York,
NY, and Ceramics with world-renown artist Bill
Van Glider. Loyd was selected as a 2004 Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher
Fellow and a Washington Post Fellow. Loyd has been teaching art at
Rockville High School since 2001, where he is currently Head of the Fine
Arts Department and is teaching AP Studio Art,
IB Visual Art, Ceramics, Paintings, Studio Art and Digital Arts.
Jodi Walsh
www.jodiart.com
Jodi Walsh left her native country of Canada in 1967 for the Far East
and Europe, a move that would influence her life and work forever. She
moved to the United States in 1978 and while art has always been a part
of her life she first began to emerge as a serious
artist in 1995. Although Walsh has received private training, she has
never studied painting or ceramics at an academic institution. This has
allowed her the independence and freedom to develop her unique style.
Walsh has participated in international residencies,
to include Raymond International, London, England. Her work has been
exhibited regionally and nationally at venues which include Affordable
Art Fair New York City and Artexpo New York, New York, NY; Longview
Gallery, Washington, DC; Zenith Gallery, Washington,
DC; Smithsonian Craft Show and Washington Craft Show, Washington, DC;
Gallery 555 and Artists’ Museum. Washington, DC; Gallery 43, Atlanta,
GA; and The Dessert Gallery, Houston, Texas.
EXHIBITION TITLE: “His & Hers”: Ron Loyd & Jodi Walsh
EXHIBITION ON VIEW: Wednesday, November 12 – Friday, December 19, 2014
MEET THE ARTIST RECEPTION: Saturday, November 15 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm
LOCATION: Main Gallery (first floor)
BlackRock Center for the Arts
12901 Town Commons Drive
Germantown, MD 20874
PRICE: FREE
GALLERY HOURS: Monday–Friday 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.*, Saturday 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.*
(when classes are in session), Closed Sunday*. Please call 301-528-2260
to confirm open hours for specific dates.
*Galleries are also open during evening and weekend hours when performances and classes are offered at the center.
INFORMATION: 301-528-2260 or
www.blackrockcenter.org
ABOUT BLACKROCK CENTER FOR THE ARTS: BlackRock Center for the
Arts is a cultural cornerstone and the leading venue for the performing
and visual arts in Upper Montgomery County Maryland. Since 2002, the
nonprofit arts center has been providing the community
with diverse performing arts programs, free gallery exhibitions and
arts education experiences in a welcoming and intimate setting close to
home. The dynamic facility houses two art galleries, two theaters
presenting more than 40 performances per year, and
numerous classrooms and studios where year-round classes in the arts
are offered for all ages.
PARKING IS FREE & RIDE ON OFFERS 15-MINUTE EXPRESS BUS SERVICE FROM
SHADY GROVE METRO (RED LINE): BlackRock Center for the Arts is centrally
located in the heart of Germantown, next to the Germantown Branch
Montgomery County Public Library, at 12901 Town Commons
Drive, Germantown, MD 20874. Free parking is available in the lot
adjacent to our building. Ride Metrorail to Shady Grove Station (Red
Line) and transfer to Ride On Bus Route 100 (15-minute Express Bus
Service from Metro Shady Grove Station to the Germantown
Transit Center [GTC] on Aircraft Drive). From GTC, walk four blocks
following Century Boulevard to our front door, or transfer to Ride On
Bus Route 97 which stops in front of BlackRock. Check schedules by
calling 240-777-7433 or visiting: www.rideonbus.com
and www.metroopensdoors.com
