Withdrawn
As posted here, on June 28, Sen. Tom Coburn withdrew from consideration his floor amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill which would have cut FY 2006 funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) by $5 million each.
It became clear to Sen. Coburn that his amendment had little support for passage, in large part because of the outcry from thousands of art advocates. Assuming the Senate passes its version of the bill, as is expected, both houses will then convene a conference committee the week of July 11 to craft a final bill, reconciling any differences between their separate versions.
DC Art News favors the House version, because it contains a higher funding level for the NEA, and also because it would fully fund the NEA's Challenge America program, which primarily supports arts programs in underserved areas. Therefore, we encourage you to contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to support the House-approved level of $131.3 million, including full funding for Challenge America, during the House-Senate conference.
Contact your elected representatives here.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Breedloves... and Seven opening photos
Those of you who attended the huge opening of Seven last Thursday at the Warehouse, know that one of the highlights of the opening was the magnificent voice of Hisham Breedlove, who delighted the crowd with not only his painted body, but also with his magnificent voice.
Hisham walked around the seven galleries that make up the show, singing a variety of opera solos; and he was spectacular!
Adrienne Mills recorded the Breedlove's transformation in this series of photographs from the opening of Seven. See them here.
More photos from the opening below (all courtesy Adrienne Mills):
Friday, July 01, 2005
Blogger in the news
Canadian art blogger Chris Zeke makes news in his hometown with an interesting (and funny) profile in the Montreal Mirror.
Openings tonight
Being the first Friday of the month, the Dupont Circle Galleries will have their joint openings and extended hours tonight from 6-8PM.
Of special interest is Conner Contemporary's John Kirchner: Certain Distance and Leo Villareal: new work.
JET Artworks will host Matthew Arnold, Knut Hybinette, Emily Noelle Lambert and Jason Robert Bell. Their nearby neighbor, Studio Gallery presents "Points of Tangency," which includes new glass sculptures by Michael Janis and Erwin Timmers, both of whose's work is included also in Seven (in fact Janis' piece in Seven was the first piece sold last night).
'Tis Over 'Tis Finished 'Tis Done
In spite of the humid weather, the opening for Seven went great, and I'd guess around 1,000 people floated in and out of the seven gallery spaces, several sales took place, the press showed up and took notes, and I am sure that more (sales and reviews) will happen during the next few weeks.
The drawing class, organized by Scip Barnhardt and some brave Corcoran art students, went well, and truly underscored the sense that I wanted to give to the room focused on the human figure.
Today I am truly exhausted, and (of course) have two openings to organize for our galleries in the next two weeks - it never ends!
The exhibition runs until September 9. Go see it!
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Seven Opens Tonight
What: Seven, an exhibition of 67 WPA/C artists curated by me.
When: Opens tonight with a catered reception for the artists starting at 6PM. Work on exhibition until Sept. 9, 2005.
Where: The seven spaces that make up the Warehouse Theatre and Galleries complex. Located at 1021 7th Street, NW, across from the new Washington Convention Center.
See ya there!
This offensive new Mexican stamp is causing all kinds of highly deserved uproar, and once again proves the enormous power of the visual image, especially (and unfortunately) when coupled with deeply offensive messages such as this one is.
Read the WaPo story here.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Little Queen of Spades
By Robert Johnson
Now, she is a little queen of spades
and the men will not let her be
Mmm mmm mmm, she is the little queen of spades
and the men will not let her be
Everytime she makes a spread
hoo, fair brown, cold chill just runs all over me
I'm gon' get me a gamblin' woman
if the last thing that I do
Eee hee ee, gon' get me a gamblin' woman
if it's the last thing that I do
Well, a man don't need a woman
hoo, fair brown, that he got to give all his money to
Everybody say she got a mojo
now, she's been usin' that stuff
Mmm mmm mmm, 'verybody says she got a mojo
'cause she been usin' that stuff
But she got a way trimmin' down
hoo, fair brown, and I mean it's most too tough
Now little girl, since I am the King
baby, and you is a queen
Ooo hoo eee, since I am the King
baby, and you is a queen
Le's us put our heads together
hoo, fair brown, then we can make our money green
Calm (NOT) Before the Storm
I am so tired! Early wake-ups all this week; plus late nights at Warehouse for the hanging of Seven.
A couple of small disasters today: One of Rebecca Cross' delicate ceramic pieces fell off the wall and broke; time to scramble and see if Rebecca can replace it with another work.
Then a major piece by a very good artist could not be hung due to weight and size, and now we are left scrambling trying to figure out what to do; things will resolve themselves by tomorrow.
And then there's the artist who wanted his work "hung just so," and so we reserved a very special place for this person, and so far the artist has not delivered any work or returned several messages. Where are you?
And (as anyone who has ever curated a show from slides knows), there's the "surprise."
The "surprise" is that piece of artwork that looks great in a slide, but that once you see it, it... well, uh... disappoints.
Oh well.... one surprise from 67 artists is not bad.
On the pleasant side, Alessandra Torres continues to astound me on the good side; seldom have a seen a young artist be so full of energy and zeal and talent. I predict good things for her.
And Kathryn Cornelius damned near made me a convert to video art; wait until you see her video piece (Titled "Resolve" and being projected on opening night at the top floor - all by herself - and later on a flatscreen in the second floor gallery).
And I predict that Scott Brooks and Samantha Wolov are going to raise some eyebrows (and maybe other body parts on Wolov's case).
The opening is tomorrow, Thursday June 30 at 6PM.
See ya there!
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Distracted Driving
About 90% of the works have been delivered to Seven, and the show is shaping up nicely.
Today Graham Caldwell installed a spectacular set of glass pieces on the second floor gallery walls.
As I was leaving the gallery, my cell phone rang and as I answered it, the cop car next to me at the stop light waved (I thought so anyway), so I waved back as I talked on the phone. He turned his lights on and pointed for me to pull over.
Mmmm....
So the cop comes over (after about an uncomfortable five minute wait, while -- I guess -- they're checking in their computer to make sure that I am not a wanted ax murderer or a dead beat Dad).
"Hang on a sec," I say to the person with whom I am talking on the phone. "What's the problem officer?" I ask in my best Hank Hill voice.
"Driver's license and registration please," the cop says curtly. He's a little, wiry, short guy.
"What did I do?" I say putting the cell phone down and reaching down for my wallet while in my mind Richard Pryor says silently: "I AM REACHING INTO MY WALLET FOR MY LICENSE! - 'CUZ I DON'T WANNA BE IN NO MOTHERF&*%^ ACCIDENT!"
He ignores me.
"What did I do?" I say again, my voice a little louder.
"I'll tell you in a minute," he says gruffly looking at my license and registration.
"You were using your cell phone," he accuses.
I look baffled.
"You WERE using your cell phone," he almost shouts as he walks away.
"Aw, crap." I say to myself... "this is DC and it is illegal to use your cell phone while driving."
Summary: $100 fine for Distracted Driving (Cell Phone).
Congratulations
To Tracy Lee, whose work has been included in The Mammoth Book of Illustrated Erotic Women.
You can see some of Tracy's very moist work in Seven.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Seven: Installation Day One
As with any large, multi-gallery exhibition, there were some hiccups on the first day of Seven's installation, which forced the move of a very visible spot to another area (thank God for a very flexible artist); plus the mysterious move of some artwork from one area to another; and the selected artist whom we all forgot to add to the master list; and the usual last minute broken glass...
And Mark Jenkins' tape sculptures have somehow moved from the tree in front of the buildings to the building itself!
And below is Kelly Towles painting a wall in the second floor gallery...
Contact your Senator
I have just learned that Senator Tom Coburn will likely offer a floor amendment in the Senate that would cut funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) by $5 million in FY 2006. I ask that you take a minute to contact your Senators and urge them to vote against this amendment.
As you may recall, the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 9 passed an amendment that increased FY 2006 funding for the NEA by $5 million.
However, Senator Coburn's floor amendment would remove this increase, thereby flat-funding the agency at this year's level.
We expect that Sen. Coburn will offer his amendment later today. The full Senate will likely vote on the amendment tomorrow morning. Please send a message to your Senators by 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 28, to ensure that they vote against this decrease in arts funding.
Contact your Senator here.
Early starts for Seven
Mark Jenkins installation for Seven, titled "Tres Marias," has already been installed in the trees outside the Warehouse Theatre and Galleries; inside Kelly Towles is already laboring on a wall, and Alessandra Torres will soon start on transforming a room.
Seven's opening is this Thursday starting at 6PM.
Art Critic Bingo
Here's how you start your Monday morning: Art Critic Bingo!
P.S. Thanks James!
Friday, June 24, 2005
Opportunity for Artists
Deadline June 30, 2005.
The Bethesda Artist Market, featuring fine art and crafts for display and sale, is accepting submissions for Sep 11 and Oct 9, from 10am-5pm. Participating artists are selected by members of the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District Advisory Committee.
The Bethesda Artist Market is held in the Bethesda Plaza, 7700 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Artists must be 18 years of age or older. All fine art and fine crafts are accepted including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, fiber art, digital, mixed media, clay, wearable fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, paper, ceramics and wood.
Application form is on www.bethesda.org or send a SASE to:
Bethesda Artist Market
c/o the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District
7700 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
Or call: 301-215-6660.
The Seven Chosen
Artists selected for SEVEN are listed below; about a third of them are completely new to me. The rest I either knew their work, or who they were in some way or form. I think it is a powerful lesson on the importance of keeping your work "out there," no matter where "there" is, so that the work is "seen."
There are some well-known, experienced and recognized names on this list, people like Manon Cleary, Chan Chao and Sam Gilliam, as well as hot, young new artists like Lisa Bertnick, John Lehr and Kelly Towles.
Also young emerging artists like Alessandra Torres, Ben Tolman and Susan Jamison (who's in the current issue of New American Painting and also hangs in the Strictly Painting V exhibition at McLean). And also artists whose work I've rarely seen anywhere around our area, such as Gary Medovich, Rebecca D’Angelo, Sonia Jones, Lou Gagnon and Fae Gertsch.
This exhibition, having been curated by a gallerist, defines a show from the perspective of a curatorial eye aimed at perspective of intelligent, strong and visually powerful art and art ideas; this is my view from the ground-level; not the 10,000 foot level of a museum office.
As such, it is very painting-centric show at at time when painting (in spite of the constant attack from academia and the written word) seems to have regained center stage in the international art arena.
It is not a competition between the genres, and because of the agenda, prejudices and humanity of my selection process, in the end, Seven somewhat places painting at the center of attention, although I suspect that a strong showing by WPA/C photographers and what I expect to be a very memorable performance by Kathryn Cornelius, and an arresting installation by Alessandra Torres, will definately gather a big share of the public and media attention as well.
Here's the list:
Virginia Arrisueño
James W. Bailey
Joseph Barbaccia
Lisa Bertnick
Margaret Boozer
Mark Cameron Boyd
Adam Bradley
Scott Brooks
Lisa Brotman
Jonathan Bucci
Diane Bugash
Graham Caldwell
Chan Chao
Manon Cleary
Kathryn Cornelius
Rebecca Cross
Richard Dana
Rebecca D’Angelo
Margaret Dowell
Mary Early
Chris Edmunds
Victor Ekpuk
Michael Fitts
Adam Fowler
Lou Gagnon
Fae Gertsch
Sam Gilliam
Matthew Girard
Pat Goslee
Kristin Helgadottir
Linda Hesh
Maremi Hooff
Michal Hunter
Scott Hutchison
Melissa Ichiuji
Susan Jamison
Michael Janis
Mark Jenkins
Sonia Jones
David Jung
J.T. Kirkland
Sonya Lawyer
Tracy Lee
John Lehr
Joey Manlapaz
Matthew Mann
Amy Marx
Jeanette May
Maxwell McKenzie
Gary Medovich
Adrianne Mills
Allison Miner
Peter Photikoe
Sara Pomerance
Marie Ringwald
Molly Springfield
Tim Tate
Erwin Timmers
Ben Tolman
Alessandra Torres
Kelly Towles
Rick Wall
Frank Warren
Sarah Wegner
Andrew Wodzianski
Denise Wolff
Samantha Wolov
