Shape of things to come

I've got a lot of openings and art stuff to discuss and promote as I try to get back into the art groove after spending over a week in the Left Coast with an ornery laptop. Come back later.

I'm also getting an unusually and constant high number of visitors today from all over the world. Wonder what triggered that? but to all new visitors: Hello and come back often!

A trip to Alexandria

Before I left for my latest left coast venture, I spent a few hours in Old Town Alexandria (as opposed to Old Town San Diego, which is really cool, not to say that Old Town Alexandria is not cool)... anyway, herewith some notes on that visit to our Southern suburb...

Count on the Art League to deliver a terrific group show each month. That should be an art aficionado’s mantra.

And the most recent juried show was selected by Howard Paine, the former art director of National Geographic Magazine, and a regular juror at the Art League (this is the 6th show that he has juried!).

And such an experienced juror brings some good advice to artists.

Payne states that he brings a selection process that is "intuitive, based on decades of looking and working with art, So I almost immediately know what seems right and what seems wrong, overall, or uncertain details of color, composition, perspective, or even framing."

Good for Payne! And this is often the main difference in a show selected by a new juror, as opposed to an experienced juror, and yet Paine walks right into one of my pet peeves in juried art shows when he says also: "I try to select a balance of subject matter and techniques." And while that it what most jurors go for, it is what I avoid personally. When I jury a show, whenever possible I aim to leave a focused show that leaves a footprint on what I like, and my shows disregard 100% of that stuff that I don’t appreciate (read "like") in art.

Paine selected a large semi-abstract painting by Marcia Dullum, titled "Tribute to Bonnard" as the winner of the Shayna Heisman Simkin Award and issued 16 Honorable Mentions.

After walking the show a couple of times, my own selections are a bit different (as usual), and I first of all, I was absolutely amazed by a brilliant oil by an artist named E. Atzl titled "Vidalia," and which depicts the famous onions in absolutely full and total mastery of the oil medium, but with that added touch of genius that takes such a mundane subject and elevates it to the sublime level.

Because I’ve never seen Atzl’s work before, I asked about the artist; and to my next level of astonishment, I was told that it was the work of the 17-year-old daughter of one of the Torpedo Factory artists. "Vidalia" is a classical painting, and perhaps that’s why it was ignored by Paine for an award. It is however; the best oil in the show, and although vastly overpriced at $1250, it represents an amazing new discovery of obviously a hugely talented young artist.

By the way, someone should check the water at the Factory; this is at least the third teenaged offspring of a Factory artist who has managed to astound me in the last few years. Prior to her I was left speechless when I first saw the watercolors by Jenny Davis, daughter of one of the Factory’s best watercolorists: Tanya Davis.

My other top choices for this show were Susan Herron’s "Road at Tilghman Island," an exquisite and loose landscape painting (and a steal at $400), and Sheep Jones’ "Allium Akaka." I cannot say enough good things as to how good both these artists are; their work is immediately recognizable as theirs, and it just keeps getting better and better.

I also liked Fae Penland-Gertsch’s sexy red shoes watercolor titled "Inner Soul," Jackie Saunders "Three Views of Alan," and a gorgeous charcoal drawing by M. Slater titled "Solitude."

"Solitude" was by far the best drawing in the show, but it was unfortunately badly framed under acidic double mats and the charcoal was not properly fixed, and had already begun to drip charcoal bits on the cut edge of the mat. Tsk, tsk...

In the Art League’s solo show, painter Michele Rea’s watercolors for "Urban Survivors" (the title of her show) had done exceptionally well. When I walked through, over half the large paintings had been sold. "Urban Survivors" focuses on exceptional city features of Rea’s two favorite places: New York and Chicago.

The Art League’s nearby neighbor, Target Gallery, had "Role Play: The Definition of Self in Contemporary Society," another juried exhibition. This one was curated by my good friend J.W. Mahoney, a well-known DC area artist, teacher, curator, and art critic for Art in America magazine.

Mahoney selected a mixed bag show, which is often the direct result of the pool of entries submitted for a juried competition. The best entry in the show (by far) are three macabre digital pieces by Stephanie Hocker titled "Fear 4,5,6."

I liked them because they are so adept at standing out in the show, and because they use the magic of digitalism well. I also liked Trish Klenow’s two entries "Reborn Self" and "Self Portrait in Yellow" because they were not only good paintings, but also because they gave me a peep into the artist herself. Also on my short list was Laurel Hausler "Paxil," a quirky painting that was funny and intelligent – sort of a modern "Las Dos Fridas."

Upstairs, after visiting Rosemary Feit Covey’s studio, and after going gaga over her last project, which involves the creation of whole new set of her amazing wood engravings focused on the theme of head operations, head trauma, the brain, etc., I came away, as I always do, realizing that Feit Covey is one of the most amazing artists in our area, and another one that the Corcoran should add to their short list of ignored area artists deserving a retrospective.

Still on cloud nine from Feit Covey’s works, I visited Multiple Exposures Gallery to see the landscape photographs of Colleen Spencer Henderson, and I was again very impressed how digitalism is making old things new.

There isn’t a single photograph in this show that doesn’t owe a debt to the great masters of landscape photography, but there isn’t a single photograph in this show that also doesn’t carve a new road for this talented photographer, who has flexed the power of digital color so as to blur the line between what nature offers the photographer and what Colleen has muscled in through the magic of ink and dyes and bits. For example, "Blue Moonlight," a tiny photograph ostensibly of clouds, is not about clouds at all, as the digital medium’s exaggerated colorization of the blue, has yielded an exceptional, intimate work that pushes deep into the realm of color and abstraction while seducing us with a hint of recognition.

Bravo Colleen!

Airborne today and heading back home with a ton of stuff to post and discuss!

Things that make me go Mmmmm...

Still in San Diego, working hard, but this weekend visiting some "galleries" in the San Diego and La Jolla area... and some thoughts about things that make me go mmmm...

• Art galleries that have a locked door and you have to be buzzed in, and once you are buzzed in, no one says a word to you.

• Art Bloger(s) who have a page counter, but then put it under a password to hide their number of visitors, lest we all discoverer what an insignificant number of people we all reach on a daily basis.

• Art galleries where it takes an Act of Congress to get a price list or a listing.

• Right wingers who opposed the invasion of the Balkan nations but who endorsed the invasion of Iraq.

• Left wingers who applauded the invasion of the Balkan nations but who opposed the invasion of Iraq.

• Washington museum curators who travel all over the world to see emerging artists' works, but who will not visit Washington galleries or area artists' studios.

• Newspaper culture editors who have seldom set foot inside a museum or art gallery in the city that they are supposed to cover.

• Newspaper art critics who do not write about their city's art and artists.

• Huge major local corporations who ignore local art groups pleas for help in funding, while some small businesses contribute generously.

• Art galleries with contracts where the artist is responsible for the cost(s) of an exhibition.

• Writers, commentators, critics and blogers who bitch about everything and anything without ever actually doing anything constructive to solve the issue at hand.

• Old right wingers who immediately dismiss anything that young liberals have to offer, while forgetting that most likely they were once young lefties.

• Young left wingers (who one day will most likely age into old right wingers) who boo and shout down anyone that they disagree with, all the while apparently espousing freedom of speech.

• People who have never run an art gallery, but who are always giving out advise on how to run one.

• Drivers who never use their turn signals.

• Senior citizens driving huge RVs, and who leave their turn signal on for miles and miles.

• Grubs who come into the gallery, head straight for the food and wine, grab some of each and go back outside without even a glance at the artwork.

• Otherwise law-abidding citizens who think it is OK to leave their dog shit on your lawn.

Boot Camp for Artists

On Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005, we will present another one of our highly successful "Success as an Artist" Seminars. This next seminar will be jointly hosted with the good people from Art-O-Matic, and the Warehouse Theater, Café and Gallery, on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005 from 10:30-6PM, with lunch provided.

The seven hour seminar, which has been taken by over 2,000 artists and arts professionals from all over the Mid Atlantic is designed to deliver information, data and proven tactics to allow artists to develop and sustain a career in the fine arts. The seminar costs $80 (includes lunch) and is limited to 50 people. For more details please visit this website. For this seminar, sometimes called "Boot Camp for Artists" by the attendees, people as far as Arizona, California, New York and South Carolina have attended, including many, many university level art professionals.

In its seven hour format, the seminar covers a wide range of structured issues including:

1. Materials - Buying materials;strategies for lowering your costs, where and how to get it, etc.

2. Presentation – How to properly present your artwork including Conservation issues, Archival Matting and Framing, Longevity of materials, a discussion on Limited editions, signing and numbering, Prints vs. Reproduction, discussion on Iris Prints (Pros and Cons).

3. Creating a resume - Strategy for building your art resume, including how to write one, what should be in it, presentation, etc.

4. Juried Shows – An Insider's view and strategy to get in the competitions.

5. How to take slides and photographs of your artwork

6. Selling your art – A variety of avenues to actually selling your artwork, including fine arts festivals, corporate acquisitions, galleries, public arts, etc.

7. Creating a Body of Works

8. How to write a news release

9. Publicity – How to get in newspapers, magazines, etc. Plus handouts on email and addresses of newspaper critics, writers, etc.

10. Galleries – Discussion on area galleries including Vanity Galleries, Co-Operatives, Commercial Galleries, Non-profit Art spaces, etc.

11. How to approach a gallery – Realities of the business, Contracts, Gallery/Artist Relationship, Agents.

12. Outdoor Art Festivals – Discussion and advice on how to sell outwork at fine arts festivals, which to do, which to avoid, etc.

13. Resources - Display systems and tents, best juried shows and ones to avoid.

14. Accepting Credit cards – How to set up your art business.

15. Grants – Discussion on how to get grants in DC, Regional and National, including handouts on who and where and when.

16. Alternative Marketing - Cable TV, Local media

17. Internet – How to build your website at no cost, how to establish a wide and diverse Internet presence.

The seminar has been a spectacular success, and the feedback from artists can be read online at here and we continue to receive tremendous positive feedback on the practical success that this seminar has meant for those who have taken it.

You can sign up for the seminar at 301/718-9651 (starting next week) or via email (immediately) at info@thefrasergallery.com. Hurry, as the 50 spaces usually book very quickly, and we already have a bunch of people signed up (they already were on a wait-list from the last time that the seminar was offered and sold out).

Marianela de la Hoz

When I visited the Mirrors/Espejos exhibition currently at the Cultural Institute of Mexico, I immediately fell in love with the tiny paintings of Mexican artist Marianela de la Hoz.

Last night I had dinner with her (she lives in San Diego), and I am happy to report that we will be bringing her work to the DC area in the future; meanwhile go see her amazing work at the Institute.

Galleries in Mags

I haven't seen the magazines yet, but I am told that the Washington Flyer magazine has an excellent article on the 14th Street galleries. You can read that article online here. Other than one to-be-expected negative and typically ill informed, fact-less opinion/quote, it's a super article by Heather Morgan Shott, which describes the art scene around the many galleries now clustered around the 14th street corridor, and rightfully so focuses on the hard work of Sarah and Patrick of Fusebox in becoming the initial gallery magnet for that area.

And the first issue of the huge new super glossy DC, published by Modern Luxury is also out, and this first issue has a profile of the Hirshhorn's Olga Viso and also a profile and discussion of our upcoming Georgetown video/painting show by Scott Hutchison.

Let's hope that DC magazine continues to pay attention to our area's visual art scene, and let's also hope that Washington Flyer continues to discuss our city's widespread gallery pockets in future issues.

Well Done!

Tate, Cojones and Bailey

Edward Winkleman reports on the Tate's decision to remove artwork from an exhibit. Read it here.

Bailey reacts. Read that here.

In San Diego

Aaaargh! no time to write... more later!

But while I am here, someone asked me where I get my models and references for my work. I have worked a lot in the past from the live model, but these days and for years now, I've been working mostly from photographs (I have a huge set of photos of models in millions of poses that I've taken over the years) as well as reference books for artists. My favorite in these is Thomas Easley's The Figure in Motion, where many, many of my drawings come from.

Like a lot of postmodernist artists, I also appropriate a lot of images from many sources that assault my visual senses everyday and I keep a file of pages and images that have been taken from magazines, newspapers, catalogs, etc. to be re-worked at some point on a new idea, setting, process, etc.

Airborne today and heading to the Left Coast, where I'm hoping to meet with artist Marianela de la Hoz, whose arresting work at the Mexican Cultural Institute's current exhibition stole the show (in my opinion).

And again... more of our gallery artists have made available art to be auctioned off for hurricane Katrina and Rita relief causes. All net proceeds will be donated to the Southern Arts Federation.

The Southern Arts Federation has established an Emergency Relief Fund to assist arts organizations and artists residing in Gulf Coast communities most devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and now I suppose also Rita.

We have the art online here, and it includes work by Vladimir Pcholkin, Jacqueline Saunders, Camille Mosley-Pasley, and myself. See all four here.

Vladimir Pcholkin Nude XII
Bid here.



Jacqueline Saunders Iris Cluster
Bid here.


Camille Mosley-Pasley Bonnie & Jasmine (from Mama Love series)
Bid here.


F. Lennox Campello "Frida Wearing an Elvis T-Shirt"
Bid here.

My Frida Wearing an Elvis T-Shirt is a silly pen and ink wash drawing that I did in 1978 on the first anniversary of the King's death. In it I married two of my icons: Kahlo and Elvis, and had Frida wearing an Elvis T-shirt under her rebozo. Sacrilege or what?

New DC Art Blog

There are now virtually dozens of terrific DC area art blogs, and the newest one is Authentic Art DC.

Visit often.

Nude Opportunities

Deadline: October 24, 2005

"Nudes" at Atlantic Works Gallery in Mass. This juried show is call for art work in any medium that depicts a nude or nudes in its subject matter or presentation. Artists are asked to submit up to two works. The submission fee for 2 pieces of art is $15.00. One piece of art submission fee $10.00.

Please address the checks to Laurie Hoffma. Slides/JPEGS of art work must be received by October 24th, 2005 Mailing address:

Atlantic Works Gallery
Attn: Juried Show
80 Border Street 4th floor
East Boston, MA 02128

Works to be hung should not be bigger than 3'x3.' Installation and mixed media are encouraged, however any specific set-up needs must be completed by the artist submitting the work. Artists accepted into the show will be notified in late October. All work that is to be hung should arrive at the gallery with a wire backing or an easy to hang set-up. An Artist resume and/or bio is optional.

All questions regarding this show should be directed to atlanticworks@yahoo.com.

There will be a cash award for the work selected by the jury that depicts a Nude or Nudes in a "notable conventional/classical manner." A cash award will also be given to the work selected that depicts a Nude or Nudes in a "notable unconventional/creative manner."

Nudes will open on November 12th, 2005 and the reception will be held from 6-9pm.

---

Nude International

Deadline: October 14, 2005

The Nude is an annual, juried international art exhibit now in its 20th year, sponsored by the Lexington Art League, of Lexington, Kentucky. Exhibition dates are January 14 - March 5, 2006.

The Nude celebrates one of the most classic and enduring forms to challenge artists. All artists using visual media are eligible to enter. Pat Oliphant, renowned editorial cartoonist and accomplished artist, will jury. Significant prize money is available. The postmark deadline to apply is Oct. 14. Entry fee: $25 for 1-3 slides, $35 for 4-6 slides. Slides ONLY accepted. Prospectuses are available on their website, or send a SASE to:

The Nude
Lexington Art League
209 Castlewood Drive
Lexington, KY 40505

For more information, please call 859-254-7024.

More artwork for Katrina (and/or Rita) Relief

Some more of our gallery artists have made available art to be auctioned off for hurricane Katrina and Rita relief causes. All net proceeds will be donated to the Southern Arts Federation.

The Southern Arts Federation has established an Emergency Relief Fund to assist arts organizations and artists residing in Gulf Coast communities most devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and now I suppose also Rita.

We have the art online here, and it includes work by Vladimir Pcholkin, Jacqueline Saunders, Camille Mosley-Pasley, and myself. See all four here.

Vladimir Pcholkin Nude XII
Bid here.



Jacqueline Saunders Iris Cluster
Bid here.


Camille Mosley-Pasley Bonnie & Jasmine (from Mama Love series)
Bid here.


F. Lennox Campello "Frida Wearing an Elvis T-Shirt"
Bid here.

My Frida Wearing an Elvis T-Shirt is a silly pen and ink wash drawing that I did in 1978 on the first anniversary of the King's death. In it I married two of my icons: Kahlo and Elvis, and had Frida wearing an Elvis T-shirt under her rebozo. Sacrilege or what?

Wanna go to an Opening Tonite?

DC area artist Diane Bugash's work is one of the sort of art that can be spotted in a group show right away. And not only because Diane is an exceptional painter, but also because she will not paint on a "normal" or ordinary canvas.

Bugash shapes her canvas until they become an integral and intelligent part of her painting. All shapes and sizes...

And Bugash has an opening tonight in Baltimore's Light Street Gallery, located at 1448 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230, 410-234-0047 and website here. The opening is from 5-9PM, and the show runs until October 15.

See ya there!

Warehouse Peace Weekend

Warehouse Gallery has six gallery spaces devoted to the peace effort though the exhibition Where's the Peace? Details here.

They will be open all weekend, and the exhibit feautures 45 artists examining war and peace in our world through painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and video.

Additionally, the Warehouse Screening Room has a free film all weekend: Trail of Feathers: The Missile Dick Chicks.

Meet the Missile Dick Chicks in person tonight (open till midnight).

Wanna go to an opening on Sunday?

The Sandy Spring Museum presents Photography is Dead; Long Live Photography.

Opening reception, Sunday, Sept 25, 2-4 pm. Organized and curated by Bert GF Shankman, an expressionist flower photographer and master printer, this exhibition focuses on Gyclee-printed photography and includes the work of the always innovative Danny Conant, Libby Cullen, Min Enghauser, Judith Goodman, Colleen Henderson, Allan Hockett, Barbara Southworth, Barbara Tyroler, and Frank Van Riper.

Most of the artists will be available to discuss their work. Rt. 108 and Bentley Rd, Sandy Spring. 301-774-0022.

Can Bloggers be sued over comments?

Apparently yes... read it and weep.

[Tks TAA]

Secondsight Meeting

Secondsight is an organization dedicated to the advancement of women photographers through support, communication and sharing of ideas and opportunities.

The next Secondsight meeting will be held on Friday, September 23, 2005.

All meetings are held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center, (just accross the street from the Fraser Gallery Bethesda) located at 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814. If you are catching the Metro, exit on Wisconsin Avenue, take a left on Old Georgetown Road and walk for one block. The entrance to the services center is next to Chipotle. There is a public parking garage on Old Georgetown Road. The meetings start at 6.30pm and end at approximately 9pm.

The presentation by the guest speaker will be followed by portfolio sharing. The group will split up into smaller groups of about ten and each member will have the opportunity to discuss their work. For those who brought their portfolio to the last meeting, please feel free to bring it again as you will be sharing your work with an entirely new group of photographers.

Meetings are free for members of Secondsight and $10 (cash or checks only) for non-members.

Please RSVP to secondsight@hotmail.com if you would like to attend the meeting.

The Art Bloggers of the World

Zeke has put together an amazing list of over 400 Art Bloggers from around the world. [thanks Alexandra].

WOW! What a lot of work that must have been! Kudos to Zeke for the first ever, all-comprehensive listing of art blogs from the planet, where we're number 121! (so far).

Gilliam at the Corcoran

I can't wait to see what Jonathan Binstock has done with the Sam Gilliam Retrospective at the Corcoran.

Mark your calendars, as that exhibit opens Oct. 15 and runs through Jan. 22 of 2006, and it is (incredibly enough) Gilliam's first retrospective.

As Binstock wrote his doctoral dissertation on Gilliam, if anyone is qualified to organize a retrospective for Sam, it is Jonathan.

And kudos to the Corcoran for looking in its own backyard.

Other area residents who are worthy of a show and/or a retrospective (in my opinion) include Manon Cleary, Joe Shannon and our own John Winslow.

Like Gilliam, they have created great, lasting art in the District for decades and decades, and (like Gilliam) have been generally ignored by our "national" museums.