Trawick Prize Finalists

Congrats to the finalists for this year's Trawick Prize.

Christine Buckton-Tillman (Baltimore, MD)

Caryl Burtner (Richmond, VA)

Eric Dyer (Baltimore, MD)

Suzanna Fields (Richmond, VA)

Adam Fowler (Washington, DC)

Kristin Holder (Washington, DC)

Kirsten Kindler (Richmond, VA)

Maxwell MacKenzie (Washington, DC)

Robert Mellor (Chatham, VA)

James Rieck (Baltimore, MD)

Jo Smail (Baltimore, MD)

Molly Springfield (Washington, DC)

Georgianne Stinnett (Richmond, VA)

Jason Zimmerman (Washington, DC)

This year's prize competition was juried by Ashley Kistler, Curator at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond; Jack Rasmussen, Director of the Katzen Arts Center at American University in Washington, D.C. and Gerald Ross, Director of Exhibitions at Maryland Institute College of Art.

The first place winner will be awarded $10,000; second place will be honored with $2,000 and third place will be awarded $1,000. A "young" artist whose birth date is after April 10, 1976 will also be awarded $1,000.

The Trawick Prize was established by local business owner Carol Trawick. Ms. Trawick has served as a community activist for more than 25 years in downtown Bethesda. She is the Chair of the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District and past Chair of the Bethesda Urban Partnership. Ms. Trawick is the owner of an Information Technology company in Bethesda, Trawick & Associates.

Last year, Jiha Moon formerly from Annandale, VA, was awarded the 2005 "Best in Show" with $10,000; Dean Kessman of Washington, D.C. was named second place and was given $2,000; Denise Tassin of Baltimore, MD was bestowed third place and received $1,000 and the 2005 "Young Artist" award of $1,000 was given to Michele Kong of Baltimore, MD.

Auction

Last night was Food and Friends Chef's Best Dinner and Auction Event at the Washington Hilton. There were almost 5000 attendees... and the best restaurants in the city were featured there.

The main event came when during the Live Auction segment, Tim Tate's artwork raised almost $20,000 for Food and Friends.... more than twice as much as any other offering! Tim's piece was two of his Archway panel series.

The winning bidder was the owner of the Crew Club on 14th Street, but Tate also gave the second highest bidder two panels as well... doubling the dollar amount. This is his 6th year of donating to that cause.

Nepotista

"When it comes to nepotism, the best strategy is to avoid it."
- Jessica Dawson advising Jiha Moon here

Mmmm... in the artworld, this is often quite impossible... I would advise: "When it comes to nepotism, the best strategy is to minimize it as much as possible."

In writing about art, selling art, curating art, awarding art grants, seeing art, talking about art, we're all nepotistas to some degree or other. Nearly every curator that we've ever hired to jury an exhibition for us, has brought some nepotism into it and nearly every writer that I've read has exhibited some degree of it.

Critics get to know artists, and art dealers, and curators on a nearly daily basis, and they too, being human, develop nepotism in some degree or other, and become nepotistas perhaps without meaning to do so, or perhaps while minimizing it.

Even advise-giving Dawson.

A few years ago, I asked some of the WaPo's leadership why Dawson never reviewed (the now closed) Fusebox.

I was told that Dawson had recused herself from reviewing Fusebox due to private reasons (I was told "friendship with the owners").

Thus Dawson (I assume) did the right thing with the Post's policy (one exists I assume) in writing/reviewing about friends... good for her (although unfair somewhat for Fusebox, although to make things fair for them, the WaPo then apparently had Blake Gopnik review them a few times while they were open).

But as reported here in 2004, she had no nepotista issue in writing that Fusebox is "sharp and savvy," and has "raised the bar for visual art in Washington," and that their openings are "events to see and be seen at" for the 2004 issue of Timeout DC. In the lead page for the galleries (p.189), she even lists Fusebox under a listing of five galleries selected as "the best galleries." And on page 194 she again highlights Fusebox in a special commentary section where the gallery is highlighted after the following introduction:

"While some DC galleries could be accused - justifiably - of playing it safe, the following stand out from the crowd with their interesting programming and sheer charisma."

I'm not even that fussed that Dawson gave Fusebox some well-deserved comments and well-earned kudos on that issue of Timeout DC, but I am fussed that she's now giving Jiha Moon advise on nepotism instead of just reviewing the show.

In the event that you actually want to read a review of the show, then visit Thinking About Art and read Kirkland's, declared nepotism and all.

Odom and Banks (Continued)

The Odom and Banks controversy has a new voice in the mix, as Virginia Pilot columnist Kerry Dougherty opines on the subject.

Read her opinion and quite a few comments on the subject here.

Also, the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, which runs the Boardwalk show that awarded $10,000 to Odom, has decided not to take away the cash prize from Odom.

"We've now consulted with a number of Alabama and national folk art galleries and experts," said Cameron Kitchin, executive director of Virginia Beach's Contemporary Art Center of Virginia , which runs the Boardwalk show.

"We have full confidence that the specific piece that won best in show is by Doug Odom's hand and is uniquely Doug Odom's subject matter," Kitchin said on Friday.

I talked to Mr. Kitchin a few days ago while I was in New Mexico, as he called me to explain the decision, and I appreciate his immediate involvement in this issue.

I respect their decision process, which essentially "consulted with a number of Alabama and national folk art galleries and experts," to arrive at the decision that the piece that won the $10K was not a copy of any known Banks' painting.

This decision does not touch on the ethics of copying another artist's style and subject depiction, which is a superb topic for a future discussion panel, as this is the main "beef" that seems to be the main leftover (other than some legal issues between Banks and Odom) from this controversy.

"We have independent confirmation that these poodles did live on Doug's farm," Kitchin said. "Those dogs were never a subject matter in Michael Banks' work."

See the winning artwork here.

Nothing to do with the decision itself, but I find this quote in the article a little disturbing:

"My feeling is, it's no big deal at all," said Ann Oppenhimer, president of the Folk Art Society of America, based in Richmond. "They're not giving the prize on ethics.

"You don't like to see that kind of thing happen," Oppenhimer said. "But there are very few things that are original, when you get down to it."

According to the article, Odom "sold 20 to 25 pieces at the Boardwalk. His prices ranged up to $7,000."

Update: Bailey has this letter published in the Virginia Pilot.

Powerless

Back home to find out that because of storms, power has been down around my neighborhood for a while, and everything in the fridge has defrosted!

Also my laptop finally bit the bucket while in New Mexico.

Loads more later...

Airborne today and heading back home... tons to report on this amazing state.

Art Panel at DCAC

Tonight DCAC is hosting a panel titled: "The role of art historians, curators and critics in the contemporary art scene". The panel starts at 7:30PM and it's free to the public.

Panelists include:

- Joshua Shannon, Assistant Professor of Contemporary Art History & Theory at the University of Maryland.

- Rex Weil, independent curator, artist and art critic covering DC area for Art News magazine.

- Judith Brodie, Curator of modern prints and drawings at the National Gallery of Art

- JW Mahoney, independent curator, artist and art critic covering DC area for Art in America magazine.

Wanna go to an opening tonight?

Eric Finzi opens at Heineman Myers Contemporary Art in Bethesda tonight with a reception for the artist from 6-9PM.

Party this Saturday

I'm in wondrous New Mexico, but from here I wanted to remind all of you about the Washington Glass School's 5th Anniversary this Saturday.

If you've ever been to one of their parties before, you know that they always have tons of incredible glass art, sculpture and jewelry for sale. This year they have more art to move than you have ever seen!

And this year they arec ombining it with an Artist's Resource Fair. Here's a chance to get your artwork photographed, discuss what your metal work needs are, and to consult with a art web page designer all in one place!

First, Pete Duvall will be set up to photograph your artwork at a workshop rate of $20/2-D and $30 3-D (less for digital) just for this day. He has photographed many artists work in the region and seriously does museum quality work. Bring as many pieces as you want!

Next, George Atherton with the Potomac Area Blacksmiths will be there to discuss what metal needs you might have. If you need metal frames or holders for your glass or artwork... this is your chance.

Also, Arlington Arts Center will have a booth there for "Professional Development and Exhibition Resources." Representatives from the AAC will be on hand to share with you information on regional exhibition opportunities, professional development workshops, and press information.

Finally, Kirk Waldroff, an artist and Web designer (and rock star) will be here to consult with you on improving your web presence or to help you design your pages.

Date : June 24th from 1 to 5pm
Tuition : Free to attend!!!
Location : The Washington Glass School at the Mt. Rainier Studio

Airborne today and heading to New Mexico... more later.

Wanna go to an opening tonight?

"Cut" by Bradley McCallum & Jacqueline Tarry, opens at Conner Contemporary tonigt with an opening reception from 6-8 pm.

More on the Odom and Banks Controversy

Teresa Annas, writing for the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk pens a superb article that goes to the point of the "copying" issue between naive artist Michael Banks and his former framer Doug Odom. Read the Annas article here and my posting on the same issue here.

By the way, according to Banks' art dealer, she sold 22 of his paintings during last week's Affordable Art Fair in NYC. Their space was 10 feet from ours and it was humming, so I believe her.

The painting on the left is done by Doug Odom. The one on the right is by Michael Banks.
Update: The Right Reverend chimes in.

At AU

I'll be at American University today as guest lecturer for their Curatorial Practice class (ARTS 596-N01).

More later...

Partytown

Hoity toity party last night at the new and improved (and renamed) Smithsonian American Art Museum, which will soon re-open to the public. There will be a series of parties receptions to celebrate the reopening of this building after extensive renovations.

However, the "happening" party was actually almost across the street from SAAM at Tim Tate's pad, as several of the artists who live in that building on G Street were having a summer solstice bash and a couple of the artsy apartments were packed with artists, gallerists, curators and food and drinks.

Rousseau on Bethesda Painting Awards

Dr. Claudia Rousseau reviews Joe White and Renee Butler at Bethesda’s Osuna Gallery and also reviews our current exhibition of the Bethesda Painting Awards.

Read the review in The Gazette here.

Opportunity for Artists

Deadline: Jul 01, 2006

Seeking proposals from artists, groups of artists, arts organizations and curators for exhibition in Marfa, Texas in Oct 2006. No slides; no returns. Please send 1-page written explanation of the premise of exhibition, names and resumes of all participants, images of artists' work on non-returnable CD-ROM/printed images from invitations, brochures etc. to:

A Marfa Moment
The Marfa Studio of Arts
Box 1189, Marfa TX 79843

Art Panel at DCAC

On Sunday, June 25th, DCAC is hosting a panel titled: "The role of art historians, curators and critics in the contemporary art scene". The panel starts at 7:30PM and it's free to the public.

Panelists include:

- Joshua Shannon, Assistant Professor of Contemporary Art History & Theory at the University of Maryland.

- Rex Weil, independent curator, artist and art critic covering DC area for Art News magazine.

- Judith Brodie, Curator of modern prints and drawings at the National Gallery of Art

- JW Mahoney, independent curator, artist and art critic covering DC area for Art in America magazine.

New Gallery

A new art gallery has just opened in Shaw: Long View Gallery. The gallery is interested in building up a community in Shaw and bringing on local artists.

The gallery's director is Bill Smith and more details about this new space can be read online here.

Best of...

The 48 Hour Film Project's "Best of...." with films about Tim Tate: Glass Sculptor Extraordinaire will show at the Warehouse Theater on 7th St. this Thursday, June 22nd starting at 7:00 pm, and it is free.

Details here.

Congratulations

To the CP's art critic Jeffry Cudlin, who won the 3rd place award in the 2006 AltWeekly Awards.

Note that Cudlin came in third after two... uh... film critics -- not that movie criticism is easier to do than visual arts criticism... right...