Letter to the Editor

Theodora T. Tilton writes an interesting Letter to the Arts Editor about Blake Gopnik, art, and the Venice Biennale reporting.

Wanna go to a few DC area openings tonight?

A few cool DC area openings tonight are: District Fine Arts' "Summer Solstice," a group show of contemporary art from the United States and Turkey. It includes drawings by the amazing photographer Lida Moser, who says "It was so wonderful to discover the joys of drawing after more than forty years in photography!" The opening is Saturday June 23rd, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. and it features an acoustic set by Brad Radish at 7pm.

Up the road off Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, at Heineman Myers Contemporary Art, Zoe serves "Yummy," and exhibition by artists and their relationship to food and food issues. The opening is on Saturday, June 23rd with an artist talk at 4pm and a reception for the artists from 6 to 9pm.

And Randall Scott Gallery has Hiroyuki Hamada opening tonight, but I'll be willing to bet that the photographer in the back gallery, Elena Volkova, will steal the show. Her ethereal photographs are simply gorgeous and she has a singular eye and touch. Volkova lives in Baltimore and is completing her MFA at MICA in July, although she has already exhibited widely in the DC area. The reception will be held on June 23rd from 6-9pm.

Glass Onion

I told you about strawberry fields
You know the place where nothing is real
Well here's another place you can go
Where everything flows.

Looking through the bent backed tulips
To see how the other half live
Looking through a glass onion.

I told you about the walrus and me-man
You know that we're as close as can be-man
Well here's another clue for you all
The walrus was Paul.

Standing on the cast iron shore-yeah
Lady Madonna trying to make ends meet-yeah
Looking through a glass onion.

I told you about the fool on the hill
I tell you man he living there still
Well here's another place you can be
Listen to me.

Fixing a hole in the ocean
Trying to make a dove-tail joint-yeah
Looking through a glass onion.

- Lennon & McCartney

Cane on CBS

I guess because I am an American of Cuban ancestry someone sent me an advance (I guess) preview copy of the new CBS show Cane. This new TV series is about a Cuban-American family running a sugar empire from Florida.

Think "Sopranos" without all the cussing and better haircuts.

Thank you... I am honored.

And now some very pedantic and jingoist hits... The lead character is played by Jimmy Smits... great actor, but not what your typical Cuban sugar magnate would have looked liked in the racist Cuban society of the late 1950s and the Cuban-American refugee wave of the early 1960s.

CBS picked Smits, a brilliant actor, I guess based on their perception of what a Cuban looks like (Smits is not of Cuban ancestry... his father, Cornelis Smits, was a Surinamese immigrant from Dutch Guiana, and his mother, Emilina, is Puerto Rican).

This is what the person that Smits' character is loosely based upon really looks like...

That is him and his also Cuban wife to the left...but because, like a lot of Cubans, he looks too "Caucasian" and not enough of what Hollywood (and CBS) thinks that Latinos should look like, they hired a terrific Emmy-winning Surinamese actor who fits the sterotypical image of what Hollywood thinks Cubans should look like, to play the lead part.

HBO hired (for the most part), excellent Italian-American actors to play Italian-Americans for the Sopranos; it worked (awright, awright, so Jamie-Lynn DiScala, who played Meadow Soprano was actually a Cuban-American actress... ironic, uh?).

CBS has not only hired Smits to play the lead role, but also Puerto Rican actors Hector Elizondo, Eddie Matos, and Rita Moreno, Miss Colombia 1991 Paola Turbay, etc. to play other assorted Cubans.

And now for CBS: My list of actor candidates who are actually of Cuban ancestry and thus a shoe-in for the part and who actually fucking speak Spanish with a Cuban accent:

Andy Garcia (duh!!!! perfect for the part!... but probably too classy and too expensive to do TV).

Nestor Carbonell. OK, OK, he plays the nasty brother.

Mel Ferrer... ah!... I think he's dead.

Desi Arnaz... fine, fine... he's definately dead; but how about Desi Jr.?????

Jorge Perrugorria

Cesar Romero ... fine! I know that The Joker is definately dead.

George Alvarez...

OK, I'm off my pedantic box; it looks like a decent show - it's no "Sopranos" but let's give it a chance.

Opportunity for Artists

Deadline: July 31, 2007

Carol Lukisch, the former Director of Exhibitions/Curator at the Arlington Arts Center now plans to do some independent curatorial projects, the first of which will be "Fear and Hope" which will take place December 4, 2007 - January 19, 2008 at the Arlington Arts Center.

Mid-Atlantic artists who are doing interesting work in any media that deals with the subjects of Fear and or Hope, send some materials no later than July 31 to:

Carol Lukitsch
P.O. Box 4211
Alexandria, VA 22303 or online at caroluk2@aol.com.

Corcoran Curator Leaving

(Via RE) - Dr. Jonathan Binstock, whose thesis work in Philly was about DC artist Sam Gilliam, will be leaving his post as the Curator for Contemporary Art at the Corcoran in Washington, DC in order to join the corporate world at the Art Advisory Service at Citi (nee Citibank), where he will work as a senior vice president.

For almost 30 years, Citi has helped some of the Citigroup's customers find and collect art (since it's investment and banks and Samolians... I guess for investment goals) and a whole lot of other art services.

Their website implies "access" as a mean to penetrate the inside and outs of collecting artwork for fun and profit.

As a sideline, I advise and then buy artwork for two collectors, and have a $20,000 monthly budget to buy artwork for those two folks. This is not as easy as one would have imagined, and actually quite an arduous (but still fun) process.

What Citi does is a billion times harder, because they are somewhat promising investors a payoff and payback and return on their purchase price on artwork.

Jonathan Binstock is a sharp, hardworking and savvy dude, and DC and the Corcoran will miss him, but he's got a tough job in front of him, and I wish him the best of luck.

It will be fun to see if Jonathan pushes any DC artists. This will be somewhat difficult, as I suspect that this level of collecting seldom concerns itself with discovering artists who have not yet made it to the ranks of the secondary art market (only about 5-6 DC area artists (as far as I know) have done so... of those only 2-3 are alive.

Looking for a Curator

The Arlington Arts Center, a leading contemporary visual arts venue in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area, seeks a full-time Director of Exhibitions.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience curating and coordinating exhibitions, communicating with artists, and developing creative collaborative initiatives. Strong knowledge of contemporary art, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region, is essential.

Candidate will also have experience drafting contracts and exhibition agreements, coordinating installation and catalogue production, writing exhibition materials, and using contemporary marketing tools. Technical knowledge of new media and software applications are key assets. This person works closely with the Exhibitions Committee, and experience working with Boards will be helpful. Superior grant-writing skills are also extremely desirable.

BA required, MA or MFA preferred. The AAC is a fast-paced environment with a small staff that values flexibility, a team approach, and a sense of adventure. This position includes benefits. Competitive salary.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, July 13.

Please send resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to:

info@arlingtonartscenter.org, with “Director of Exhibitions” in the subject line, or by mail to:

Search Committee
Arlington Arts Center
3550 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington VA 22201

Bailey Flushes Gopnik

Nude Removed from Pennsylvania show

Now it's time for Pittsburgh to be embarrassed.

From the AP:

An artist's nude depiction of bathing with milk and honey has been removed from a popular Pittsburgh arts festival due to complaints by one of the city's largest businesses.

The video installation by Chilean artist Carolina Loyola-Garcia, titled "The need to wash the self with milk and honey," was covered up and unplugged over the weekend by PPG, which owns the plaza where the multimedia display was exhibited.

The controversial footage portrayed the naked artist bathing with milk and honey in the forest. It was part of the "Best of Pittsburgh 2007" exhibit. PPG found the display inappropriate.

This is within its "rights as a corporate partner to ask us to abide by guidelines they have," said Elizabeth Reiss, executive director of the Three Rivers Arts Festival, currently on display in downtown Pittsburgh.

Reiss told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette she had not seen the video herself, but was told the display included full frontal nudity.

"Nudity doesn't belong in street-front windows. For several years now, Three Rivers has worked hard to put important good work in galleries and responsible pieces on streets," Reiss said.

Art shown in street booths should have a "more family friendly value," she added.

And Mary Thomas writing in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette details a few other interesting issues with nudity by the festival (which I did a few years ago). Read her excellent article here.

Shame on you Pittsbugh.

Congrats

To Bailey, whose work "The Disintegration of the American Empire, A Disillusioned Triptych: In Memory of President Thomas Jefferson, In Memory of President Abraham Lincoln, In Memory of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy Kennedy", was just awarded Best in Photography at artReston 2007.

See all the award winners here.

Who says political art is dead?

Public Art Projects for the Nation's Capital

The Public Art Building Communities grant program offers funds to eligible artists and nonprofit organizations for the creation and installation of permanent public art projects with a life span of at least five (5) years.

Projects must be installed in the District of Columbia and should encourage the growth of quality public art throughout the city, support local artists and nonprofit organizations, and make public art accessible to District residents. Projects must provide exposure of public art to the broader community or to persons traditionally underserved or separated from the cultural mainstream due to geographic location, economic constraints, or disability. Eligible, projects include, but are not limited to: sculpture, mosaics, murals, paving patterns, custom benches, stained glass windows, artistic gates and railing, etc. Funding is available for all fees associated with the design, fabrication and installation of the artwork(s) including: artist fees, materials, insurance, engineering, shipping,
installation services, permit fees, and photographic documentation.

Opportunity for Artists

Deadline: September 20, 2007

Montgomery College – Rockville Art Department is accepting entries for the national juried exhibition: Rhythm & Blue. Artwork can be any medium that incorporates rhythm (visual or otherwise) and/or blue (color or feeling). The entry deadline is September 20, 2007. The exhibition will run November 14 – December 12, 2007. No entry fee. Download prospectus here.

Questions may be directed to Michael Sellmeyer, 240-567-7653, or email him at michael.sellmeyer@montgomerycollege.edu - The jurors are Professor Michael Sellmeyer and Professor Kay McCrohan of the Montgomery College-Rockville Art Department. The Montgomery College – Rockville Campus is located in Rockville Maryland, just north of Washington, D.C.

The Consistent Inconsistency of Beauty

Check out the amazing video below for a gorgeous trail of the West's depiction of beauty.

Grants for Maryland Artists

2008 Individual Artist Awards Deadline: July 26, 2007

The Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Awards are grants awarded to Maryland artists through an anonymous, competitive process to encourage and sustain their pursuit of artistic excellence.

2008 Artistic Categories

* Dance: Solo Performance
* Fiction
* Media
* Music: Solo Instrumental Performance
* Music: Solo Vocal Performance
* Theater: Solo Performance
* Visual Arts: Computer Arts
* Visual Arts: Installation and other genre
* Visual Arts: Painting
* Visual Arts: Works on Paper

The MSAC Individual Artist Awards Program is administered by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. IAA applications will no longer be printed and mailed to you, you must read or download them from the Internet. All Individual Artist Award applicants now have the option to use eGRANT, an electronic grant application that allows you to submit your application via the Internet.

For information on the application and workshops, contact Adam Bernstein at the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation at adam@midatlanticarts.org or call 410-539-6656, ext. 114. TTY Maryland Relay at 711.

New Gallery Blog

DC's Randall Scott Gallery has a new blog! Visit it often here.

Tonight in DC

Wanna go to what has been called "the wildest monthly art event in the DC metro area?"

It's "X at Bebar - A 21st Century Live-Art Happening" from 6 - 10 pm ($5 cover charge).

Bebar is at 1318 9th St NW, Washington, DC. Curated by Andrea Pollan, this month's X will feature live PA performances from Calmer (Brooklyn, Poly Vibe) and Luseq (DC, grafq) as well as work by graphic artists Alex Gold, Amit Kumar and Jon Sexton, a Performance by Belladona, Projections from Peter Parker, fashion by Beth B., and live painting by Sheldon Drake.

Congrats

To Maryland photographer Denee Barr, whose mixed media photograph "Trees and Path, Centennial Lake, Columbia, Maryland" appears in the Washington Post's Best Bets Howard Extra.

The image is part of her mini-retrospective Denee Barr Photographs Columbia, Maryland 1999-2006 at the Columbia Foundation in the American City Building on Lake Kittamaquandi, Columbia, Maryland. The year long exhibit is part of Columbia's 40 Birthday Celebrations and the Columbia Festival of the Arts, and also features Ellicott City, Maryland based artist Alice Webb watercolors and etchings.

Denee's blog Denee Barr Art News and More is also on the blogroll.

Congratulations

To Baltimore painter Matthew Klos, winner of the $10,000 Bethesda Painting Award. Loads of photos here.


Above is Matthew Klos with the amazing and generous Carol Trawick, who sponsors the annual painting prize. The 2007 winners are:

Best in Show: Matthew Klos
Second Place: Cara Ober
Third Place: Maggie Michael
I have not seen the show, but the Washington Post's Michael O'Sullivan did and he's written a terrific review of the exhibition which is due to be published tomorrow in the WaPo.

Read it here. O'Sullivan questions some of the award choices while lauding some of the artists and even throwing a pretty good jab at finalist David Krueger's painting.

O'Sullivan pick (I think) is Richmond artist Fiona Ross, and putting on a judge's hat, my pick would have been Baltimore artist Cara Ober. The jurors were Dr. Brandon Brame Fortune, Associate Curator of Painting and Sculpture at the National Portrait Gallery, Professor W.C. Richardson, Professor of Painting and Drawing at the University of Maryland and Professor Tanja Softic’, who is an Associate Professor of Art at the University of Richmond.

Regardless, any good art prize is always full of opinions and surprises, and this major painting prize is a good thing for area painters, for Bethesda, for the District and for art.

New DC Arts Blog

DC gallerina Rebecca Jones, who is the Assistant Director at Project 4, has just recently started a blog featuring both articles exploring the critical discourse of contemporary art, and posts promoting Project 4 events, shows and artists.

Visit Popcorn here.

Wanna go to a DC opening tomorrow?

The WPAC's Site Projects DC curated by Welmoed Laanstra (who just got hired to work for Arlington County's Arts division) and consisting of (con)temporary art installations, performances, and interactions on 14th street between P & V opens tomorrow at the Black Cat in DC in one of many events. 7-9pm with a tour by the curator, Welmoed Laanstra at 8pm.

Participating artists are Linda Hesh, Janis Goodman, Peter Winant, Tom Ashcraft, Kathryn Cornelius, Roberto Bocci, Michael Cataldi, Tom Greaves, Caroline Mayorga, Matthew McGuiness, Eliza Newman Saul, Franz Jantzen, Piero Passacantando, Michael Lease, Mary Coble and Elizabeth Lundberg Morisette.

See them all here.