Grand Opening of new art space
Next Sunday, September 30, 2007 from Noon to 5pm, VisArts at Rockville, formerly known as the Rockville Arts Center (or RAP) and an arts venue with over twenty years of celebrating the visual arts, will be having its grand opening dedication for its huge new space in Rockville.
Now open in the Rockville Town Center, VisArts Center is located at 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD 20850. The center serves the community with gallery exhibitions, arts education, outreach to schools and communities, and showcasing resident artists.
For more information, visit www.VisArtsCenter.org or call 301-315-8200.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
"Big Al" Carter
By Shauna Lee Lange
The Alexandria Black History Museum is currently hosting a photographic exhibition of Allen D. "Big Al" Carter's work. All photographs were taken in the 1970s in Leesburg, Virginia.
Titled "God Has Made A Way in Leesburg," the exhibition runs through January 20, 2008. In this second exhibition at the museum, Carter explores his family connections in one moment of time - working, relaxing, and surviving more than thirty years ago.
Then space was open, homes were modest, life was simpler. And although Carter's male relatives have sadly left us, Carter looks back on their influence and inspiration, and he sees valuable messages: Make the best of what you have; Enjoy the gifts you're given.
Carter, a Virginia native, loves Virginia history and is proud of the advancements made by African Americans. In May of 2006, the Washington Post called his talent "inexhaustible creativity." Sometimes known as Big Al, Al, or Big, Carter while teaching in Arlington, calls himself a "burnt umber man."
He is a poet, a painter, an educator, a sculptor, a music lover, and at times an insomniac. Two of his works can be found in the Corcoran's permanent collection and more should be acquired by other Virginia museums and institutions.
Wanna go to a closing in Delaware today?
Heather Levy is one of those super hardworking artists who instead of moaning around about how hard it is to be an artist (it is), tackles the issue and gets exhibited.
This DC-based artist is having a closing reception for her solo exhibition "Flights of Fancy," at 205 Lavinia Gallery in Milton, DE which is right near Rehoboth today Saturday Sept. 22nd, from 3-5pm. Music provided by Basso Moderno Duo.
Also coming up in October (Oct. 12 - Nov. 16) she's having a solo exhibition of her "rocket science series" at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
This will be the first exhibition of this series, which has some really large paintings... some are 10 feet or longer.
Although one of those paintings was displayed on a billboard on 34th and 7th in Manhattan and a few others were featured in a show at the now defunct CBGB's gallery this will be the first time they are shown as a series. The opening reception is on Friday, Oct. 12th, 2007 at 12:00 p.m with an artist's talk.
All dates and times and other important info about those exhibits and a lot more where Heather is showing can be found here.
Check out the DC City Hall art collection
At 12 p.m. on Wednesday September 26, the public is invited to the Wilson Building for a guided tour through the City Hall public collection of art on permanent display on floors 1-5 of the Wilson building. The tour will be lead by local artist Sondra N. Arkin, curator to the collection of over 170 pieces.
This is a unique chance to meet with local artists featured in the collection and have a discussion on being an artist in the Nation’s Capital and to see a rich cross section of local artists (both established and emerging). This will be a bi-monthly occurrence.
The tour is free, however advanced registration for the series is preferred. Please RSVP to beth.baldwin@dc.gov with the number in your party. Meet at the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance — the building is located at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW. ID is required to enter the building.
Did you know that?
The National Museum of Women in the Arts’ 20th Anniversary Festival of Women’s Film & Media Arts will take place September 25-30, 2007 in the NMWA Theater.
The only reason that I know, since I never get any press releases from the NMWA (I don't even know who their press person or PR person is), is because the talented Zulma Aguiar, who is a local DC video artist armed not only with a ton of talent but also with a shiny new MFA on Electronic Arts, has been spreading the word.
The opening is next Tuesday at 5:30pm, and Zulma's video installation is right at the entrance of the glass door enclosed Education Gallery of the Museum.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Horus
Below are three new small tiny drawings. Each about an inch or an inch and a half high.
They are all charcoals and both are my interpretation of the ancient Egyptian god Horus, of whom it is said was born on December 25, conceived by a Virgin, the only begotten son of the god Osiris, his mother was Mehturt, her husband was Seb (or Jo-Seb), his birth was heralded by Sirius (the morning star) and witnessed by shepherds, and then Herut tried to have him murdered, he then came of age at 12, and then baptized in the river Eridanus at age 30 by Anup The Baptizer (who was subsequently beheaded).
He was then taken from the desert of Amenta up a high mountain by his arch-rival Set, who is an Egyptian evil dude. Horus resisted the temptation, acquired 12 followers, walked on water, cast out demons, healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, raised Osirus from the grave, and for all his troubles was then crucified together with two thieves and buried in a tomb, but resurrected after three days, and his resurrection was apparently witnessed by some women.
And in the Zodiac he's associated with Pisces, the fish.
He also has issues with one of his eyes.
"Horus" Charcoal on Paper
1.5 inches by 3 inches
"Eyes of Horus" Charcoal on Paper
1.5 inches by 2.5 inches
"Mouth of Horus" Charcoal on Paper
1 inch by 3.5 inches
Opportunity for Artists
Deadline: November 16, 2007
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts Juried Exhibition. Deadline: November 16, 2007. Applications are now being accepted for the DCCA's Annual Members' Juried Exhibition entitled Interrogating Beauty. The exhibition will be held from February 21 - May 25, 2008. For more information and application guidelines contact Samantha Fruchtman, Curatorial Coordinator, at sfruchtman@thedcca.org or by calling (302) 656-6466, ext. 7103.
ArtFest
More than 30 local and regional visual artists will be showcased at the first-ever McLean Project for the Arts MPA artfest, being held on October 14 in McLean, Va.
The inaugural MPA artfest will take place on Sunday, October 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at McLean Central Park in McLean, Va. (1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, Va. 22101). MPA artfest, featuring a juried fine art and craft show and sale, will be presented annually.
“McLean Project for the Arts is proud to bring MPA artfest to the McLean and Northern Virginia community. We hope residents and their guests will enjoy seeing the fabulous artwork of local and regional artists,” said Nancy Powers Perry, the organization’s executive director.
For more information about MPA artfest, visit the MPA Web site at www.mpaart.org and click on the “MPA artfest logo,” or call (703) 790-1953 or send e-mail to artfest@mpaart.org.
Bethesda Artist Market Returns October 13
On October 13, 2007, from 10am-5pm, the Bethesda Artist Market returns to Bethesda Place Plaza, 7700 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda (one block from the Bethesda Metro stop). The event features artwork and fine crafts for sale by nearly 30 regional and local artists working in painting, photography, jewelry, turned wood, blown glass, metalwork and mixed media.
If you're either a beginning or advanced collector, this is a great place to find original and very affordable art being sold by a set of very talented artists. See the exhibiting artists here.
Details here.
Easy newsmaker
Dutch artist Ivo Hendriks uses the tried-and-true formula of easy shock to get some temporary notoriety: he exhibits a collage depicting the late Pope John Paul II being sodomised.
The exhibit is in Ibiza, and the local bishop is really pissed.
So Hendriks achieved what he wanted, but I dare the little chickensit to exhibit a collage of the M-word-dude being sodomized or some well-known and fanatically followed imam being drilled and then let's see what happens.
Read the story here.
New gallerina
Ksenia Grishkova is the new director at DC's Touchstone Gallery, one of the DC area's oldest fine arts galleries, but one which has unfortunately been going through a lot of directors in the last few years. Hopefully the artist-members who run the gallery have found a long-lasting one in Ksenia.
The gallery is currently having a call for artists for their "Art on the Small Side," which is an all media holiday show (including fine craft) juried by Rosemary Luckett and Baltimore painter Jon Wassom.
Selection of work will be done from the actual pieces, and not by slide or digital images. All works must be brought to the gallery during gallery hours of 12 to 5 PM on Saturday, December 8 or 9 from 12-4 PM on Sunday, Dec. 9. No shipments will be accepted.
To get a copy of the full prospectus, go to www.touchstonegallery.com or e-mail Ksenia for more information at touchstonegallery@verizon.net.
Good read
The WCP's Jessica Gould marries a really interesting story with an intelligent artist profile in this article in the current issue of the CP.
Zoe coming to DC
More later, as we get closer to the date, but making a note that H&F Fine Arts upcoming exhibition Dig is not only being guest curated by Roberta Fallon and Libby Rosof, publishers of Fallon and Rosof's Artblog, which was selected by Art in America as one of the country's top art blogs, but also the exhibition will feature the work of eight Philadelphia based artists, including one of my Philly faves: Zoe Strauss.
I think this will be Zoe's first-ever DC area appearance. This talented photographer was one of the bright spots in the last Whitney Biennial.
Dig runs from October 18 to November 24. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, October 20, from 4–7 pm.
The eight artists chosen by Roberta and Libby range from major award winners to emerging talents. In addition to Whitney Biennial bright-spot Zoe Strauss, Barbara Bullock, and Candy Depew (and also Zoe) are each winners of Pew Fellowships in the Arts. Fleisher Challenge Award winners Depew and Kip Deeds have had prestigious solo shows at the Fleisher Art Memorial. The exhibition will also feature work by Nick Lenker, Jen Packer, Thom Lessner, and Jayson Scott Musson.
Job in the Arts
The Arlington Arts Center has created a new position and is looking for a part-time (20 hour/week) Program Assistant to support our Exhibitions and Education teams. Responsibilities will include ordering and maintaining supply inventories, coordinating registration for classes, communicating with students and artists, preparing materials for exhibitions and lectures, and assisting with installation and signage.
An ideal candidate will have a BA or BFA, strong computer skills (a knowledge of Photoshop and desktop publishing is desirable), and a knowledge of the proper handling and installation of art. Knowledge of Spanish is helpful but not required. Some weekends and evenings will be required. Candidate must have excellent people skills, a sense of adventure, and flexibility in a fast-paced work environment. This is an hourly position; rate based on experience.
Please send resume and cover letter to info@arlingtonartscenter.org with "program assistant" in the subject line or by fax to 703-248-6849.
Multiple Exposures
Upstairs at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, that forbidden part of the Greater Washington area where DC area art critics seldom venture, two talented photographers share the walls of Multiple Exposures Gallery (nee Factory Photoworks) this month: Grace Taylor and Colleen Spencer Henderson (who needs to modernize her website!).
Colleen explores the landscape by turning her sharp photographer’s eyes towards the ever-changing beauties of the land. In “Three Trees” she pops a range of whites that will astound any student of the genre, and the stone fence, trees and clouds deliver a beautiful image to boot.
Grace Taylor has been amazing me for years now. She is not only an innovator who continues to push the artistic limits of the genre’s craft and vision, but also an old hand who doesn’t sit around too long resting on her laurels. In “Stone Portraits,” Taylor presents a show of images of stones that she has collected over the years. Each one has a distinct personality as Mother Nature, time and weather all combine to deliver beautiful landscapes, images and paintings within the canvas of a stone. Using Epson Ultra Chrome pigment inks, Taylor has scanned the images onto a rich black background that gives the stones a three dimensional aspect that is seldom seen in “straight” photography.
Give Taylor another notch in her string of really, really good shows and inventive ideas over the last decades.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Tree Killers
The really beautiful town where I live in Pennsylvania (most of the time when I am not in DC) is called Media. It also America's first (and probably only) "fair trade town."
Media's nickname is "Tree City, USA."
The street where I live is deeply wooded, and I have recently been told by wandering bird watchers that it is actually on the migratory path for many North American birds, who fly overhead and settle and rest among the trees.
And thus my near stupefaction when one of my neighbors down the street recently cut down 31 mature trees.
Yes thirtyfuckinone, huge-assed trees, with massive trunks and 40, 50 feet tall each.
All this in order to make a large garden in front of his house. The tree killers, my other irate neighbors tell me, are both retired professors, and "master gardeners."
As if being a "master gardener," and killing 31 beautiful trees is not enough paradoxical irony, they've now begun "decorating" their newly opened space with those awful chainsaw sculptures made from trees.
Sculptures of birds.
Bastards had the real thing nesting among the beautiful trees, and now they have huge, fake ones made of dead trees.
At the Writer's Center
Bethesda's Writer's Center is inaugurating a new program of exhibitions from time to time to display visual arts connected to literature or books.
Since this sort of genre is one of the driving forces in my own work, I am immediately interested and hope that some of you are interested as well!
This Friday, 21 September, at their venue in Bethesda (4508 Walsh Street), which is about four blocks south of the Bethesda Metro stop, just off Wisconsin Avenue, they're hosting longtime instructor Kate Blackwell and her sister Mary Beth Blackwell-Chapman.
The sisters will come together for a mixed media event on Friday, September 21, at 7:30 p.m. Kate will be sharing her newest work, a book of stories entitled "you won't remember this." Though Kate has been publishing her stories for years, this is her first book, published by Southern Methodist University Press.
Mary Beth Blackwell-Chapman is an accomplished painter and sculptor. Last winter, she created works that examine books in a whole new light. Just recently she's used her talents to bring literary classics, such as Gilgamesh, to life.
The event starts at 7.30 pm and is free and open to the public.
New at the Print Center
Philly's Print Center has announced the appointment of John Caperton as the new Curator of Prints and Photographs, Hester Stinnett as the new President of the Board of Governors and Jennifer Dempsey Fox as a new Board member of The Print Center.
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