Lost Art

While I was a student at the University of Washington School of Art (1977-1981), one of my school projects involved taking a mannequin deep into the woods around the Seattle area, and then fixing the mannequin onto a tree.

Once the figure was attached to a tree, I would either cover it in glue, or spray it with photo fix glue, and then cover it in tree mulch, bark, and dirt. Then I would completely glue pieces of bark to the figure, and thus make it "blend" onto the tree that it was affixed to. Eventually, the figure would be (at least visually) part of the tree, as if the figure was growing from the tree itself.

Most of these projects were done in Mt. St. Helen's as I had a school friend whose family lived at the bottom of the mountain, and it was thus convenient as he was my guide around the mountain's ape caves and trails). I suspect that all of them were destroyed by the volcanic eruption of St. Helen's on my wedding day in 1980.

I took many slides of the finished installations, but because after art school I moved to Europe, and then returned in 1985 to go to postgraduate school, while I was at postgraduate school in California, I put about 30 boxes of books and photos and slides and clothes, etc. in storage with my then sister-in-law in Washington state.

Then, while she was on vacation, a pipe in her house broke and flooded her basement for several days. Not only did I lose many, many slides of artwork, but also lot of art, all of my disco clothes (probably a good thing), plus a couple hundred books, including my copy of a hardbound first edition, first printing of Tarzan of the Apes (now worth around $35,000 big ones)... and no, insurance did not pay for it; none of it.

"Mujertree with Broken Arms" (from Daphne series) circa 1980. Pen and Ink. 10 x 8 inches.
Collection of the Artist
I do, however, still have some of the preparatory sketches (above) that I did over the years, and the memories of my student artwork that has been twice wiped out by the forces of nature, as if upset that I was re-arranging and humanizing nature.

"Daphne" circa 1995, Charcoal on Paper, 30 x 20 inches.
Private Collection in Richmond, VA
These nature installations were part of what I called the "Daphne series," and which continues to this day, mostly now in drawings and etchings (above and below), although I am preparing to re-start the mannequin part all over again, in a sense kindled by the tree massacre that took place just down the street from my house, and all the woods around here.


"Daphne" circa 1994, Charcoal on Paper, 40 x 30 inches.
Private Collection in Charlottesville, VA

Maryland State Arts Council opening

Join the Maryland State Arts Council at the James Backas Gallery in Annapolis on September 28, 5-8pm (Gallery Talk: 6:30 PM)for the Opening Reception of "Celebrating 40 Years - Showcasing 40 Artists," curated by Oletha DeVane.

The exhibiting artists are: Maria Anasazi, Kristine Yuki Aono, Maria Barbosa, Denee Barr, Sylvia Benitez, Ellen Burchenal, Paul Daniel, Linda DePalma, Helen Elliott, Anna Fine Foer, Espi Frazier, Helen Frederick, Mia Halton, Leslie King-Hammond, Maren Hassinger, David Hess, Tonya Ingersol, Chevelle Makeba Moore Jones, Gard Jones, Gary Kachadourian, Maria Karametou, Robert Llewellyn, Janet Maher, Jose Mapily, Allegra Marquart, Diana Marta, Cara Ober, Stephen Pearson, Gina Pierleoni, Leslie Snyder Portney, Camille Gustus Quijano, William Rhodes, W.C. Richardson, Joyce S. Scott, Christine Shanks, Piper Shepard, Laurie Snyder, Edgar H. Sorells-Adewale- Renee van der Steldt, and Michael Weiss.

The exhibition is through December 19, 2007.

New Alexandria gallery

At 22,000 square feet Art Whino, the largest privately owned, independent commercial fine arts gallery in the greater DC region opens October 19, 2007, in Old Town, Virginia.

Located at 717 N. Saint Asaph Street in Alexandria, Art Whino will open its doors for the first time with two exhibits: a solo show by artist Derrick Wolbaum and the opening of the Art Whino Permanent Gallery featuring the work of the gallery's collaboration with artists from around the world who are what the gallery describes as "innovators worldwide of the current new art movement otherwise labeled Pop-Surrealism, Lowbrow and Urban Contemporary."

The grand opening event, running from 6-11pm, will include music by DJ Stylo.

Among the artists represented are (some DC area artists are highlighted): Amose, Angie Mason, Anna Thackray, Brad Strain, Brian Tait, Bruce Anderson, Celia Calle, Chris Bishop, Derrick Wolbaum, Dzaet, Erik Abel, Esho, Garry Booth, Hong Kong, J. Coleman, JimBot, JoKa, Justin Lovato, Keith Rosson, Kelly Towles, Ken Garduno, Lelo, Luz Del Mar Rosado, Margaret Dowell, Mary Spring, Marko Davidovic, Mephisto Jones, Morten Andersen, Olivier Defaye, Kelly Vivanco, Peter Harper, Pixielife, Rick Reese, Robert Pokorny, Scotch, Scott G. Brooks, Scott Musgrove, Stephane Tartelin, Steven Thomas, The Love Movement, Sebastian Andia, and Tamira Imondi.

New Baltimore Gallery

Just opened last month and focusing on artists from Latin America and Spain is Obras Art Gallery at 1706 East Pratt Street in Baltimore.

Uh?

"in America, there are no cats..."
- Papa Mousekewitz, c. 1986

"in Iran, there are no homosexuals..."
- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, September 24, 2007

At Howard

"Origin and the Landscape" - Prints and Drawings by Lou Stovall opens next Sunday, September 30, 3:00 - 6:00POM at Howard University Gallery of Art.

Related Programs:

"Conversation with Students." Friday, October 5th, 2007 12:10 pm - 2:00 pm.

"The Art of Silkscreen Printmaking: A Technical Discussion of the Process and Demonstration", Tuesday October 16th, 2007 6:30 pm - 8:30pm.

"Gallery Talk and Tour with the Artist." Sunday November 18th, 2007. (changed from Nov. 4th) 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

All programs held at Howard U. Gallery of Art, Main Campus, in Lulu Vere Childers Hall, 2455 6th Street NW, Washington DC 20059. For more information call (202)806-7070. Exhibition dates are September 30th to December 14th, 2007.

Stovall is one of the nation's true master printmakers and easily one of the District's top artists.

Star Wars on Earth

You knew it was coming... only question is why did it take so long? I've been hearing good things about this show in DC.

(Deep, asthmatic Darth Vader breating)

"Landscapes / Star Wars on Earth" is a solo exhibition featuring two bodies of work by French photographer Cédric Delsaux. According to the gallery press release:

Delsaux's digital photographs combine myth and reality. The work is subtle and serene in his Landscapes series, and overtly humorous in his Star Wars on Earth Series, in which Delsaux photographs toy figurines and then digitally places them in Parisian suburbs. His training in commercial photography is evident with his play on branding in the Star Wars on Earth series. Conversely, in Landscapes, traces of human existence are either remote or totally absent. In both series, the expansive and dream-like scenes combined with colors that contrast the washy with the bold is what captivates.

The exhibition is at Project 4 in DC through October 20, 2007.

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.

"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.

Email

Yesterday I was 248 emails in the hole, and I tried really hard to catch up, and now I am only 170 behind, but life moves on.

So if you feel ignored...

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.

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.