Congrats!

To the very young DMV area artist Teresa Oaxaca, who is one of the top 15 finalists in the International Portrait Competition (Portrait Society of America, 2011)!

"Father Time", 64 x 62 in. Oil on Canvas, 2011 by Teresa Oaxaca
Her portrait of "Father Time" was selected among 15 out of over 1,800 entries in the Portrait Society of America's most prestigious competition.

Galleys

A while back I received the galleys for my 100 Washington, DC Artists book. I read them several times, trying really hard to find errors, knowing that no matter how hard I try, there will be some errors and wherever that error lands, some artist will be eternally pissed off at me.

I did find one error, and I corrected it. But I know that there are more out there, waiting to bite me in the ass after the book is published.

The book goes to print next week.

Order your copy here.

PS - By the way, over at Amazon, the book had been steadily holding a position at the 600-700,000 ranking, but there was one interesting day when it cracked the top 1,000 ranking.

Body art

F. Lennox Campello's right ankle tattoo.
Tattoo on skin, c. 1992. Designed by Lenny Campello.
Tattooe'd by unknown punk-looking British tattoo guest artist working out of the tattoo shop on the street below the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.
For the record, it hurt like hell, and yes, I was very sober.

Saturday: Gilliam at the Katzen

On Saturday, April 2, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, is the opening reception for "Close to Trees", a site specific installation by Sam Gilliam on the entire third floor of the American University Museum at the Katzen Center.

"Sam Gilliam first took his paintings off their stretchers in 1965, using the liberated canvases to transform gallery walls into three-dimensional abstractions. He has continued to experiment with the practice of painting and the line between painting and sculpture. For this exhibition, Gilliam will transform the 8,000 square foot space of the third floor of the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center into an exciting and colorful work of art."

April 2 to August 14, 2011.

Gilliam also broke my heart when he declined to be included in my 100 Washington, DC Artists book (in spite of a joint press front that included several artists who tried to convince Sam to join in the project). Anyway, do not miss this opening and exhibition of work by the DMV's leading artist and a true innovator.

Product Placement

Quite possibly the king of all instant coffees and the quickest at-home way to feed your expresso monkey.

French at Mateyka

Christopher French, who used to be a DMV artist and a former Executive Director of the Washington Project for the Arts, currently has "Inventions and Recollections", an exhibition of recent paintings on Braille paper at the Marsha Mateyka Gallery in DC.

Join them for the artist's reception on Saturday, April 2, 3:00 - 5:00 pm.

Madness Selection

Last night I dropped by March Madness at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, where I had been asked to come by and select my favorite piece from the 200 entries submitted by artists for this fundraiser.

These pieces were all done on a 10 square inch panel, and once again the DMV artists rose to the challenge with an unexpected and diverse set of work. Each piece is then sold for $100.

I really liked Novie Trump's entry (which sold immediately - someone got a hell of a good deal), as well as Danny Conant's mixed media titled "Letter from Paris."

Other favorites were Alicia Roman's mixed media titled "Confess," Randolph Santa Ana's photoshop transfer "Death & Taxes I" and Christi Andrews' most excellent acrylic painting titled "Lo! Pressure."

More favorites: Allison Nance's cyanotype titled "Its all that I'm made of...", Kathleen Kendall's "Long Ago", Berrie Ripin's gorgeous terracota titled "Becoming", Lana Stephens' brilliant graphite and conte drawing "Teapot" (which also sold right away), Roy Utley's smart and minimalist "Airport Erotica", Christine Cardellino's acrylic titled "Princess", and Kevin Mellema's three umbrella studies, each one more minimalist that the previous ones.

My selection as "my favorite in the show"?

Mike Rayburn's highly accomplished, laborious and vastly ultra modern "Health Club", which is described as mixed media, but certainly fits that category of Walmartism. It is made of small tiles, curved needle nose plies (8-9 of them) and ball bearings.

Hard to describe... I wish I had an image, but quite an interesting and nearly machine-perfect piece; a perfect wedding between imagery and technology.

Reviews

Jacobson reviews Mateyka and Fraser.
Capps reviews Conner.
Rousseau reviews Fraser

Congrats!

Congratulations to Andrew Wodzianski, who has been shortlisted for the 26th Annual Mayor's Arts Awards!

FotoDC



FLASH is a month-long event created by FotoDC and sponsored by the Crystal City BID. Between March 17th and April 17th, 2011, the penthouse (12th & 13th Floors) of 2450 Crystal Drive in Arlington, VA will be filled with exciting photography shows and events. FLASH will encompass two curated photography exhibitions, a library of photography books, and a lounge for refreshments and discussion.

March 17-April 17, 2011
Mondays and Tuesdays: closed (available for private events)
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 5 PM – 10 PM
Fridays: 5PM - 11 PM; Saturdays: Noon – 11 PM; Sundays: Noon – 7 PM

Best Art Messiah

In the WCP's Best of 2011, Mera Rubell has been selected by the CP staff as the Best Art Messiah... Yay!

Best commercial art gallery selected by the CP readers? It is one that I've never heard of and I guess must be new and already packing enough votes: Toro Mata?

But then I find them on the web and from their website:

TORO MATA features a classic selection of furnishings, decorating accessories and artwork imported directly from the master artisans of Peru. Each item is handcrafted using only natural materials and methods that have been passed down through generations. We visit Peru regularly to discover new artists and unique products. Our frequent consultations with the artisans ensures the highest quality standards and allows for superior delivery of custom order requests. TORO MATA's new home at 2410 18th Street NW in Washington, D.C., includes the first floor shop and a mezzanine gallery. We are open to the public daily, including evening hours Tuesday through Saturday. Private product viewings and order consultations are provided to qualified wholesale accounts and interiors professionals by appointment.

Heh, heh... Fail!

Photography Exhibit Opening Premieres New Show, New Gallery

Saturday, April 2nd marks the opening of the photography exhibition “Looking In, Looking Through” at the new Howard Avenue Arts Incubator gallery. A reception to celebrate the inaugural show, open to the public, will be held from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on that date. The reception and exhibition will take place on the top floor of the Gary Rosenthal Collection studio building, in Kensington's West Howard Avenue warehouse and antique district.

Curated by noted photographer Jim Auerbach, the exhibition features 10 local photographers, each showing 10 images, from landscapes and portraits to architecture and abstracts. Unifying the show is the theme “Looking In, Looking Through”: capturing the essence of a subject by looking deeply into it and communicating the context of a subject by looking through it to the wider world. The featured photographers include George DeBuchananne, Beth Koller, Peter Manzelli, Dave Mullen, Mario Ramos, Judy Saunders, Coriolana Simon, Jerry Weinstein, and Doug Wolters, as well as curator Jim Auerbach.

The works will be on display from April 2 through April 16. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Friday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, and Sunday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.

For more information, contact Curator Jim Auerbach at npajiim@aol.com, or 301.871.9060 and 301.807.1753; or Assistant Director Joy Parisi at joyartincubator@gmail.com, call 301.897.4152, or visit the website at www.artincubator.org

Sabbath, Classic Sabbath

Auto repairs woes

Considering that I've just dropped over $2600 for repairs to 2005 Chrysler Town & Country van, I figure that the least that I could do is tell you about some of the non monetary woes of dealing with this particular dealership (Darcars of Rockville) from the perspective of a guy bringing his van in for repair.

I made an appointment for a Monday and dropped my van on Sunday nite via their night drop off. By Monday afternoon I hadn't heard anything back from them so I called them and the service rep told me that he'd call me back. He did and shocked me by telling me that I had a small mint in repairs to be done (power steering, transmission, etc.). This is not a post of Chrysler vans, so I won't tell you how disappointed I am that I essentially had to change the power steering and most of the transmission after only 109,000 miles. Thank you Chrysler workmanship.

Later that day I received a call telling me that they wouldn't have enough time to fix my van on Monday and that they would like me to drop by and get a complimentary rental car. I showed up around 3:30PM and that's when some of the issues started.

When I got there, only one service rep was there and two customers in line. So I waited about 15 minutes or so until they were done and then explained my situation.

The service rep filled out the paper for the rental car and called a gent named Tim and assigned Tim to give me a ride to the rental car agency. Tim asked what car should he use to take me there and the service rep said for Tim to check and see if my van (which I saw on the side and not being worked on) was drivable. Tim disappeared into the shop to find out and then service rep began to take care of a new customer. At the point a second service rep showed up and he also began to take care of a separate customer. I waited.

Tim came back and stood by the side of the service reps, he told me that my van wasn't drivable and he'd need to use the dealership car. He stood patiently while my service rep ignored him and continued to assist his new client. Tim must have stood there for five minutes, at parade rest while the service rep didn't as much as look at him.

Then the other service rep grabs Tim and tells him to please drive his customer home. At that point I get alarmed... by now I've been there maybe 30 minutes.... and I start to talk to the other service rep to tell him that I was waiting first and needed Tim to take me to the auto rental place. But the service rep raises his hand, cuts me off and says: "Sir, I'll help you in a second, but I am working with this customer now."

Tim disappears with the customer and the second service rep comes back to me (my original guy was still helping his new customer - I think he was changing a bulb in his dashboard). When I explain the story to him, he apologizes and tells me not to worry, that Chris will give me a ride to the car rental company. He calls Chris, and they spend 10 minutes looking for a car to give me a ride. In one of the largest car dealerships in the US, there is none available, so the service rep tells me that he will call the car rental company and have them pick me up. He does so and tells me that it will be 15 minutes.

25 minutes later I come back out and he sees me and he calls them again. He apologizes again and tells me that they're on the way.

15 minutes later they arrive. I get in the car. The kid drives the car to the corner, makes an U turn and parks right across the street from DARCARS.

Yes, I had been waiting over 45 minutes to get a ride to a car rental company that was across the street. It was so unbelievable that no one said to me during the 45 minutes, "hey the car rental is across the street" that I didn't even get mad, but was astounded that I had wasted almost an hour waiting for nothing.

Next day it's 1PM and I haven't heard back, so I call them. The service rep asks me to wait while he asks the mechanic. It will be done at 4:15 he tells me.

I show up at 4PM, but the van is not ready... now I know that the times are just estimates, so I sigh and wait in the wait room. An hour later my van is done and by 5PM I am driving away, wondering how we waste time so easily sometimes due to lack of good communication.

On the good side, so far the van feels good again.

Anderson's opinion on this experience?

For your Friday art...

Tomorrow is March Madness at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria.

* Artwork - 200 pieces of artwork on 10" square panels – each only $100
* Prizes - many of the panels will be loaded with prizes donated from local businesses (I will be one of the jurors for the prizes)
* Music - awesome beats by DJ Stylo
* Food & Drinks – wings, pizza, beer & more, provided by local businesses
* Beer - sposored by Old Dominion Brewing Company
* Games – join in the fun with a little fun competition!

March Madness is an exhibition of approximately 200 10x10-inch works of art. Torpedo Factory and DCarea artists, as well as local high school students and college students will create the artwork. It will be on display in the Target Gallery from March 17 – March 27. All work will be for sale for $100 with 10% of all sales being donated to the March of Dimes. In addition, several of the artworks will be “loaded” with prizes donated by local businesses. The goal of this fundraiser is to raise money and awareness for the March of Dimes, a charity that helps children in need, and to raise money for the Target Gallery’s 2011 outreach programming.

They have two main events to accompany this fundraiser:

#1. Kids Art Activity: The first is a March of Dimes sponsored art activity for kids whose families benefited from the March of Dimes. This activity was held at the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s main hall on March 19th from 11am to 1pm. This was used as a tool to help raise awareness for their annual “March for Babies” walk held in May 2011.

#2. Art Party: The second event will be a March Madness Art Party, which will be held tomorrow, March 25th from 7-11pm, and will be a ticketed event. This party will be held at the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s main hall right outside of the Target Gallery. The theme of the evening will have a NCAA March Madness Tournament pub like atmosphere, to include games, pub faire, live band, prizes and more. Click Here to learn about the Torpedo Factory’s Target Gallery Community Outreach.

Dates: March 25, 7-11pm
Where: Main hall of Torpedo Factory Art Center, right outside of the Target Gallery
Cost: $15 in advance; $20 at the door

Details here.

Coming to Gallery 555

Early look

American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center will have the AU Art Department's Student Exhibitions opening soon, with first year MFA students: April 2 through May 15
and MFA theses: April 23 through May 15.

Victor Gomez opening at Cafritz

I keep hearing good things about an exhibit of gorgeous monoprints by Miami based Cuban artist Victor Gomez which are on view right now in the atrium gallery at the Cafritz Art Center.

The artist is coming in for the opening reception, which is being held on March 24th (Thursday) in coordination with another exhibit of Latin American art "El Corazon del Pueblo" which is up in the main gallery.

Opening Reception: Thursday, March 24, 5:00—7:30 PM.

The cost of art fairs

I was just talking on the phone to gallerist friend who's been doing the Scope Art Fair for the last few years, and as a result of sales at the art fairs, barely being able to keep her gallery open, as sales in her hometown are all but non-existent.

Last December she had a small booth in Miami. This basic booth (200 Sq. ft.) has a basic cost of $10, 600. That's the start.

In her case she didn't add any extra walls (additional cost), but just added some extra lights (additional cost). By the time she finished paying the additional mandatory advertising fee ($1,000 for a small booth - it grows proportionally as the booth gets larger), and the mandatory insurance, she was looking at $12,000 for a basic small booth.

Now add airfare for her and an assistant (it is physically nearly impossible to do an art fair with just one person manning the booth - believe me... I've done once and know the impossibility of this task). Then add hotels (share the room) and transportation (share the rental car) and food for her and her assistant. Now tack on the shipping price for the artwork from the Mid Atlantic to Miami, Florida (and back for unsold work). The cost is now around $15,000 for this basic booth, plus the assistant's salary (undisclosed).

She had decided to take just one artist to Scope (the fair has a pretty tough minimalist hanging policy), and had applied with just the one name. She was glad that Scope accepted this "new" artist, because this was an artist with strong representational imagery and thus good possibilities for sales.

When they hung the works - you can't overhang at Scope, so about seven paintings were displayed - she realized that she had made one major error. More on that later...

In the first two days of Scope, all of the paintings sold, and the "extra" two which had been shipped also sold later on. The artist was jubilant.

What was the gallerist's mistake?

With a $15,000 (plus the assistant's salary) expense, she needed to sell at least $30,000 worth of artwork in order just to break even (plus more to cover the assistant's salary).

With her artists' prices starting at $800 for a small oil and $3-4,000 for the other larger paintings, even though she sold out of all the work that she had shipped, she still lost about $4,000 in the event, and considered herself lucky to escape with this loss, which she attributed to failing to deduce that she had to sell at least $10,000 per wall in order to break even; a very basic mistake for an experienced gallerist.

In the old days, when an artist sold out, you raised his/her prices up a little the next time (she did this for the second hanging of the extra paintings); in these days of extreme financial austerity, that's not always a perfect formula anymore.

This is one of the many reasons why galleries go under: the enormous financial risk involved in participating in just about the only venues left where a gallery can sell art.

Art Scam

Some artists in the DMV and Baltimore area are being seduced by this scam email; make sure you ignore it:

From: Nelson Bateman
Date: March 20, 2011 8:13:24 AM EDT
To: undisclosed-recipients: ;
Subject: Interested in your work

Hi
The images in your website is so fascinating and so vivacious looking at each piece of work make me know you added so much dedication in making each work come out to life but unfortunately i lost the weblink but i was able to save your email address am writing you because i need your help to get back to your website so that i can be able to see more of your work and purchase some for my apartment. I reside in Queensland Australia hope to read from you soon.
Regards
Nelson

For a link explaining how the scam works, click here.