Goldstein on (e)merge

This city long recognized for art that is old and historic is, it appears, becoming a hub for art that is bold and new.

The WaPo's Jessica Goldstein writes about (e)merge; read it here.

Anderson's first ever painting

Bethany Beach Impressions. Watercolor on paper. 6x10 inches, c. 2011 by Anderson Lennox Campello.

Why D.C. Needs an Emerging Art Fair?

Why start a new fair for emerging art in Washington, D.C.? As collector Mera Rubell puts it, "Politics is not the only game in D.C., just like Hollywood isn't the only game in L.A. Washington spends more money on art than any other place on earth. Culture is a monster industry here, and D.C. is poised to become a powerful art destination. This city is a diamond in the rough."

As the creators of the (e)merge art fair, which will debut in D.C. this September 22-25, we believe that the nation's capital is a burgeoning market for contemporary art. In recent years, D.C.'s art community has grown and diversified, while strengthening its interconnections and forging new relationships with the business community. Along with artistic advancement, the region's private business and tech sectors have expanded. The mutually reinforcing factors of creative artistic energy, entrepreneurial innovation, and economic growth provide a stimulating environment for emerging art. With enthusiastic support from D.C.'s museums, galleries, collectors, nonprofit spaces, city officials, and residents, this event is positioned to tap directly into the region's evolution.

Read the whole article in ArtInfo here.

FY12 DC Grants

At Transformer next week

Come to this opening

As I've noted before, Susana Raab, Tim Tate and I have been mentoring some exceptional young artists as part of the Fine Artists in Residence program at Strathmore.

I've had a preview of the final exhibition and I can tell you that these four young artists have left me speechless with what they have created for this final show. Come and visit and prepare to be impressed!

The opening is Friday July 22, 2011 from 7-9PM. I have a brand new video drawing in the exhibition.

Opportunity for Artists

Are you an artist who would like to exhibit your outdoor sculpture work or other installation for an entire month? Are you a homeowner who would be interested in hosting a beautiful work of art in your front yard throughout August? If so, then the North Capitol Main Street Art + Music Walk wants to hear from you!

Now in its third year, the annual North Capitol Main Street Art + Music Walk (formerly known as “First On 1st”) brings together residents of DC’s North Capitol neighborhoods with local businesses, artists and other creatives, and showcases the area as a whole to the entire District. Homeowners in Bloomingdale, Eckington, and Truxton Circle graciously offer up their lawns to serve as pop-up installation spaces throughout the month of August, as the neighborhood celebrates its culture of community – and its community of culture – by showcasing live music, great art, and fine foods from area restaurants.

This year, we have a goal of including twenty (20) artists and homes to display art, and there will be four stages set up to feature live performances during the kick-off celebration on Saturday, August 6.

If you’re interested in taking part, please e-mail josef@pinklineproject.com to get involved — and we`ll see you at this year’s North Capitol Main Street Art + Music Walk!

Details here.

Peter Anton

Click on the image below to get a better view of the curious case of American artist Peter Anton and his former German dealer.

Artomatic @ Frederick Announces Dates!

Artomatic @ Frederick will take place this fall from September 28 - November 6, 2011.

Tours of the space at 115 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701 will take place on the following days in July:

July 16 at 9,10 and 11 AM
July 23 at 9,10 and 11 AM
July 24 at 10 and 11 AM
July 30 at 9,10 and 11 AM
July 31 at 10 and 11 AM

Artist Registration begins August 1st.

Information: www.artomaticfrederick.org
Questions: aom21701@gmail.com
Phone: 240-285-3758

New space for Cross MacKenzie

Join them at their gorgeous new space. Their first show there is "Summer Selections". Join them for summer cocktails in their new gallery space on July 14th 6-8pm.

Gorgeous drawing up for auction

A British art dealer has this gorgeous charcoal drawing of mine, circa 2000 up for auction here and it's going for a steal!

Hurry, the auction ends in less than 2 days!

Anderson on CultureScape

Read the review here.

But is it Art? Art Fair

The WCP's Kriston Capps has a very interesting article on a new and fresh concept on a DC satellite art fair to the (e)merge art fair - read it here.

When artists Alex Ventura and Victoria Milko host the But Is It Art? fair from Sept. 22 to Sept. 25, they won’t be putting that question to their artists or audience. They know what they’re doing is art. Their DIY fair is asking a pointed question about another art fair taking place over the same weekend: the inaugural (e)merge art fair.

“We can show as strong a contemporary art show without the development,” Ventura says. “I’m not judging, but it’s sort of a friendly ‘fuck you.’ Contemporary art doesn’t need that setting.”

This is a first heard for me - check out their website here. When Art Basel Miami Beach started in Florida less than a decade ago, it was just them (Art Miami had been around for years, but at a different time). The idea proved so good, that now there are 25 satellite art fairs around the ABMB magnet and even the original art fair (Art Miami) changed their schedule to align with ABMB week in December.

“These people have not contacted us,” Conner says, “but I think it’s fantastic.” She says that (e)merge aims to be inclusive and to broadcast other arts events within the city, including, potentially, But Is It Art? “Casting things as mainstream versus alternative—I’m not sure those are the right terms. If like the Armory, if like Art Basel, if what (e)merge is doing is inspiring others, we’re happy that a satellite is happening.”

Good Pre-Pub Sales (so far!)...

The announcement of the first volume of the three set compendium (100 Washington, DC Artists) caused quite a bit of stir further fueled by my re-write of a drive-by article on the subject.

One of the commenters in one of those articles noted something along the line of "who cares, only 100 copies will sell".

And yet, the pre-orders for the book have been so unexpectedly high that now the book shows out of stock on Amazon until they get their orders fulfilled! in their distribution center.

By the way, for those of you who ordered the book online (including whoever apparently ordered 100 copies!), the publisher tells me that because of the fact that the book just arrived in the publisher's warehouse in PA just last week, it will take anywhere from 3-6 weeks for all distribution centers (both online and brick and mortar bookstores) to receive their stock and replace it in their inventory.

So the book will be back in stock at Amazon as soon as they receive their current orders and their additional orders.

By the way number two: Pencil in 23 July from 3-5PM for the book release party in DC - more details here.

The place to be this Saturday is...

Mark this down on your calendar: Saturday, July 9, 2011 for three "not to miss" art events at Conner Contemporary:

- (e)merge panel discussion - 5pm

- ACADEMY 2011 opening + (e)merge party: 6-8pm.

First: Saturday, July 9th - the panel at 5pm; party 6 to 8pm. Conner Contemporary Art and (e)merge art fair will host a panel discussion: Collecting and Emerging Art. Panelists include: Robert Shapiro, collector, Henry Thaggert, collector, Melissa Ichiuji, artist, Alberto Gaitan, artist, Victoria Reis, Director, Transformer Gallery. The panel will be moderated by Helen Allen, co-director of the (e)merge art fair.

The (e)merge panel discussion begins at 5pm; directly followed by (e)merge art fair party and Academy 2011 opening.

ACADEMY 2011, is Conner's 11th annual invitational survey of outstanding work by MFA/BFA students from the Washington/Baltimore area.

Exhibition founder and curator, Jamie Smith, Ph.D. invited the following artists to participate:

Artists: Sarah Allison, Forest Allread, Emily Biondo, Woojin Chang, Caroline Covington, Michael Dotson, Dan Gioia, Ginny Huo, Adam Junior, Libby Landauer, Linling Lu, Jon Malis, Jonathan Monaghan, Elle Perez, Melissa Prentki, Camilo Sanin, Samuel Scharf, Sierra Suris, Virginia Wagner. That's Linling Lu, One Hundred Melodies of Solitude - Lighthouse II, acrylic on canvas, c. 2011 on the left.

Representing institutions: American University, Corcoran College of Art and Design, George Washington University, Maryland Institute College of Art, and University of Maryland.

Check out the exhibition online here.

Local Color

Happy 4th!

American Flag by Jasper Johns

Art Deck-O at Touchstone

Art Deck-O: DC Playing Card Originals Artists from the Washington DC Playing Card Project Opening Reception: Friday, July 8, 6–8:30 pm at Touchstone Gallery.

This past winter 54 of Washington DC's finest artists came together to produce wildly creative designs that form a playing card deck unique to our area. The culmination of these efforts was then published in a deck of fully functional playing cards with traditional suites of diamonds, hearts, spades and clubs.

Although decks of cards--designed by artists or created in a particular theme--have been around for centuries, this latest variation on the concept has given DC area artists a fun way to showcase their individual expressions in card form. Both the originals and the decks of cards will be on exhibit at Touchstone Gallery during the month of July as Touchstone partners with Art In Hand TM to promote the work of artists here in DC.

Each deck is composed of a fantastic array of genres and mediums which are a big hit with artists, school teachers, magicians, game players and art lovers everywhere. Each deck is like holding an Art Gallery right in your own hands.

Washington is the third city in a series of art decks created by Art In Hand TM, an arts publisher out of Charlotte, NC. Founded by Dione Goyette in 2009, the first project united artists in the Charlotte area and then inspired a deck in Portland, Oregon. This imaginative and collaborative project isn't just fun and games. So far, participating artists in Charlotte and Portland can boast that their work is in the homes of over 3,000 and 5,000 people respectively. Decks in both cities will go back for second printings this year.

Artists: Steve Alderton, Erin Antognoli, Michael J. Auger, Jennifer Beinhacker, Chris Bishop, Jennifer Bishop, Liliane Blom, Adam Bradley, Tory Cowles, Karen Deans, Cheryl Patrice Derricotte, Devbo, Dana Ellyn, Theresa Esterlund, Susan Feller, Beth Hannon Fuller, Jenne Glover, Emily Greene Liddle, Rosemary Luckett, Sue Lynch, Susan Makara, Angela Maray, Joyce McCarten, Newton More, Jennifer O'Connell, Eileen Olson, Maggie O'Neill, Kristy Orr, Cindy Packard Richmond, Judith Peck, Pam Rogers, Daniel Francisco Roncesvalles, Lisa K. Rosenstein, Matt Sesow, Pauline A. Siple, Isabelle Spicer, Charles St. Charles, Mary Gallagher Stout, Dan Tulk, Pamela H. Viola, Gail Vollrath, Andrew Wodzianski, Emma SkyWolf, Sharon Wolpoff and Jason Zampol

Academy 2011 and (e)merge

Mark this down on your calendar: Saturday, July 9, 2011 for three "not to miss" art events at Conner Contemporary:

- (e)merge panel discussion - 5pm

- ACADEMY 2011 opening + (e)merge party: 6-8pm.

First: Saturday, July 9th - the panel at 5pm; party 6 to 8pm. Conner Contemporary Art and (e)merge art fair will host a panel discussion: Collecting and Emerging Art. Panelists include: Robert Shapiro, collector, Henry Thaggert, collector, Melissa Ichiuji, artist, Alberto Gaitan, artist, Victoria Reis, Director, Transformer Gallery. The panel will be moderated by Helen Allen, co-director of the (e)merge art fair.

The (e)merge panel discussion begins at 5pm; directly followed by (e)merge art fair party and Academy 2011 opening.

ACADEMY 2011, is Conner's 11th annual invitational survey of outstanding work by MFA/BFA students from the Washington/Baltimore area.

Exhibition founder and curator, Jamie Smith, Ph.D. invited the following artists to participate:

Artists: Sarah Allison, Forest Allread, Emily Biondo, Woojin Chang, Caroline Covington, Michael Dotson, Dan Gioia, Ginny Huo, Adam Junior, Libby Landauer, Linling Lu, Jon Malis, Jonathan Monaghan, Elle Perez, Melissa Prentki, Camilo Sanin, Samuel Scharf, Sierra Suris, Virginia Wagner. That's Linling Lu, One Hundred Melodies of Solitude - Lighthouse II, acrylic on canvas, c. 2011 on the left.

Representing institutions: American University, Corcoran College of Art and Design, George Washington University, Maryland Institute College of Art, and University of Maryland.

Check out the exhibition online here.

Lori Anne Boocks Opens at Delaplaine

Saturday, July 2 from 3 to 5pm is the opening reception for The Distance Between from Germantown artist Lori Anne Boocks.

Using varying lengths of rope to mark both time and emotional space between opposing or related concepts, this installation invites viewers to consider where these intersections occur in their own lives.

The Distance Between builds on her on-going series of paintings called textscapes that incorporate the written word.

The Delaplaine Visual Arts Center
July 2 – August 21, 2011.