In Eff-el-Lay

In Miami, getting ready to do some family-visiting before heading out to Miami Beach to check out the Aqua Hotel and tomorrow begin the unloading and set up for the fair.

Artnet has a good preview of the fairs here.

Airborne

Heading to Miami in the evening to participate in a couple of art fairs, but the one where I will be is the Aqua Art Fair in Miami Beach - almost right across the street from ABMB.

Anybody who will be in Miami for the art fairs and wants a free pass to Aqua, please drop me an email.

Xenophilia: Biomorphic Sculpture by Liz Lescault

Liz Lescault is an accomplished ceramic artist. Her sculptures reflect her mastery and exploration of organic forms daring the viewer to recognize where their inspiration originated.

The sculptures in her upcoming show Xenophilia at the Arts/Harmony Hall Regional Center (through Saturday, Dec. 24), according to her, 'is purposefully not identifiable as either animal, vegetable or mineral but encompasses many possibilities." Lescault’s work can be both beautiful and repelling in the same moment. Her sculpture is visually inviting, the surface may be velvety and smooth, the color deep and rich, often contradicting the viewer’s response to the form itself.

There's a sonic adjunct to the exhibition: "Recently I started playing with the idea of creating complimentary environments for my works to exist in, environments integral to the object that engage but never distract the viewer," she says. "My sculptures conjure objects of nature and natural objects exist in nature in an environment, a biosphere, as part of their surroundings. I decided to make sound my first venture into creating surroundings to envelope my work. The concept of the 'sound environment' is to bring a richer focus to the sculptural objects and a new dimension to the viewer’s experience where the environment is subtly and elegantly responsive to the viewer."

Arts/Harmony Hall Regional Center
10701 Livingston Rd.
Fort Washington, Maryland 30744

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that you all have the luck to spend today with your families and that we all think a thought for all those who can't, especially our men and women in uniform stationed all over the world and our sailors at sea.

Below is how pumpkin pies are made, source unknown, but clever!

Silverpoint at McLean

For a look at how a contemporary artist handles the difficult Renaissance technique of drawing with sterling silver, check out a show titled "Imaginary Botanicals" at the McLean Project for the Arts.

Elizabeth Whiteley's solo exhibition of silverpoints runs from December 1 to January 7.  The reception is on Thursday, December 1 from 7:00 to 9:00 in the Atrium Gallery.  She will also be at the Gallery from 2:00 to 4:00 on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4.  Whiteley's website is here

New DC Gallery to open

CHARLES KRAUSE/REPORTING FINE ART is located in the heart of downtown Washington at 1300 13th Street NW, Suite 105, Washington, DC. 20005. Ph: 202-638-3612. To find out when each show is open to the public or to make an appointment, go to: www.charleskrausereporting.com

The gallery’s mission reflects the background and professional experiences of its founding director, Charles Krause, whose career as a foreign correspondent afforded him the opportunity to witness many of the wars, revolutions and social and political upheavals of the last two decades of the 20th Century. On assignment for The Washington Post, CBS News and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, he saw the profound influence that art and visual images often have on the dynamics of change, and discovered the extraordinary work that has emerged---and continues to emerge---from the great social and political conflicts of our time.

“By showing the work of artists who have sought to influence, or who have been influenced by, the great social and political upheavals of the 20th and 21stcenturies, I hope to influence the way their art is viewed, understood and valued by museum curators, art historians, art critics and collectors throughout the world.

“I will exhibit and sell fine art I admire for its quality and originality as well as its social and political significance. I will also show work by artists I admire for the risks they have taken to defend their artistic freedom and/or the political and human rights of others. The work shown in my gallery will be selected on the basis of its artistic merit and its impact, both visual and political, irrespective of the artists’ political views --- or my own.

---Charles Krause

Campello for Christmas

This past week, for those of you who don't already know, my daughter Elise has been busy recording a Christmas Album by Sony Masterworks and Steinway Artist Andrew T. Miller.

Elise, along with a few other very talented artists, are featured on this album and you should pre-order yours today since it will be out this coming weekend!

Go to www.andrewtmiller.org for more info!

Major Talent, Part II


In the foreground that's the legendary Lida Moser with GMU Art School Top Gun, Prof. Chawky Frenn. In the background that's Tim Tate talking to the multi-talented Andrew Wodzianski, Pat Goslee, The Lenster and Victor Ekpuk's arm.

Opportunities for Artists

Deadline: December 2, 2011

Call for Submissions: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop's 6th Annual Contemporary Photography Exhibition

Exhibition dates: January 6th - February 2nd 2012. Looking for any and all types of contemporary photography: traditional, alternative, black and white, color, photojournalism, fine art, time based, performance, installation... if you think it involves photography, please submit! Over $2000.00 in purchase awards, and the selected photographers will become part of a permanent public installation in Washington, DC. One of the participating artists will be invited for a solo exhibition in 2012, including a press release, opening reception, printed invitation, and an artist honorarium. All submissions online, deadline for entries: December 2nd 2011. For details and submission guidelines, please visit www.chaw.org

Fun art


This is an early view on a potential masterpiece... art can be fun sometimes, right?

In the developing drawing, Ricky has just returned home a little early and finds Lucy in a compromising situation with fellow Oriente Cuban Fidel Castro.

Lucy... you got some 'splaining to do!

And now...

Possibly Al Gore's Internets world's coolest art website? Check it out here after you get a sample below.

“Girl with Ice Cream Cone” remake by Stephanie Gonot


“Girl with Ice Cream Cone” by Wayne Thiebaud

Job in the Arts

UrbanArt Commission is currently accepting applications for the position of Executive Director for the organization. Interested individuals should view the job description and responsibilities outlined in their website below.

For more information please visit their website at www.urbanartcommission.org or contact them at searchcommittee@urbanartcommission.org.

Free passes to the Miami art fairs?

Anybody need some free passes to some of the art fairs in Miami during ABMB week? Drop me an email if you'd like some.

I've noted with some sadness that the DMV is barely represented this year in Miami - as far as I can tell, only three DMV area galleries (one just an online gallery) and one non profit, are heading to Miami this year plus one Baltimore gallery, one Richmond gallery and one Norfolk gallery.

It's pretty tough being an artist in 2011 and not having a footprint in Miami during ABMB week.

What I don't get - having lived there recently - is how come there are over half a dozen Philadelphia galleries in various art fairs in Miami - twice the number over DMV.

A load of talent


Some of the great talent in my 100 Artists of Washington, DC book - photo taken at a recent book signing event at the home of a a major DMV art collector.


That's me with the legendary Lida Moser.

At Strathmore
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Simultaneous exhibitions in the Mansion at Strathmore represent the largest three dimensional installation pieces ever shown at the arts center in From Forge to Form: Modern Ironwork, alongside some of the smallest, in the legacy exhibition, The 78th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature.

Both exhibitions are on view through December 30, 2011. From Forge to Form will illustrate the evolution of blacksmithing from a utilitarian trade to a growing artistic medium, featuring 32 pieces of ironwork, totaling 3,500 pounds, by Virginia-based artists Frederic Crist and Nol Putnam.

The juried Fine Art in Miniature exhibition features 667 meticulously painted, sculpted, carved and crafted micro-works from 252 artists. Works in the exhibitions are available for purchase. For more information, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.

An opportunity to help

In today's economy, the term "starving artist" has taken on a much more prevalent and literal definition. But if our professional artists are starving, what does that mean for a children's nonprofit trying to improve lives using art?

It is harder than ever to raise money in the nonprofit sector, but that is exactly what M.O.M.I.E's TLC is still fighting to do. Mentors of Minorities in Education's Total Learning Cis-tem is a nonprofit organization focused on giving at-risk children of color the nurturing environment and leadership skills that they need to succeed. One of their most basic tactics is to use art to help children see the world from perspectives other than their own.

On December 17th, M.O.M.I.E's TLC is hosting a charity art auction supporting its Eco-Green Children's Facility building plan. The auction will take place from 6pm to 8pm at Sankofa Video and Books and will feature gallery owners, community leaders, notable DC figures and many more. The initiative is based on the premise that they can auction art to create more opportunities for art. They are seeking art donations to sell at auction from local high school and college students, as well as professional artists from around the country. The money raised will create a new space to expand and continue their mission of using art to teach life lessons.

The economy may be tough, but every artist or art enthusiast can play a part in easing the burden for someone else. Donate a piece for the auction. Donate time to attend and learn. If you're a local business or gallery, take out an ad in their event program. And if you're able, donate a few dollars for this fantastic cause.

To donate or for more information, visit www.momiestlc.com or email TheVisionsOfGreatness@gmail.com

Brainfart

I just accidentally nuked about 50 unread emails thanks to the "Delete From Imbox" option in the B'berry.

My apologies in advance.

The Lilith Plotting The Sin

Just worked out another drawing with embedded digital component. This time, instead of a video, I embedded a tiny motherboard driving a very small LCD screen. Below is a series of images showing how the piece progressed from conception to changes and final piece.

The work started as "Eve Contemplating The Sin" and this was Eve - note the tiny screen to the right - within the screen, a series of red apples rotate through:



Here's the computer chip on the verso which drives the LCD screen - it has a rechargeable Lithium battery.



Then I framed it all up, and was getting ready to pack it for Aqua Art Fair, when it somehow spoke to me; this wasn't Eve, this was her predecessor - this was The Lilith. And so, I unframed it, and changed the drawing...



And now she's The Lilith... covered in Pictish tattoos! And below is the final piece: The Lilith Plotting The Sin.

The Composer

MPA/Corcoran longtime art teacher Barbara Januskiewicz, together with NY jazz pianist Matthew Shipp, is part of a collaborative art project called The Composer. This is more than an independent film, as it can be developed into outreach programs, art installations, and multimedia exhibits.

Her work this year has been to fuse music, art and the idea of creative critical thinking together. Here with The Composer project, she can reach into cultural art centers, museums and alternative art venues around the world. We know Barbara as a multimedia artist/filmmaker who sees herself and art as a way to celebrate creativity. Her actions have advocated taking art outside of the boundaries of the (art) system and to open it up to multiple possibilities thus bringing creativity into all areas of life. She now needs our support in reaching her goals with this project.

Matthhew Shipp, Barbara's partner:

is a perfect match for her. His talent persists as a resilient outsider, maintaining strong ties to NYC's free-jazz community even as he assails its orthodoxies. His strengths draw from listening to his own voice and taking risk in both composing and performing. He has performed around the world and has over 20 CDs, both solo and in groups. He is also the leader of the Matthew Shipp Trio.

You can support this project on their Kickstarter page at your preferred level. This is a charitable tax deduction courtesy of the American Jazz Museum.

This was taken at a book-signing party for the artists in the "100 Artists of Washington, DC" book at the home of one of the top DMV area art collectors.

That's me signing a book in the rear. In the foreground there's some major talent... that's Prof. Chawky Frenn, the top gun at GMU's Art School taking a pic of the legendary Lida Moser - yep... she whose's work is in every major museum in the world (including all DMV museums except the Hirshhorn... hello H?), and whose life has been documented in not one but two documentaries, and whose image (painted by Alice Neel not once but four times) hangs in a few major museums of their own around the planet...