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OCTOBER 4 - 7, 2012   Follow us!
The (e)merge art fair advances multiple platforms where artists, gallerists, curators and collectors can discover and experience emerging art. |
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Tuesday, October 02, 2012
(e)merge is here again!
Monday, October 01, 2012
Design a Wine Label
Attention Artists: The Capital Grille Now Accepting Submissions
for 2012 Wine Label Design Competition
Artists of all media are invited to enter; winning artwork will adorn bottle
of exclusive 2009 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon
ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 30, 2012) – The Capital Grille is now accepting artwork submissions for its fourth-annual Artist Series Wine Label Design Competition.
Through October 19, 2012, aspiring and established artists nationwide,
aged 21 years or older, are invited to submit original artwork that will
be considered for the label of a limited-allocation wine served
exclusively at The Capital Grille, whose award-winning wine program is
routinely recognized by Wine Spectator magazine. In addition to having
his or her artwork adorn the bottles of this year’s featured vintage,
the winning artist also will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the
wine country of California’s Napa Valley.
This
unique competition sponsored by The Capital Grille celebrates the art
of the wine label. For centuries, wine-label design was about as basic
and austere as a shipping label. That changed in 1940 when Baron
Phillippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild began enlisting
famous artists, including Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso, to craft a
masterpiece for the outside of the bottle that would beautifully convey
the work of art inside.
The
bottled inspiration for the 2012 Artist Series competition is a 2009
Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon, blended by winemaker Heidi von der Mehden
from Arrowood Winery and George Miliotes, The Capital Grille’s own
Master Sommelier. Intensely purple in color, this wine presents aromas
of ripe, dark fruits that are matched on the palate with notes of
blackberry, plum and blueberry. Mehden and Miliotes describe this
exceptional wine as “a natural beauty,” imparting layers of flavor that
begin with a deep intensity and end with a soft, rich finish.
“This
competition combines two complementary cultural passions: fine wine and
fine art,” said Miliotes. “While my expertise focuses on what’s inside
the bottle, I love that this competition is as much about the palette as
it is the palate.”
Only
1,000 cases of the Arrowood Cabernet will be produced for this year’s
Artist Series event, which will take place next spring in all 47
locations of The Capital Grille nationwide. The restaurants will donate a
portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold to Share Our Strength in
support of its mission to end childhood hunger in America. To date, The
Capital Grille has raised more than $1,000,000 on behalf of the organization.
How to Enter
To
enter, use the medium of your choice to create an original piece of art
that captures the essence of this exclusive, world-class Cabernet
Sauvignon. Entries should be original artwork and will be accepted
through October 19, 2012. Entries will be accepted via mail or email. To
enter, visit http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/enter/ for contest rules and details.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
New Drawing
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| Male Nude in a Barnett Newman Composition (Detail). Charcoal on Paper, 2.75 x 22.25 inches. 2012. |
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| Male Nude in a Barnett Newman Composition. Charcoal on Paper, 2.75 x 22.25 inches. 2012. |
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Neoscona Crucifera?
As far as I can tell, these huge spiders (who seem to love to build their nests around my deck) are Neoscona Crucifera. They are apparently not poisonous, so I'm leaving them alone, but they are huge (about the size of a quarter) and rather scary-looking.
Friday, September 28, 2012
For PG County Artists
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Ai Weiwei heading to jail
Ai Weiwei, who has a show opening at the Hirshhorn Museum next week, has been arrested (again) in the People's Workers' Paradise of China and this time it seems like the ChiComms are learning a trick or two from our own IRS.
Read about it here.
Read about it here.
WPA Artists' Registry
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
FINAL DEADLINE: October 12, 2012, 5:00pm
FINAL DEADLINE: October 12, 2012, 5:00pm
Published bi-annually, this four-color, 8½ x 5½ inch
directory is the definitive listing of established and emerging
contemporary artists throughout the Washington region. It is widely used
by galleries, curators, art consultants, and art patrons. Copies are
distributed to selected art critics and other members of the press, and
to museums both within and outside of the region. The 2013 - 2014 Artist
Directory will be published in the spring of 2013, and will be
available for sale on the WPA website and at select area retail
locations at the price of $9.95.
Each participating artist will be featured on a full page (8½ x ½ inches).
The page will include the artist's name, a color digital image of their
work, their studio address and phone number, email address, web
address, categories to describe their work and studio practice, and
their gallery affiliation.
All
current WPA members are eligible for publication in the Artist
Directory. There is an additional participation fee that includes a copy
of the Artist Directory. The registration fee increases to $75. The final
registration deadline is October 12, 2012. No submissions will be
accepted after this date.
Registration for the 2013 - 2014 Artist Directory will be handled exclusively through WPA's website.
Each
participating artist can upload one image to be featured on their page.
Images must be submitted as .eps or .tif files in CMYK format. They
must be 300dpi and as close as possible to, but no smaller than 6 inches
on the longest side. If you have any questions regarding the 2013
- 2014 Artist Directory or any issues with registration, please contact
Christopher Cunetto, Membership Manager, at ccunetto@wpadc.org or
202-234-7103 x 2.
Little Dude likes to measure things
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| Anderson Lennox Campello (a.k.a. Little Junes, a.k.a. Anderdingus) measuring something in my studio |
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Art Scam Alert
The asshole using the name Laura, and who uses the email witchates@gmail.com is an art scammer; stay away from this mutant who tries to steal artwork from artists.
Last Resort
Being an old Navy guy, I watched ABC's new Navy-focused series Last Resort...
The problem in watching TV or movies with me is that whenever I am watching a show or movie with Navy characters, as a good Virgo, I am looking for something that TV or Hollywood can never achieve: true depiction of their naval subject.
Last Resort was an ass-kicking action show from the beginning and in spite of its rather unlikely plot, it moved well and kept my attention and I am looking forward to the next show.
There were (as usual) loads of HUGE naval errors that will have old and current Navy guys shaking our heads and saying "Why won't these fuckers hire a Naval advisor?" - I won't go all pedantic on you and start listing them, but someone should discuss with the producers of this show about the capabilities of the Tomahawk missile to start...
But of all the services, the Navy is the most traditional and a lot of Navy routines revolve around tradition and this show (like all Navy-centric TV shows that I've ever seen) display such a spectacular lack of awareness of simple Navy traditions and things that Virgos like me end with a bloody lip (from biting it) at the end of the show.
Having said that (I hate that "having said that" saying), I think that this is a damned good show and I am looking forward to seeing it and finding more technical Navy shit wrong with the show.
The problem in watching TV or movies with me is that whenever I am watching a show or movie with Navy characters, as a good Virgo, I am looking for something that TV or Hollywood can never achieve: true depiction of their naval subject.
Last Resort was an ass-kicking action show from the beginning and in spite of its rather unlikely plot, it moved well and kept my attention and I am looking forward to the next show.
There were (as usual) loads of HUGE naval errors that will have old and current Navy guys shaking our heads and saying "Why won't these fuckers hire a Naval advisor?" - I won't go all pedantic on you and start listing them, but someone should discuss with the producers of this show about the capabilities of the Tomahawk missile to start...
But of all the services, the Navy is the most traditional and a lot of Navy routines revolve around tradition and this show (like all Navy-centric TV shows that I've ever seen) display such a spectacular lack of awareness of simple Navy traditions and things that Virgos like me end with a bloody lip (from biting it) at the end of the show.
Having said that (I hate that "having said that" saying), I think that this is a damned good show and I am looking forward to seeing it and finding more technical Navy shit wrong with the show.
Excited
Check out this very young and talented High School artist passion and joy at being selected (by yours truly) for a very competitive national level fine arts competition at the New Wilmington Art Association in Delaware.
We can all learn from her; or better said, remember and rekindle what it was all about.
We can all learn from her; or better said, remember and rekindle what it was all about.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The Trawick Prize "best of the best" Sapphire Award
Carol Trawick, founder of The Trawick Prize, has established The Trawick Prize "best of the best" Sapphire Award
to mark the contemporary art competition's 10th anniversary and honor
the Best in Show winners from the past 10 years. In conjunction with the
Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District and the Bethesda Urban
Partnership, Trawick will hold a special "best of the best" competition
and exhibition, featuring artwork by winners from 2003 - 2012.
A jury comprising the 30 jurors from the past 10 years will determine one "best of the best" Sapphire Award winner, who will receive $10,000. In addition, the public can view the artwork online and vote for a "People's Choice" award winner, who will receive $1,000.
Online voting will begin on Sept. 17, 2012 and will be open through Friday, Oct. 19, 2012 through a partnership with Bethesda Magazine.
Click here to vote online for the Trawick Prize People's Choice award winner.
Click here to vote online for the Trawick Prize People's Choice award winner.
Artwork by nine of the 10 Best in Show winners will be on display in a group exhibition taking place Nov. 3 - Dec. 1, 2012 at Gallery B, located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E. The award winners will be announced Friday, November 2, 2012.
Past Trawick Award Winners
2003: Richard Cleaver
2004: David Page
2005: Jiha Moon
2006: James Rieck
2007: Jo Smail
2008: Maggie Michael
2009: Rene Trevino
2011: Mia Feuer
2012: Lillian Bayley Hoover
The public opening reception will be held Friday, November 9 from 6-9pm
in conjunction with the Bethesda Art Walk. Gallery hours for the
duration of the exhibit are Wednesday through Saturday, 12 - 6pm.
The Trawick Prize was established in 2003 by Carol Trawick, a longtime community activist in downtown Bethesda. She is the past Chair of both the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District and Bethesda Urban Partnership, and also the Founder of the Bethesda Painting Awards. In 2007, Ms. Trawick founded the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation to assist health and human services and arts non-profits in Montgomery County.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Wanna go to an opening this week?
While temperatures hit
the 100-degree mark this summer, Washington, DC, area painters were
donning hats and sunscreen and grabbing their outdoor easels in a quest
to create paintings for their 100th birthday party celebration.
One of the oldest plein
air painting groups in the USA, the Washington Society of Landscape
Painters started out as an all male clubcalled "the Ramblers." Limited
to 40 active members, it now includes both male and female artists who
pursue their profession locally, nationally, and internationally.
Visitors will see both
large and small oil, watercolor, pastel, and acrylic landscapes
displayed by member artists at the McGuire Woods gallery at the Lorton
Workhouse, at 9601 Ox Road in Occoquan, VA. For more information: (www.workhousearts.org/visual-arts).
The public is invited
to a free reception on Saturday, September 29, from 5-7 pm. Come early
(10-noon) to watch WSLP artists painting nearby in the historic town of
Occoquan. The show runs from Friday, September 28 through Sunday,
October 21, 2012.
Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday 11 am-7 pm, and Sunday from 12-5 pm. For more information, send email to barbaranuss@wslp.org.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Melissa Ichiuji’s Obama Sculpture Censored?
DMV area artist Melissa Ichiuji currently has an exhibition of her work at Galerie Lareuse in Georgetown, and considering what Lareuse routinely exhibits, it is now clear to the most casual observer that this show is easily the most interesting and so far most controversial show ever staged there.
What's the fuss about?
The exhibition, titled "Fair Game," showcases Ichiuji's mastery of the soft sculptures that she's so well-known for, but this time focused on the political icons of the current American political scene. For example, some sculptures are mounted as hunting trophies in a chilling and intelligent commentary on the state of our political discourse.
Republican candidate Mitt Romney is shown, with darkened, closed dead eyes, his head blown apart a-la-JFK, and exposing a variety of metal found objects and gadgets. It is a disturbing image to say the least, but that was not the artwork apparently censored for the show.
Ichiuji targets many other icons of the Republican party — Newt Gingrich has a thing for female underwear, Ron Paul is depicted as a clown, Sarah Palin has antlers. None of those were censored either, although apparently the Palin sculpture may end up in the Todd and Sarah Palin Collection.
The offending piece (which according to the artist's website has been censored) is a portrait of President Obama. Like the Romney sculpture, Obama originally appeared to have a brutal JFK-like wound on his head; at least as initially designed by Ichiuji, not the sanitized version currently on exhibition at Lareuse. According to the CP, "curator Kreg Kelley denies the censorship charge; he says Lareuse asked her to change the piece because it wasn't appropriate for Georgetown."
Uh? "Appropriate for Georgetown?" More on that later...
According to the CP, Ichiuji says that
"the gallery's owner, Jean-Michel "Meech" Lareuse, asked her to change it before she could exhibit it. She sent invitations to the show, "Fair Game," before it opened on Sept. 15, using an image of the original artwork. She posted the same image to her website. Not long afterward, both the gallery and Ichiuji began getting irate emails—some of them quite threatening. People thought it was "some kind of call to action to hurt the president, which wasn't the intent at all," she says. "It's about pressure, it's about anxiety, and just sort of the political climate overseas." But Lareuse wasn't having it, says Ichiuji. "He said 'We cannot show that piece unless you change it.'" So she did. Instead of a bloody wound, the piece now depicts doves "exploding out" of the president's head"
In her statement about this show, Ichiuji explains that
My current body of work is a series of portrait busts depicting political figures of 2012. I am attempting to challenge the tradition of portraiture that elevates its subject and affirms his or her importance, nobility and power. I wondered what a portrait based on current media coverage might look like. What might these people be remembered for if a snapshot was taken now? What are they thinking? What are their fears? Would they recognize themselves? The title FAIR GAME refers to two things. The position a public personality knowingly and willingly accepts as part of their job and the brutality with which opponents and the media will hunt down, embellish and exploit a weakness or transgression and display it like a trophy.
Here's the two pieces, side by side, with the original version of the Obama bust:
As it should also be obvious to that same casual observer that I referenced in the first paragraph, both these pieces have something somewhat brutal in common and following the artist's words about "the
brutality with which opponents and the media will hunt down," clearly lead to the same conclusions. Both these men have been allegorically hunted, shot and mounted as trophies.
Romney's head would hang in a boardroom at MSNBC, or The New York Times, CBS, NBC, ABC, NPR and most places referenced in Ann Coulter's best-seller Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right. The President's trophy would hang at Fox News and dozens of syndicated radio stations around the nation and other places referenced in Al Franken's ad hominen best-seller Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations.
In case you disagree with me, the gallery's press release states that:
The show features the severed heads of ten political personalities who have captured media attention for their popularity, alleged transgressions, or general evilness. The heads are mounted on wood panels in the manner of taxidermy trophy heads emphasizing the brutality of media spin and public scrutiny.
So we got it... right?
So now comes my question: Why is a head wound to Romney's head appropriate for Georgetown? What the heck does that mean anyway? Does that mean that it is OK to show the Republican candidate as having been hunted, shot, taxidermied and hung as a trophy, but not the Democratic candidate?
It gets worse, according to the artist, all of the "irate" and "threatening" emails received by the gallery and by the artist were about the Obama sculpture. Apparently the vast right wing conspiracy hasn't heard about this, and only the even vaster left wing nuthouse has been mobilized to threaten an artist who is well within her right to use her formidable artistic skills to offer political commentary to both sides of the political spectrum.
Because this alleged censorship was between a gallery and an artist, some of the issues get murky, after all, "he who owns the walls" has powerful rights to hang or not hang something in the art world. So I can understand how a "revised" Obama sculpture ends up in the show; that is between Ichiuji and Lareuse. I don't like it, but I understand the process.
But it is the authors of the "irate" and "threatening" emails who deserve a mandatory course on First Amendment Rights, and it is them who really piss me off to no end.
Artists have always, and will hopefully always be able to offer their artistic perspectives on our political leaders. Some of it is despicable (Remember the film Death of a President? a fantasy about the killing of George W. Bush that won the International Critics’ Prize at the Toronto Film Festival?), but - and this is an important but - in view of today's contemporary mob barbarism sweeping many Islamic nations, it is more important than ever to respect and defend our joint first amendment rights, no matter how far away from our own private political stance those views may be.
Chalk one up for the mob.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Catwoman
The latest piece in my marriage of drawings and paintings with embedded electronics brings to life a charcoal and conte drawing of Catwoman. She is perched on the rooftop of some building somewhere in Gotham, while inside a condo unit below her, a large TV flat screen plays a video compilation of her, Batman and Robin from the old TV show.
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| Catwoman Naked by F. Lennox Campello. 7 x 21 inches. Charcoal with embedded video. 2012 |
Friday, September 21, 2012
The Trawick Prize's Sapphire Award
Carol Trawick, founder of The Trawick Prize, has established The Trawick Prize "best of the best" Sapphire Award
to mark the contemporary art competition's 10th anniversary and honor
the Best in Show winners from the past 10 years. In conjunction with the
Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District and the Bethesda Urban
Partnership, Trawick will hold a special "best of the best" competition
and exhibition, featuring artwork by winners from 2003 - 2012.
A jury comprising the 30 jurors from the past 10 years will determine one "best of the best" Sapphire Award winner, who will receive $10,000. In addition, the public can view the artwork online and vote for a "People's Choice" award winner, who will receive $1,000.
Online voting will begin on Sept. 17, 2012 and will be open through Friday, Oct. 19, 2012 through a partnership with Bethesda Magazine.
Click here to vote online for the Trawick Prize People's Choice award winner.
Click here to vote online for the Trawick Prize People's Choice award winner.
Artwork by nine of the 10 Best in Show winners will be on display in a group exhibition taking place Nov. 3 - Dec. 1, 2012 at Gallery B, located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E. The award winners will be announced Friday, November 2, 2012.
Past Trawick Award Winners
2003: Richard Cleaver
2004: David Page
2005: Jiha Moon
2006: James Rieck
2007: Jo Smail
2008: Maggie Michael
2009: Rene Trevino
2011: Mia Feuer
2012: Lillian Bayley Hoover
The public opening reception will be held Friday, November 9 from 6-9pm
in conjunction with the Bethesda Art Walk. Gallery hours for the
duration of the exhibit are Wednesday through Saturday, 12 - 6pm.
The Trawick Prize was established in 2003 by Carol Trawick, a longtime community activist in downtown Bethesda. She is the past Chair of both the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District and Bethesda Urban Partnership, and also the Founder of the Bethesda Painting Awards. In 2007, Ms. Trawick founded the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation to assist health and human services and arts non-profits in Montgomery County.
Manon Cleary at 39th Street Gallery
CREATING A LEGACY:
Paintings and Drawings
By Manon Cleary
Curated by F. Steven Kijek and John Paradiso
September 22 - November 17, 2012
Reception September 22 from 5:00- 8:00 PM
"My art is my legacy, my children. I'm creating a history for myself the same way someone else would carry their genes forth. I care where my paintings go and how they do in the world, every one of them."Manon Cleary
In
collaboration with F. Steven Kijek and the Cleary Estate, the 39th
Street Gallery will exhibit 14 paintings and drawings by the late Manon
Cleary.
Also Showing in the Corridor Exhibition Space:
COMPANION
Anna U. Davis, Paul Feinberg, Patricia Goslee, Jeanette Herrera, Yar Koporulin, Jared Miller, Jessika Tarr, Tom Wolff.
This is a companion show of 8 artists that were mentored by or had close relations to Manon Cleary.
This is a companion show of 8 artists that were mentored by or had close relations to Manon Cleary.
39th Street Gallery, Second Floor
Gateway Arts Center
3901 Rhode Island Avenue.
Brentwood, Maryland 20722
Gallery hours:
Thursdays & Fridays 7- 9 PM, Saturdays 12- 3 PM
and by appointment (301-864-3860, x3)
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Opportunity for PG Countiers!
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Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Skin Opens at Strathmore
SKIN
SEPTEMBER 15 – NOVEMBER 3, 2012
For some people, the body is a canvas; the
ultimate vehicle for self-expression. While it is true that our bodies
are “modified” from the day we are born,
Skin encourages a different kind of interaction with our evolving
self-images. Join Strathmore as they follow the varied paths of body
modification—both permanent (like tattooing) and transient (like
makeup)—and our own power over the face we present to the world.
FREE OPENING RECEPTION
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 FROM 7 – 9 PM
Join Strathmore on Thursday for a free opening
reception! Come see the artwork, meet the artists, and hear curator
Harriet Lesser discuss her vision for this thought-provoking collection
of images and installations. Henna artist Bhavna Naik, whose
work is included in the show, will also be painting guests for part of
this two-hour reception.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
MORE THAN JUST SKIN-DEEP!
Strathmore is also hosting several education programs in conjunction with
Skin! Join them this Saturday for their FREE
Adult Talk and Tour at 1:00 PM (no reservations required)… or bring
your children for the children’s tour at 10:15 AM (free; reservations
required) and help them create
their very own work of art!
Then, on October 27th, join Paul Roe of British Ink on H Street for a
FREE symposium on the art of the tattoo, from ancient Egypt to the present day. The symposium, entitled
Unified Elements of Tattooing, takes place at 2:00PM in the music room of the mansion.
Interested in a fun night out with your friends? Look no further than their
ART, HENNA & WINE night—Thursday, October 25th
from 7 to 10 PM! This perfect evening starts with a fun printmaking
experience with Lisa Murphy, then moves to a demonstration and hands-on
workshop on traditional
henna patterns. Have your hands painted with temporary henna tattoos,
courtesy of artist Bhavna Naik. You’ll create a one-of-a-kind print, and
leave with beautiful henna designs meant to bring good joy and fortune.
Tickets are
available online or by calling their ticket office at (301) 581-5100.
The Mansion at Strathmore
10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD 20852
www.Strathmore.org
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