Heading to the UK

Because I work my ass off, and because I am lucky to be represented by five very hard working galleries in the US and Europe, and because I am perhaps the most reasonably-priced (and needless to say uber talented) artist on the planet, I manage to sell a lot of work each year.

As a result, I don't usually note individual sales here, but every once in a while (such as in this case) a sale stands out. And the small drawing below is heading to the United Kingdom to the collection of one of the top ten art collectors on Earth!

"Hamas Wants Him Dead"
Charcoal and Conte on Paper. 7x5 inches
2014 by F. Lennox Campello.

Happy Veterans' Day!

To all American fellow veterans, both those who have served and those who are serving in all corners of the planet while we're home with our families. A well-deserved thank you to all the soldiers, sailors, airmen/women, Marines and Coasties.

This Veteran's Day is especially important in view of increased operations in various parts of the world where our men and women are in harm's way, and we should be even more thankful to those who wear and who have worn the uniform with honor.

Below is Petty Officer Third Class Lenny Campello back in 1975!


And then Lieutenant Commander Lenny Campello back in 1992!

Willie on Lance

"I think it is just terrible and disgusting how everyone has treated Lance Armstrong, especially after what he achieved, winning seven Tour de France races while on drugs. When I was on drugs, I couldn't even find my bike.”

Willie Nelson

Opportunity for Photographers

FOTOBAZAAR!

 
Friday, November 14 to Sunday, November 16, 51 N Street NE, FREE
FotoBazaar returns as the city’s second massive, open-to-all photography bazaar. FotoBazaar offers space for 250 exhibitors on a first-come, first-serve basis and is installed in a 25,000 square-foot space in NOMA, provided by JBG Companies. FotoDC will also select favorite images for an online Festival Gallery, Best of FotoBazaar 2014.

 

 

FotoBazaar Opening Party, Friday, November 14, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
FotoBazaar, 51 N Street NE
Guests will hobnob with DC’s photographers, curators and DJ’s, enjoy photobooths, open bar and more! Tickets are available online.

Maryland Art Marketplace Open for Artists

The MSAC is encouraging Maryland artists of all disciplines to sign-up for the Maryland Artist Registry and inviting those with online selling sites for their art, crafts or artistic merchandise to opt-in to the Maryland Art Marketplace during the process.

Once launched, the Maryland Art Marketplace will be promoted by the Arts Council and its partners as a hub for Maryland-made art—including books, music and visual art—that is available for purchase online. Read more.

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival

Deadline: December 5, 2014

The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, scheduled for May 9 & 10, 2015, will be held in downtown Bethesda, a lively urban area renowned for restaurants, shopping, galleries and theaters. Artists from all over the country are invited to apply! 

Festival Application details

Non-refundable Application Fee: $30

Booth Fee: Standard, 10' x 10': $425

Booth Fee: Deluxe, 10' x 20':$850

Apply online or download the application for more details.

Opportunities for Artists

Call For Entry: UNDER $500
MAP’s Second Annual Affordable Art Sale Deadline: Monday, November 24, 2014

 

MAP is seeking artists for UNDER $500. The exhibition will include 1-3 works by each artist with each individual piece retailing for $500 or less. UNDER $500 is a great opportunity to get your work noticed and purchased by area buyers & collectors just in time for the holidays!
Participating artists will receive one free ticket to the opening event on Friday, December 12. Selected artists will be issued an UNDER $500 Profile Form in an effort to simultaneously promote the artwork and artist during the event. There is a $10 dollar application fee for non-MAP Members to submit. Click here to learn more about becoming a MAP Member.
Proceeds from the sale of artwork will be split equally between artist and MAP. Proceeds directly benefit MAP, helping to maintain MAP’s annual programs and exhibitions.

Please Download the full call and Application HERE.

Puzzling silence

A few days ago I shared with all of you here and in Facebook the fact that The Gazette newspapers intended to terminate Dr. Claudia Rousseau's visual arts review column today.  As I noted and I now have evidence, this is part of an apparent planned decimation of arts coverage in general by the Gazette newspapers (owned by the Washington Post).

I am somewhat surprised by a couple of things:

• Seems like most of you don't care - and yeah, there has been some good noise in Facebook postings and a handful of you have emailed, called or otherwise contacted the newspaper in question. But nowhere near enough! There should be dozens and dozens of complaints... if you don't care, then don't ever bitch again about lack of arts coverage... every single one of you who's ever sent a news release about an art show to anyone should be sending a note to the editors of The Gazette.
• I am less surprised by the fact that I've have not heard anything from Mr. Will Franklin.

We cannot just stand by and meekly allow this to happen. I once again demand that you contact Will Franklin at wfranklin@gazette.net and send him an email on the subject. Here's a copy of the email that I sent a few days ago to Mr. Franklin:

Dear Mr. Franklin,

This note is to express both my disappointment and even outrage at the news that The Gazette intends to terminate Dr. Claudia Rousseau's visual arts coverage in The Gazette as part of an apparent decimation of its arts coverage in general.

While I suspect that the reasons behind these planned coverage cuts are all economic and due to reduction in overall coverage and reduction in size, I shouldn't have to remind anyone in the newspaper business that a newspaper's mission has several critical components that make it a newspaper and not just stuff printed on newsprint.

And coverage of the visual arts is a key one.

Unless you also plan to eliminate restaurant reviews, movie reviews, local events, etc. and reduce The Gazette to coverage of local High School sports, the idea that a "neighborhood" newspaper can be a contributor to its readership and part of the cultural tapestry of that neighborhood without critical components such as Dr. Rousseau's columns on the visual arts is a barbaric lack of understanding of what your readers deserve.

I also suspect, since The Gazette is owned by The Washington Post, that perhaps some of this "guidance" has come from above, most probably from bean counters as far removed from newsprint as possible. This is predictable, as the Washington Post is the only major newspaper in America (and possibly the world) without a visual arts critic in its permanent staff, and for the last two decades, since its last full-time gallery critic retired, has used a dizzying set of rotating freelancers to cover the Greater DC area visual art scene in an ad hoc manner.

Claudia Rousseau has been covering The Gazette's areas visual arts for over 11 years - that span is equaled by just one other published visual arts critic in the region. Ms. Rousseau's knowledge, access and insight into the area's visual arts cannot be lost by a simple reason of economics.

I plan to help rally the DC area's artists, gallerists, curators, collectors, donors and supporters to make sure that The Gazette (and the Washington Post) hear about Dr. Rousseau's termination. And for the first time in the many years that we've known each other, I plan to mix business with friendship and bring this to the personal attention of Jeff Bezos, whom as you probably know, is an ardent supporter of the arts.

I also intend to publish this note in DC Art News, and in the event that I receive an answer from you, or anyone else in The Gazette, will offer the opportunity to also publish your response.

Let me close this note by asking you to bring this issue to the attention of whomever is making this ill-advised decision; it will not happen without a lot of resistance from the DMV's visual art scene.

Warm regards,

F. Lennox Campello

Walsh & Loyd at Blackrock

Husband and wife, Ron Loyd and Jodi Walsh, team up for an exhibition of their ceramic artworks exploring organic textural surfaces. His sculptural forms incorporate Korean Kohiki techniques, where iron-rich clay is coated with white slip then altered and manipulated to create unique rhythmic patterns. Hers capture colors and textures experienced while living in Asia, Africa and Europe in wall-hung panels layered and draped with masses of three-dimensional ceramic forms, often dangling in graceful clusters.

BlackRock Center for the Arts is pleased to present “His & Hers”: Ron Loyd & Jodi Walsh. The exhibition will be on view in the Main Gallery from Wednesday, November 12 through Friday, December 19, 2014. On Saturday, November 15, the center will host a Meet the Artist Reception from 5:30pm to 7:30pm with an informal Artist Talk by the two local artists. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public and it is always free to view gallery exhibitions at BlackRock.

Ron Loyd
www.ronloydart.com
Ron Loyd earned a BFA and MFA in Painting and Ceramics from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. He studied Animation at the School for Visual Arts, New York, NY and Film Studies at New York University, New York, NY, and Ceramics with world-renown artist Bill Van Glider. Loyd was selected as a 2004 Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Fellow and a Washington Post Fellow. Loyd has been teaching art at Rockville High School since 2001, where he is currently Head of the Fine Arts Department and is teaching AP Studio Art, IB Visual Art, Ceramics, Paintings, Studio Art and Digital Arts.


Jodi Walsh
www.jodiart.com
Jodi Walsh left her native country of Canada in 1967 for the Far East and Europe, a move that would influence her life and work forever. She moved to the United States in 1978 and while art has always been a part of her life she first began to emerge as a serious artist in 1995. Although Walsh has received private training, she has never studied painting or ceramics at an academic institution. This has allowed her the independence and freedom to develop her unique style. Walsh has participated in international residencies, to include Raymond International, London, England. Her work has been exhibited regionally and nationally at venues which include Affordable Art Fair New York City and Artexpo New York, New York, NY; Longview Gallery, Washington, DC; Zenith Gallery, Washington, DC; Smithsonian Craft Show and Washington Craft Show, Washington, DC; Gallery 555 and Artists’ Museum. Washington, DC; Gallery 43, Atlanta, GA; and The Dessert Gallery, Houston, Texas.

EXHIBITION TITLE: “His & Hers”: Ron Loyd & Jodi Walsh
EXHIBITION ON VIEW:  Wednesday, November 12 – Friday, December 19, 2014
MEET THE ARTIST RECEPTION: Saturday, November 15 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm
LOCATION: Main Gallery (first floor)
BlackRock Center for the Arts
12901 Town Commons Drive
Germantown, MD 20874
PRICE: FREE
GALLERY HOURS: Monday–Friday 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.*, Saturday 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.* (when classes are in session), Closed Sunday*. Please call 301-528-2260 to confirm open hours for specific dates. 
*Galleries are also open during evening and weekend hours when performances and classes are offered at the center.
INFORMATION: 301-528-2260 or www.blackrockcenter.org

ABOUT BLACKROCK CENTER FOR THE ARTS: BlackRock Center for the Arts is a cultural cornerstone and the leading venue for the performing and visual arts in Upper Montgomery County Maryland. Since 2002, the nonprofit arts center has been providing the community with diverse performing arts programs, free gallery exhibitions and arts education experiences in a welcoming and intimate setting close to home. The dynamic facility houses two art galleries, two theaters presenting more than 40 performances per year, and numerous classrooms and studios where year-round classes in the arts are offered for all ages.

PARKING IS FREE & RIDE ON OFFERS 15-MINUTE EXPRESS BUS SERVICE FROM SHADY GROVE METRO (RED LINE): BlackRock Center for the Arts is centrally located in the heart of Germantown, next to the Germantown Branch Montgomery County Public Library, at 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD 20874. Free parking is available in the lot adjacent to our building. Ride Metrorail to Shady Grove Station (Red Line) and transfer to Ride On Bus Route 100 (15-minute Express Bus Service from Metro Shady Grove Station to the Germantown Transit Center [GTC] on Aircraft Drive). From GTC, walk four blocks following Century Boulevard to our front door, or transfer to Ride On Bus Route 97 which stops in front of BlackRock. Check schedules by calling 240-777-7433 or visiting:  www.rideonbus.com and www.metroopensdoors.com

SELECT 2015: WPA Art Auction Exhibition and Gala

SELECT 2015: WPA Art Auction Exhibition and Gala   

GALA: March 7, 2015, 7-11pm   

EXHIBITION: January 29 through March 6, 2015 

OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, January 29, 7-9pm 

CURATOR TALKS: Thursday, February 12 and Thursday, February 19, 6:30-8pm

   

at Artisphere: 1101 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 

Free parking with validation on evenings (after 5pm) and all day on weekends 

Metro: Rosslyn 

Circulator: Georgetown - Dupont  

Exhibition, opening reception, and curator talks are free and open to the public.

For Auction ticket information, please CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE or contact
Nathalie von Veh at 202.234.7103 x5 or nvonveh@wpadc.org

  

WPA's Annual Art Auction Gala is the highlight of DC's contemporary art world season! DC's longest running and most-established contemporary art auction, SELECT is an annually anticipated event that supports WPA and the artist community.  

SELECT 2015 features works available for purchase chosen by 8 of the region's top and emerging curators as well as selections by WPA's Board of Directors. Featuring works by established and emerging artists from DC, Baltimore, Richmond, and beyond, WPA's selection of exquisite, engaging, and exciting art works offer something for collectors both seasoned and aspiring.  

    

Auction Co-Chairs: Jessica Naresh, Judy & Andrew Sherman, and Robert Shields

Auction Host Committee: Martha Blalock, Heather Davis, Ayanna Dunn, Eric Hilton, Dr. Giselle Huberman, Jessica Naresh, Jill Pearlman, Amanda Phillips, Judy Sherman, Robert Shields, Henri Siblesz, Jessica Stafford-Davis, Vikki Tobak, and Blair Wunderlich

Emergency! Emergency!

I have just learned that The Gazette newspapers intend to terminate Dr. Claudia Rousseau's visual arts review column this coming Friday.  This is part of an apparent planned decimation of arts coverage in general by the Gazette newspapers (owned by the Washington Post).

We cannot just stand by and meekly allow this to happen. It is time for supporters of the visual arts to react by calling The Gazette, emailing them, writing them an old-fashioned letter, etc.

I suggest that you contact Will Franklin at wfranklin@gazette.net and send him an email on the subject. Here's a copy of the email that I sent this morning to Mr. Franklin:

Dear Mr. Franklin,

This note is to express both my disappointment and even outrage at the news that The Gazette intends to terminate Dr. Claudia Rousseau's visual arts coverage in The Gazette as part of an apparent decimation of its arts coverage in general.

While I suspect that the reasons behind these planned coverage cuts are all economic and due to reduction in overall coverage and reduction in size, I shouldn't have to remind anyone in the newspaper business that a newspaper's mission has several critical components that make it a newspaper and not just stuff printed on newsprint.

And coverage of the visual arts is a key one.

Unless you also plan to eliminate restaurant reviews, movie reviews, local events, etc. and reduce The Gazette to coverage of local High School sports, the idea that a "neighborhood" newspaper can be a contributor to its readership and part of the cultural tapestry of that neighborhood without critical components such as Dr. Rousseau's columns on the visual arts is a barbaric lack of understanding of what your readers deserve.

I also suspect, since The Gazette is owned by The Washington Post, that perhaps some of this "guidance" has come from above, most probably from bean counters as far removed from newsprint as possible. This is predictable, as the Washington Post is the only major newspaper in America (and possibly the world) without a visual arts critic in its permanent staff, and for the last two decades, since its last full-time gallery critic retired, has used a dizzying set of rotating freelancers to cover the Greater DC area visual art scene in an ad hoc manner.

Claudia Rousseau has been covering The Gazette's areas visual arts for over 11 years - that span is equaled by just one other published visual arts critic in the region. Ms. Rousseau's knowledge, access and insight into the area's visual arts cannot be lost by a simple reason of economics.

I plan to help rally the DC area's artists, gallerists, curators, collectors, donors and supporters to make sure that The Gazette (and the Washington Post) hear about Dr. Rousseau's termination. And for the first time in the many years that we've known each other, I plan to mix business with friendship and bring this to the personal attention of Jeff Bezos, whom as you probably know, is an ardent supporter of the arts.

I also intend to publish this note in DC Art News, and in the event that I receive an answer from you, or anyone else in The Gazette, will offer the opportunity to also publish your response.

Let me close this note by asking you to bring this issue to the attention of whomever is making this ill-advised decision; it will not happen without a lot of resistance from the DMV's visual art scene.

Warm regards,

F. Lennox Campello

Dirty tricks

When I went to vote this morning, I noticed that John Delaney's (who is my current Representative) signs were all strategically placed to block his opponent's signs (Dan Bongino) ... 

That dirty trick helped to inform my voting decisions.

eBay deal....

Wanna buy an original 1990s Campello watercolor on eBay?

Starting bid is less than $10 bucks! Heck of a deal! 

Weird how artwork seems to show up on EBay once in a while....   Check it out here

Open studios this Saturday!

The Art Studios at 633 F St. Terrace (John Giesecke, Ben Tolman, Adam Robert Hager, Rick Bach) invite you to join them for art, food, drinks & general studio mayhem
 

Saturday, November 8 at 4:00pm - 7:00pm

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8820832,-76.9973178,3a,75y,56.45h,75.62t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sG_ARMM4F7seBbNJMDp4GyQ!2e0

Photo Slam is back!

EVENT #1
Photo Slam: The Exhibit
Come see the award-winning images from last year's hip, fast-paced PHOTO SLAM 2013.  Featured photographers are Michele Egan (1st Place), Serli Lala (2nd Place), Julie Miller (3rd Place) and Pablo de Loy (Audience Choice Award Winner). 

Exhibition Dates:  October 10 - November 17, 2014
Reception and Gallery Talk:  Sunday, November 9, 2014, 6-8 PM

Gallery Hours: 
Saturday, 1-4 PM and Sunday, 1-8 PM (and any time a photography class is underway)

Gallery Information:
Photoworks Gallery and Photography School
7300 MacArthur Blvd
Glen Echo, MD

Cost:
Exhibition Reception and Gallery Talk are free to the public

Questions?  For more info, visit Photoworks at http://glenechophotoworks.org/2014/10/08/photo-slam-exhibition/

Photo Credits: That's "Mary Jane" on the left above by last year's 1st Place Winner, Michele Egan.

EVENT #2
Photo Slam: The Event
In partnership with FotoWeek DC, Photoworks is bringing back the Slam - and Photo Slam 2014 promises to be better than ever.  For the fifth year in a row, DC's urban arts hub Busboys and Poets will play host as photographers vie for prizes, recognition and “street cred” in this fast-paced competition of projected images.  Free to the public – but arrive early to assure yourself a spot.  This event typically sells out.  For more information, check out http://glenechophotoworks.org/2014/10/08/slam/
 
Date:  Sunday, November 16, 2014
Time:  8:00 - 10:00 PM (Arrive early!  Event typically sells out.)
Place:  Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC  (2 blocks from Metro's U Street/Cardozo Station)
Cost:  Event is free, but the suggested donation is $20

Are You Interested in Entering the November 16th Photo Slam Competition?
Trust us... its easy and fun!  Visit http://glenechophotoworks.org/2014/10/08/slam/ for the rules.  Deadline is 11:59 PM on November 13th.  Questions?  Contact Photoworks' John Borstel at borgrav@his.com

Photo Credits:  Photo Slam 2014 - Image by David Myers

EVENT #3
Photo Slam: The Hangover Brunch
Come to Photoworks and bask in the afterglow of another successful Photo Slam!  Participants from the Photo Slam 2014 are invited to Photoworks Photography School & Gallery on November 23rd from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon to help us "crowd source" a one day exhibition -- flash mob style!  Don't miss the action (or the drinks).  Bring your flash drive with 5-7 images to Photoworks Gallery at historic Glen Echo Park.  We'll project your images and offer up free critiques.  Meet fellow photographers, Photo Slammers, and Photoworks faculty and show us what you've got!  Check out our website at www.glenechophotoworks.org for more details.

Date:  Sunday, November 23, 2014
Time:  10 am - 12 noon
Place:  Photoworks Photography School & Gallery, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo Park, MD
Cost:  FREE
Questions?  For more info, visit http://glenechophotoworks.org/2014/10/08/photo-slam-hangover-brunch/ or contact Photoworks' John Borstel at borgrav@his.com

SFS Fundraiser Auction

I know that we artists are always been asked to either donate our time (panels, jury duty, etc.) and also donate artwork for auctions. It is often hard to say no, especially when the cause is really good. I know that I generally donate 8-10 pieces of artwork a year for charity and one of my pet peeves is that the IRS only allows artists to deduct the costs of materials. However, if a collector or anyone other than the artist donates the work, then they can deduct the full cost of the art. This sucks, but then again the entire IRS construct sucks (as it is today).

Sidwell Friends is easily one of the best schools on the planet, and one part of their focus which I really admire is how hard they work to make the school available to families who can't afford the school's hefty costs. And this is why I'm supporting their yearly auction fundraiser for scholarships.

Donate here.

Bloomberg Art Challenge

Bloomberg Philanthropies has launched the “Public Art Challenge,” a program which will grant at least three cities with populations greater than 30,000 up to $1 million each over two years to develop public art projects that “celebrate creativity, enhance urban identity, encourage public-private partnerships and drive economic development.”  The Public Art Challenge invites mayors to collaborate with artists and arts organizations in developing innovative temporary public art projects that engage residents and attract visitors.

The City of Philadelphia invites all interested organizations and artists to submit their ideas for the Public Art Challenge.  Applications will be accepted by the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) on behalf of the City of Philadelphia.  The OACCE will review all applications alongside an independent selection panel and make recommendations to the Mayor on which proposal(s) to move forward.  The OACCE will work with the selected applicant(s) to develop an initial application to Bloomberg Philanthropies.  If Philadelphia is selected as a Public Art Challenge finalist, the OACCE will work with the recommended applicant(s) to develop a full proposal. 

Both the initial application and full proposal will be submitted by Mayor Michael A. Nutter.  

The OACCE will accept proposals from all artistic disciplines – including but not limited to visual arts, performing arts, and multimedia projects.

My question is.... Is Washington, DC participating? For that matter any and all cities around the DMV that qualify? Are you listening Bethesda, Rockville, Alexandria, etc.? 

Click here for complete application details about the City of Philadelphia’s Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge.

Before you vote...

See this:

WPA wins 2014 Mayor's Arts Award for Excellence in Service to the Arts

Yay!

WPA is extremely proud and grateful to be the recipient of the 2014 Mayor's Arts Award for Excellence in Service to the Arts. The Mayors Arts Awards are the highest honor conferred by the District of Columbia for artistic excellence and service among artists, arts organizations, and arts patrons.

Our members and participating artists share equally in this award for ensuring our programming is of the highest caliber. Thanks to all of our supporters and patrons for allowing us to do what we do. And thank you to all of our artists for continuing to experiment and explore and create. You all make this city, this community, this world a better place for your efforts.

Many thanks to the DC Commission the Arts & Humanities, Mayor Vincent Gray, the DC City Council, the enlightened and distinguished jury who selected us, and our fellow finalists and nominees who continue to set the bar so very high for the arts in DC.

Development Workshops

Gateway Community Development Corporation's list of workshops and tentative dates are as follows:

1. Marketing Your Business Plan - Saturday November 1st between 2-4pm
2. Leveraging The Lending Tree - Wednesday November 5th or Thursday the 6th from 9-11am
3. Affordable Health-care (* possible panel discussion) (TBD)
4. Back to Basics: Business 101 - Wednesday December 3rd from 9-11am
5. Enhancing the Creative Industry. An Artist Conversation on Marketing & Selling Art - Wednesday December 10th from 9-11am
6. Maximizing Social Media - Saturday December 13th from 2-4PM