Gallery woes everywhere
Art gallery owners across the country are finding they have a tough sell these days.Read the article in here.
With houses going up for auction, unemployment continuing to rise and the threat of layoffs seemingly ever-present, many gallery owners in art communities such as Scottsdale, Ariz., Santa Fe, N.M., Portland, Ore., and New York City are closing shop, going broke to stay open or drastically changing the way they do business.
Capps on 14th Street Blues
Kriston has a good article in Art in America expanding on his teaser on the potential relocation of several of the DC galleries at 1515 14th Street, NW in DC. Read it here.
President Obama Gives Helen Zughaib's Painting to Iraq
President Barack Obama gave Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq, a painting by Arab American and DC area artist, Helen Zughaib, at the White House during his recent visit. As a gift between the two countries, her painting “Midnight Prayers” symbolizes the countries’ relations. Zughaib’s art work is currently on display at The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development in Washington, D.C. as well as at Finding Beauty In A Broken World: In the Spirit of Frida Kahlo exhibition that I juried at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at Smith Farm in Washington, DC (1632 U St NW or 202-483-8600).
For Zughaib, this is a notable development in her artistic career, yet it is not without precedent. Two years ago, one of her paintings, “Reconciliation,” was given to President George W. Bush by then Lebanese Parliamentarian (and current Prime Minister) Saad Hariri as an official gift from Lebanon.
Zughaib, who was born in Beirut, Lebanon, said the piece Obama gave to Iraq is about the prospects for peace she sees in faith. Zughaib was inspired by the Muslim “call to prayer one hears in the Middle East.”
She added, “The beauty of the call to prayer, combined with the rich detail of intricate Islamic designs in blues and greens, symbolize the beauty and lushness of the Arab world. As always, it is a painting that reflects my hopes for peace and tranquility in that region.”
Zughaib helped curate the current exhibit at The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. The exhibit is called "Gaza Conversations" and runs until September 4th. She helped put it together at the group’s Foggy Bottom-based facilities.
She said the exhibit “is meant to focus attention on the situation in Gaza.” There are three artists showcasing their work in the exhibit, which has drawn many visitors--further showing the artist’s increasing prominence.
Zughaib, like her art, has served as a bridge between nations. For instance, she served as United States Cultural Envoy to the West Bank, Palestine. She said, “My intention as an artist, especially after 9/11, is to further the dialogue between East and West, continue to try to understand each other and bring people together in conversation with the hope of mutual understanding, acceptance and respect.”
14th Street Gallery Blues
Jessica Dawson has a really informative article in the Washington Post on the issue of the various 14th Street gallery cluster in DC that are facing relocation due to rising rents.
Good news is that G Fine Art is not closing, as previously reported, but relocating.
The article had a mistake on the monthly rentals that has been corrected since it was published. The corrections are at the top of the article here.
New BMA Curator
Doreen Bolger, Director of The Baltimore Museum of Art, has announced the appointment of my good friend Kristen Hileman as Curator of Contemporary Art and Department Head of this important collection. Currently Associate Curator at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, Hileman will begin her position at the BMA on November 2, 2009.
"Since its inception, collecting and presenting contemporary art has been an important part of the BMA's mission" said BMA Director Doreen Bolger. "Kristen Hileman continues this incredible legacy, bringing experience working with artists on collaborative projects and a familiarity with Baltimore's cultural community that will serve the Museum well as she guides our contemporary program for future generations."
During her eight years at the Hirshhorn, Hileman undertook projects on the work of Cai Guo-Qiang, Jim Hodges, and Oliver Herring in the Directions series in 2004, 2005, and 2006; organized the exhibition Ways of Seeing: John Baldessari Explores the Collection in 2006; and co-organized with other Hirshhorn curators The Cinema Effect: Illusion, Reality, and the Moving Image-Realisms in 2008, publishing an essay for the catalogue. Most recently, Hileman organized Strange Bodies: Figurative Works from the Hirshhorn Collection, which is on view until November 9. On October 8, 2009, the Hirshhorn will open Anne Truitt: Perception and Reflection, a major exhibition which she has organized and for which she has written the catalogue.
Hileman began her career at the Hirshhorn as a fellow in 2001, was named an Assistant Curator in 2003, and Associate Curator in 2007. Before joining the Hirshhorn staff she was a Curator at the Arlington Arts Center in Virginia. She has also held positions as an adjunct faculty member at the Corcoran College of Art and Design and George Washington University. She is a graduate of American University with a MA in Art History from the University of Maryland at College Park. In addition to her responsibilities at the Hirshhorn, Kristen has served as a juror for many exhibitions in the Mid-Atlantic region as well as a visiting critic at the Maryland Institute College of Art and at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has also published numerous articles and reviews.
One of Hileman's first projects will be coordinating the BMA's showing of Andy Warhol: The Last Decade, first U.S. museum survey of Warhol's late paintings. This five-venue nationally touring exhibition is organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum and scheduled to open in Baltimore in October 2010.The Museum has one of the largest collections of late works by Warhol in the United States and is a major lender to the exhibition.
Congrats to Hileman!
Artomatically speaking
Artomatic 2009 came to a triumphant close July 5, smashing records and making headlines. During the 28 days of art, music, and revelry, AOM had over 76,000 visitors to the 10th anniversary event - a new record high!
Need more proof that Artomatic 2009 was the hottest ticket in town?
AOM filled 10 floors and 275,000 square feet of space with displays by over 1,000 artists. They rocked it out, danced it up and had a grand ol' time with over 600 live performances, 20 artists tours and two socials. There were even a record-number of events for the younger set (aka artists in training), with 54 kids workshops ranging from dioramas to mobile-making.
DC gallery to close relocate
Just read at G.p. that the District's G Fine Art gallery will close at the end of the current show.
Update: Dawson in the WaPo writes that G will relocate, not close, as interpreted by me from the G.p. post. Relocation due to rising rent
Update 2: Capps expands on his post here.
Examiner
I was on page 27 of the Washington Examiner last Sunday discussing the sobering work of Diane Kahlo at the current Frida Kahlo influenced exhibition that I curated at the Joan Hisaoka Gallery in DC.
Read it here (go to p.27): here.
Opportunity for young curators
Deadline: 7pm, Friday 30th October, 2009
MARCO/FRAC Lorraine Award for Young Curators: Call For Applications - Organized by the MARCO, Museo de Arte Contemporánea de Vigo, Spain and FRAC Lorraine, Metz (Fonds regional d'art contemporain de Lorraine), France, the purpose of the MARCO/FRAC Lorraine Award for Young Curators is to offer participants the chance to execute an exhibition project to occupy MARCO's first floor and the exhibition venues at FRAC Lorraine. Entries will focus on the field of contemporary artistic creation and contemplate the participation of two or more artists.
The exhibition project will have a budget of a maximum sum of 30,000 Euro for each venue. The exhibition will take place from May to September, 2010 at MARCO Vigo, and from October, 2010 and January 2011 at FRAC Lorraine. Proposals that include works from the Collection FRAC Lorraine shall be taken into account. To visit the Collection click here.
All curators born in and after 1970 are eligible to enter the competition. If an entry is a group creation, one person will be chosen from that group to represent it and act as mediator with the institution. Curators will not be allowed to participate as artists. Entries must be previously unpublished and must contemplate the participation of two or more artists. No more than one project per entrant will be accepted.
The curator of the winning project will sign a contract with the Fundación MARCO and FRAC Lorraine, agreeing to comply with the functions derived from curating an exhibition, the characteristics of which will be specified in the contract. These will include the selection and location of the works, the design and supervision of the installation, and the writing of at least one text for the catalogue. The curator will receive the sum of 7,000 Euro, tax included, as an honorarium.
A jury made up of professionals of the art world will select the winning project and two finalists in November. The jury's decision is final. The jury may declare the award void should they consider this necessary. The criteria for evaluating the entries will be based on quality and suitability to the characteristics of the first floor of the MARCO as an exhibition space and exhibition spaces at FRAC Lorraine.
The jury will be composed by:
Beatrice Josse, FRAC Lorraine Director
Iñaki Martínez Antelo, MARCO Director
Kevin Muhlen, Casino Luxembourg – Forum d'art contemporain Director
Agar Ledo Arias, MARCO Head of the Exhibitions Dept.
Pedro de Llano, Art Critic and curator
The jury's decision will be made public in November 2009 and all participants will be notified.
Entries must be exclusively and simultaneously submitted, PDF format to the following e-mail addresses info@marcovigo.com and fraclorraine.coordination@wanadoo.fr, subject: 'Award for Young Curators'. In case of sending additional information, please send it to: MARCO, Museo de Arte Contemporánea de Vigo. Rúa Príncipe, 54. 36202 Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain and 49 Nord 6 Est - FRAC Lorraine. 1 bis, rue des Trinitaires. 57000 Metz, France. Dossiers received in only one venue will not be accepted. Projects must be preferably written in English, although Spanish, French or Galician languages are admitted.
The closing date for the reception of entries is 7pm, Friday 30th October, 2009. Dossiers received after this time will not be accepted.
For more information:
http://www.marcovigo.com
http://www.fraclorraine.org
Blee on Cleary
Lyrical, and full of grace and light, the recent pastels of Manon Cleary dazzle with their technical bravura at the Addison/Ripley Gallery in Georgetown (1670 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.) Who else can make a rat’s ear (literally!) into a visual poem? And who could possibly make it as beautiful?John Blee is such an elegant art critic... and it takes elegance and depth of historical knowledge of the DC area art scene to know what a powerful presence Manon Cleary has been in DC for decades.
What kind of print is it?
Join Susan Calloway for Happy Hours in Georgetown abd some art education!
Today, July 29, from 3 pm - 7 pm: What kind of print is it? Caroline Adams, a local artist who studied printmaking at the Rhode Island School of Design, explains the different printmaking processes which produce etchings, engravings, lithographs, mezzotints, etc. Also, take 20% off all antique prints that day.
www.callowayart.com
www.georgetowndc.com
--
Susan Calloway Fine Arts
V 202.965.4601 F 202.338.1660
gallery@callowayart.com
Emily Lyons on DC artists
The advice for would-be collectors is endless: Buy the best art you can afford. Buy what challenges you. Buy what makes you feel at peace. Buy from artists you know and admire. Buy work your mind revisits days after you’ve seen it. Buy with a sentimental eye.Read Lyons in Washington Spaces here.
Whatever your strategy, art can be a wise investment, producing happy returns. If well-selected and cared for, its value will likely increase.
Mellema on Best of AOM
Kevin Mellema reviews the current AOM pick show at Fraser. Read his review (scroll down) here.
Things I don't understand
Why do couples bring their kids to Las Vegas? From rugrats to pre-teens to teens all wondering around the halls adjacent to the gaming areas.
I guess this is how the gambling seed is planted on the young: shine all the pretty lights and sounds of gambling in front of their eyes, but forbid them from entering the area.
And as soon as the right age is achieved: booze and chips galore!
Trawick Prize Finalists Announced
Well, nobody told me or sent me a press release... but they are announced and online here.
Congrats to all the finalists! The eight finalists for the 2009 Trawick Prize Awards will be on exhibit at the Fraser Gallery in Bethesda from September 2 - October 3, 2009.
My bet is on Molly Springfield with Laure Drogoul also a strong contender.
Wiki Wars
Drawing up battle lines – art gallery takes on WikipediaRead about it here.
The appearance of some of the world's most famous portraits on a website could create a legal landmark
Opportunity for artists
Deadline: Friday, August 21, 2009 at 5:30pm.
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) in collaboration with District of Columbia Public Libraries (DCPL) is seeking East-of-the-River artists, including writers, to submit proposals for four prominent areas inside the new Benning and Anacostia Libraries which are expected to open in the spring of 2010. The proposed artwork sites provide artists and writers the opportunity to display their work in a large-scale format in a public building. Artist Honorarium: $2,500. For more information about the project contact Rachel Dickerson at rachel.dickerson@dc.gov or (202) 724-5613. To obtain an application go to www.dcart.dc.gov (Public Art - Current Calls to Artists)
For more information about the libraries go to www.dcpl.dc.gov (DCPL Construction Projects).
ACA online
The new American Contemporary Art magazine is now online.
This art magazine is different (at least to me) in that it really covers the country (not just NYC galleries) and there are quite a few DC area gallery reviews and a "focus DC" article by yours truly.
Read it all here.
Desert days
I never expected the constant heat of the desert to be so malleable. One minute it is killing you slowly, and the next minute, and only after you've been hours inside an air conditioned space and slightly chilled out, as you step outside it envelops you in a baking oven of earth heat.
It feels really good, almost sensual as your body gives up the chill and warms up all at once. Soon your cheeks begin to tingle... a tingle like you get when you drink Bacardi 151 by accident thinking that it is regular rum and suddenly your cheeks go numb.
Wanna go to an artist's talk in DC?
Margaret Boozer: Dirt Drawings
When: July 25, 2:00pm
Katzen AU Museum Show dates: Jun 27 – August 16
Hours: (Admission is free) 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tue–Sun
Location: AU Museum at the Katzen, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, Washington, DC.
Boozer is one of DC's rising uberartists and I will be visiting this exhibition (I've been seeing bits and pieces of it in Boozer's studio over the past few months when I've visited her). If you want to see how a great contemporary artist handles a very traditional media and takes it headfirst into the 21st century, go see this show.
Boozer is represented locally by Project 4 Gallery.
Wanna go to a reception in Baltimore this week?
Saturday, July 25, 2009 between 6-9pm for the closing reception of the School 33 Studio Artists’ Exhibition.
Opportunity for Artists and/or Curators
Deadline: December 30, 2009
The Sumter County Gallery of Art (SCGA) is now accepting exhibition proposals for its 2010 exhibition schedule. SCGA is an innovative non-profit art institution that features leading-edge exhibitions and public programs showcasing new perspectives in traditional and contemporary art that pushes boundaries in its treatment of materials and subject matter. Located in stunning galleries within Sumter's landmark Cultural Center, in a newly renovated state of the art facility adjacent to Patriot Hall, SCGA presents work in a range of media by influential national and international artists as well as local and emerging artists. The gallery will accept proposals from emerging and established artists residing in the continental United States for group and solo exhibitions. All media will be considered. No entry fee is required. Please submit a proposal that includes 10-20 jpg images numbered on a CD/DVD. Please include a hard copy of the numbered image checklist (Include: title, media, dimensions, and date), artist statement, bio, resume/cv, and cover letter that describes proposed exhibit and scheduling information to:
Frank McCauley
Curator, SCGA
PO Box 1316, Sumter, SC 29151
Please include a SASE for notification and return of materials.
Moonlanding
40 years ago today, the most amazing feat in human history occurred when an American civilian of Scottish ancestry set foot on the moon and became the first human to leave his footprint somewhere else than Earth (at least that we know about).
This was not only a magnificent scientific achievement, but also a spectacular source of artistic images and we first viewed our world (in a photograph) from another celestial body. The images and objects that those brave men brought from the moon are not just scientific paraphernalia, but some of our nation's greatest works of art.
I hereby call for the Obama administration to renew the historical Kennedy call for the exploration of space.
It can once again become the greatest scientific, explorational and artistic achievement of this planet.
Airborne
Heading back to the Left Coast for some rediscovering, scorpion-and-black widow-avoiding (and brown recluses) in the deserts of California for some sweating (it's a dry heat) and desert drawings for the next two weeks.
Those of you who have my cell number: for the next two weeks, until July 31st, I will be on West Coast time, so if you call me at 6AM my time...
More later.
Opportunity for Artists and/or Curators
Deadline: August 1st, 2009
The Greater Reston Arts Center is requesting proposals for exhibitions for its main gallery space for periods of approximately 4-6 weeks. Proposals will be accepted from artists, independent curators, or arts organizations.
Full prospectus here.
Opportunity for Artists
Deadline: August 28, 2009.
The Easter Seals 2010 Art Competition is on and they're accepting works for consideration on an upcoming stamps. Works should be a vertical drawing or painting of a lily, in watercolor, oil, pastels, colored pencil, or computer generated image. Size limitations: no smaller than 8-1/2” x 11” and no larger than 18” x 24”. White or off-white stock is preferred. No entry fee. For more information, contact:
Easter Seals
Attn: Lisa Skaggs
233 South Wacker Drive., Ste. 2400
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 726-6200; or check website: www.easterseals.com.
Airport Tales
I'm heading back to California, and this time I am flying out of Dulles, which has one of the most beautiful terminals on the planet.
Earlier this morning (I'm in Dallas now waiting for my connecting flight) I was starving by the time I got to my gate, and was pleasantly surprised to find that right across from Gate 71-73 there's a new Five Guys Burgers restaurant, one of the premier burgers in this Universe. And so I order their showcase slider with grilled onions, pickles, mayo, ketchup and grilled mushrooms. I get number 62.
The guy behind me in line (there's a large line as it is around 10:30AM and the breakfast crowd is too late for breakfast and the lunch crowd is beginning to agitate) orders a grilled cheese, fries and water. He gets number 63.
The scene behind the counter is in a frenzy of fast food cooking activity. The Russian lady who is taking orders is firing them to the three cooks behind them at breakneck speed as hungry travellers pass through her order point.
The two African and Central American immigrant ladies doing the cooking are working at a frenetic speed grilling burgers and frying potatoes and getting the orders ready and yelling out numbers as they are ready.
It is a constant process, as quickly as can be done by three people cooking all at once, but there's a necessary delay in cooking the burgers, and none are pre-cooked and there's a large number of people in line and waiting for earlier orders.
But in about 5-6 minutes, they're up to number 59; these ladies are busting their asses to move the food.
The grilled cheese and fries and water guy who is number 63 is clearly impatient; let's call him GCFWG for grilled cheese and fries and water guy.
He approaches the counter and shouts to the back cooks, "Excuse me, how much longer will it be?"
The little Central American cook stops packaging ready orders and comes to him, she looks at him puzzled. "What is your number?" she asks.
"63," he responds rolling his eyes, "I've been waiting for like ten minutes."
I'm trying really hard to stay out of this, knowing that I will fail. GCFWG is very tall and slim, wearing a very, very tight white T-shirt that showcases his slimness and very tight black pants with really ugly, clunky black shoes. He has one of those large man purses and those nerdy, black glasses.
"You're only a couple of orders behind," responds Central American cook lady.
He rolls his eyes.
I can't handle it anymore. "Is your flight departure getting close?" I ask as he returns to waiting.
He looks at me a second before answering. People aren't used to strangers addressing them in airports, or anywhere else for that matter.
"No," he says, "But this is ridiculous," he snaps, looking at the cooks again and pointing his little chin at them.
"How would you speed the process?" I ask him. "Looks to me like those women are busting their asses cooking as fast as they can."
He looks at me and I stare back, looking hard.
"Ahh..." he stammers. "They need more people."
Again, there are three cooks on duty plus a order-taker.
"How many more?", I press him. "One more, two more?"
He looks at me again, this time he seems a little worried. My number is called and I pick up my bag. I return to him. He is now really looking a little agitated.
"Did you decide?" I ask him. "One or two more cooks?"
"Ahh..." He's looking around, and his number is called. He picks it up and I once again come close to him, look at him and smile.
"I think that three is the optimum number back there," I say gesturing to the cooking area. "And those women are busting their ass," I repeat myself. Now the small Central American woman is observing and listening in.
"I got to go." He says very nervous now, and leaves.
The Central American cook and the Russian order-taker smile and continue working their butts off while GCFWG moves on, hopefully having learned a lesson in manners.
Comemierda!
The Frida Kahlo Show
Last night's opening was packed to the gills with people, and the attendance even surprised me a little.
In the middle of the announcements for the award winners, someone from the crowd suddenly piped in and shouted the most off putting and random question that can be asked in a juried show paying homage to the influences of a Mexican artist on contemporary artists.
"What about the looting of art by the Nazis in Europe," shouted a young woman sitting on the chairs reserved for the artists (she wasn't one of the artists and her question was essentially what I wrote above but expressed in a more rambling way). "I just found out about this and I didn't know that the Nazis had killed so many people."
I looked at her and she smiled.
The crowd hushed for a second, a little thrown off by this odd question, considering the context of what I was talking about and the place and theme of the exhibit.
I rolled onto a discussion about how any and all empires and empires-wanna-be's had always stolen the art and intellectual ideas of the conquered, I also gave her a little lesson in art history and brought the conversation back to Kahlo.
She had a Joker-type smile frozen on her face the whole time, but she stayed quiet after that.
Weird, uh?
In any event, the prize winners:
Opportunity for Artists
artdc.org and Art Outlet are partnering with Halstead Arlington, a luxury apartment community in South Arlington, and the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, to present The ZIP Code Show, an event featuring artists and their relationships with their surroundings. The show will be held at Halstead Arlington, 1028 South Walter Reed Drive, Arlington, VA, 5:30 pm – 12:00 am, August 29 and September 5, 2009.
For the show, artists were asked to use ZIP codes and other postal code schema as a jumping off point for personal dialogues with the physical, biological, and cultural features of the earth. A team from Art Outlet and artdc.org is curating their ideas and strategies into an polyvalent exploration of artists’ personal geographies, which range from the private sanctuaries of home to public memories and actions.They are still accepting artist registrations. Find more information here.
Artists will be on hand to talk about their pieces at the show’s two evenings, which will include indoor and sidewalk live art and performances, and yours-for-a-donation summer libations.
Wanna show at Wolftrap?
Deadline: August 1, 2009
The Arts Council of Fairfax County invites the arts community to participate in the 39th annual International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap on September 19 & 20, 2009 from 10 am - 4pm. This is a brand new initiative and a great opportunity for our local artists!
They can accept up to 30 individual artists or artist groups. Artist applications will be reviewed by a panel of art professionals. The International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap is the premier international arts education experience in the United States.
You can download the Word document at this website or and e-mail them at artsandcrafts@artsfairfax.org
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Jamel McKelvia, International Children’s Festival Intern, at jamel.mckelvia@artsfairfax.org or by phone at (703) 642-0862 x5.
Opportunity for Artists
Deadline: July 31, 2009
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is looking for illustration portfolios from professional visual and graphic artists. This is the first stage of the process in attaining artwork to be used to represent the next spring festival. Cash awards available. No entry fee. For more information, contact:
National Cherry Blossom Festival
1250 H St., NW, Ste. 1000
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (202) 661-7584; email: lillian@downtowndc.org; or check website: www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
Opportunity for Artists
Deadline: July 31st, 2009
DC's International Arts and Artists’ Hillyer Art Space is currently accepting submittals until July 31st, 2009 for its regional artists series of exhibitions beginning January through December 2010.
Requirements:
- Artists must be currently living or working from the Mid Atlantic Region (MD, DE, WV, VA, & DC).
- Artists seeking a solo show at Hillyer must not have been featured in a solo show in DC area within the last 10 years.
- All work to be included in Hillyer Art Spaces shows must have been made in the last 5 years.
For details and prospectus, please email Graham Boyle at grahamb@artsandartists.org or call the gallery at 202.338.0680.
Come to the opening tonight
Last night's talk on Frida Kahlo for the Finding Beauty In A Broken World: In the Spirit of Frida Kahlo exhibition at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at Smith Farm in Washington, DC was standing room only and it went really well.
Grants for Artists
Deadline: July 31, 2009
The Ruth Chenven Foundation in Takoma Park, MD awards up to $1,500 to visual and craft artists living and working in the U.S. Funds are to be used in the planning or a craft or visual arts project. Film projects are ineligible. For more information, contact:
The Ruth & Harold Chenven Foundation
7505 Jackson Ave.
Tacoma Park, MD 20912
Opportunity for Artists
Deadline: August 15, 2009
The Gallery at the University of Maine at Farmington is planning a juried exhibition of works conceptually in keeping with the mood and spirit of Edgar Allan Poe. To open in October, 2009. All media welcome. Please submit entries in the form of a URL link or send dvds (Please format still images as jpgs @ 150 dti; time-based media on Quicktime.) to:
Elizabeth Olbert
The Gallery at UMF
246 Main St.
Farmington, ME 04938
Opportunity for Artists
Deadline: July 31, 2009.
The Chapel Hill Public Arts Office invites artists to apply for the 2009-2010 Juried Exhibitions Series. Original two- and three-dimensional artwork by selected artists will be displayed in Chapel Hill Town Hall and the Chapel Hill Public Library from October, 2009 through December of 2010. There is no application fee. For more information, go to www.chapelhillarts.org .
Later today
Come by later today for my talk on the subject of Frida Kahlo: Her Art & Her Pain; it's from 6:30-8:30PM at The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at Smith Farm Center located at 1632 U St NW in Washington DC, phone 202-483-8600. Free & open to the public.
You can also get an early peek at the subject exhibition itself. Next Friday is the Opening Reception & Awards (from 5:30 – 8:00PM) for the Finding Beauty in a Broken World: In the Spirit of Frida Kahlo.
See ya there!
Art Installation at Tate Modern Leaves 23 Injured
Despite implementing the latest health and safety procedures, the Tate Modern saw 23 people suffer minor injuries from Robert Morris's Bodyspacemotionthings during its special re-creation at the museum this summer.Details here.
Participants in the installation were invited to negotiate seesaws, a tightrope, and other obstacles, and in just over a week some of them were left with a cut leg, a rope burn to the hand, bruised ribs, and a bruised shoulder
Opportunity for Artists
Deadline: September 25, 2009
VisArts at Rockville, MD is seeking works of art that use new media and technology to eliminate psychological or physical boundaries; and, challenge a gallery's role as mediator between artworks and viewers. New media and technology have the power to eliminate conventional, artistic boundaries. Interactive art, for example, encourages viewers to complete the artwork by actively transforming it visually and conceptually. Artwork can be exhibited remotely, with only the concept (rather than the physical object) in a gallery. Likewise, a viewer may experience a work of art even if they are not in the gallery with the object.
Works considered: Artwork with at least one component that uses an electrical and/or battery power source, and created in the past three years. The work does not have to be a physical, gallery object. For more information or to apply, go to www.visartscenter.org and click on the link in the Exhibition menu.
Manon Cleary
For more than thirty years, Ms. Cleary's often disturbing drawings and paintings have brilliantly represented her personal world in provocative, unflinching and iconic terms. A 2008 exhibit at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts referred to Ms. Cleary as "one of the leading American figurative artists of the past three decades". This exhibit at Addison/Ripley pairs gentle sky "portraits" with pictures of strangely engaging white rats. Each of the works from Rats and Skies, is developed by hand on sanded paper with an unmatched mastery of materials and technique. In addition, the gallery will present earlier work by the artist, including examples from her "Movement Series".Cleary's ongoing contribution to the art world in Washington is extensive and keeps on going despite severe health issues that have limited her ability to work.
Airborne
I'm flying back to the East Coast today in order to deliver a talk on the subject of Frida Kahlo: Her Art & Her Pain on Thursday, July 16 from 6:30-8:30PM at The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at Smith Farm Center located at 1632 U St NW in Washington DC, phone 202-483-8600. Free & open to the public.
Then next Friday is the Opening Reception & Awards (from 5:30 – 8:00PM) for the Finding Beauty in a Broken World: In the Spirit of Frida Kahlo.
I selected the following artists for the exhibition: Priscilla Pompa Alvarez, Sally Brucker, Mark Caicedo, Kathryn H. Cook, Veronica Ebert, Elissa Farrow-Savos, Amy Freeman, Tanya Gramatikova, Manuela Holban, Diane Kahlo, Lily Lash, Maria Lupo, Marla McLean, Laura Pallone, Judith Peck, Reginald Pointer, Nancy Pollack, Chrys Roboras, Katya Romero, Janna Stern, Henrik Sundquist, Yayo Tavolara and Helen Zughaib.
See ya there!
140
I chickened out at 140 MPH last night on I-395 about 9:45PM. The little two seater that I got (an Eclipse) is supposed to go up to 160, and as I was all alone in the desert, I punched it and took it to around 140 before I slowed it down.
I drove back from San Diego and I am now in that blast furnace of a town known as Ridgecrest, California.
It is so hot.
Stimulus Closing Reception tomorrow
Head to Nevin Kelly Gallery in DC on Friday, July 10th for the closing reception of "Stimulus," a group exhibition of works by local artists meant to stimulate the mind and the economy. All works in the show are priced at $500 or less, many at limited-opportunity prices. Closing reception from 6-8PM.
Participating artists include John M. Adams, Sondra N. Arkin, Joan Belmar, Tanja Bos, Anne Bouie, Molly Brose, Mary Chiaramonte, Anna U. Davis, Jenny Davis, Thomas Drymon, Stirling Elmendorf, Pat Goslee, Emily Greene Liddle, Laurel Hausler, Eve Hennessa, J. Ford Huffman, Rosalind Kennedy, Mark Parascandola, Anneliese Sullivan, Ming Yi Sung Zaleski, Ruth Trevarrow, Claudia Vess, Ellyn Weiss and the kid.
Show runs through July 11. Go buy some art!
Trona, California
Landed at Las Vegas yesterday around 5PM, and after grabbing my bags I headed to the car rental, where, because of the holiday weekend, cars were scarce. That was a good thing.
Instead of my usual, "what is the cheapest, smallest, roller skate car that you have?" I ended up being upgraded to a Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible! That was a good thing.
As I was headed to the California desert, I zoomed out of Vegas and headed south on Highway 15. And of course, because of the holiday weekend, about a billion cars were heading home to LA and the highway was bumper to bumper with "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" weekenders. That was a bad thing.
The desert landscape at dusk was illuminated by a full moon, and at least, while the desert mountains and hills were visible, it was like driving through Ansel Adams' "Moon Over Hernandez." That was a wondrous thing.
I got to my hotel by 12:30pm and crashed.
The next morning I got up, jumped into my toy car and headed for my first destination; 30 miles later I was lost.
I ended up in a very small town (a generous description by the way) called Trona.
Trona, California must be one of the most ahhh... remote places in the American desert. It also has a tiny cafe, right on Trona Road, established in 1956, that serves some of the best shakes that I have ever tasted.
How does a small cafe survive for over half a century in such a remote place? On the wall there were a couple of photos of someone signing autographs. "Who is that?" I asked the young waitress.
"I don't know," she answered, "Someone who came by when I was little." She then asked the cook.
"George Clooney!" shouted the cook from the back. "He was here filming an episode of 'ER' a long time ago."
Anyway, this throwback in time had a dazzling menu of good old fashioned American fare (burgers, tacos, burritos and something called a "Texas toothpick") including ice cream and a lot of great milkshake flavors.
Trona, California: As a town, you are a bit rough on the eyes, but I salute your little town cafe.
