Mid City Artists Open Studios

Today and tomorrow. Free and open to the public, these twice-yearly open studio events draw hundreds to the Mid City area in downtown DC to see where art is created. Plan your Saturday and Sunday treks by flipping through the artists’ pages online to see what you like, who is new, hours, and who is participating.

Download the map here to guide you along your journey.

Scott Brooks at Long View



I heard that the amazing Scott Brooks' opening at Long View Gallery was not only packed to the gills, but it is also selling well. Check out pictures from the opening here.

Fotoweek Anacostia starts today!

Click on the image for details.

Joyce Tenneson Talk Tomorrow

Joyce Tenneson is easily the most famous "once former DMV area photographer who moved to NYC" type.

Three of her photography books are among the top ten best-selling photography books of all time, and her work is in the collection of dozens of museums worldwide and her photographs have appeared on countless covers for magazines such as: Time, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek, Premiere, Esquire and The New York Times Magazine.

She will be giving a slide show and lecture as part of Fotoweek DC at the Torpedo Factory, on Sunday Nov.7 at 6:30PM, lst floor. "A Photographers Life" is the subject of her talk. Preceding that is a reception at Multiple Exposures Gallery on the 3rd floor.

Art Muse in DC

Daily Art Muse has been visiting DMV artists' studios and writing about it.

Read part one here and part two here.

Where the artists are

Elizabeth Ward has a really excellent piece in the Pinkline Project about that one building on 9th and G where all the cool artists live.

And the parties are great... what these eyes have seen there... read it here.

Opportunity for Artists

Deadline: November 12, 2010

Art in Alexandria - Call to 2-d Artists

This exhibit will promote the talent of local artists. The exhibit will be juried by Fierce Sonia, a local award winning artist. The show will hang for 6 months in the Fairlington Room at Rampart's Music Tavern. This is a public space used as a dining room open to all members of the public, including children, and thus artists are asked to submit work appropriate to this venue.

Artists living or working in the Virginia, Maryland, and DC area are eligible. Special considerations will be made for students at TC Williams High School.

Deadline for digital Submissions: postmarked by November 12, 2010, mail to Rampart's Music Tavern, 1700 Fern Street, Alexandria, VA 22302

Delivery of accepted work: December 5, 2010, Sunday, 11am-3pm in the Fairlington Room at Rampart's 1700 Fern Street, Alexandria, VA 22302

Theme: Alexandria, Our Town; all media black and white, limited to 2d
Reception: TBA
Exhibition Dates: December 5, 2010 -June 12, 2011

Need more info or prospectus? Email Fiercesonia@aol.com for any details.

Heard on Univision

The Univision news team of reporters and talking heads seem to be in a tailspin trying to make sense from the fact that 60% of the nation's Hispanic voters vote for Democrats, and yet the only three Hispanic winners of state wide offices and all of the new Hispanic Representatives are all Republican. It's funny listening to them trying to force a square peg into a round hole.

Campello on TV

Not me, but my actress daughter Elise... check her out on Seattle TV here.

FotoWeek DC starts tomorrow

The Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design will serve as FotoWeek Central, the hub of activity during FotoWeek DC 2010 (November 6 – 13). Activities include the official launch party November 5, expert portfolio reviews, NightGallery projections on the museum’s historic Beaux Arts exterior, and a variety of workshops, tours, and lectures—including an evening lecture, photo presentation and book signing by Restrepo co-director and producer Tim Hetherington at 7 p.m. on November 11.

Hetherington’s new book of work, Infidel, is as much about love and male vulnerability as it is about bravery and war.

In celebration of FotoWeek DC, the Corcoran will open its doors Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. of the festival and will be FREE and open to the public for the duration of the festival. To see a full list of FotoWeek Central activities, visit www.corcoran.org/fotoweekdc.

Teresa Oaxaca at the Rotunda

The very young and superbly talented DMV area artist Teresa Oaxaca of Arlington, Virginia will show new paintings in the Rotunda of the Carnegie Institution in Washington, D.C. in connection with the Esperanza Education Fund’s Benefit Concert on December 6, 2010, 7:30-9:00 PM.

The evening will begin with a performance in the Ballroom by the internationally renowned Classical/Flamenco Guitarist Grigory Goryachev. After the concert there will be a champagne reception in the Rotunda where Oaxaca’s new 6-foot high paintings will be featured. This is Esperanza's second Winter Benefit.

Oaxaca’s work will also be on display at the Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. Arlington, from Dec. 7-31.

This young 22-year old painter Teresa Oaxaca is a classically trained painter who grew up in Arlington. She studied for five years in Florence, Italy, and currently works in the Washington D.C. area as a full-time artist. Her portfolio largely consists of figural painting and still life although she is also known as a portrait artist and has been taking on numerous commissions from clients in the Washington D.C. area since 2006. This young art prodigy has already received high recognition, including winning international awards such as the Canadian-based (and highly contested) Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation grant twice, apprenticing with the uberstar Norwegian painter Odd Nerdrum, and exhibiting internationally.

Keep your eye on Oaxaca.

WPA 2011 Artist Directory

Deadline: February 1, 2011

The Washington Project for the Arts has announced a call for submissions for its 2011 Artist Directory.

Published bi-annually, this four-color, 8.5 x 5.5 inch directory is the definitive listing of established and emerging contemporary artists throughout the Washington region. It is seen by more than 2,000 galleries, curators, art consultants, and interested art patrons. Copies are distributed to selected art critics and other members of the press, and to museums both in the region and outside the area. The 2011 Artist Directory will also 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 (8.5 x 5.5 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, and their gallery affiliation.

All current WPA members are eligible for publication in the Artist Directory. There is an additional registration fee that includes a copy of the Artist Directory. Participants who submit before December 1, 2010 can pay a discounted early registration fee of $65. After December 1, the registration fee increases to $75. The final registration deadline is February 1, 2011. No submissions will be accepted after this date.

All submissions will be handled through an online registration form on the 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 2011 Artist Directory, please contact Blair Murphy, Membership Directory at bmurphy@wpadc.org or 202-234-7103 x 1.

Anderson on Dawson's Real Art DC

The CP's John Anderson has some really good observations and issues with The Washington Post's Real Art D.C. contest.

By the way, a belated congrats to contest winner Steven Silburg. As I've noted before, I will invite all of Dawson's picks for the next volume of the 100 Washington Artists trilogy (so it's really 300 isn't it?).

Anderson's article gave me an idea and I am toying with the concept of going through all the entries to see if I can find my own top ten that I like and invite one of those to be in the next volume as well.

Read Anderson's article here.

Heard on Univision

A 10 year old Romanian girl (Spanish double talk - in Spain - for Gypsy) living in Andalusia has given birth.

Lest We Forget

"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything."

- Josef Stalin

Freedom!

As we vote today, it is a somber thought when we recall those who live under the boot of tyrants. Yesterday I told you about the brutalization of Reina Luisa Tamayo Danger, a Cuban grandmother and dissident activist who, since the murder of her son Orlando, has become one of the leaders of the peaceful Cuban protest for freedom from the iron-fisted rule of the Castro brothers.

Following an immediate international outrage over her beating and jailing, this gutsy lady was released from jail, where we have now learned that she was shouting "Freedom!" over and over from her dungeon cell, and thus she was beaten in the mouth and her mouth stuffed with a rag soaked in gasoline.

Tamayo's three sons and their wives are still being held in jail by Castro's police. It is curious to see how none of this has made generally the US news circuit (other than Miami newsmedia of course) while making news all over the rest of the world.

Reina Luisa has been offered exile and to leave Cuba. Her answer was no! and: Freedom!

35 Years!

Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) will present Catalyst, its 35th anniversary retrospective exhibition, at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center in Washington, DC, from November 9 through December 19, 2010.

Using three floors and the outdoor sculpture garden of the museum, Catalyst will be a dynamic, narrative 're-collection' of the WPA legacy, showcasing selected artists, exhibitions, programs, and events from its 35-year history. Curated by longtime WPA member, artist, writer, curator, and art professor J.W. Mahoney, Catalyst will include both recent and period artworks, documentation in both still and moving media, with a fully illustrated catalogue to accompany the exhibition.

In a statement provided by Mr. Mahoney, "Catalyst is intended to demonstrate the uniqueness, the resilience and the authentically catalytic power of a truly successful alternative arts organization that has survived for more than three decades." Divided chronologically into three major sections of the museum, the exhibition will feature works by over 150 artists in a variety of media. Through the presentation of selected works and narrative text, Catalyst will demonstrate the integral role WPA has played in the history of contemporary visual art in Washington, DC.

Catalyst is not intended to be presented as a traditional historical retrospective and it, by practical restrictions on space and time, can present only a glimpse of the depth and breadth of WPA's 35 years of creative production. It is intended to communicate the idea of WPA as a catalyst - as an organization that has meaningfully encouraged and supported the creative spirit of artists - and to demonstrate that artists continue to practice and thrive here in our region.

The exhibition catalogue features an introduction by American University Museum and Curator Jack Rasmussen, an illustrated timeline of selected moments in WPA history; essays by curator J.W. Mahoney, former WPA Executive Director Jock Reynolds, and former Bookworks Manager Robin Moore; and an illustrated exhibition checklist. It is available for $35 on the WPA website and in the American University bookstore.

WPA will also produce an interactive website for the exhibition which will invite artists and individuals associated with WPA throughout its history to contribute stories, artifacts, and information about the organization. The site www.wpadc.org/catalyst, which will include a timeline, comprehensive artist list, and exhibition and performance history of the organization, will be live November 1, 2010.

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2010 from 6-9pm at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016. A ticketed benefit opening will take place on Tuesday, November 9 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact esmitherman@wpadc.org. Individual tickets are $75 for WPA member artist and $150 for individuals. Proceeds will benefit WPA's 35th anniversary exhibition season.

WPA will also host a series of related performances and public programs leading up to, and during the exhibition dates. Exhibition curator J.W. Mahoney will lead a tour of the exhibition on Saturday, November 20 at 4pm. Further details on the exhibition and related programming will be available at www.wpadc.org in the coming weeks.

My own experiences with the WPA have been terrific and go back many years. But clearly the most important one was in 2005, when I had perhaps the most difficult and most fun curatorial job ever. And at the end, it delivered the most wonderful gift of my life.

This happened when I was retained to curate the massive "Seven" exhibition for the then WPA/Corcoran. My goal in curating the show was to expose WPA artists who rarely, if ever, got any attention from previous curators and pair them up with some well-known names. In order to do that I reviewed 24,000-plus slides in the WPA/C Artfile, plus about a 1,000 digital submissions - the first time that the WPA had used digital entries for a show!

I reviewed all those slides and files not once, but twice over a six month period of trips to the Corcoran, where the WPA lived at the time.

"Seven" got its title because it filled seven different spaces at the Warehouse Theatre and Gallery complex on 7th Street, NW. At the time it was the largest WPA exhibition ever, and it was the WPA's best-selling show up to that time (nearly 70% of all the artwork from 66 artists sold, including two Sam Gilliams, three Chan Chao photos, a major Tim Tate glass piece, huge Graham Caldwell glass piece, Cornelius videos, Jamison painting, etc.) and about a dozen WPA member artists without representation got picked up for representation by galleries from that show (as I took groups of gallerists for one on one tours of the show). These dealers then picked up new artists for their galleries... such as Susan Jamison by Irvine Contemporary.

It was a huge opening with estimates of 600-800 people all spilling out onto the streets. We had a live nude drawing class during the opening show, with the model posing for several artists who created drawings on the spot. They were in what I had dubbed the "Nude Gallery," which was hung with the work of artists who focused on the nude.

We also had opera singer Hisham Breedlove, who had been body painted ahead of time by Adrianne Mills, singing around the galleries as a walking, living work of art. On the top floor gallery, Kathryn Cornelius conducted a performance several times that night. All of this was going on at the opening.

The show got major reviews by the DMV press with coverage in The Washington Post, the City Paper, Georgetowner, and all the (then) new art blogs. It was even covered by local TV as well as covered by CNN - It was the first WPA show ever covered by CNN!

The show was the buzz of the town for the whole month and it accomplished what I had intended to do: expose as many "new" artists to the DC art scene as possible while getting the WPA some buzz and selling some artwork. It did all of that and more.

And most important for me: I met the woman who eventually became my wife at the curator talk that I gave during the show! I challenge anyone to beat that success story!

This is important: Again...a ticketed benefit opening will take place on Tuesday, November 9 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact esmitherman@wpadc.org. Individual tickets are $75 for WPA member artist and $150 for individuals. Proceeds will benefit WPA's 35th anniversary exhibition season.

Overheard while voting

Elderly Chinese lady in the voting booth to my right (talking to another - much younger - Chinese lady in the voting booth to my left): "I can't believe that I'm voting for all these Republicans!"

Agitated voting judge comes over and tells her that she can't discuss her voting with people around her. The elderly Chinese lady doesn't say anything and the voting judge retreats to her station.

Elderly Chinese lady, this time in Chinese, again speaks to the other Chinese lady to my left. The words "Ike Leggett" and "Republicans" are distinct amongst the Chinese chatter.

Agitated voting judge comes over again, but I'm not sure that this time she knows who was talking. She looks at me and announces: "Please! No talking while voting!"

I finish voting, and while depositing my electronic voting card in the box by the voting judge, I say "syeh-syeh" ("Thanks" in Mandarin Chinese) to her. She looks at me oddly.

Whatever you do today, please make sure that you vote. Otherwise, please refrain from bitching tomorrow.

Where is the outrage?


(Via) Yesterday, the Castro dictatorship arrested Reina Luisa Tamayo Danger, an activist grandmother who is also the mother of deceased Cuban hunger strike political prisoner, Orlando Zapata Tamayo.

She was arrested along with 39 other dissidents who were accompanying her in a march to Orlando's grave site. Orlando Zapata Tamayo was a bricklayer who died after 85 days in a hunger strike in protest over lack of basic human rights in Cuba.

Take note -- 39 dissidents arrested in one afternoon. They all remain unaccounted for. According to Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez, Sra. Tamayo (that's her being arrested in the photo) has been hurt in the arrest. If you can understand Spanish, click here to listen to an eyewitness describing the beatings and also the jailed women screaming into the night from the local jail as they continued to be beaten inside the prison.

Where's the outrage?

It is courageous people like this elderly lady, who will finally bring change to Cuba and eliminate the brutal nightmare that has ruled with an iron fist over that poor island since 1959.

Update: If you can understand Spanish, click here to hear Sra. Zapata Danger calling Radio Marti to report that they were being attacked. Her cell phone has been subsequently confiscated by the Cuban police.

Update: Babalu reports that "Reina's mouth has been busted, her knees are scraped, and her ribs have been injured from the beating she received yesterday."

Update: (via)

“It was terrible. I could hear Reina from the dungeons cells. She said ‘Down with Fidel, Down with Raúl, Zapata lives!’.
- Marlon Martorell, an activist who participated in the march

Campello in Olympic Bid

El Campello, a small town on Spain's Costa Blanca has caused a storm in international circles by throwing its hat into the ring as a late shock candidate for the 2020 Olympic Games.

The local council, known as an ayuntamiento in the local parlance have contacted the International Olympic Committee to officially declare their interest in hosting the games.

An ayuntamiento spokesperson, José Luis Ricardo Rodrigo Gonzalez-Zapatero-Sanchez Canatuna, otherwise known as Pepé said yesterday; "We believe that Campello is perfectly suited to be the host city for the 2020 Olympic Games. Spain is the World Champion in virtually every sport known to man, and we feel that now is the time to award The Games to Campello.

Read about it here.

Betty Thobela: Art Scammer

Only Andrew Wodzianski could deal with a perspective art scammer in such a funny way; start reading and learn how to deal with a scammer:

From: "Betty Thobela"
Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2010 11:12 PM
To: info@wodzianski.com
Subject: Artworks Inquiry..

Hi,

Hope this message finds you well.
I saw these creatives works on your web site and i will like you to
get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
Red 1 and Friday, December the Eleventh
I will appreciate an urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Betty.

--------------------
Betty,

Thanks for the inquiry.
Red 1 and Friday, December the Eleventh are both available.
Prior to quoting you prices, its nice to know how you discovered the images. Several clients find me through sources that I need to thank & recognize.

I look forward to hearing from you. Best of Mondays,
Andrew

--------------------
From: "Betty Thobela"
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 1:50 AM
To: info@wodzianski.com
Subject: re: Artworks Inquiry..

Hi Andrew ,
Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creative works. I first heard about your work at an exhibition in AAF Contemporary Art Fair, NY.
Anyway , i will like to proceed with the purchase of both pieces . Can you pls confirm the actual size and price of the two pieces so i can know how best to proceed. I will also like to know what inspire you to make the pieces.

I will look forward to hearing from you soon .

Best Regards,
Betty.

--------------------------------
Betty,

AAF! While I was absent from this year's festivities, I do plan on representation in Miami this December. If you plan on attending any of the Florida fairs, please let me know. I should be able to get you a ticket to at least one of the events.

Red 1 is $1,500 USD. Its 54 x 36", oil on canvas, unframed. Its heavily influenced by Freud's psychoanalytical interpretation of Perrault's "Little Red Riding Hood," in additional to my overarching interests in disguise, and horror. Friday, December the Eleventh is 3,500 USD. Its 34 x 48", white titanium oil on tinted canvas, unframed. Its influenced by Hitchcock's "Psycho."

When you reply with a delivery address, I can quote you shipping costs.

Best,
Andrew
------------------------------------
From: "Betty Thobela"
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 2:24 PM
To: info@wodzianski.com
Subject: re: Artworks Inquiry..

Hi Andrew,

Good to hear back from you. Yes, i will like to proceed with the purchase of Red 1 . I think it is a lovely work and i hope to give it a good home.

I am presently away in London for my twin sister's wedding even though it comes at a time when i was preparing for a big move and also expecting a baby but it means so much to her. I should be back in few days.

Meanwhile,i will like you to forward your mailing address and phone number so i can inform my husband still shutling between our home in New Jersey and Jo'burg, SA on where to forward the payment . He has just been transfer to head the IT section of their head Office in Jo'burg.

I can also forward your contact info to the local cartage company that will be moving all our house decors so they can get in touch with you to arrange shipping details. They can arrange FedEx pick up of the artwork from your studio.

I will look forward to hearing from you so i can know how best to proceed. Cheers.

Best Regards,
Betty.
----------------------------------------
Betty,

Brilliant!

Congratulations on your sister's wedding. Matrimony is an important institution and one that I plan on making correct in my fourth attempt. And congratulations on what I presume to be your husband's promotion! South Africa is a wonderful country, even with the security concerns. William Kentridge is a favorite artist of mine.

Unfortunately, I cannot disclose my residential address or my private phone number. To make a long story short - I'm temporarily residing in a half way house in Mid-Atlantic as part of a witness relocation program. I'm typing you for a computer terminal at a public library. I'm restricted to internet communications as my primary source of correspondence.

Also a unfortunate (and related) coincidence, I am not legally allowed to have affiliation with FedEx. Making another long story a bit shorter - the agreement is part of a settlement that dealt with an art fraud / theft case I experienced in 2004.

Regardless of these situations, they won't bar us from your purchase of Red 1. We just need to take a few particular steps. Trust me, its safer for both of us.

What I need you to do:
1) Send $1000 USD to an escrow account I have established. I use a secure, and bonded internet service called Paypal. My account is through the following address; wodzianski@rocketmail. This money will serve as both a retainer and deposit. Upon receipt of your $1000, I'll pack and ship the painting via a third party agency to your New Jersey (cheaper) or South African (expensive).
2) Send your preferred mailing address.
3) Your remaining balance, plus cost of shipping will be due upon delivery. Again, Paypal will be our intermediary. While $500 USD will pay the balance of the painting, an additional fee will be added for shipping and handling. I can send you a precise estimate with your delivery address.

If its easier for you, I can send a Paypal invoice to bet.bela00@mybest.com

Apologies for having to take these specific steps, but the US Government, IRS, FBI, and my legal counsel would be pretty upset with me if I did anything less.

Thanks in advance for your understanding and I can't wait to list my work as being part of a South African collection!

Best,
Andrew

Opportunity for DMV Artists

Deadline: November 12, 2010

The BlackRock Center for the Arts has a huge gorgeous gallery space and their call for artists for the 2011 art season is now up.

The 2011 Call to Artists is open to all artists residing in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC over the age of 18 for original artwork only. This call will cover exhibits in the gallery from October 2011 through August 2012. An exhibit may include on applicant or a combination of applicants, based on the judgement of jurors. The jury panel is comprised of Kathleen Moran, Jack Rasmussen and yours truly.

Details here.

Modu Union Salon party

Mary Schmidt Amons, cast member of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of DC" and founder of Labels for Love, created “Modus Union” this one of a kind unique event to collaborate our active philanthropic, political, and artistic communities within the Nation's Capital.

Modus Union was formed from two words that represent unification with positive intent. The Washington, DC area is the leading world capital and we are seeing the combination of artistic talent and a youthful energy not seen since the Kennedy era. The time has come to collaborate with these disparate groups of influence to showcase opportunities in an effort to make a positive social and philanthropic impact by maximizing our impact on the Nation's Capital and its global influence. Labels For Love beneficiary partner this year is Fran Drescher and her Cancer Schmancer Foundation.

Cancer Schmancer is dedicated to saving women's lives through early detection and prevention of cancer. As you may know, Fran Drescher is a 10-year uterine cancer survivor and a leading advocate for the early detection of women's cancer. Fran and her Foundation are continuing to make a major global impact, through sharing her personal story as well as educating women on the causes of cancers and the importance and methods of early detection

Event Location:
The Yards Park
10 Water St SE Washington, DC
(Intersection of 3rd St SE and Water St SE)
Three blocks from the Navy Yard Metro (New Jersey Ave Exit)

Thursday, November 4th, from 5:30pm – 9:30pm
Lumber Shed Pavilion - Fully Covered outdoor 13,000 sqft Space which will be heated for the event. 23 Artist Juried Art Show on exhibit and the Exhibit Jurors were Shane Pomajambo: Art Whino, Maggie O'Neill: O'Neill Studios/ Maggie O'Neill Fine Art, Margaret Heiner : Aesthetica Art Consulting, Lauren Gentile: Irvine Contemporary, Philippa Hughes: Pink Line Project, Marsha Ralls: Ralls Collection and yours truly.

There is also a curated art exhibit by Art Whino and they will showcase a special 6000 sqft art exhibit and live painting by Brandon Hill, Ariit Das, Cita, Michael Owen, James Walker, Josh Taylor, Maggie O'Neill and Sylvia Ortiz. Vicki DaSilva will also be doing special Light Graffiti portraits throughout the night.

Complimentary Parisian centered food by Bonaparte / Peacock Cafe/ Mortons. Open Bar all evening by Vitamin Water/ Dirty Martini

Performers: Modern Thieves / Sam James / Trapeze School New York (TSNY)
Eclectic Mix of Dazzling Performers such as Unicyclist, Jugglers, Mimes, Stilt-walking, Sword swallowing and much more!

Wearable Art: Nycholis Maziejka / Charm / Lentz

$50 Non Profit Donation Entry Fee. To purchase tickets go to www.labelsforlove.org/events.html .

The juried artists are:

Rodger Shultz

Gwenn Zaberer

Collette Burmester

Jamea Richmond-Edwards

Fierce Sonia

John Osgood

Terry Plater

Vicki Thomas

Shawn Bishop-Leo

Yanique Moore

Elese Clake

David Barr

Tomi Balogun

Lydia Cutler

Sandra Leonard

Sharon Buhen

Mike O’Brien

Celeste Chen

Vennessa Ortiz

Maria Gracia Canedo

Eugene Pool

Maria Lujan

Martin Figueroa-Ramirez

Farrah Ahmed

Rosalba Alarcon de Lujan

Aaron Wilder

Aasiya Townsell

Ira Natalushko

Maria Miller

Jeff Williams

Mary Rieser Heintjes

Stacey Hill

Marielle Mariano

Anna Kathryn Carlson

Carrie Nobus

See ya there!

FotoWeek DC starts next week

Check out all the events here. The events go from 6-13 Nov.

Opportunity for Artists

Deadline: November 12, 2010

Gallery West in Old Town Alexandria has a call for artists for their 14th Annual National Juried Show (Exhibit Dates: February 9–March 6, 2011).

The all media show will be juried by yours truly and awards to total $1,000. Click here to download the prospectus.

artDC

artdc has assembled another "popup" gallery exhibition. This time in Arlington, VA.

Continuing in the rich tradition of artist run alternative gallery spaces, Art in Transition-suddenspace celebrates art and the activation of dormant architecture. 19 dynamic artists will exhibit work in 5,000 square feet of empty retail space for the month of November.

Participating artists: Emily Biondo, Tim Campbell, Bobby Coleman,
Kate Demong, L. Kimberly Gillespie, Victoria Greising, Adam Hager, Sabeth Jackson, Sarah Laing, Stuart Lorimer, Lindsay McCulloch, Sarah Miller, Megan Mueller, Camden Place, Katherine Sable, Samuel Scharf, Ben Tolman, Jenny Walton, and Stewart Watson.

For more information please visit their website www.suddenspace.com and details here.

artdc will be projecting artdc images at suddenspace from an exhibition of work from their flickr pool expanding their community awareness. Find the flickr pool here and add your images now!

FotoWeek DC at the Corcoran

The Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design will serve as FotoWeek Central, the hub of activity during FotoWeek DC 2010 (November 6 – 13). Activities include the official launch party November 5, expert portfolio reviews, NightGallery projections on the museum’s historic Beaux Arts exterior, and a variety of workshops, tours, and lectures—including an evening lecture, photo presentation and book signing by Restrepo co-director and producer Tim Hetherington at 7 p.m. on November 11.

Hetherington’s new book of work, Infidel, is as much about love and male vulnerability as it is about bravery and war.

In celebration of FotoWeek DC, the Corcoran will open its doors Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. of the festival and will be FREE and open to the public for the duration of the festival. To see a full list of FotoWeek Central activities, visit www.corcoran.org/fotoweekdc.

Another Ebay auction

Another one of my art pieces shows up on Ebay, this time being offered by an Arizona art & antique dealer.

This limited edition print is indeed out of print. Check it out here.

University talking

Earlier today Sandra Ramos had a packed house at George Mason University, where she delivered a talk on Cuban art.

I had to miss it, as I had almost forgotten that I was schedules to be a guest speaker at at Literature class at American University today. Made it just in time and as usual went over my allotted time, but no one left early.

I'm bummed out that I missed the Ramos talk, but I also had a great time presenting to AU students.

Video of Sandra Ramos' opening last weekend

Ramos will be delivering a lecture on contemporary Cuban art at George Mason University on Thursday Oct 28th at 1:30 at the School of Art - Room 2001. The talk and slide lecture will discuss the state of contemporary Cuban art. It is free and open to the public.

Sandra Ramos groundbreaking work in the 1990s was amongst the first to challenge and expose the harsh realities of Cuban life. By addressing forbidden issues such as mass migration, the plight of Cuba’s raft people, racism in Cuban society and the inequalities of Cuban life, Ramos found a voice through her art that has brought her worldwide fame and inclusion in many private and museums' permanent collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Dallas Art Museum, Miami Art Museum, Fuchu Art Museum in Japan, Thyssen Bornemisza in Vienna and regionally at the University of Virginia Art Museum.

Sandra Ramos resides in Havana, Cuba. Her work has also been showcased at Art Basel Switzerland, ARCO Madrid, Art Basel Miami Beach, multiple Biennials and many other worldwide art fairs.

Her second US solo show, "Exodus", showcasing her latest paintings, videos and etchings, opened last Saturday, Oct. 23rd at Norfolk's Mayer Fine Art Gallery. The video at the top is from the opening.

Cirenaica Moreira

Roberto Chile's video of Cuban photographer Cirenaica Moreira recreating some of her most recent images.

Wanna go to an artist's talk tomorrow?

Argentinean artist Mirta Kupferminc will deliver a talk tomorrow, Wednesday October 27, 7pm – 8.30 pm at The Universities at Shady Grove. For details call 301 738 6086.

FotoWeek DC starts Nov. 6

Check out all the events here.

Norfolking...

Driving down to Norfolk in a few minutes for the opening of Havana-based Cuban artist Sandra Ramos, who is in many people's opinions (including mine), the leading contemporary Cuban artist in the world. The Ramos solo show, Exodus, runs from October 23 - December 27, and opens tonight in Norfolk's leading independently owned commercial fine arts gallery: Mayer Fine Art.

If you are a Norfolkian, come by and say hello.

Wine Tasting

Last night I took the legendary photographer Lida Moser (who just turned 90 and whose work I represent) on a date to a wine tasting at The Bottle Shop. I had heard that the tastings at this family owned wine shop were amazing and indeed they are.

Not only did we taste some fabulous wines, but as everyone knows, good wine and art mix, and we got to talking to a nice couple and Ms. Moser ended up selling four of her vintage photographs!

Check out the The Bottle Shop here.

Man Listening to Concert Outside MoMA, New York. Gelatin Silver Print by Lida Moser, c. 1974.

Joyce Tenneson Talk

Joyce Tenneson is easily the most famous "once former DMV area photographer who moved to NYC" type.

Three of her photography books are among the top ten best-selling photography books of all time, and her work is in the collection of dozens of museums worldwide and her photographs have appeared on countless covers for magazines such as: Time, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek, Premiere, Esquire and The New York Times Magazine.

She will be giving a slide show and lecture during Fotoweek DC at the Torpedo Factory, on Sunday Nov.7 at 6:30PM, lst floor. "A Photographers Life" is the subject of her talk. Preceding that is a reception at Multiple Exposures Gallery on the 3rd floor.

Ten Artists for Ten Years

Exhibition opening October 22 at the Sumner School from 6:00 PM -- 8:00 PM.

Featured artists include: Gwen Aqui, Billy Colbert, Doris Colbert Kennedy,Victor Ekpuk, Elsa Gebreyesus, Sonya Lawyer, Chris Malone, Anne Marchand, Michael Singletary, and Frank Smith.

Charles Sumner School
1201 17th St NW,
Washington, DC 20036-3009
(202) 442-6060

In Norfolk tomorrow night

Havana-based Cuban artist Sandra Ramos is in many people's opinions, the leading contemporary Cuban artist in the world, and later this month, her solo exhibition titled Exodus, running from October 23 - December 27, opens in Norfolk's leading independently owned commercial fine arts gallery: Mayer Fine Art.

MFA, which also represents my work, is by far the top fine arts venue in the Tidewater area, and its hardworking owner, the talented Shiela Giolitti, daughter of the legendary comic book artist Alberto Giolitti has been preparing for this, Ramos' second ever solo show in the USA, for a long time.

Sandra Ramos. Flying to Miami. Charcoal and Acrylic on Digital Canvas Print. 130 x 90 cm. Circa 2010
The opening is Saturday, October 23rd from 6-9PM.

Additionally, Ramos will be leading a printmaking workshop at the Chrysler Museum on Oct 23 and 24th. You can register for that workshop here.

Then, on October 26th at 7PM, Sandra Ramos will present a lecture on contemporary Cuban art at the Baron and Ellin Art Galleries of Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Free and open to the public.

Ramos is in the permanent collection of MoMa, MFA Boston, Dallas Museum, Miami Art Museum and many other US, European and Latin American art museums.

I'm driving down for this opening; see ya there!

Jessica goes yard again

Good review in the WaPo by Jessica Dawson - read it here.

The shiny flecks distract from a twisted little canvas called "Judith," which is a tightly cropped homage to Artemisia Gentileschi's signature canvas, "Judith Slaying Holofernes." Rieck zoomed in on Judith's hand grasping the knife hilt and came up with a picture that evokes a phallus or pudenda almost at the same time. I love the bizarreness of this painting, but mica isn't adding to its success.

Wanna go to an opening today?

Marymount University's Fine Art and Graphic Design Faculty Show has an opening Friday, October 22, 5-7:30 pm. The dates for the show are: October 22-December 12, 2010.

Sandra Ramos lecture at George Mason University

Thursday Oct 28th at 1:30 at the School of Art - Room 2001. The talk and slide lecture will discuss the state of contemporary Cuban art. It is free and open to the public.

Sandra Ramos groundbreaking work in the 1990s was amongst the first to challenge and expose the harsh realities of Cuban life. By addressing forbidden issues such as mass migration, the plight of Cuba’s raft people, racism in Cuban society and the inequalities of Cuban life, Ramos found a voice through her art that has brought her worldwide fame and inclusion in many private and museums' permanent collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Dallas Art Museum, Miami Art Museum, Fuchu Art Museum in Japan, Thyssen Bornemisza in Vienna and regionally at the University of Virginia Art Museum.

Sandra Ramos resides in Havana, Cuba. Her work has also been showcased at Art Basel Switzerland, ARCO Madrid, Art Basel Miami Beach, multiple Biennials and many other worldwide art fairs.

Her second US solo show, "Exodus", showcasing her latest paintings, videos and etchings, opens this coming Saturday, Oct. 23rd at Norfolk's Mayer Fine Art Gallery.

Modus Union Salon party: Pencil this one in

Mary Schmidt Amons, cast member of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of DC" and founder of Labels for Love, created “Modus Union” this one of a kind unique event to collaborate our active philanthropic, political, and artistic communities within the Nation's Capital.

Modus Union was formed from two words that represent unification with positive intent. The Washington, DC area is the leading world capital and we are seeing the combination of artistic talent and a youthful energy not seen since the Kennedy era. The time has come to collaborate with these disparate groups of influence to showcase opportunities in an effort to make a positive social and philanthropic impact by maximizing our impact on the Nation's Capital and its global influence. Labels For Love beneficiary partner this year is Fran Drescher and her Cancer Schmancer Foundation.

Cancer Schmancer is dedicated to saving women's lives through early detection and prevention of cancer. As you may know, Fran Drescher is a 10-year uterine cancer survivor and a leading advocate for the early detection of women's cancer. Fran and her Foundation are continuing to make a major global impact, through sharing her personal story as well as educating women on the causes of cancers and the importance and methods of early detection

Event Location:
The Yards Park
10 Water St SE Washington, DC
(Intersection of 3rd St SE and Water St SE)
Three blocks from the Navy Yard Metro (New Jersey Ave Exit)

Thursday, November 4th, from 5:30pm – 9:30pm
Lumber Shed Pavilion - Fully Covered outdoor 13,000 sqft Space which will be heated for the event. 23 Artist Juried Art Show on exhibit and the Exhibit Jurors were Shane Pomajambo: Art Whino, Maggie O'Neill: O'Neill Studios/ Maggie O'Neill Fine Art, Margaret Heiner : Aesthetica Art Consulting, Lauren Gentile: Irvine Contemporary, Philippa Hughes: Pink Line Project, Marsha Ralls: Ralls Collection and yours truly.

There is also a curated art exhibit by Art Whino and they will showcase a special 6000 sqft art exhibit and live painting by Brandon Hill, Ariit Das, Cita, Michael Owen, James Walker, Josh Taylor, Maggie O'Neill and Sylvia Ortiz. Vicki DaSilva will also be doing special Light Graffiti portraits throughout the night.

Complimentary Parisian centered food by Bonaparte / Peacock Cafe/ Mortons. Open Bar all evening by Vitamin Water/ Dirty Martini

Performers: Modern Thieves / Sam James / Trapeze School New York (TSNY)
Eclectic Mix of Dazzling Performers such as Unicyclist, Jugglers, Mimes, Stilt-walking, Sword swallowing and much more!

Wearable Art: Nycholis Maziejka / Charm / Lentz

$50 Non Profit Donation Entry Fee. To purchase tickets go to www.labelsforlove.org/events.html .

The juried artists are:

Rodger Shultz

Gwenn Zaberer

Collette Burmester

Jamea Richmond-Edwards

Fierce Sonia

John Osgood

Terry Plater

Vicki Thomas

Shawn Bishop-Leo

Yanique Moore

Elese Clake

David Barr

Tomi Balogun

Lydia Cutler

Sandra Leonard

Sharon Buhen

Mike O’Brien

Celeste Chen

Vennessa Ortiz

Maria Gracia Canedo

Eugene Pool

Maria Lujan

Martin Figueroa-Ramirez

Farrah Ahmed

Rosalba Alarcon de Lujan

Aaron Wilder

Aasiya Townsell

Ira Natalushko

Maria Miller

Jeff Williams

Mary Rieser Heintjes

Stacey Hill

Marielle Mariano

Anna Kathryn Carlson

Carrie Nobus

See ya there!

The Friday opening to go to next week is...

My good bud and one of the DMV's most talented and courageous painters, Scott Brooks opens at Longview Gallery this Friday.

When: Friday, October 29th, 6:30 - 8:30pm. Food and beverages provided by Design Cuisine; Featuring live music by J.E.L.

Wanna go to an opening this week?

Marymount University's Fine Art and Graphic Design Faculty Show has an opening Friday, October 22, 5-7:30 pm. The dates for the show are: October 22-December 12, 2010.

Auction alert: Campello original

This Ebay auction offers a drawing that I did while in Art School. It is circa 1980. It is being offered by some antique store in Washington state.

It's pen and ink of an unicorn. The piece, as I recall, was one of many, many different unicorn and fantasy drawings that I did during that period for a fantasy periodical in Seattle (name escapes me now, but that stuff was hot in Seattle in the 1980s). I would get a small chunk of money for each drawing they used, and then I'd get the original back and sell it at the Pike's Place Market in Seattle.

Between 1977-1981 I sold artwork at Pike's Place Market... everything including all of my art school assignments once they were graded and all of the pen and ink illustrations that I did for this periodical (and others). I'm guessing that I probably sold anywhere from two to three thousand drawings, paintings, watercolors, etchings and woodcuts at Pike's Place Market in those four years - don't be too impressed, the price point ranged from $5 to $100 or so.

The unicorn pen and ink original, framed is starting at only $20 bucks! Hurry, there's only a day left in the auction!

Bid for it here.

Scope Art Fair "freefall" continues?

A while back I noted the various artblogsphere posts describing the various issues surrounding the once mighty Scope Art Fair and describing what's happening to Scope as a "freefall."

Scope had to cancel its Hamptons fair this summer, doing so at the very last minute possible and getting a lot of irate grumbling from the scheduled exhibitors.

And there's something odd going on now with the exhibitor selection process for Scope's Miami version.

Initially, the deadline for announcing the final set of exhibitors for Miami was supposed to be in early October. When that didn't happen I called Scope to find out why and I was told that the date was "October 14 all along."

This is not what I had been told (and what I had in my notes) earlier on, but I said OK and waited.

When October 14 came and went, and no exhibitors had been notified, I called them again and after being put on hold for a bit, I was told that the new date was November 1st.

When fairs keep extending deadlines for applications and/or notifications of exhibitors there are usually a few things that drive this train wreck:

1. Not enough applicants (and thus not enough application fees and deposits gathering interest in bank accounts)

2. Not enough "good" applicants, at least from the self described "cutting-edge contemporary art from around the world" art fair. Judging from the Miami Scopes of the last two years, this fair has been slow in deciphering that because of the drastic economic slowdown, both galleries and collectors are becoming a little more grounded in the plebeian realities of selling artwork than in trying to get attention through the often salesless avenues of cutting-edge art tricks.

3. Not enough cash at hand to actually make the fair happen

I don't know if any of the above applies to Scope and its reason for once again delaying notifying applicants of their acceptance status, and I think that Scope Miami will take place one way or the other (after all, they have a shiny new 80,000 square foot pavilion next to Art Asia and Red Dot and across the street from Art Miami; all of them centrally located in the center of the Wynwood Arts District).

But I do know that this continuing delay in notifying applicants of their acceptance or rejection status is not only highly unprofessional, but it is also creating havoc with galleries' art fair schedules as alarmed artists keep putting pressure to know if their particular dealer is in Scope or not.

Why? Because in the complex chess game that is Art Basel week in Miami, any artist worth his or her artsy business cards must be in an art fair somewhere from the 25 or so art fairs that surround Art Basel Miami Beach. In the 21st century visual arts games, you gotta be in Miami somewhere or you're still so 20th century.

But fairs like Scope demand that galleries, if showing in Scope, can't show in any other fairs.

And art dealers/gallerists, being the over-protecting cabal that we are, usually demand that only one dealer show the artist in Miami (I've always thought the opposite - that is, that the more dealers that show the same artist in various fairs, the better for both the artist and the various dealers - but in that line of thought I am alone in the art dealer universe). And thus one can have the case where an artist has said to his "other" dealers: "Look, my New York gallery has applied to Scope, and if they get in, only they can show my work in Miami during Art Basel week."

In the past, when Scope actually stuck to its timetables, if a dealer got rejected from Scope, they could always (and usually) did, apply to another art fair, and another, until accepted in one of them. But with about six weeks left before Art Basel Week, and Scope still delaying the process, by the time November 1st comes along, there are only four weeks left to find hotels, ship artwork (imagine this nightmare if you're an overseas gallery trying to ship artwork from your location in Europe or Asia to Miami in four weeks), etc. It's a train wreck in the making for the selected exhibitors and a train wreck already in process for those who will be rejected, and scrambling - with four weeks to go - to find another art fair with some booth space still available.

All of this maelstrom because a once mighty art fair appears to be scratching its ass trying to figure out what to do next, not realizing that they've already thrown a huge wrench in the gear works of a couple of hundred galleries and a couple of thousand artists.

Hurry! Opportunity for Photographers

Deadline: Tonight at 11PM, October 18, 2010

This competition has an interesting twist to it. It features figurative and Fine Art Nude photography with a twist of fetish to celebrate Halloween. It is titled the "Halloween Fine Art Nude/Figurative Photography Show" and it is being held at the The Carriage House Studio and Gallery in DC. All entries are submitted online.

Submission Guidelines: Content may be any image in the realm of fine art nude photography. Winners will be selected and exhibited in the following categories:
1) best figurative image
2) best costume/fetish image
and two special exhibits
3) best figurative/fine art nude image shot on film and
4) best image of Nika (www.modelmayhem.com/853632), who is returning to to Washington DC from Germany and will attend the show as their Feature Model.

The images for the exhibit will be selected by three judges with background in fine art photography, who will be announced shortly. The top selection in each category will receive a complementary shoot at the Carriage House studio during the 60 days following the exhibit. Participants whose work is not selected will also have their work displayed on a wide-screen display.

All images must be received by 11 pm on Mon, October 18th. You may send up to 5 jpegs (1200 px x 1200 px max) for consideration.

All the details are here. The show will be at The Carriage House Studio and Gallery, a new arts cooperative in Washington, DC, located in the historic Logan Arts Circle District. The studio is located in a historic landmark 1860's carriage house.

Later this month: Sandra Ramos solo show in Norfolk

Havana-based Cuban artist Sandra Ramos is in many people's opinions, the leading contemporary Cuban artist in the world, and later this month, her solo exhibition titled Exodus, running from October 23 - December 27, opens in Norfolk's leading independently owned commercial fine arts gallery: Mayer Fine Art.

MFA, which also represents my work, is by far the top fine arts venue in the Tidewater area, and its hardworking owner, the talented Shiela Giolitti, daughter of the legendary comic book artist Alberto Giolitti has been preparing for this, Ramos' second ever solo show in the USA, for a long time.

Sandra Ramos. Flying to Miami. Charcoal and Acrylic on Digital Canvas Print. 130 x 90 cm. Circa 2010
The opening is Saturday, October 23rd from 6-9PM.

Additionally, Ramos will be leading a printmaking workshop at the Chrysler Museum on Oct 23 and 24th. You can register for that workshop here.

Then, on October 26th at 7PM, Sandra Ramos will present a lecture on contemporary Cuban art at the Baron and Ellin Art Galleries of Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Free and open to the public.

I'm driving down for this opening; see ya there!

Rousseau on Goodwin and Shapiro at Iona Center

By Dr. Claudia Rousseau

Something like a retrospective of the photographs of Lee Goodwin is now on view at the Iona Center in NW Washington. Goodwin, who was named “Artist in Residence” there for this year, is widely known for his photos of the area, especially the Potomac and the C&O Canal area.

The photos in this exhibit include both the gelatin silver prints that he was creating until a couple of years ago, and his new archival digital prints, many in color.

The subject matter remains the same: familiar places made to look very unfamiliar, exotic, desirable. One delicately colored photo of a figure reading a newspaper on an early foggy morning on the Mall looks like an impressionist painting. Another, taken after the first snowfall this past winter, is a study in perfection. Taken just at dawn, the rising sun is framed in the center of trees covered in white. All the photos are both sensitively and expertly composed, using features in the landscape to create unusual effects.

Goodwin’s photos are accompanied by sculptural work by 98-year-old special guest artist Marilee Shapiro. Shapiro has been working in bronze for decades, and many of her more recent works are figurative, naturalistic, expressive, and rather small.

They are all displayed in vitrines. Yet, to her great credit, recently, when working in bronze became too much of a burden, this Washington DC artist reached out, took a Photoshop class, and hired a private tutor to teach herself everything about the program and its potential to transform imagery.

Creating large sheets of paper printed with exotic patterns created in Photoshop, Shapiro wraps these around shipping tubes. The results are reminiscent of those “rain maker” cylinders that sound as they are turned. These don’t make that lovely sound, but are fine, inventive works just as they are.

Iona Center
4125 Albemarle St. NW
Washington DC 20016

Patricia Dubroof, Gallery Director. Call for information: 202-895-9407

Vote now!

The Washington Post asked readers to submit their work to their "Real Art D.C." contest on Washingtonpost.com:

Since April, Galleries columnist Jessica Dawson has been scouring the submissions, and from the 4,000 images submitted, she chose 10 finalists. The finalists work with neckties, petri dishes and Bertoia chairs; they use Holga cameras, watercolor, needlepoint, video and pixels. Their subjects range from the inside of a Korean liquor store to the inside of the artist's studio. Now it's your turn. Go to http://washingtonpost.com/realartdc to vote for your favorite.

Vote now and vote here.