Welcome to DC to Peter Nesbett: WPA's new CO

As I noted a few days ago, the WPA has a new Commanding Officer - here's their official news release:

Washington Project for the Arts is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Nesbett as our new Executive Director and the opening of Washington Produced Artists on November 14, 2015. This announcement comes on the eve of our 40-year anniversary and our upcoming move to The JBG Companies' Atlantic Plumbing development at 8th and V street NW, in the U Street Corridor and cultural district.

Peter's proven leadership and more than 20 years of experience with contemporary arts will further solidify WPA's place in the local, national, and international artistic community.

 

Upon taking office on November 2, Peter will enjoy a full immersion into the DC arts community by meeting with more than 100 artists in his first 100 days as Executive Director.

 

Prior to WPA, Peter was the Associate Director for Programs at The Pew Center for Arts & Culture, a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia. He oversaw the capacity-building and professional development programs, while serving as the visual arts specialist. Peter's interest in programming for artists and arts professionals was originally seeded in the 1990s when he led the Seattle Art Museum's Contemporary Art Council and worked in its education department.

 

"Peter is the complete package. He's well educated, has deep curatorial experience, and he really 'gets' the contemporary and alternative visual arts scenes," says WPA Board of Directors member, Elise Hoffmann. "His compelling vision and commitment to centering WPA within the local arts community is just what we need right now."

Here's a good start for the 100 artists to meet (we'll since this is the DMV, by now around 90, since I am sure that about a dozen or so have already moved!

Lecture on Cuban Artists

The kid yapping about Cuban art at the Latino Art League last night...

Come to this tonight!

A discussion of the realities of Cuban history, life, and culture as viewed through the artwork of Sandra Ramos, Marta Maria Perez Bravo, Cirenaica Moreira, Aimee Garcia Marrero and Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons.

Washington ArtWorks | October 9, 2015 | 6:30 pm - 9 pm

12276 Wilkins Ave, Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 654-1998

Assistant Professor of Photography Wanted

Towson University
Deadline: Ongoing

The College of Fine Arts and Communication invites applications for a tenure-track, 10-month Assistant Professor of Photography in the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education beginning August 2016.

Qualifications: MFA in Studio Art. Qualified applicants will demonstrate expertise in photography as defined broadly to include applied and conceptual issues and practices with experience in both analog and digital photographic processes. Additional experience with video, sound, installation, or other new media is welcome. Applicants should be conversant in the ways that technology is changing the nature of photography and shaping photographic practice. Possess a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and the aptitude to contribute to a collaborative working environment. Willingness to contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives, to incorporate new technologies into the curriculum and ability to work across disciplines is also a necessity. Teaching beyond the graduate teaching assistant level is preferred, while an active record of professional development is essential.

Responsibilities: Teach 4, four credit classes (6-7 course units) per academic year at undergraduate and graduate levels as assigned for the first year. Beginning the second year the workload reverts back to the -standard instructional workload of 5, four credit courses (7-8 course units). Advise majors and work collaboratively with other photo faculty in regard to budget, procurement and scheduling. Help manage the photography studio, darkroom and print center as well as help to maintain and oversee equipment, supplies and software.

Application process and full position listing can be found at: http://www.towson.edu/provost/provost/facultypositions/

Peter Nesbett at the WPA

Kim Ward's and Lisa Gold's contributions to the DMV's art scene will never be recorded in a book or TV documentary, but they are huge, and thanks to Al Gore's Internet, they have been recorded over the last decade here is this ass-kicking blog.

Thank you ladies, for steering the WPA through very rough seas. Most DMV area artists have no idea how much they owe you (Personally I owe Kim a fuckload of gratitude, as I met my wife in a show that I curated for the then "WPA/Corcoran")... The Kimster can never do wrong by me!

The WPA has a new leader, who not only has some big shoes to fill (cough, cough... as both Kim and Lisa have tiny feet) but also comes to the WPA as a re-energized artist organization.

Peter Nesbett (in this really good article by my arch nemesis Kristooon Kapppps) appears to be the right point guard for the WPA, and the Lenster welcomes him aboard.... Gotta admit though that I'm not a big fan of Darrow's pic of him (not your fault Darrow... it's the cross-arm staring pose that kills it)... but D-dude, you nailed it with my pic!

Nesbett has only just this month moved to D.C. from Philly, so his first order of business here is meeting the city’s artists—literally. Nesbett is looking to get an audience with 100 artists over his first 100 days on the job. He has a ton of programming ideas, he says, but he doesn’t want to lead with any of them—not until he gauges what at least 100 artists want the WPA to be doing.

Ok Pete... call me... I got a 11 ideas for you as to what the WPA should be doing to kick ass and take names in the nation's capital and other places... empirically-based ideas, not anecdotal or touchy-feely ideas... these are really gooooood ideas Pete! You've got my cell and email...

But above all: Welcome to the DMV! 

Lo que no mata... engorda!

The Song of the Mischievous Dog by Dylan Thomas

The Song of the Mischievous Dog by Dylan Thomas... as interpreted by a six-year-old:

Anderson Lennox Campello: I think of someone eating a hot dog, the guy who wrote this poem eating a hot dog.

 THERE are many who say that a dog has its day,
And a cat has a number of lives;
There are others who think that a lobster is pink,
And that bees never work in their hives.
There are fewer, of course, who insist that a horse
Has a horn and two humps on its head,
And a fellow who jests that a mare can build nests
Is as rare as a donkey that’s red.
Yet in spite of all this, I have moments of bliss,
For I cherish a passion for bones,
And though doubtful of biscuit, I’m willing to risk it,
And I love to chase rabbits and stones.
But my greatest delight is to take a good bite
At a calf that is plump and delicious;
And if I indulge in a bite at a bulge,
Let’s hope you won’t think me too vicious.