The Looking Glass: Artist Immigrants of Washington

Let me plug an upcoming group show at American University’s Katzen Art Museum, since I am honored to be part of it. 



By the way, that gorgeous museum was built thanks to a major gift from Cyrus and Myrtle Katzen, he a brilliant collector of art who could teach lessons on how to collect; she a very talented artist with a refined eye for great artwork. The Katzen’s head honcho, Jack Rasmussen, continues to shame all other DMV museum directors and curators when it comes to them tending their own artistic back garden.


At the risk of repeating myself: most DMV museum curators would rather take a cab to Dulles Airport to fly to Berlin in order to visit an emerging artist’s studio than to take a cab to the Gateway Artists’ Studios, or to any area artists’ studios, to look at local artists.


Are you hearing me Stéphane Aquin? Taína Caragol? E. Carmen Ramos? Eleanor Jones Harvey?, etc. Learn to tend your own artistic back garden.




The show is titled The Looking Glass:  Artist Immigrants of Washington and it runs June 18–August 14, 2016. It is part of the amazing Alper Initiative for Washington Artists (if you don’t know what that it, and you are a DMV artist, you should! – contact the Katzen).



The opening is June 18 from 6-8PM. There will be plenty of adult beverages and munchies, and the artists will be there to talk about their work.




The exhibition celebrates ten artists who left Latin America for many different reasons over the last sixty years – primarily for safety, freedom, and opportunity – and made their homes, and their artistic careers and contributions, in the Washington region.




Ric Garcia, Los Santos, 2012.
Acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30.
Photo by Pete Duvall, Anything Photographic.

They include Joan Belmar and Juan Downey from Chile, Carolina Mayorga from Colombia, Ric Garcia, Jose Ygnacio Bermudez, and yours truly from Cuba, Muriel Hasbun from El Salvador, Frida Larios from El Salvador/Honduras, Irene Clouthier from Mexico, and Naul Ojeda from Uruguay. They brought with them artistic traditions that took root and bore fruit here in the United States.


See ya there!

Spokane Arts Commission call for submissions for the Chase Gallery

Deadline:  September, 16 2016  - 5 PM PST     
    
The Chase Gallery submissions are open for the 2017 season and they are seeking artists of color for the Winter and Fall Exhibition schedules.



Winter: Spokane Arts Commission is seeking work from Artists of Color for the Winter exhibition schedule (January through March.) The reception will take place on the February Visual Arts Tour.


Identities of race and culture are fluid, ancient, or new. Whether your work directly addresses your cultural experience or not we are interested in sharing it with a wide audience.


The artwork will be selected by a diverse panel of jurors.


Apply here.

New Pop Up Art Space

The DMV has a new rental pop up art space available... details below from the news release:

Bridging the gap between artists and collectors  

As an artist, I have found myself struggling to find the right place to showcase my artwork.  I know firsthand how truly frustrating it can be to not have any gallery representation and only have the opportunity to show in restaurants, coffee shops, and other venues that are not designed for the ambiance that pieces of art need to be fully appreciated. 

For that reason, I created White Cloud Pop-Up Art Space. In this space, walls, ceiling and floors are united in harmony by the purest white color. Combined with a generous amount of natural light, there is a clean, simple background to truly let your work stand out.

White Cloud is conveniently located in the heart of the U Street corridor, only 2 blocks from the U Street metro and within walking distance to some of DC’s most popular restaurants and coffee shops. All day and night, potential clients are just footsteps from the gallery.

In addition, White Cloud provides this amenities: 

•        Over 400 sq ft of art space
•        Heavy railing hanging picture system to easily hang and remove art
•        Track lighting to spotlight your pieces
•         Modern desk that can also be used as a service area
•         Nicely renovated bathroom
•         Fully functional HVAC unit
•         Large refrigerator and microwave 

Below is information on our Pricing and Frequently Asked Questions about the gallery. We look forward to working with you! 

Pricing:
Weekdays: (Monday through Thursday) $300 for two hour public show.  

This price also includes two hours for set-up and one hour after closing to clean and    remove pieces. Set-up can begin at 10 AM on the day of the show. All exhibitions must  end by 11 PM. 

Weekends: (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) $500 for two hour public show. This price   also includes two hours for set-up and one hour after closing to clean and remove  pieces.   Set-up can begin at 10 AM on any day of the show. All exhibitions must end by
11:00 PM 

Two-day weekend show: (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) $800.  Set-up can begin at 10 AM  on the first and second days of the show. Set-up can begin at 10 AM on any day of the   show. All exhibitions must end by 11 PM.  

Full weekend show: (Friday through Sunday) $1000.  Set-up can begin at 10 AM on    any day of the show. All exhibitions must end by 11 PM. 

FAQS 

WHERE IS THE GALLERY LOCATED?
Our address is at  1843 14th street NW 2nd floor, Washington DC, at the corner of 14th
and T St NW. 

WHAT ARE THE GALLERY HOURS?
White Cloud opens at 11 AM. Until 7pm, but better to make an appointment first. 

CAN I TOUR THE STUDIO BEFORE RENTING IT?
Of course!  White Cloud Gallery can occasionally accommodate walk-in tours, but it’s  always best to schedule an appointment. Give Miguel a call . 

WHAT IF I NEED MORE TIME TO SET UP OR REMOVE MY ART?
No problem. I’m happy to work with you. This is negotiable. 

IS THERE A SERVICE ELEVATOR?
White Cloud Gallery is on the second floor of the building and we do not have a service  elevator - please come prepared to carry any equipment/props up a flight of stairs.

WHERE CAN I PARK?
A new public parking lot just opened across the street from White Cloud Gallery at 14th
St NW and Swann St. NW). There is street parking on 14th Street and the surrounding  neighborhood blocks.  

INSURANCE
Artists are responsible for insurance that covers damage to their artwork.  We do  require a $300 deposit in cash for all exhibitions to cover any incidentals and clean/up.
This deposit will be returned at the end of the exhibition 

DO YOU CHARGE A COMMISSION?  Nope!            

HOW DO I RESERVE THE GALLERY?
Gallery reservations are on a first come first serve basis. A non-refundable deposit of  50% of the total cost is required to hold the space. The remaining 50% of the balance is  due seven days before the exhibition.

1843 14th street NW, Washington D.C. 20009
(202) 288 1391 whitecloudgallery@gmail.com
Artist Director Miguel Perez Lem 

Opportunity for artists

Deadline: July 11, 2016


National and international artists are invited to submit qualifications for the Oregon Art in Public Places Roster. The Oregon Arts Commission and the Regional Arts & Culture Council manage the percent for art programs for the State of Oregon, Multnomah County, and City of Portland. The Roster is a resource for public art selection panels to identify artists most suitable for their community and specific project needs.


Enter here.

Airborne

Airborne today and heading to the Miami tonight for a luncheon in honor of my amazing mother.

The Usefulness of Art in the Community

 

The WPA is pleased to invite you to a useful talk by Kemi Ilesanmi, Executive Director of The Laundromat Project.

Thursday, June 16, 2016, 6:30pm

The Laundromat Project has been producing art in and with communities for more than a decade. Their mission is to unleash the creative potential already in neighborhoods. Kemi Ilesanmi will discuss the LP's work from a use-value perspective and within the context of the larger, ongoing evolution of community arts organizations nation-wide.