Robert Lalasz, who is the Senior Arts Writer at the Washington City Paper debuts a new column in the current issue of the WCP. It's called "Show and Tell" and according to the column's banner, it will be a monthly column on "Money, Politics, Issues, Controversy. Just another week in the D.C. arts scene."

This is a great addition to the WCP's arts coverage and we'll keep an eye on it to discuss it, as unfortunately the WCP doesn't archive stories online, therefore I can't link to it, so go get a copy and read it.

Lead story in this week's column: Why the convention center public art isn't public. And Lalasz does a great job in bringing forth the incredible fact that Washington's largest "public" art collection is essentially not open to the public.

Also in this week's Washington City Paper, Louis Jacobson writes about Lydia Ann Douglas' exhibition of Cuban photographs at Teaism. Jacobson's shrewd insight into the DC art scene is revealed when he writes that some of the photos echo the work of Washington area photographer Nestor Hernandez, who has been photographing Cuba (while re-discovering his Cuban father's family) since the 1970's.

Nestor Hernandez's massive documentation of his Cuban family and Cuba not only predates the flood of photographers who have invaded Cuba drawn by its exotic forbidden lure, but certainly deserves to be reviewed and considered for a good museum showing, especially now that Cuban art is so hot around the world and interest in all things Cuban has risen due to the clamp-down on travel to the island prison.

Let me be the first one to suggest that Philip Brookman or Paul Roth at the Corcoran should consider scheduling Nestor for a show.

Eric Fischl will be in DC next March at the Hirshhorn and will discuss his work and the current direction of figurative art. Mark your calendars now: Thursday, March 11, at 7 p.m at the Hirshhorn Museum's Ring Auditorium.

Here is a pen and ink sketch that I did in 1985 at a disco in NYC - my best friend Frank (from High School) was a NYC cop and he moonlighted doing security at this disco that was always full of artsy people, actors, actresses and wanna-be's... super hard to get into, but I got in with Frank.

These two really pushed figurative art didn't they!

Great opportunity for visual artists:

The Glenview Mansion Art Gallery in Rockville, MD has a call for artists to select their 2005 Exhibition season. The deadline is January 9, 2004. Open to all artists living and working in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia.

There is no entry fee. A juried panel will select artists and create nine exhibits to be placed into the 2005 calendar. If more than 125 entries are received, the City reserves the right to implement a two-tiered panel review to ensure an appropriate review of all applications. Jan 30 – All artists notified of selection. The City of Rockville will receive a 20% commission on all sales. For more info call 240-314-8682.

For Artists:

The Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center is designed to meet the critical need for health insurance information in the arts community. Well worth a visit.

Art on Location is a unique new arts program that showcases contemporary fine art from talented local artists in upscale and popular consumer venues throughout the Greater Washington D.C. metropolitan region. Info at 202/986.0549 or events@artonlocation.com.

And for photographers...

Deadline Jan. 12, 2004. "Regional Juried Photography Exhibition". Open to all residents of MD, DC, DE, PA, VA, & WV. All photographic work accepted, including digital and alternative processes. $25 for 4 slides, $5 for each additional slide.

Washington Gallery of Photography. Show February 13 - March 7, 2004. Acceptance notification by January 15, 2004. All photographs judged from slides. Cash prizes and exhibition opportunities for first, second and third place winners. For entry form, see www.wsp-photo.com, or send SASE to Washington Gallery of Photography, 4850 Rugby Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel: 301/654.1998. E-mail: wspinfo@aol.com


See all of youse tomorrow in Georgetown for the Third Friday Canal Square Gallery Openings.

The Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District is accepting applications for the 2004 Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, an outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft festival that will take place in the Woodmont Triangle area of Bethesda, Maryland. The festival will take place, rain or shine, on Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16, 2004.

150 booth spaces are available, $275 for a 10' x 10' booth, $25 application fee. All original fine art and fine crafts are eligible, no mass produced or commercially manufactured products are allowed. $2,500 in prize money.

Deadline for applications is March 1, 2004. To download an application form, visit www.bethesda.org or send a SASE to Bethesda Urban Partnership, Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, 7700 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814. For more information contact festival Director, Catriona Fraser, at (301) 718-9651.

Tomorrow is the monthly Third Thursday extended hours at the 7th Street area downtown galleries.

And the next day, on Friday, will be opening night for the four Canal Square Galleries in Georgetown. It's also the opening of my show, which once again this year marries my interest in history with art. I am doing drawings focused on the unique imagery of the Pictish people of pre-Celtic Scotland. I have been writing a book on the history and art of this Dark Age nation and hope to finally get it finished in a year or so. See some of the drawings here and learn more about the Picts here.

The Ellipse Arts Center in Arlington is looking for a gallery manager. Salary: $40,254.24 - $65,062.40. This is an administrative position in the Arlington County, Virginia Cultural Affairs Division managing this visual arts exhibition center. This position is responsible for developing yearly exhibition and educational outreach programs for Arlington County.

Minimum Requirements: Bachelors degree in Fine Arts, Art History or Arts Admin from an accredited institution, plus 2 yrs of experience in arts admin which include visual arts exhibition programming & implementation. See complete ad at here, or call (703) 228-3500 for HR Dept. Deadline is December 31, 2003.