Brazilian artist Lara Oliveira (currently an MFA candidate at GMU) debuts with her first solo exhibition in the Washington, DC area. Originally from Sao Paulo, this contemporary artist explores and embodies trans-nationalism and contrasts not only through her key artistic themes, but through her lifestyle and artistic development as well.

The exhibition is titled Planalto: Abstract Oil Paintings by Lara Oliveira and it is at:
Latin American Cultural Space Inc.
Consulate of El Salvador
1724 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 667-6674

The exhibition runs from March 4 – 28, 2004 with an Opening on March 5, 2004, from 6 - 8pm.

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Glen Friedel opens at Gallery Neptune on March 12, from 6-9 PM with a show titled "Experiments in Radiance." Artist Reception Friday, March 12, 6-9 PM. Artist Talk, March 13, 5 PM.

John Perrault makes an eloquent case why figurative sculpture can often carry the content that truly abstract sculpture cannot.

After you read that posting by Perrault, then please also read an earlier one on an exhibition of figurative sculptures at the Met.

I find the huge variance around one theme fasciating, and a window into the humanity of an art critic - liking "X" here and disliking "X" there because of "fill-in-the-blank."

Just finished the radio show with Voice of America. I believe it will be broadcast on Sunday. In addition to Cuban art, I managed to also discuss the general Washington art scene, how deep and diverse it is, how many galleries there are, how our museums are among the best in the world, and more importantly in this crusade, how it is generally ignored and even dismissed by our own mainstream media.

Dr. Claudia Rousseau, who was one of Latin America's most respected art critics, and who now lives in Montgomery County and writes for the Gazette has written an excellent review of our current Figurative Painting Show now on exhibition at Fraser Gallery Bethesda.

I'll be interviewed by the Voice of America radio network later on today as part of their cultural broadcasts to the world. The interview will be about our current exhibition by Cuba's three leading female photographers.

These photographers's works are just sensational in my biased opinion, and this is certainly our key photography exhibition of the year for Georgetown. It's the debut in DC by two of them (Cirenaica Moreira and Marta Maria Perez Bravo as well as the second showing of Elsa Mora's photographs.

The exhibition hangs until March 17, 2004 at Fraser Gallery Georgetown. See my earlier posting here. The exhibition will also be reviewed by Lou Jacobson in tomorrow's Washington City Paper.

This is one of four Cuban art exhibitions that we have planned between the two galleries for 2004. Later on this year we'll have Sandra Ramos, then Aimee Garcia Marrero and then a second iteration of our highly acclaimed From Here and From There group exhibition of Cuban artists and artists of Cuban lineage from the Cuban Diaspora around the world.

President Bush’s proposed FY2005 budget recommends an increase of $55 million for the nation's cultural agencies. Proposed increases include $18 million for the National Endowment for the Arts for the new “American Masterpieces” initiative, $27 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities, and $10 million for the Office of Museum Services.

Nicole Bouknight is interested in learning about photography and is seeking an apprenticeship with a photographer in the Washington, DC area. She's interested in learning the basics in photography, including: lighting, composition and darkroom procedures, also interested in learning to use digital cameras. She is also interested in assisting a photographer with on-location and studio assignments for exchange in education. Contact Nicole Bouknight via email at oceansblu143@yahoo.com