Picturing the Banjo

NPR has a rare and pretty good local visual arts review and story on the much maligned "Picturing the Banjo" exhibition at the Corcoran.

In fact, it' such an interesting review that I am going to go see the exhibition and make up my own mind about it.

Job in the Arts

Deadline: March 24, 2006

The College of New Jersey has a full time ten-month renewable position available for a Curator/Director in support of The College Art Gallery at The College of New Jersey, beginning Fall semester 2006.

The Curator/Director works closely with the Art Department faculty, the Dean of the School of Art, Media and Music, student Art Majors, and the community to create exhibitions, collect works of art for the campus collection, and contribute to the larger presence of art on the TCNJ campus. This individual must be an experienced professional and scholar who is able to perform the following duties: act as gallery registrar; plan and implement 6 exhibitions per year with faculty input; install exhibitions (student workers available); develop patron relationships; provide programmatic leadership; assist in the development of financial resources through grants and gifts support; assist in growing and developing the college collection; supervise student assistants; teach (as needed) in areas related to museum studies and contemporary art.

TCNJ is in the midst of designing a new Art building that will provide for a new gallery, additional space for exhibitions, collections, and interactive learning areas. By the post mark deadline of March 24, please submit a letter of application, current resume, documentation of recent exhibitions, and a statement of curatorial philosophy to:

Gallery Director Search Committee
Department of Art
The College of New Jersey
P.O. Box 7718
Ewing, NJ 08628-0718

New gallery opens this weekend

I've mentioned it before, but I wanted to make sure that anyone that can show up, will do so, and welcome to our area our newest fine arts independent gallery: Project 4.

The opening reception is this coming Saturday, Feb. 25 from 6-8:30 PM. Details here.

See ya there!

Flying back home today.

Monticello, Arkansas

First of all, althought it was named after the Jeffersonian Monticello, in the Arkansas version, it is pronounced with a soft "c"... as a Spaniard or Frenchman would pronounce it: Montisello.

Population 9,146 and home to the the University of Arkansas at Monticello, which has quite a nice looking campus - more "University-looking" in fact, than that ugly eyesore that is the University of Maryland's main campus. And it goes beyond that; it is clear that it is quite a good University, and it's clear that the state, or someone, is pouring a lot of money into it.

It's different being down here in the real rural part of the nation. On the way from the parking lot to the local WalMart, every single person that I passed say hello to me.

Even inside WalMart people were saying hello all over the place. It was kind of nice.

I think that this may have been the first time that I've been inside a WalMart, and let me tell you: it's huge! And I suspicion suspect that a lot of Monticellans work here, and they're all so friendly!

And everything is soooo cheap! A Nats ballcap was five bucks - not the $12.95 to $19.95 range that I see around the DC area.

And all the restaurants are buffet style! I think I've gained five pounds in the last two days just eating catfish alone.

A very nice little place: Monticello, Arkansas.

Anyway, heading back home later this morning.

Padget Moving on

Jonathan Padget, who authors the twice-a-month "Arts Beat" column in the WaPo is moving on.

Starting Tuesday, he will be working as a the new Style copy editor. His arts editorial aide duties will be handled by Kate Wichmann through late March, with coverage after that TBD.

Everytime the WaPo says TBD for one of their arts column I get nervous; the last TBD that we're still waiting for the "D" was for the addition of a new freelancer to replace Glenn Dixon and bring the "Galleries" column back to once a week.

Obviously the WaPo has decided that they will keep "Galleries" to just twice a month and are too chicken to announce that fact.

If you don't get it, you don't get it.

Icy

I'm at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and this morning the car was covered under half an inch of ice, which I am told it's quite unusual for this area!

More later.