Tierney on Hokusai

The Examiner's art critic Robin Tierney checks in with a piece on Hokusai at the Sackler and also a bit on the Frederick Gallery Walk.

Read it here.

How Art Appreciates

British artist and former Tate Prizewinner Grayson Perry opines on what makes art appreciate in value (thanks AJ). He writes:

"I think by far the most important factor in making art works valuable is what experts say and write about them. Respected figures in the art world hold the power to increase the value of a given artist’s work by bestowing art-historical importance and "specialness" upon them. Academics, curators, critics, powerful gallerists and collectors can give out extremely valuable brownie points. A work purchased by a leading public institution boosts an artist’s stock, which is why dealers will offer considerable discounts to museums.

A write-up in one of the heavyweight art mags such as Art Forum or Art Monthly spreads the consensus. One reason that I was so surprised at winning the Turner was that I had never [been] featured in one of these publications. Maybe this is the art equivalent of climbing Everest without oxygen."

Having lived in Great Britain for many years, I know how Brits are obsessed with "class" in all manners and forms, and so it is no surprise to me that Perry's conclusion has to do with class. Read the entire article here.

WaPo on the Corcoran

The WaPo's David Montgomery compiles a write-up of the Corcoran's Thursday shake-up first reported in the blogsphere yesterday, including here.

The article states at the end that "staff writers Blake Gopnik and Kate Wichmann contributed to this report."

Other contributors didn't know they were contributing.

Affordable Artists Studios

From 190 sq. ft at $206 per month to 970 sq. ft. for $1053 per month, and the utilities are included. Shown Wednesdays 6:00 - 8:00 pm at 6925 Willow NW or call 202-882-0740 or visit here and then click on A.Salon.

Corcoran Director Begins To Plot New Course

The new Corcoran director Paul Greenhalgh announced a few important changes (mostly driven by economic re-structuring) at the Corcoran yesterday.

Departing are chief curator Jackie Serwer, senior curator of education Susan Badder, prints and drawings curator Erik Denker, European art curator Laura Coyle, and traveling exhibitions director Joan Oshinsky, among others.

Update: Both Stacey Schmidt, who is the Corcoran's Associate Curator of Contemporary Art and Margaret Bergen, who has done a great job as the Corcoran's PR guru, are also leaving soon for family reasons.

Irvine in New York

It is art fair time in the Big Apple and Irvine Contemporary has ventured out on their own this time around in NYC, with a program focused on DC/MD/VA trained or based artists. As the fair Heather puts it: "We want to show NY the world-class caliber of the DC and metro area talent here!"

And they have rented a spectacular 3,000 sq. ft Chelsea space for an exhibition, held in conjunction with the opening of the Whitney Biennial, The Armory Art Fair, Scope, Pulse and the LA Artfair-NY.

Irvine exhibition's dates: Friday March 10 - Sunday March 12th, 10:00am - 8:00pm daily. Located at 515 W. 29th Street, 2nd floor (between 10th & 11th Aves).

And (are you NYC bloggers ready for this?) there's a blogger preview Friday, March 10th, from 9-11:00am. VIP Cocktail Reception: Friday, March 10th, 8:00pm-midnight.

The exhibition features new paintings and works on paper by DC/Virginia/Maryland trained or based artists Trevor Amery, Gine Brocker, Ju-Yeon Kim, Peter Charles, Suzanna Fields, Susan Jamison, Christine Kesler, Robert Mellor, Beverly Ress,and Jason Zimmerman.

Also new work by other Irvine artists including Lisa Stefanelli, Kahn & Selesnick, Teo Gonzalez, Dalek, Robert Gutierrez, Frankin Evans, Jenny Laden, Bede Murphy, Amy Ross, Sean Foley and Lori Esposito will be also on view.

Irvine is also working with several prominent artists for the first time (artists that they will show in DC later this year) -- namely New-York based and MICA trained embrodiery artist Orly Cogan, and Brooklyn-based painter Edward del Rosario, (courtesy of Richard Heller Gallery).

They will also feature three surreal videos running simultaneously by CALARTS trained video artist Dane Picard and unique scuptures by MICA trained sculptor Josh Levine, entitled "Trophy Room."

Questions? Email Heather.

Wanna go to an opening tonight?

H Y S T O R I A, curated by my good friend J.W Mahoney and Lisa McCarty and featuring the work of Geoff Bell, Julee Holcombe, Betsy Packard, Jeffrey Smith and Champneys Taylor opens tonight at DCAC with an opening reception from 7-9PM.

There's also an artists' talk on March 12 commencing at 4:00pm.