Bisese at Neptune

Gallery Neptune will showcase “A Perfect Garage,” new paintings by Ed Bisese from May 4 through May 27 with an artist’s reception May 12, 2006 6-9 PM.

According to the gallery: "In this new body of work, we are introduced to an assortment of men, most who moving and some that are standing in personal landscapes that serve to enhance their exaggerated traits. Through form, color, facial expression, body language and props, Ed invites us to study the dilemma of each of these characters, caught in a synthesis of psychological and societal impositions."

Art from the Gulf

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, in Silver Spring, MD, is presenting “Art from the Gulf: Reflections on Katrina,” an exhibit of over 25 artists from the Gulf Coast region whose work explores the impact of Hurricane Katrina and considers its relation to the threat of global warming.

Curated by Steve Prince, a native of New Orleans, “Art from the Gulf” is on view from May 9th until June 16, 2006. The opening reception is on Tuesday, May 9th, from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

Spaulding at G Fine Art

Trawick Prize finalist Jeff Spaulding will have his second one-person show at G Fine Art, and the show is entitled Mine and will open on Saturday May 6 and continue through June 17, 2006. There will be an opening reception for the artist Saturday May 6 from 6:30-8:30pm.

On the road today...

I'm off for the day to Widener University. More when I get back later tonight.

Here's their art gallery.

“Paint” Alexandria

On Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, 2006 The Art League will hold its annual “Paint” Alexandria, a two-day, all-media, plein air event, followed by the “Paint” Alexandria exhibition in The Art League Gallery, from June 7 – July 3, 2006.

They encourage artists of all media to participate in the event and creatively interpret Old Town Alexandria. Art League instructors will be on hand at various locations throughout historic Old Town Alexandria to guide participants in the fine art of sketchbook, painting, and photography.

During the event, artists will set up at different locations within walking distance of the Art League Gallery on the waterfront to paint, photograph, sketch, and create. Sessions with Art League instructors will be from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon and 3:00 – 5:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

The registration fee is $40, and participation is not limited to Art League members. Participants are encouraged to come with their favorite artist materials and work alongside our instructors, set up on their own, or just come to enjoy the walking tour and demonstrations.

For more information, please contact Erica Fortwengler, Assistant Gallery Director at The Art League Gallery, 703-683-1780, ericaf@theartleague.org.

Kirkland Catching Up

Fellow artblogmeister JT Kirkland has so many diverse things going on that I'm catching up with all of them at once.

The One Word Project is JT's first book and it's now out and available for purchase. Details here.

bARTer is JT's new take-off on the barter idea for art. Details here.

The upcoming solo exhibition of JT's art, titled "Framed," opens May 11, 2006 at the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) in Reston, VA and runs through June 16, 2006. There will be a reception for the artist on Saturday, May 13, 2006 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. You can see a preview of the exhibition here.

American Style

Two interesting articles in the current issue of American Style magazine, both good reasons to go pick up an issue.

-- This article highlights the top 25 American cities for art (according to the magazine's national readers). New York, of course, is number one. Behind the Big Apple are Chicago, (No. 2), Washington, D.C. (No. 3), San Francisco, (No. 4), and Boston, (No. 5). I realize that this rather great ranking is (I suspect) mostly based on our plethora of great museums (from the readers' perspectives), but I hope that it also raises some tiny issues with the editors at the Washington Post and the Washington Times, and their abysmal coverage of DC area art galleries and artists. And, over a year after the new Style section editor at the WaPo stated that they'd be looking to add a second freelancer to the "Galleries" column, so that the column could return to its once-a-week schedule, we're still waiting for Ms. Heard to hire a freelancer.

-- And the second reason to read this issue is (are you ready for this?)... the magazine has a huge article focusing national attention upon our own Washington Glass School and the whole "context in glass" movement that the school is a part of nationally. The article by Lee Lawrence reveals that

"It's addictive to make the perfect vessel," Tate admits. "The trick is to overcome that." Janis calls this hard-to-resist attraction "the quest for the perfect bubble," and he, too, confesses he is not immune. But, like a growing number of artists, Tate and Janis subscribe to the motto their glass school hammers home to students: "Learn your craft, then move beyond it."

Read the whole article by Lee Lawrence here. The "Compelled by Content II" show runs through June 4, 2006. Visit the Washington Glass School here.