Moving Update

Almost 80% unpacked, with unpacking seriously interrupted by the many required returns to the DC area. In the meantime, I've managed to sneak in some exploration of the area.

Went apple-picking at the Linvilla Orchards and picked half a bushel of apples and then they gave me another half for free. That's a lot of apples.

Went to Fellini's Cafe in Media, where not only do they serve some of the best Italian food that I've had in a while at really good prices, but also on Mondays the waitresses sing opera, and there's one who belts out an amazing "Habanera" from Bizet's "Carmen."

Went to the 4th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival in Rosetree Park, I think organized by the Media Arts Council and had a nice time and saw some good work by the area's locals.

Went to the Brandywine Museum to see Factory Work: Warhol, Wyeth and Basquiat and my review will be published later this month, and will also a review here.

Janis Goodman Opens in NYC

Congrats to well-known DC area artist Janis Goodman, whose paintings and drawings open in New York on Tuesday!

Art Scam Redux

So the Nigerian art scam has reached and touched me again. A couple of days ago I received the following email (all the e.e. cummings use of lower case letters is his):

From: michael gary
Sent : Thursday, October 5, 2006 11:35 AM
To: lennycampello@hotmail.com
Subject: Art Work..

Hello,
I will like to purchase some of your art works for my home in Middlesex (United Kingdom),and i will like you to get back to me with listings and costs of your works available.I will be able to choose the ones i want or need.Kindly get back to me asap.

Michael Gary
45 Kenton Lane,
Belmont Circle,
Belmont, Middlesex, HA3 8RY.

Michael Gary.........

And I responded

Dear Michael,
I am so honored that you like my artwork! Kindly email me your phone number and I will call you

And he, being the good scammer, responds:

Thanks for the reply.i would have love to call you but for now my phone is not working and i promise to call you as soon as my phone get working.Kindly get back to me with the list of the work that you have for sale in your studio.i look forward to read from you asap.
Michael Gary.........

And so I says to him:

Mike,
I am very particular as to who buys my artwork, please email me a jpg of you and your family as well as some of the artwork that you currently have in your home.

Let's see what happens next.

Sydney McGee Part III

I told you about Sydney McGee here and then a little more here. McGee is the teacher who allegedly was fired because of a complaint stemming from one of her students seeing a nude sculpture during a museum trip.

The Dallas Morning News now asks the question "was a Frisco art teacher pushed out of a job over a flap about nude art, or is the national media spotlight shining in the wrong place?"

Was she fired because of the nude sculpture complaint or because she was a bad teacher?

Ms. McGee says she never received a negative review or criticisms in Frisco until after she took the 89 fifth-graders to the museum in April.

Read the article here.

Sandberg Lecture at Salve Regina

One of the capital region's top painters, Erik Sandberg (and CUA guest professor) will offer an illustrated lecture for "Vice and Virtue: An Exhibition of Student Work" titled: "The Virtue of Vice: Inspiring Self-Reflection in Studio Art" commencing at 7 pm at Salve Regina Art Gallery in DC.

The exhibition itself features approximately 20 art objects by Arica Bahr, Kathryn Crabtree, Amanda Ince, Elizabeth Lutz, Teresa Mascia and Lindsay Rogers.

The exhibit includes a life-size painting of The Temptation of Saint Anthony. The painting was created as a collaborative effort between Sandberg, who painted the huge canvas, and his students, who "contributed design concepts for the portrayal of the aged ascetic’s temptations." Sandberg is represented by Conner Contemporary.

Zoe Strauss Art Talk

Philadelphia's own Zoe Strauss, whole powerful work was included in the last Whitney Biennial, will have an artist's talk (free and open to the public) on October 7, at 6 pm, at the Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine Street, South Philadelphia.

Two days later on Oct. 9, Zoe will have a slide lecture starting at 6:30 PM at 20th Street and The Parkway in Philadelphia.

Robert Brown Gallery Closes in DC

The building on R Street that housed the Robert Brown Gallery for 15 years has been sold and the gallery has closed. As they have been in business for over 25 years, the gallery intends to stay in business as a private entity and can still be reached online at www.robertbrowngallery.com.