Altar Boyz

A while back a regular reader of Mid Atlantic Art News, who I think is also a producer for the show Altar Boyz, sent me a couple of complimentary tickets for one of the show's performance in our area at the Hippo in Baltimore.

I didn't know this at the time, but Altar Boyz is an award winning play, and somewhat (if we're to judge by the screaming girls in the audience) some kind of a "under the radar" cult hit, that somehow takes the phenomenom of pop boys groups, seriously athletic dancing, catchy tunes, and religion, and puts it all together in an unexpected, sort of fun musical show.

At first I thought that the show was an effort to poke fun at religion, Christian religion of course, but as the musical got going, I realized that this was an effort to well... bring some harmless pop into religion, while delivering a positive, and 100% harmless, religious message.

The "boyz" are Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan, and Abraham; sort of a pop Christian Mod Squad, that is ethnically diverse ("Juan" (Spanish for John) is Mexican, and "Luke" plays an Italian street toughie stereotype (I think); and even includes a Semite ("Abraham" is Jewish), and one of the boyz (Mark) is gay.

The characters played by the boyz, especially the gay, the Mexican and the Jew, are little more than cliché Hollywood cartoonish stereotypes, but this is somewhat overcome by their interaction and the whole "fun" attitude of the show.

This Christian boy band, mike-in-cheek (I think) hopes to save souls in their travels with a power-packed ninety minutes of diverse music (rap, Latin, rock, gospel, etc.), well-choreographed and sweat-producing dancing, and a ton of laughs - in fact many more that one would expect... from (ahem) this kind of musical play.

And this is a show, that if someone would have described it to me ahead of time, I would have skipped it; and yet I will admit that I actually quite enjoyed the songs (includes "Girl, You Make Me Wanna Wait" and "Jesus Called Me On My Cell Phone"), the dancing, and even the post-modern Christian message of acceptance.

The show is based on a book by Kevin Del Aguila, and it is choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, who deserves a "well done" for the dancing and moves on this show.

More on the Altar Boyz website here (be prepared for annoying musical effects).

The Case of the Kennedy Portrait

Jessica Gould and Dave Jamieson have a really interesting report in the Washington City Paper about the fact that "Phillip Bailley took a handsome portrait of Robert F. Kennedy from his presidential campaign office. So why is he suing Ethel Kennedy?"

Read the story here.

Ellyn Wise on the Corcoran Acquisition of the Randall School

Last Thursday I mentioned the acquisition of the Randall School by the Corcoran and asked to hear from some of the MAC artists who have studios there, since there have been some past issues between them and the acquisition process.

Several artists have responded and below is Ellyn Weiss take on the subject:

Personally, I would characterize The Cork "under new management" as every bit as imperious and high-handed in its dealings with the local art community as was the old regime. It truly amazes me, not to say pisses me off royally, that after the Millennium artists - at The Cork's explicit request - supported the Cork's acquisition of the Randall School when they needed City Council approval, they never even deigned to meet with us and let us know what their plans and schedule are for the rehab.

Instead, they chose to communicate, on the rare occasions when they did, only through scary lawyer-drafted letters that ordered us to do one thing or another. For example: thanks to our truly amazing pro bono lawyers, Norman Sinel and Rich Lucas from Arnold and Porter, the deed for the Randall School now contains the requirement that, after rehab is completed, the Cork must offer the artists comparable studio space.

In an apparent nod to this, we all just received a registered letter informing us that we would be offered, in 48 - 52 months, a studio of no less than 72 square feet, but only if we sign a "legally binding" document now committing to rent it.

This magnanimous offer pretty much says it all. It couldn't be more clear that The Cork views itself as on a whole different planet than the one that local artists inhabit.

But not all gloom and doom from us Millennium artists! We have a show right now at 910 E St. NW organized by Zenith Gallery (thanks, Marjory) and are planning a big old party soon to which all of you artists and art lovers will be invited. We DO plan to rise again.

Peace and love, Ellyn Weiss

As there are always two sides to every story, I have asked the Corcoran to respond. Later I will publish more comments from other MAC artists.

New Painting a Day Blog

DC area artist Molly Brose joins the new wave of daily online painters kick-started by Richmond's Duane Keiser with her new "A Day's Work" Blog.

Some really excellent watercolors created each day here.

New Hoyas

DC area artist John Murray has been commissioned to create four religious paintings for the Jesuit Chapel of Georgetown University. He has just finished the first one:

More details, including prep sketches, here.

Another one heading down South

In addition to all the galleries and dealers mentioned here (and elsewhere since), the Black Artists of DC (BADC) are also heading to Miami where they will be exhibiting during the Art Basel extravaganza in the LoGlo exhibit at the Buena Vista Building in the Design District.

O'Sullivan in the WaPo

"Hoping to foster a little cross-pollination in the visual arts scenes of Washington, Baltimore and Richmond, the Washington Project for the Arts/Corcoran's ongoing series of "Exchange" exhibitions -- in which art spaces from those cities have been trading shows with one another -- is a great idea, if for no other reason than it saves gas. Washington art lovers curious about what's going on in the Baltimore scene, for instance, had the recent opportunity to find out (without driving an hour) when the WPA/C, in a collaboration with Baltimore's Creative Alliance, brought a slew of Charm City's finest to the Warehouse for a showcase earlier this fall. At the same time, Baltimoreans could check out what Washington had to offer at a simultaneous roundup of D.C. artists there. (Both have since closed.)

The final two "Exchange" installments are on view now: "Richmond @ DC" at the D.C. Arts Center, and its counterpart, "DC @ Richmond," at that city's Gallery5. (Oddly, the triangle was left incomplete, with no art-swap planned between Richmond and Baltimore. Oh, well. Maybe next year.)"

Read the WaPo review here.