Weekend Openings

Even from way out here in Sedona, it's easy to see that the coming weekend is certainly one filled with the opening of important and interesting shows in the Greater DC area. Take a look below, set aside some gallery time and go out and see some shows.

Greater DC

Friday, March 9: It's the second Friday of the month, so it is time for the Bethesda Art Walk.

Tim Tate's "...but what have we gained?", his fourth solo at Fraser Gallery opens in Bethesda with an opening reception for the artist who [total lack of objectivity follows] many recognize as one of the leading forces in the movement that is dragging glass from the confines of craft and firmly plants it in the conceptual realms of contemporary art. I'm far from being objective with Tate's work anymore, but be ready soon for a major jump for this artist, and in this show Tate takes glass to new places again, including video. Go see the marriage of video and narrative glass. Opening reception for Tate from 6-9PM. Through April 7, 2007.

Jayme McLellan's Civilian Art Projects stops roaming around the capital and finds a permanent home at Cheryl Numark's original space on 7th Street, and Jayme has double Jasons for an opening offering: Jason Falchook "Contours & Detours" and Jason Zimmerman "Natural Acts" as well as a group exhibition in the project space with works by artists including Ken Ashton (DC), Jason Balicki (NY), Lisa Blatt (CA), Keshaun Blunt (VA), Breck Omar Brunson (DC), Erick Jackson (DC), George Jenne (NY), Jason Kalogiros (CA) and Nilay Lawson (DC). Opening Reception is Friday, March 9, 2007 - 6:30-8:30 p.m.

9x10 : WPA\C Member Show. In tribute to the late William Warren Parker’s support for emerging DC artists, his family has generously donated space at the William W. Parker (WWP) Gallery – housed in Mickelson’s Fine Art Framing at 629 New York Ave NW - to WPA\C for a new "nine-by-ten" exhibition series: 9 shows of 10 member artists each. These shows will provide a new outlet for WPA\C member artists, and each exhibition will present a diverse cross-section of the WPA\C membership to the public, showcasing works in all media. The 9x10 exhibitions will run monthly from March 2007 to January 2008. Show #1` runs from March 9 – April 6, 2007and features Stephen Borko, Sabine Carlson, Sheila Crider, Joel D’Orazio, Kid Flash (Steve Frost), J.T. Kirkland, Jeanette May, Betsy Stewart, Gia Tkablazde and Andrew Wodzianski. Opening reception: Friday, March 9, 6-8pm, WWP Gallery (Mickelson’s Fine Art Framing), 629 New York Ave NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20001. Info: 202.639.1737.

Saturday, Match 10: Long View Gallery in the city has opening on Saturday, March 10 from 6-8pm for Chicago-based artist Gerard Erley’s Poetic Landscape.

Sunday March 11: Super-talented photographer Jim Steele has an opening reception for his exhibition at the beautiful Athenaeum in Old Town Alexandria. The reception is from 2-4PM.

In Sedona

I'm in amazing Sedona, Arizona for the week for some hiking and some gallery visits to Scottsdale.

This place has been called the most beautiful spot in America and they were right! More later, including a very important DC area opening this Friday.

Hot Rockwell Found

“Russian Schoolroom,” a Norman Rockwell painting stolen in 1973 has been found by long-time Rockwell collector Steven Spielberg. Read the story here.

Airborne again today and heading to Sedona, Arizona for a little R&R and some gallery hopping around Scottsdale. More later...

Drawn to Art

Every once in a while I get an email from someone asking about where to take drawing classes in the Greater DC area.

The WaPo's Michael O'Sullivan answers that question and more in today's excellent article "Drawn to Art."

The League of Reston Artists also organizes and monitors life drawing sessions at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne in Reston. Their schedule is on their web site here. The fee is $6 for Reston residents, and $8 for non-residents.

This coming Sunday

If you saw the piece about the Nevin Kelly Gallery and the 4Traits on DC's Fox5 Morning News this morning then you may know that The 4Traits, a group of four artists doing assembly line portraiture, will be in the Nevin Kelly Gallery on this coming Sunday from 1-5pm. Stop by 1517 U St NW in DC to have your portrait drawn for free.

Last Night

Was a packed house at Mate in Georgetown, where nearly everyone and anyone with a footprint in the Greater DC area visual art scene was present for the launching festivities for artDC.

Believe it or not, I hadn't been to G'town since we closed the original Fraser Gallery, which is about a block up the street on 31st Street, NW in Canal Square. The Parish Gallery, which used to be our neighbor in the Square knocked down the wall between the two galleries and now Norman Parish's old space looks really nice with the expanded area.

Anyway, Mate was packed to the gills and there was good food and an open bar, and all the head honchos for ArtDC were there, as well as their media co-sponsors, DC Magazine.

In addition to a significant number of handsome men and goodlooking women, who came clearly because of the magazine's co-sponsorhip of the event, many of DC area [also goodlooking] gallerists such as Leigh Conner, Martin Irvine, Julia Morelli and others were present, as well as some of the folks from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, a museum director or two, including Jack Rasmussen from the Katzen, a lot of curators like Vivienne Lassman, Sarah Tanguy, Angela Jerardi and others, and even some of the folks from the mainstream media who rarely come to openings showed up, including WaPotistas Michael O'Sullivan and the fair Jessica Dawson. Also saw some of DC's rare and few ubercollectors, such as Dr. Ognibene, Podestas, etc., some of which were actually co-sponsoring the event.

Didn't see too many artists, other than painters Candace Keegan and Sondra Arkin.

We were told by Ilana Vardy, the fair's director, that so far 80 or so galleries from 12 countries have been accepted into DC's first major international commercial fine arts fair, and it is clear that the artDC organizers are trying to align every possible thing that can be aligned to ensure that the fair takes root and that it becomes not only a commercial success, but also a recurring event.

The fair will take place April 27-30, 2007 at the Washington Convention Center, Hall E. Details here.