Wanna go to a MICA multi-studio opening tomorrow?

Accompanying the annual series of thesis exhibitions at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), 31 first-year candidates in MICA’s master of fine arts (M.F.A) programs are featured in a parallel series of group exhibitions. First-Year MFA I, II, and III Exhibitions showcase works by students from the College’s Hoffberger School of Painting, Mount Royal School of Art, Rinehart School of Sculpture, and photography and digital imaging program. The exhibitions take place in Bunting Center’s Pinkard Gallery (1401 Mount Royal Avenue), in Baltimore.

First-Year MFA I Exhibition runs Friday, March 16 through Sunday, March 25, with an opening reception on Friday, March 16, 5–7 p.m., and open studios on Friday, March 16, 7–9 p.m. The 11 students exhibiting are Mount Royal School of Art students Meaghan Harrison, Jimmy Roche, Mary Tait, and Courtney Wrenn (Scrapworm); Rinehart School of Sculpture students Sebastian Martorana and Virginia Warwick; Hoffberger School of Painting students Jessie Boyko, Alan Reid, and Justin Storms; and photography and digital imaging program students Sarah Jablecki and Christine Tran.

Role of Criticism Today

David Waddell over at ARTifice reports on the "Role of Criticism Today," panel discussion that took place at the Provisions Library in Dupont Circle in DC last Wednesday.

You have to read this.

And the nation's favorite buildings are:

From Slate:

Last month, the American Institute of Architects released the results of a national poll that asked the public to name its favorite buildings in the United States. Probably no one but an architect would be interested in exactly who made the cut. Meier and Gehry did (for the Getty Center and Disney Concert Hall, respectively)—although their buildings rank below Michael Graves' cartoonish Dolphin and Swan Hotels in Walt Disney World. Such firebrands as Thom Mayne, Peter Eisenman, and Steven Holl did not. But it is the list as a whole that casts an interesting light on what Americans think of the recent spate of signature buildings. The short answer: not much.

The list is here and six of the top ten sites are in DC.

New DC area gallery Grand Opening

Habatat Galleries, initially established elsewhere in 1971 opens their newest Greater DC area outpost this coming Saturday, March 31, 2007 with a grand opening reception from 7-10PM at their new space in Tyson's Corner. Directions here.

UPenn MFA Open Studios Sale Next Month

The University of Pennsylvania's Master of Fine Arts department offers an evening of open studio tours, performances, video screenings, music, and a chance to purchase work by emerging artists.

Friday, April 27, 2007, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., free admission, drinks and refreshments

The UPenn MFA Open Studios Sale ushers out the academic term with a special event for collectors and art fans. First- and second-year Master of Fine Arts candidates at the University of Pennsylvania will open their studios for tours and informal chats about their work. Approximately 150 drawings, prints, paintings, photography, and sculptures will be for sale at accessible price points of $50, $100, and $150. All proceeds from these sales will support the Class of 2008 Thesis Show.

The UPenn MFA Open Studios Sale will take place in the Morgan Building, the university's main art studio building, at 205 S. 34th St. (between Walnut and Spruce streets) in Philadelphia. Live music and performances by MFA candidates will occur throughout the building, and refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact: Gianna Delluomo: 215-900-9714, delluomo@design.upenn.edu or Simon Slater: 917-763-7034, simonslater@gmail.com

Information about the event can be accessed on-line at this website.

Wanna go to a DC party tomorrow?

And also get a free 2007 Washington DC Guide?

Then come help Not For Tourists celebrate the release of their 2007 Washington DC Guide. The launching party is again this year at Local 16 on U Street, on Friday, March 16, 6-9pm (no cover charge/open to public) to officially herald the arrival of the latest version of the invaluable guidebook.

They are also looking for writers for their 2008 guidebook. Details here.

Randall School Update

Earlier this week I discussed the issue of the Randall School, the Corcoran and the neighborhood meeting about this hot issue.

A reader writes that:

"...a couple of my comrades attended the meeting of the ANC [Advisory Neighborhood Commission ] a few days ago on the Cork's plans. They are proposing to preserve the oldest parts of the building (as they are required to do under historic preservation law) and build a massive, undistinguished, even Stalinesque, 400 unit condo project on the rest. And they are a non-profit?"

Here's an idea: why doesn't the Corcoran hold a lottery for 10 of the 400 planned condos and give those 10 condos for free to 10 low income DC area artists?