Congrats

To one of my absolute favorite DC area artists, Molly Springfield, whose first New York solo show, "The world is full of objects," opens on Thursday, November 29 with an opening reception from 6 to 8 pm at Mireille Mosler, Ltd. The show goes through February 2, 2008.

Wanna go to a DC opening on Monday?

One of the capital area's most beautiful venues, The Organization of American States has an opening on Monday, Nov. 26th at 1PM of street photography by DC area photographer Tom Wolff.

New Baltimore Gallery

"Quintessence" is the opening exhibit at Paperwork Gallery and this inaugural exhibit opens a new space in Baltimore that will focus on all types of artwork on paper.

Dana Reifler and Cara Ober are behind this project and their goals are "to create new exhibition and sales opportunities for local artists in an informal setting; to exhibit a variety of types of artworks on paper; and to keep a curated flat file of available works on location."

Their first exhibit features small, unframed works on paper by 25 Baltimore artists, all priced at under $300. Among the artists exhibiting are Don Griffin, Rene Trevino, Amy Eva Raehse, Ruth Channing, Bill Schmidt, Jackie Milad, and Denise Tassin.

Opening reception is Friday, December 7 from 7-9 pm and the location is 107 East Preston Street. Gallery hours will be Fridays from 4-7PM and by appointment. For more information and images, please visit their blog here.

Congrats!

To the very talented DC area photographer Joe Mills, who is currently having a solo at Galerie Verdier in Paris.

Nude Art at UPenn

Live Nude Art — a benefit auction for Penn Design MFA class of 2008 - November 30, 2007, 6-9pm.

Auction Preview: November 28 and 29, 9am-5pm.

The University of Pennsylvania Graduate Fine Arts department class of 2008 is hosting a silent auction fundraiser to support their graduation thesis show. Attendees will be able to bid on artworks by internationally recognized artists, as well as University of Pennsylvania faculty, students, and alumni. The auction will be held on Friday, November 30, 2007 from 6-9pm in the Meyerson Galleries on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Works will be available for preview in the gallery November 28 and 29 from 9am-5pm. Admission is free and open to the public.

"The title has less to do with the subject matter of the art or the dress code of those in attendance, and more to do with the pleasurable and playful atmosphere of the auction," explained class of 2008 member Travis Heck. "These days, it is rare to find an auction that allows guests not only the opportunity to bid on works by critically noted artists, but also to drink, eat, and boogie down all in one fun and free evening," continued Heck.

Works by Terry Adkins, Jane Irish, Gabriel Martinez, Sarah McEneaney, Joshua Mosley, John Moore, Eileen Neff, Demetrius Oliver, Robert Pruitt, Zoe Strauss and others will be available. Live Nude Art will take place at the Meyerson Galleries in Meyerson Hall, located at 210 South 34th Street on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Clothed guests will be treated to the musical stylings of DJ PHSH with free refreshments served throughout the evening. For additional information, contact MFA Class of 2008 representatives: Gianna Delluomo: 215-900-9714, delluomo@design.upenn.edu or Simon Slater: 917-763-7034, simonslater@gmail.com

You won't see this on mainstream TV...

This TV clip is making the rounds worldwide in Spanish speaking nations.

In the clip, Spain's King Juan Carlos orders Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez to "shut up" as the XVII Ibero-American summit drew to a close recently in Santiago, Chile.

In spite of having his mike turned off, the Venezuelan strongman was continually interrupting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who was defending former Spanish PM Aznar, after Chavez insulted Aznar by calling him a fascist and adding that "fascists are not human. A snake is more human."

Rodriguez Zapatero, who is seeing speaking in the clip, reminded Chavez that Aznar was a democratically elected PM, but Chavez kept insulting and interrupting.

The king is then seen leaning forward and saying in Spanish: "Why don't you shut up?"

The king addressed Mr Chavez as "tu", which is the familiar version in Spanish of "you."

"Tu" is normally used only for younger family members, close friends, and children. In this diplomatic context it is regarded as insulting.

YouTube.com has dozens of rap and reggae versions of the verbal exchange, and the king's words have apparently become a popular ring-tone in Spain.

The latest in Hugo Chavez's political performance art.

The Twenty-Third Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards

Deadline: December 4, 2007, 5:30pm.

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities invites you to submit nominations for the Twenty-Third Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. The Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors conferred by the city on individual artists, organizations, and patrons of the arts. Awards will be presented and hosted by the Mayor at a ceremony on March 17, 2008. For more information please contact Lisa Richards at 202.724.5613.