Step two

A while back I told you about my new commercial ventures in the Philly area and my ideas about how to proceed.

That "venture" was nothing but a website back then... but thanks to a great 2007 as far as sales of my own artwork, step two is now ready for implementation and I will now participate in some art fairs and try to sell some of the art by the artists whose work I believe in and try to really promote here...

Wondrous people like Tim Tate, Marienela de la Hoz, Sandra Ramos (and a huge assortment of other Cubans) and all the good folks here.

Using the "war chest" of Samolians from sales of my own work, I have saved enough work to pay for the exhorbitant fees for three major art fairs, plus insurance, plus shipping, plus hotels, etc.

Plus pushing them to collectors on this blog! Thank God that my instincts have been dead on! Not just focused on "my" artists but all others on my "buy now list," most of which I don't represent.

But... I should have bought more Tim Tate and more Marienela, and more Amy Lin, and more Scott Brooks!

Anyway... here's my next art venture in its present form.

Step three: Enough $$$ to pay rent for a year in advance and open a new Philly space!

Comments invited!

MFA Show in Philly

Rebekah Templeton Contemporary Art in Philly will have Dirt Made My Lunch, a group exhibition guest curated by Todd Keyser. The exhibition highlights the work of Philadelphia’s first year Master of Fine Arts students featuring Erin M. Riley, Kurt Freyer, Michael Treffehn, and Robert Scobey.

Robert Scobey, Miss February, 2008
Dirt Made My Lunch opens on Thursday, May 8, 2008 with an opening reception from 6-9 pm. The exhibition includes video, textile weaving, photography, sculpture and installation. The show closes on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

Over at Bethesda's Neptune Gallery

AOM Panels

The Pink Line Project will be presenting a series of panel discussions to educate the emerging and experienced art collector at the soon to open a Art-O-Matic. Click on the image below for details.


I have been asked to participat on a panel which will be held on Wednesday, May 21 at 7 pm in the 7th Floor Education Room. It is the "Information Overload: Finding Reliable and Useful Information About Art Collecting."

It will be moderated by DC ubercollector Dr. Fred Ognibene and will include JW Mahoney, Sharon Burton, Martin Irvine and yours truly.

See ya there!

Gallery critic and Washington City Paper part ways

I was very surprised to find out about a few minutes ago that Washington City Paper galleries critic Kriston Capps and the WCP have parted ways in what sounds (from Capps' side of the story) a very silly issue.

Something doesn't make sense here, but I'm sure that regardless of why (in Jeffry Cudlin's words) "the City Paper has given him the boot," Capps will continue to write for plenty of other outlets. He is an erudite, word-savvy, opinionated and educated writer and a budding curator.

Bailey on the subject here.

Cudlin on the same subject here.

The Surgeon and I



Dr. C. Everett Koop and I at a recent art panel in Baltimore. He's in his 90s; I want to look that good when I'm in my 70s! Photo by Keith Weller.

(In)Between Opening Video

A quick video of the opening night for the (In)Between exhibition at Philadelphia's Wexler Gallery.