New DC art space

Vivid Solutions DC is a new fine arts space to the Historic Anacostia District. They also offer the new digital printing technique, Digigraphie. In fact, they are the first Digigraphie certified lab in the United States!

The space is located at 2208 MLK Ave, SE and is currently open by appointment or chance; Contact Andrea Hope for a look at the current exhibit and a tour of the facilities. Vivid Solutions "offers high-end digital printing for fine art utilizing cutting edge Epson technology, with salon-style exhibition space highlighting digital/photographic art."

They are currently showing a solo exhibition of works by Chandi Kelley, running through tomorrow, September 8th.

Her "Timelines," inspired by the theme of memory and mystery, are constructed of bookends, antique books and wallpapers reminiscent of vintage patterns. Methodically photographed, the spines of the books function as a timeline reading from left to right. The text and image combine in a striking, evocative collection.

Find out more about Digigraphie here.

Things not to do at an opening

This happened this past weekend at an art opening in the Mid Atlantic region.

An artist has been begging a particular gallery to include some of his work in one of the gallery's shows. The artist has a BFA and an MFA, both from really good art schools, and has recently moved to the area and wants to establish himself in this new area. The gallery is by far one of the top galleries in the city.

Finally the gallerist gives in and includes the artist in a group show. On opening night the show does well and several major pieces are sold (none of the artist's work). In fact it is the gallery's second best selling show ever and a welcomed relief in these austere financial times.

The opening is well-attended and supposed to end at 9PM, and the artist hasn't bothered to show up, but finally makes an appearance towards the end, around 8:30PM.

It appeared that he'd been celebrating in a nearby bar, and is quite inebriated. To make matters worse, he's been handing out show cards at the bar, and inviting all the bar flies to come to the gallery and enjoy free wine. Quite a few of the bar flies accompany the artist and they walk from the bar to the gallery.

They make quite an "impression" on the rest of the art clients still at the gallery, and soon all, except the barflies and the artist, leave as 9PM approaches. At 9PM the gallerist tells the artist that the opening is over and the gallery needs to close.

The artist begs the gallerist to stay open a little longer (and here's where the gallerist makes a huge mistake), and the gallerist agrees, perhaps believing the artist's claim that one of the bar flies will purchase a painting; and more wine flows.

Soon it is clear to the gallerist that the artist's posse is just interested in free wine and she kicks them all out and closes the gallery. In the process of doing so, some of the drunks become nasty to her.

Chances of this artist ever being invited to exhibit at this gallery again? The same chance as a snowball in hell.

Chances of this artist (once the gallerist tells the story at the next dealers' association meeting) of getting invited by another gallery? Slim to none.

Moral of the story? Pretty obvious, uh?

Tell Congress

Tomorrow the U.S. Congress is scheduled to return from their summer recess and the Senate will begin consideration of S. 1023, the Travel Promotion Act of 2009. The House of Representatives is expected to take up this legislation later this year. Please tell your Member of Congress to support inclusion of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in this bill!

Andersonian Video

Just watch it, will ya! Today is my birthday and this is one heck of a great B-day present!

Announcing the United States Mint’s 2009 Call for Artists

Application Period One: Nov. 9, 2009
Application Period Two: March 8, 2010
Application Period Three: July 6, 2010

The Call for Artists was officially launched last Friday, August 28th, and their brand new website which launched at this time as well. The Call for Artists invites artists from all over the country to apply for a paid position as an Associate Designer in the successful Artistic Infusion Program (AIP). Artists in the AIP program have the opportunity to take part in American history through the contribution of designs for coins that will be enjoyed by all Americans. In the past, AIP artists have submitted successful designs for coins released through the 50 State Quarters® Program and the Presidential $1 Coin Program. This year artists can apply online! The program will run year-long with three cut-off dates for applicant review. The first cut-off date is November 9th, 2009.

Here is a short description of the program:

The United States Mints invites artists to be a part of American history through coin design. The Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) provides gifted artists the opportunity to contribute creative and beautiful designs for coins that will be enjoyed by all Americans. AIP artists have submitted successful designs for coins released through the 50 State Quarters® Program and the Presidential $1 Coin Program. Honorariums are $2,000 for each design submission and $5,000 for each selected design. Visit www.usmint.gov/artists to apply.

Visit this website for more information.

The Art Consultant Is In

Allison Marvin has made a career out of helping people do just that. She is the founder of Sightline, an art consulting business started in 2004. Marvin works with clients across the country, helping them navigate the art world and offering guidance on buying works for their homes and offices. She also leads tours of art spaces and introduces beginning and seasoned collectors to galleries and dealers.

... Marvin recently spoke to us from her home office about collecting, hanging and framing art, and where to go to find it in the first place.

Read the WaPo article on Marvin and her advice here.

Marvin has some really good solid advice, but I find it interesting that in listing the resources, and I know that newsprint space is an issue, that Marvin left out her own backyard's galleries in Bethesda, and no mention of Georgetown or R Street, or the various artists cooperatives (since price point was a focus of the piece) and for that matter the Torpedo Factory. If she's not aware of these places she's missing some of the best priced good artwork around town. But I bet she had a list three pages long which was culled by the WaPo to the 2-3 best-known galleries DC, all great spaces by the way.

Framing? Average cost for a custom framer in the DC area is about $70 an hour for labor on top of the materials' cost. Is there such thing as an affordable custom framer?

You bet! Drop me a note and I'll refer you to the most affordable custom framer in the area - prices are about 75% cheaper than any other framer in the capital region... and I've tried them all for years before I found this most affordable joint, just a few minutes from 495. And when I say 75% I am not exaggerating... just ask all the photographers who do the annual DCist Exposed show. Example: Custom matted and framed photo to a 16x20 inches size, black metal Nielsen moulding under glass, pH-balanced acid free white museum mat and pH-balanced, acid free foam core backing board: $25-$30 bucks, not $100 or $150 which is what you'll pay at most other custom framers around the nation.

Talking about decorating... decorating a baby's room is somewhat of an issue for someone like me. Having been forced to look at dozens of saccharine sweet animal prints and reproductions for the baby's room, I decided to create my own saccharine sweet baby paintings for Anderson's room; at least he'll have original artwork on the walls:


Andersonphant, Acrylic on Canvas. 24 x 24 inches. Circa 2009

Anderson Monkey, Acrylic on Canvas. 24 x 24 inches. Circa 2009

Trawick Prize Winners Announced

The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards announced the top four prize winners on Wednesday evening during the exhibition’s opening at the Fraser Gallery.

René Treviño from Baltimore, MD was awarded “Best in Show” with $10,000; Molly Springfield of Washington, D.C. was named second place and was given $2,000; Jessie Lehson of Baltimore, MD was bestowed third place and received $1,000 and the “Young Artist” award of $1,000 was given to Hannah Kim of Falls Church, VA.

Entries were juried by Dr. Doreen Bolger, Director of The Baltimore Museum of Art; Kevin Everson, Associate Professor at the University of Virginia and Joanna Marsh, The James Dicke Curator of Contemporary Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

A public reception will be held on Friday, September 11, 2009 from 6-9pm in conjunction with the Bethesda Art Walk. The exhibit will be on display through October 3, 2009. The Fraser Gallery is located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E and gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday from 11:30am-6pm.

The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards was established by the amazing Carol Trawick in 2003 to honor the work of local artists and has become the region's top art prize and I am a huge fan of Carol Trawick.

The Trawick Prize is one of the first regional competitions and largest prizes to annually honor visual artists. To date, The Trawick Prize has awarded over $98,000 in prize monies and has received over 2,400 artist submissions. Founder Carol Trawick has served as a community activist for more than 25 years in downtown Bethesda; including working on legislation to designate communities in Maryland as Arts & Entertainment Districts. Additionally, she is past Chair of the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, past Chair of the Bethesda Urban Partnership, current Chair of Strathmore and Founder of the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation.