Mera Rubell Studio Visit

Later today, Ms. Mera Rubell, one of the world's best-known art collectors, and whose Miami space, The Rubell Family Collection, features her and her husband's well-known art collection, will be making a studio visit to my studio in Potomac.

This is of course, both an honor and a spectacular opportunity to expose my work to one of the world's premier art collectors.

One fly in the ointment.

When I discovered this on Thursday afternoon, I was ecstatic. Then I realized that all of my work is in storage in Miami as it will be featured by Philadelphia's Projects Gallery in the Miami International Art Fair in January.

I had no current work to show Mera Rubell.

So from 3:30 AM on Friday to 9:00 AM this morning (with the exception of a Xmas shopping visit to the Gateway Arts District Open Studios yesterday), I locked myself in my studio and produced the below drawings to show Rubell later this Sunday.

"Asere, Si o No?" 19"x48" Charcoal on Paper
This is a huge charcoal drawing of Ernesto "Che" Guevara de la Serna Lynch. Che is to the left in a very Christ-like pose. behind him, a slogan or graffiti on the wall asks the question in Cuban slang: "Asere, Si o No?" which means "Friend, Yes or No? The capital letters answer the question by spelling out ASESINO or assasin. This is the second version of this concept.


Finalmente Denunciamos a el que traiciono al Che (Finally we denounce he who betrayed Che). 4 x 24 inches. Charcoal on paper
The Spanish words announce that "finally we denounce who betrayed Che." The capital letters answer the statement: FIDEL.


"Age of Obama - Nobel Peace Prize" Charcoal on Paper. 16x12 inches.
In this piece, the figure is tattooed with the text of Pres. Obama's acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize. Selected parts of the speech tell a story.


"Woman who thinks that the tattoo that she just got reads 'Bring Bush Back'" Charcoal and Conte on Paper. 14"x10"
I couldn't resist doing a humorous piece. That's just the way that I am.


"True Believer" 22 x 14 inches. Charcoal and Colored Pencils on Paper.
Click on the image for more detail, but the tattoo in her arm, the updated part still bleeding, tells the whole story.


"Superman flying naked and close to the ground in order to avoid NORAD radar." Charcoal on Paper. 20x24 inches.
So I couldn't resist another touch of humor. This is from my series of naked superheroes.


"Fallen Angel." Charcoal on Paper. 21 x 11 inches.


"Pictish Woman" Charcoal on Paper. 14 x 9 inches.
That's it! I'm exhausted but happy. Wish me luck!

Join me today over at Neptune

Some join me today starting at 2 PM at the gorgeous Neptune Gallery in Bethesda.

The event starts with a presentation and tasting with Cacao, fine European Chocolates, immediately followed by "A Conversation with Lenny Campello" in which I will answer any and all questions about anything dealing with art: framing, approaching galleries, collectors, collecting, etc. or even about the art fairs and how to get your gallery to do them, or even some guerrilla tactics on the subject.

Open forum, any and all questions answered if I know the answer.

See ya there!

Question Pho You

As I drove back home from the Gateway Arts District's open studios, on University Avenue alone we drove by several Vietnamese Pho restaurants (I love Pho and I love the taste that Plum sauce gives to the soup).

They all have names such as PHO 75, PHO 95, PHO 301, etc. Does anyone know what the number after the "Pho" stands for?

Baker Awards for Baltimore Artists

This is one spectacular opportunity for Baltimore artists as it returns for its second year.

The Baker Awards, funded by The Baker Foundation, in conjunction with the Baltimore City Department of Promotion and the Arts, is awarding three (yes three!) $20,000 prizes to Baltimore artists annually.

Although only Baltimore artists are eligible, anyone can sign up and vote.

Do it!

Details here.

I've decided this year to vote for someone whose work is new to me... this year my vote will either go to Rachel Bone or to Nicole Buckingham.

That's telling them...

"The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea, and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans. We have borne this burden not because we seek to impose our will. We have done so out of enlightened self-interest – because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if other peoples’ children and grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity.

So yes, the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace. And yet this truth must coexist with another – that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy. The soldier’s courage and sacrifice is full of glory, expressing devotion to country, to cause and to comrades in arms. But war itself is never glorious, and we must never trumpet it as such."

President Obama
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance speech

You go Mr. O!

Civilian Art Projects' The Shop

Join Civilian Art Projects for the grand re-opening of The Shop, their store of artist-made goods. The Shop has been in boxes since their second move but it is now time to break out the goods for the holidays.

Tomorrow - Saturday, Dec. 12th, the sale starts at 1pm and goes until 6pm and continues during all of their public hours through Dec. 19th.

With prices ranging from $5 to $200, you are sure to find a unique something for that special person for the holidays. Avoid the over-crowded stores full of junk made by people you don't know and buy some artist-made work, where your shopping will not only benefit your special person receiving the gift, but it will also benefit artists and a great and hardworking gallery.

If you come by this Saturday, Dec. 12th you will see the incredibly talented Chereya Esters and Jeremy Tidd installing their gorgeous "Twenty First Century Ghosts" hemlock tree sculpture in the window at Civilian.

Tomorrow: Gateway Open Studios and more

There are a ton of events happening in the Gateway Arts District this Saturday - Check it all out here.

ArtDC has their opening during their event - 43 works of art in addition to work in their flat files and print bins. Check that out here.

They will also have four bands, a lecture by John Mason on Art Law, and 15 vendors sponsored by the DC Conspiracy.

And of course, the various artists around the Washington Glass School will also have all kinds of events, open studios, food, art sales, etc. See all about that here.

Get down to Gateway tomorrow and buy some art! I'll be there spending my hard-earned sheckels.