Gopnik on the Whitney Biennial

"I see hints, at least, that we're a country that just spent something like a trillion dollars and more than 3,000 lives so that a foreign nation's sects can once again be free to bash each other. And I see a country that is still hemorrhaging blood and funds in the fond hope that another foreign nation, dysfunctional and misogynist, can be kept from fully imploding.

Here at home, I see the richest nation in history being so obsessed with getting back to still more growth -- so that the rich among us can have a yet bigger house or plasma screen -- that it won't spend money to rescue a neighbor's health, a crumbling bridge or our children's planet. Most important -- if not in the details of this biennial, then in the overriding spirit of so much of its art -- I also see a country that recognizes that all this is some kind of a problem but feels as though it's powerless to do anything about it -- except take solace in that bigger home or screen."

Not all of it sounds like a Keith Olberman rant; read the rest of the review by the Washington Post's Chief Art Critic here.

DCist Exposed is tonight!


This year's opening reception for this top photography show will be bigger and better than ever, and will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 6 to 10 p.m. At the bar, mixologist Scott Palmer from Dino will have a special punch, Leopold Brothers will host a liquor tasting, Downey Selections has some wine for attendees, and Pabst Blue Ribbon will hold down the fort with plenty of beer. Nage will provide hor'dourves, while DJs v:shal kanwar and Sequoia spin tunes. Reception is $5 per guest at the door.

Long View Gallery is located at 1234 9th St. NW, just a few blocks from the Mt. Vernon/Convention Center Metro.

At the Lee Arts Center

I've been hearing some good things about the Kevin Mellema solo show, consisting of eight of his large scale figure drawings, at the Lee Arts Center on Lee Highway in Arlington.

They will have a closing reception from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. I will try to check it out.

Lee Arts Center
5722 Lee Highway Arlington, VA 22207
Phone: 703-228-0560
Fax: 703-228-0559
email: leearts@arlingtonva.us

Lee Center Hours:
Monday & Friday: 9:30 am - 6 pm
Tuesday - Thursday: 9:30 am - 9 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am - 5 pm
Sunday: Closed

Opportunity for Photographers

Deadline: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 7PM



Click here for details, and if you've shot pics of DC, then you've got no excuse not to enter this!

Like the Census, they seek portraits representing people of all ages, all four races, and the many ethnic groups in each quadrant of the city.

Fifty-one portraits will be selected and exhibited.

A couple of openings tonight...

Foundry Gallery and the Kurdistan Regional Government Office in the District of Columbia will be sponsoring a show of the work of Kurdish artists. Exhibit Dates: March 3 - 28 and the Opening Reception is tonight, Friday, March 5, 6 to 8PM. Foundry is also welcoming applications for new members. For information on membership and how to apply, please click here.

Up and coming artist Elena Patiño is one of the artists showing at the Hillyer Art Space show which opens tonight. Keep an eye on this refreshing new artist. First Friday Reception: Friday, March 5th, 2010, 6-9PM.

Congrats!

To DC area artist Terry Ward for recently having had the honor to hang with the famous Arnaldo Pomodoro (the maker of those bronze spheres in cities and museums worldwide).

Ward's 2009 mixed-media Begotten, Forgotten panels (pics here and an essayhere) were on the "Rothko stripe" wall behind Pomodoro's 1962 bronze Traveler's Column (on loan from the Hirshhorn Museum) at the new gallery building at Smithsonian-affiliated Annmarie Garden and Sculpture Park until March.

Opportunity for Curators

Deadline: Friday, April 2nd, 2010 - 5:00pm

Call for Exhibition Proposals: 39th Street Gallery at the Gateway Arts Center at Brentwood.

The 39th Street Gallery at the Gateway Arts Center at Brentwood is currently seeking proposals from artists and curators nationwide for an exhibition to take place May 10-June 25, 2010. Proposals may be for a self-curated solo show or a curated group exhibition. All original artwork in any media, including installations, will be considered.

Application deadline: Friday, April 2nd, 2010 - 5:00pm

Dates:
* Exhibition duration: May 10 - June 25, 2010
* Application deadline: Friday, April 2, 2010. Applications must be received by 5:00 pm at the Gateway CDC office, address below.
* Notification: by April 10, 2010 via email. Materials will be returned at the artist's or curator's request if SASE provided.
* Reception: To be arranged according to needs of exhibition.

About the Center: The Gateway Arts Center at Brentwood (GAC@B) is a multi-faceted facility dedicated to the production, exhibition and programming of visual art. The center serves as a dynamic resource for artists and a vibrant, creative social experience reflecting and engaging a diverse community.

The GAC@B houses the 39th Street Gallery and Project Space, twelve artist studios, the Prince George's African American Museum & Cultural Center, and The Brentwood Art Exchange operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission. The GAC@B is a place for people of all ages to meet, engage and learn about art.

About the 39th Street Gallery and Project Space: The 39th Street Gallery is dedicated to fostering innovative, creative exhibitions and projects that engage artists, curators, critics and the public in a contemporary art dialogue. An artists advisory group reviews proposals at stated deadlines and on an ongoing basis.

The gallery is 450 square feet; floor plans are available at this website. It features high, open ceilings, a bank of windows along the southwest wall, track lighting, and pristine white walls. There is close access to the loading dock, just outside gallery entrance.

Gallery hours: At present, the Gateway CDC can staff three shifts weekly; Thursday and Friday evenings from 7-9pm, and Saturday afternoon from 12-4pm. The artist may open the gallery for additional hours, pending staff approval.

Honorarium: The artist(s) or guest curator will receive up to $500 honorarium.

Commission: Gateway CDC will take 25% commission on sales during or as a direct result of this exhibition.

Applications: You may apply by mail, drop-off or email to address provided below. Artists and curators interested in submitting work for exhibition consideration should send all of the following:

1) A statement about the proposed exhibition, one page maximum.

2) A CV or resume that includes contact information.

3) Work samples: 10-15 images provided via CD-ROM or weblink. Web images should DIRECTLY support this proposal, do not send a link to your whole website.

4) List of works. This should clearly correspond to images. Please indicate title, date, media, dimensions and price or insurance values as appropriate.

GUIDELINES FOR DIGITAL FILES

· Name each file according to the following format: "last name" underscore

"document". Example: jones_statement.pdf.

· Please number each image file corresponding to the list of works.

Example: 01_jones_untitled.jpg.

· Image files should not be larger than 1MB, and should be formatted as jpeg.

· Video and audio submissions may be submitted as a DVD, or on a CD and formatted as Quicktime, Windows Media, .wav, or .mpeg files, as appropriate.

Send to:

39th Street Gallery and Project Space Proposals
Gateway CDC office
4102 Webster Street
North Brentwood, MD 20722

For more information contact John Paradiso via email (john@gateway-cdc.org) or phone (301-864-3860 ext. 3) or visit this website.