Azucar Moreno

The words to this international megahit by Spain's Azucar Moreno (the Salazar sisters) is what makes me wish that everyone could understand the beauty of Spanish as a lover's language. The title of the song is "Devour me again..." Enjoy the marriage of Spanish classical music with a contemporary beat:

Planning Process at AAC

While I was in the UK I got the news that I had been selected by Helen Allen (former creator and Executive Director of PULSE Art Fairs; former Executive Director of Ramsay Art Fairs; and current partner for the upcoming (e)merge art fair in Washington, DC) to exhibit at the Arlington Art Center's "Planning Process" exhibition.

What's this exhibition about? From the prospectus:

PLANNING PROCESS is a juried drawing show with a difference: All of the drawings selected for inclusion must be studies created in preparation for finished artworks. Winning studies will be shown alongside finished pieces in a variety of media: A sculptor or a painter could show sketches alongside finished objects . . . a video artist could show storyboards alongside video . . . an installation artists could show plans alongside photos documenting a finished project—or a recreation of that project onsite.

So for this show I will be doing an installation of my Hotel Art Intervention Project.

As many of you know, since 1977 I have been conducting a one man crusade to add original artwork to hotel rooms. As part of this process, when I travel I often bring a minimal set of art supplies as well as tools. Once I check into a hotel room, I identify a piece of hotel wall décor to be “improved” by the addition or substitution of original art. I usually disassemble the piece, and sometimes add imagery to the original piece. In some cases, whenever I feel that I can “get away with it,” (which depends on what other images are hanging in the room) I do a complete substitution of the original hotel piece (most often substituting it with an original drawing or watercolor).

For PLANNING PROCESS: Drawings and Finished Works, I proposed re-creating the Hotel Art Intervention process itself by recreating an entire hotel room at the Arlington Art Center (or at least a subset of it). There would be a bed and other hotel paraphernalia, including some usual hotel wall décor hanging on the wall, and one disassembled piece laying on the bed and been “intervened” upon. At various times during the exhibition period, this piece would be worked on and added to (by me), and at the end of the show the “finished artwork” would be hung back on the wall.

The artists selected by Allen for this exhibit are:

John James Anderson

F. Lennox Campello

R. L. Croft

Craig Kraft

Magnolia Laure

Jessie Lehson

Ephraim Russell

Samuel Scharf

Dan Tulk

Jessica Van Brakle

Tom Wagner

Andrew Wodzianski

Wards 7 or 8 artists

Are you an artist and live in either Ward 7 or 8? If so, drop me an email at lenny@lennycampello.com - I may have a good opportunity for you!

Flux Studios' New Emerging Artist Program

Flux Studios in the Gateway Arts District in Mount Rainier, MD has announced their new Emerging Artist Program.

Accepted applicants will receive a 45 square foot work space, 24 hour access with free parking, an annual solo exhibition at Flux, immersion in a professional art studio and the opportunity for mentorship in their art practice as well as in areas of professional development.

Cost is $200/month, one year commitment required.

Flux Studios is now accepting applications for this program. If interested in applying, please contact Novie Trump at info@fluxstudiosdc.com

Flux Studios LLC is a contemporary art space in Mt. Rainier, MD housing the professional studios of six artists and a small informal gallery space with rotating exhibitions.

Flux Studios has a visiting artist program, hosting artists from the US and abroad for residencies ranging from two weeks to three months. They also offer workshops taught by master artists in a variety of media, ranging from encaustic to ceramic sculpture.

Opportunities for Artists

Deadline: July 1, 2011

Each year, the Arlington Arts Center selects 10 to 14 artists from across the Mid-Atlantic region for solo exhibitions in AAC’s seven separate gallery spaces—or outside on the grounds. Proposals that specifically consider AAC’s space, layout, and surrounding environs are encouraged. Floors plans are available on their website. Any existing works must have been completed within the last 3 years in order to be considered.

Three guest panelists will lead the review process for SOLOS this year, and consider every artist application received: Klaus Ottman, Curator at Large and Director of the Center for the Study of Modern Art for the Phillips Collection; Karen Milbourne, curator for the Smithsonian African Art Museum; and JJ McCracken, DC based installation artist and art professor (and one of the artists in my 100 Washington, DC Artists book).

SOLOS 2012 applications can be found here.

Breaking News: Art-O-Matic in Frederick

A large building (belongs to the Frederick County Board of Education and has 27,000 sq feet) has been secured for a Frederick, MD based Art-O-Matic and the event, in all its glory, buzz, impact, detractors and career-making opportunities for artists is expected to take place in historic downtown Frederick in the fall.

I hear that Frederick artist Steven Dobbin and crew have the lead for this project.

I also hear that this will take a lot of leads and guidance from the DC area ArtOMatic.

Also, of special note - Frederick, MD was just rated the 8th top small town arts destination in the country; Congrats!

This kind of event may certainly spike that number!

Book almost here!

The 100 Washington, DC Artists book is almost here!

I am told by the publisher that the advances arrived on Monday and that I will get an advance copy by next week, as for arrival in the warehouse for distribution, they have it slated for arrival on or about June 30th.