But is it Art? Art Fair

The WCP's Kriston Capps has a very interesting article on a new and fresh concept on a DC satellite art fair to the (e)merge art fair - read it here.

When artists Alex Ventura and Victoria Milko host the But Is It Art? fair from Sept. 22 to Sept. 25, they won’t be putting that question to their artists or audience. They know what they’re doing is art. Their DIY fair is asking a pointed question about another art fair taking place over the same weekend: the inaugural (e)merge art fair.

“We can show as strong a contemporary art show without the development,” Ventura says. “I’m not judging, but it’s sort of a friendly ‘fuck you.’ Contemporary art doesn’t need that setting.”

This is a first heard for me - check out their website here. When Art Basel Miami Beach started in Florida less than a decade ago, it was just them (Art Miami had been around for years, but at a different time). The idea proved so good, that now there are 25 satellite art fairs around the ABMB magnet and even the original art fair (Art Miami) changed their schedule to align with ABMB week in December.

“These people have not contacted us,” Conner says, “but I think it’s fantastic.” She says that (e)merge aims to be inclusive and to broadcast other arts events within the city, including, potentially, But Is It Art? “Casting things as mainstream versus alternative—I’m not sure those are the right terms. If like the Armory, if like Art Basel, if what (e)merge is doing is inspiring others, we’re happy that a satellite is happening.”

Good Pre-Pub Sales (so far!)...

The announcement of the first volume of the three set compendium (100 Washington, DC Artists) caused quite a bit of stir further fueled by my re-write of a drive-by article on the subject.

One of the commenters in one of those articles noted something along the line of "who cares, only 100 copies will sell".

And yet, the pre-orders for the book have been so unexpectedly high that now the book shows out of stock on Amazon until they get their orders fulfilled! in their distribution center.

By the way, for those of you who ordered the book online (including whoever apparently ordered 100 copies!), the publisher tells me that because of the fact that the book just arrived in the publisher's warehouse in PA just last week, it will take anywhere from 3-6 weeks for all distribution centers (both online and brick and mortar bookstores) to receive their stock and replace it in their inventory.

So the book will be back in stock at Amazon as soon as they receive their current orders and their additional orders.

By the way number two: Pencil in 23 July from 3-5PM for the book release party in DC - more details here.

The place to be this Saturday is...

Mark this down on your calendar: Saturday, July 9, 2011 for three "not to miss" art events at Conner Contemporary:

- (e)merge panel discussion - 5pm

- ACADEMY 2011 opening + (e)merge party: 6-8pm.

First: Saturday, July 9th - the panel at 5pm; party 6 to 8pm. Conner Contemporary Art and (e)merge art fair will host a panel discussion: Collecting and Emerging Art. Panelists include: Robert Shapiro, collector, Henry Thaggert, collector, Melissa Ichiuji, artist, Alberto Gaitan, artist, Victoria Reis, Director, Transformer Gallery. The panel will be moderated by Helen Allen, co-director of the (e)merge art fair.

The (e)merge panel discussion begins at 5pm; directly followed by (e)merge art fair party and Academy 2011 opening.

ACADEMY 2011, is Conner's 11th annual invitational survey of outstanding work by MFA/BFA students from the Washington/Baltimore area.

Exhibition founder and curator, Jamie Smith, Ph.D. invited the following artists to participate:

Artists: Sarah Allison, Forest Allread, Emily Biondo, Woojin Chang, Caroline Covington, Michael Dotson, Dan Gioia, Ginny Huo, Adam Junior, Libby Landauer, Linling Lu, Jon Malis, Jonathan Monaghan, Elle Perez, Melissa Prentki, Camilo Sanin, Samuel Scharf, Sierra Suris, Virginia Wagner. That's Linling Lu, One Hundred Melodies of Solitude - Lighthouse II, acrylic on canvas, c. 2011 on the left.

Representing institutions: American University, Corcoran College of Art and Design, George Washington University, Maryland Institute College of Art, and University of Maryland.

Check out the exhibition online here.

Local Color

Happy 4th!

American Flag by Jasper Johns

Art Deck-O at Touchstone

Art Deck-O: DC Playing Card Originals Artists from the Washington DC Playing Card Project Opening Reception: Friday, July 8, 6–8:30 pm at Touchstone Gallery.

This past winter 54 of Washington DC's finest artists came together to produce wildly creative designs that form a playing card deck unique to our area. The culmination of these efforts was then published in a deck of fully functional playing cards with traditional suites of diamonds, hearts, spades and clubs.

Although decks of cards--designed by artists or created in a particular theme--have been around for centuries, this latest variation on the concept has given DC area artists a fun way to showcase their individual expressions in card form. Both the originals and the decks of cards will be on exhibit at Touchstone Gallery during the month of July as Touchstone partners with Art In Hand TM to promote the work of artists here in DC.

Each deck is composed of a fantastic array of genres and mediums which are a big hit with artists, school teachers, magicians, game players and art lovers everywhere. Each deck is like holding an Art Gallery right in your own hands.

Washington is the third city in a series of art decks created by Art In Hand TM, an arts publisher out of Charlotte, NC. Founded by Dione Goyette in 2009, the first project united artists in the Charlotte area and then inspired a deck in Portland, Oregon. This imaginative and collaborative project isn't just fun and games. So far, participating artists in Charlotte and Portland can boast that their work is in the homes of over 3,000 and 5,000 people respectively. Decks in both cities will go back for second printings this year.

Artists: Steve Alderton, Erin Antognoli, Michael J. Auger, Jennifer Beinhacker, Chris Bishop, Jennifer Bishop, Liliane Blom, Adam Bradley, Tory Cowles, Karen Deans, Cheryl Patrice Derricotte, Devbo, Dana Ellyn, Theresa Esterlund, Susan Feller, Beth Hannon Fuller, Jenne Glover, Emily Greene Liddle, Rosemary Luckett, Sue Lynch, Susan Makara, Angela Maray, Joyce McCarten, Newton More, Jennifer O'Connell, Eileen Olson, Maggie O'Neill, Kristy Orr, Cindy Packard Richmond, Judith Peck, Pam Rogers, Daniel Francisco Roncesvalles, Lisa K. Rosenstein, Matt Sesow, Pauline A. Siple, Isabelle Spicer, Charles St. Charles, Mary Gallagher Stout, Dan Tulk, Pamela H. Viola, Gail Vollrath, Andrew Wodzianski, Emma SkyWolf, Sharon Wolpoff and Jason Zampol

Academy 2011 and (e)merge

Mark this down on your calendar: Saturday, July 9, 2011 for three "not to miss" art events at Conner Contemporary:

- (e)merge panel discussion - 5pm

- ACADEMY 2011 opening + (e)merge party: 6-8pm.

First: Saturday, July 9th - the panel at 5pm; party 6 to 8pm. Conner Contemporary Art and (e)merge art fair will host a panel discussion: Collecting and Emerging Art. Panelists include: Robert Shapiro, collector, Henry Thaggert, collector, Melissa Ichiuji, artist, Alberto Gaitan, artist, Victoria Reis, Director, Transformer Gallery. The panel will be moderated by Helen Allen, co-director of the (e)merge art fair.

The (e)merge panel discussion begins at 5pm; directly followed by (e)merge art fair party and Academy 2011 opening.

ACADEMY 2011, is Conner's 11th annual invitational survey of outstanding work by MFA/BFA students from the Washington/Baltimore area.

Exhibition founder and curator, Jamie Smith, Ph.D. invited the following artists to participate:

Artists: Sarah Allison, Forest Allread, Emily Biondo, Woojin Chang, Caroline Covington, Michael Dotson, Dan Gioia, Ginny Huo, Adam Junior, Libby Landauer, Linling Lu, Jon Malis, Jonathan Monaghan, Elle Perez, Melissa Prentki, Camilo Sanin, Samuel Scharf, Sierra Suris, Virginia Wagner. That's Linling Lu, One Hundred Melodies of Solitude - Lighthouse II, acrylic on canvas, c. 2011 on the left.

Representing institutions: American University, Corcoran College of Art and Design, George Washington University, Maryland Institute College of Art, and University of Maryland.

Check out the exhibition online here.