Tomorrow: NYC NOW in Bethesda

NYC NOW is an exhibition of new work by 5 contemporary artists living in New York City and it is Morton Fine Art's (MFA) fourth *a pop-up project.

The exhibition features new artworks by nationally renowned, New York based, contemporary artists Margaret Bowland, Kenichi Hoshine, Choichun Leung, Jules Arthur and Jason Sho Green. *a pop-up project will be on display from November 11th through December 6th 2011 at Gallery B located at 7700 Wisconsin Ave # E, Bethesda, MD 20814-6530. The opening reception will be held on Friday, November 11th from 6 - 9 pm. Images can be previewed online at www.mortonfineart.com and www.apopupproject.com.

Do this tomorrow

See this on PinkLine Project. If you've had the honor and privilege of serving in the US Armed Forces, then this art project is seeking Veterans & Civilians for historic photo by the Metabolic Studio’s Optics Team and their Liminal Camera.

Please arrive by 10am on the Mall on 3rd street between Jefferson and Madison Avenues, across from the Capitol building. Giant flag raising and photograph to take place at 11am sharp. Bring a picnic.

The photograph will be on view at the Hirshhorn Museum on 11/12/11 and 11/13/11.

All the details here.

Are We Too Prudish For Our Own Good?

Herewith a guest post by Tiberio Simone:

The Difference Between Sensuality and Sexuality
By: Tiberio Simone

Being an American citizen, I enjoy the freedom of expression enjoyed by artists in this country. However, I wonder sometimes if we grasp some of the ironies of how we express that freedom.

I am from Italy, which is known as one of the most romantic countries in Europe, a destination for lovers who come to visit from all over the world. So, perhaps I have a slightly different perspective on how Americans express themselves, particularly with regard to romance and sensuality. In Italy, we embrace these concepts in everything we do – the way we dress, the way we cook, the way we dine, and the way we live.

In America however, I sometimes sense a split personality with regard to these concepts. More specifically, I think we sometimes confuse our sensuality with sexuality, and as a result, try to keep both of them hidden for fear of corrupting our children. My point is, there is a difference.

For instance, if any part of the human body that would traditionally be covered by a bathing suit on a typical American beach is shown in a film, that film is rated for adult content, usually getting an “R.” If it is shown in a TV show, the scene is either deleted, or the “naughty bits,” as the British call them, are digitally pixilated out. And of course those areas are not necessarily even covered by bathing suits in Europe, as many of the beaches there are clothing optional.

In this type of censorship, there is no accounting for context. It’s not about the type of scene, but rather the anatomy. If it is a romantic scene, with a context of love and respect, soft lighting, and appropriate mood, it is considered just as “dirty” as a scene in which naked women are running around and shown as sexual objects and nothing more.

The same goes for modern art. Gallery shows in which the human form is depicted tastefully and sensually are regarded as pornography by many “morals” groups, leading some Congressmen to suggest that public funding from the National Endowment for the Arts should not be awarded to any artist who deals with the nude form. The chilling effect, when we approach the sensual and the sexual in the same way, is that we teach our children that nudity itself is a dirty thing, and that they should all be ashamed of their bodies.

That is why young adults in America go directly from puberty straight to pornography – because they do not have anything in between, such as public art or other forms of healthy nudity – things that would help them develop an understanding of sensuality.

Here is the ultimate irony. While we demonize certain parts of the human form, we don’t demonize treating women as sex objects at all, because we use sex to sell just about everything in the consumer marketplace. In TV commercials, young, attractive, and barely dressed women sell everything from cars to beer, weight loss plans to gym gear, breakfast cereals to vacation destinations – even snack foods practically guaranteed to make the men who eat them incredibly unattractive to the women used to sell them.

The difference here is context. We enter the world naked. It is our most natural state as humans, yet the naked body is considered dirty and inappropriate for all time zones. Meanwhile, treating women not as people, but simply as objects of sexual desire, which demeans all women in the process, is perfectly acceptable.

We need to create an environment in America in which sensuality is not confused with sexuality, so that we can all enjoy a freedom of expression that is based in context and meaning instead of an unhealthy and negative obsession with sex.

(Born in southern Italy, Tiberio Simone is a James Beard Award-winning chef and co-author of La Figa: Visions of Food and Form, a coffee table book that features a spectacular collection of sensual photography – models wearing nothing but Simone’s edible creations.)

Call for Artists

The Howard County Arts Council is seeking artists to participate in the annual Silent Auction Art Exhibit as part of the Arts Council’s annual fundraising gala, Celebration of the Arts in Howard County. The Silent Auction seeks to highlight the talented artists of Howard County at this important event.

All 2-D, 3-D, and fine craft artists, 18 years or older, residing, working, or studying in Howard County, HCAC members, and artists who have exhibited in Howard County in the last year are invited to submit. Deadline for submissions is December 3, 2011.

Visual artists working in all styles and media are invited to apply, including painters, sculptors, ceramicists, fiber artists, jewelers, and photographers. Artists will be selected by a jury panel who may also invite artists who are eligible to participate. This showcase of artists in Howard County has proven to be a great benefit to both established and emerging talent in the community and is also a successful fundraiser to support art programs, exhibitions, and organizations in the county.

This year’s event will be held at the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College on March 24, 2012 from 6-10pm. The Silent Auction exhibition will be presented in the Rouse Company Foundation Gallery. The final bid for each artwork sold will be divided equally between the artist and the Arts Council. Last year’s Silent Auction sales exceeded $10,000 and 75 pieces sold.

A prospectus with additional information is available on the Celebration page of the Arts Council’s website www.hocoarts.org or can be mailed or emailed by calling 410-313-ARTS (2787).

InstantDC


InstantDC is a new organization devoted to showcasing emerging artists in the DMV area.

Check them out here.

Angel update

The two angel sculptures which needed to find a home have been adopted by two local art collectors and are now in homes in Potomac, MD!

Tomorrow

Photoworks, that terrific photography school and gallery in Glen Echo Park, will hold Photo Slam 2011 from 8 to 10 p.m. Sunday at the District’s Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. N.W.

A $10 donation is suggested to witness various photographers projecting their portfolios in front of a panel of celebrity judges.

The event is part of FotoWeek DC, the DMV's spectacular annual celebration of photography.