Hispanic or Latino? Neither!

Nearly four decades after the United States government mandated the use of the terms “Hispanic” or “Latino” to categorize Americans who trace their roots to Spanish-speaking countries, a new nationwide survey of Hispanic adults finds that these terms still haven’t been fully embraced by Hispanics themselves.

Very interesting new report on one of my pet peeves from The Pew Research Center... read it here.

Opportunity for Artists

There has been a Deadline Extension for Call for Entries for MPA's summer juried exhibition "Something and Nothing: Activating the Void"

This exhibition will bring together artists whose work deals with space, inclusion or absence. Many artists pay close attention to the “negative space” in their work, and often what is not included or that which is in-between is just as important as what is. For this exhibition, they are looking for works that explore this territory, either in a conceptual or formal way.

The juror will be J.W. Mahoney who is an artist, critic, and independent curator who serves as Washington’s Corresponding Editor for Art in America. He is an Affiliate Professor of Visual Arts at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, and his latest exhibition “Canceral” will open at Curator’s Office in Washington in May of this year.

Important dates:

April 11 Deadline for submissions

June 14 - July 28 Exhibition

For more information and the entry form, visit www.mpaart.org

Things that make me go Uh?

As a former rock-throwing liberal who's evolved into a social progressive and a fiscal conservative, and thus feels more relaxed now as a registered independent voter who's seldom seduced by the dogma of both nutty ends of our major parties, I went to vote today knowing that as a registered independent I would not be able to cast my vote in Maryland for either the Democrats or Republican candidates for anything.

"What party sir?", asked the nice lady at the voting station. I told her that I was an independent.

"Then you are aware that you'll only be voting for the Board of Education candidates?" she added.

"I know," I responded.

"Some people have been surprised and upset by that," she expanded as she handed me the plastic card with an embedded chip in it.

"Why?" I asked. "It was clear to me that as a registered independent, Maryland is one of those states that doesn't allow us to vote for Democrats or Republicans during the primaries."

She looked at me, almost expecting me to figure out the great illogical consequence of what I would figure out next.

And I did.

"But wait!" I almost shouted, and the nice old lady behind me in line jumped back a little. "Why can't I vote for independent candidates?" I looked at her, already knowing that she had heard this song before.

"Doesn't make sense does it?" she sighed. "People have been complaining all day."

What's up with that Maryland?

And yet another art scammer!

I've started a conversation with this rip-off master:

To: lennycampello@hotmail.com
Subject: ArtFile Online: Asere Si o No? 2009 Charcoal on Paper 19 x 48 inches
From: dr.jamesgreene@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:55:28 -0400

Morning,I would love to purchase Asere Si o No? 2009, Charcoal on Paper 19 x 48 inches ,please get back to me with details..I appreciate your prompt response
james

dr.jamesgreene@yahoo.com

And my response

From: Lenny Campello
Subject: RE: ArtFile Online: Asere Si o No? 2009 Charcoal on Paper 19 x 48 inches
To: dr.jamesgreene@yahoo.com
Date: Friday, March 30, 2012, 12:52 AM

Dr. Greene,

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I was about to be evicted from my home due to lack of money to pay my rent... this will allow my six daughters and I to stay here 2-3 more months.... I have shown your email to my landlord and he's allowing me to complete this sale and then pay him for the overdue rent.

What details do you need?

Blessings to you and your family.

Me

And he responds in turn

Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 03:34:34 -0700
From: dr.jamesgreene@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: ArtFile Online: Asere Si o No? 2009 Charcoal on Paper 19 x 48 inches
To: lennycampello@hotmail.com

you havent even told me the price and how you want payment made..kindly get back to me with those,thanks

So, I then lead him on more:

From: lennycampello@hotmail.com
To: dr.jamesgreene@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: ArtFile Online: Asere Si o No? 2009 Charcoal on Paper 19 x 48 inches
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2012 20:21:29 +0000

Dr. Greene,

How I hate to sully the transaction of art with talk of money... but I must pay my rent... I hope you understand.

Will you be paying for shipping fees? Where will I be shipping this wondrous creation of mine?

My six daughters, my landlord and I send you blessings.

Lenny

Art Scam Alert

Here's the text and email address of the would be scammer:

Morning,I am interested in buying your True Believer 2009 Charcoal and Colored Pencils on Paper 24 x 14 inches ,i would like to know how payment would be made,and the price you listed for it.have a nice day..I appreciate your prompt response
Scott

scottwood889@yahoo.co.uk

You know I'm gonna go see this show...

Dmitry Volkov

I know that this blog is all about the visual arts, but recently I had the pleasure to be invited to and then astounded by, a private cello performance by a very young and immensely talented cellist that had a profound impact upon me.

Winner of the 2009 Carlos Prieto International Cello Competition, cellist Dmitry Volkov performs solo concerts across the Globe. Mr. Volkov won First Prize in the Midland-Odessa Symphony National Young Artist Competition (2011), the Heifetz Institute of Music Concerto Competition (2009), and the Togliatti International Competition for Strings, (2002), as well as Second Prize in the Teacher and Student International Competition (2003). Having graduated from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in the studio of Natalia Shakhovskaya in 2011, he is pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Peabody Institute in the studio of Amit Peled.

Volkov's talent is undeniable, but I think that it is his passion for the music that he makes that will set him apart and make him an important star in the vastly gifted firmament of contemporary classical music.

As I sat there watching his impossibly long fingers dance all over the cello, I was thinking to myself how mankind continuously replenishes itself with ever more advanced talent, always pushing the line a little further along the unquantifiable "it" that makes us open out mouths and minds in wonder.

Volkov is about to embark on a tour of Mexico; check out his website here.