At Politics and Prose...

And the world's fattest country is...

Holy enchilada!

Mexico is the world's fattest country!

Que pasa gorditos?

Cough, cough...

The Talking Walls of Buenos Aires

graffitimundo presents the group exhibition "The Talking Walls of Buenos Aires"  Opening Saturday, July 13^th at The Fridge in Washington DC. This will be the first time Argentina's unique urban art culture has been presented in the US. 

Urban art in Buenos Aires reflects the city's turbulent history and rich cultural heritage. Throughout the last century the city walls have been extensively painted by artists, activists, political groups and the public and have become an established and dynamic channel for expression.

During the last two decades several different artistic styles have developed. The devastating Argentine economic crisis of 2001 created a generation of young artists determined to take to the streets and reclaim their city. As they collaborated in a spirit of solidarity a new and distinctive visual language began to emerge.

"The Talking Walls of Buenos Aires" features mural art and original artworks from leading Argentine artists and art collectives, as well as video works and historical and contemporary photography portraying the urban landscape of Buenos Aires and seminal moments in the country's history.

The exhibition celebrates a form of expression rooted in activism and a desire to transform public space, and in the process challenges conventional views on what graffiti is, what street art represents, who creates it, and why.

Artists
Buenos Aires Stencil / Cabaio / Chu / Defi / DobleG / Ever / Fede Minuchin
Gualicho / Jaz / Malatesta / Mart / Pastel / Pedro Perelman / Poeta / Pum Pum / Roma
Sam / Sonni / Stencil Land / Tec / Tester

Event information
The “Talking Walls of Buenos Aires” will open at 6pm on July 13^th 2013 at TheFridge, 516 1/2 8th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003

Wanna show at the (e)merge art fair?

Call for Submissions: WPA Member Work on Paper
Deadline: Monday, September 2, 2013 at 5pm
Work Drop-Off: September 16 - 20, 2013, 10am-6pm

Work Pick-Up: November 5 - 8, 2013 10am-6pm
Drop-off and Pick-Up Location: WPA Office, Capitol Skyline Hotel, Suite 434, 10 I (eye) Street, SW, Washington, DC
Exhibition Dates: September 27 - October 27, 2013
Exhibition Location: Capitol Skyline Hotel Lounge, 10 I (eye) Street, SW, Washington, DC
Contact: Blair Murphy, Program Director, 202-234-7103 x 1 or bmurphy@wpadc.org ONLINE REGISTRATION

BECOME A WPA MEMBER

 

Washington Project for the Arts is pleased to announce a call for 8" x 8" works on paper by WPA Member Artists to be on view and for sale as part of WPA's Hothouse series during the (e)merge art fair. 

 

Work will be exhibited in the Capitol Skyline Hotel Lounge from September 27 - October 27, 2013. All current WPA members are invited to submit one 8" x 8" work on paper. Work submitted MUST be 8" x  8" and must be delivered without a mat or frame. If a member artist wishes to submit a work that is smaller than 8" x 8", it must be submitted mounted to an 8" x 8" sheet of paper. WORK THAT IS LARGER THAN 8" X 8" WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Work will be installed on the wall using removable adhesive mounting squares. When not displayed on the wall, work will be stored in acid free, archival sleeves and must fit into one of these sleeves. For heavy works or works on especially delicate or unusual paper, artists must provide an appropriate display mechanism. These could include adhesive squares or a display hook or gator clip attached to the back of the work. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact Blair Murphy, Program Director, at 202-234-7103 x 1 or bmurphy@wpadc.org.

Registration, Drop-off and Pick-up
Current WPA member artists who wish to participate must register online by September 2, 2013 at 5pm by submitting their contact info, cv, work details, and one image of the work they would like to include through this online form. Artists must be current WPA members in order to participate. You can join or renew your membership on the WPA website. 

All work must be dropped off at the WPA office at the Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 I (eye) Street SW, Suite 434 between September 16 and September 20, from 10am to 6pm. You will be notified via email by November 1 if your work has sold. Unsold work must be picked up at the WPA office between November 5 and 8, from 10am to 6pm.

If you are unable to drop your work off in person, but would still like to participate or have any other questions regarding the submissions process, please contact Blair Murphy, Program Director, at 202-234-7103 x 1 or bmurphy@wpadc.org.

Artist Agreement
WPA Member Artists who participate must agree to the following term.    

By submitting to WPA's Member Work on Paper Exhibition, you agree to the following conditions: All work included in WPA's Member Works on Paper Exhibition must be for sale. Work that is sold will be given to patrons to take with them upon purchase. Washington Project for the Arts will take a 30% commission on works that are sold. Work will be insured by WPA while it is in WPA's possession. Unsold work must be picked up at the WPA office by November 8, 2013. WPA will not be held responsible for the work after that date. I hereby release the WPA, its Directors, employees and volunteers and agree to indemnify and hold them harmless against all claims arising out of damage to my artwork arising in connection with my participation in the WPA Member Work on Paper Exhibition. 

About Hothouse

Hothouse is a new series of exhibitions, installations, and events organized by Washington Project for the Arts that takes place in the Capitol Skyline Hotel Lounge. Created as a way to provide new opportunities for WPA member artists and forge new connections within DC's creative communities, Hothouse will present member-initiated programming on a regular basis. 

Need Studio Space?

Studio Space is Available in AAC's Artist Residency Program! 

Application Deadline: Received by August 1, 2013
Notification Date: August 12, 2013
Studio available for move-in September 1, 2013

The Arlington Arts Center (AAC) invites Washington-area visual artists to apply for this prestigious six-year residency program, which supports artists by providing spacious and light-filled studios, subsidized rent, and a creative community of emerging artists working in diverse media. In addition to well-appointed spaces, studio artists enjoy tremendous exposure and the opportunity to exhibit their work biennially in AAC's Wyatt Gallery. The available space is within our group studio, to be shared with two other artists.

Why AAC? 

• Beautiful studios with high ceilings, natural light, and sinks, and access to generous common areas, including an artists lounge and shower facilities, and a lovely park with tennis courts on the grounds
• Wyatt Gallery devoted to exhibitions of Resident Artist work
• Great location one block to the metro at Virginia Square with cafes and shops, right between Clarendon and Ballston -- two vibrant Arlington neighborhoods
• Responsive staff eager to promote your career
• Proximity to other emerging artists in AAC studios and in the community, and to exhibiting artists from the mid-Atlantic region and beyond

To apply:

Visit AAC's website at www.arlingtonartscenter.org/studios to learn more about the program, click here for a description of the Residency Program, and download an application here to get started!   

 

What past Resident Artists have to say:

"As a Resident Artist, I have had an extraordinary space in which to work, explore new materials, develop ideas and exhibit my work. And over time, the high-ceiling studio space influenced the scale of my work, spurring the creation of more sculptural room-size interior textiles. Exhibitions and open studios stimulated dialogue with the public and other artists about the creative process. And I made an invaluable gallery connection, thanks to an independent curator who came to opening receptions. AAC supporters, staff and board members have provided great environment in which to grow as an artist." - Paula Bryan 

 

"My six-year residency at the Arlington Arts Center has been extremely positive and has helped to push my studio practice to new levels. In addition to the support provided by affordable studio rent, the program served as a springboard for my professional development... The experience has been invaluable." - Evan Reed

"My residency here at AAC has been an extremely rewarding and inspirational experience. To be constantly submerged in a center that explores and presents contemporary art and to witness the effects it generates within a community is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I treasure." - Gilbert Trent

Academy 2013 and (e)merge pre-fair party

CONNERSMITH has announced ACADEMY 2013, the 13th annual invitational survey of outstanding work by MFA/BFA students in the Washington/Baltimore area.
Exhibition founder and curator, Dr. Jamie Smith invited 20 artists to participate from the region's arts institutions including American University, Corcoran College of Art and Design, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, George Washington University, Maryland Institute College of Art, and University of Maryland.
Artists: Ryan Carr Johnson, Larry Cook, Di Fang, Kyle Hackett, Annie Hanson, Jay Hendrick, Jeremiah Holland, Rachel Hrbek, Vincent Hui, Nathan Loda, Armando Lopez-Bircann, Kellie Martin, Ryan McCoy, Pat McGowan, Joan Oh, Laura Payne, Mihaela Savu, Rahshia Sawyer, Steven Skowron, and Jason Edward Tucker.
There will be an opening night reception at CONNERSMITH., Saturday, July 13th from 6 to 9pm with artists in attendance. In conjunction with ACADEMY 2013 opening, a pre-fair party celebrating the 3rd edition of (e)merge will be held.

Look for Ryan McCoy to steal this show...

Congrats to DCCAH!

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) is pleased to announce three DCCAH commissioned public art projects from the inaugural 5x5 public art biennale have been selected by the Americans for the Arts (AFTA) Public Art Network's Year in Review Top 50 Projects of 2013. The AFTA Year in Review is the only national program that specifically recognizes public art projects. The honor couldn't have come at a better time as DCCAH is simultaneously promoting the 2014 Call to Curators for 5x5.

The award-winning projects: Home Mender by Monica Canilao (curated by Justine Topher), Henry "Box" Brown: FOREVER by Wilmer Wilson (curated by Laura Roulet), and The Polygonal Address System by Steve Badgett and Deborah Stratman (curated by Steve Rowell), were presented by the Year in Review jurors at the June 2013 AFTA - Public Art Preconference.  

"We are very excited to be recognized for public art," said Judith Terra, Chair of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. "This honor represents a growing arts scene in Washington, DC."

"We expect that the 5x5 project in 2014 will be as exciting as the previous one," said Lionell Thomas, Executive Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. "Plans are already underway to build on the previous success with new and dynamic offerings."

My congrats to all!