Does It Matter If Jimmie Durham, Noted Cherokee Artist, Is Not Actually Cherokee?

Does it also matter that Senator Elizabeth Warren allegedly for decades claimed to be Native-American, only to be busted when she turned to national politics? Or is self-identification enough?

All this dates back to June 26, when a group of ten Cherokee artists, educators, and leaders published a letter to the website of Indian Country Today, just four days after his retrospective opened at the Walker. The group’s letter claimed Durham was “a trickster” who is “falsely claiming to be Cherokee” and went on to state that he “has no Cherokee relatives; he does not live in or spend time in Cherokee communities; he does not participate in dances and does not belong to a ceremonial ground.” In the ensuing weeks and months he was labeled everything from “The Artist Formerly Known As Cherokee” to the “Art World’s Rachel Dolezal,” and the Walker issued the following disclaimer to the webpage and wall credits of their show: 

While Durham self-identifies as Cherokee, he is not recognized by any of the three Cherokee Nations, which as sovereign nations determine their own citizenship. We recognize that there are Cherokee artists and scholars who reject Durham’s claims of Cherokee ancestry.

Read the whole fascinating article in Vulture here. 

New pop-up gallery

Torpedo Factory Artists @ Mosaic, a new art venture by Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association (TFAA), opens on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Mosaic District in Fairfax, Virginia. This pop-up art gallery will feature the work of more than 60 TFAA members over the course of three curated shows. The Mosaic gallery will be open until February 28, 2018. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm, with extended hours for special events and by appointment. A grand opening reception will take place on November 4 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this scammer trying to rip off artists!

From: Love&Peace Books and Stationary Store.  info9842@gmail.com

To: @

Sent: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 8:56:48 AM EDT

Subject: Order.

Good Day,
How is everything with you? I picked interest in your artwork and decided to write you. I will like to know if your artwork can be purchased and shipped internationally?.

I can email the artwork of interest and payment will be completed in full once you confirm my purchase order with a quotation.

Kindly let me know when you are in office and ready to take my artwork order also let me know if you accept either PayPal or Visa Card or Master Card for payment furthermore you can email me your recently updated website or art price list in your response.

Best Regards.

Barney.

Edwin Baker III

Last year we started a tradition of "sponsoring" an artist at the Context Art Miami art fair during Art Basel week in Miami. This year that artist is Edwin Baker III.

Petra Wright Curator / Gallery Director GDCA Galley / Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts wrote eloquently about this young artist's work:

There are people whose light shines so strongly that it precedes them. People who exude love and joy and generosity with every movement and word. Ed Baker is one of those people. Love radiates from him. Ed Baker is a 26 year old painter and sculptor born and raised in South Florida with studios in Downtown Los Angeles and Palm Beach. He is a self-taught artist who first started sketching and tattooing in his teens. After years of tattooing he was inspired to explore painting, now his primary passion. Today, he teaches painting classes to beginners in Los Angeles as well as painting live at festivals such as the annual Beat Swap Meet and Art Walk in Downtown LA and Culture Sundays in Pasadena, CA. Rooted in street art, Ed has found inspiration in artists including Picasso and Basquiat. 

Though Ed’s subject matters and colors can be complex, at times even muted, reflecting the inner struggles we all face, you sense the inner strength that guides him through the darkness of hard times and uncertainty. It is there, like an intangible under-layer amongst his shapes. It reaches through his artwork and connects with you. He hopes to inspire others with similar upbringings and tribulations to channel their inner turmoil and transform the energy of destruction into creation through artistic expression. You may become thoughtful looking at Ed Baker’s work, you may feel energy or conflict or sadness, but never hopeless. Despair is not an option. He is right there to pick you back up to hit you with brightness and life force and messages of transcendence and love.

Energy Flow
36x24 inches. Acrylic on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

At the end of time
24x36 inches. Acrylic on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

Take and manipulate
36x24 inches. Acrylic on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

Starring at blink pages
36x24 inches. Acrylic and spray paint on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

Melt With Me
40x30 inches. Acrylic on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

A penny for your thoughts
30x24 inches. Acrylic on canvas. 2017
Edwin Baker III

Virginia Commission for the Arts: Application Assistance Workshops

Virginia Commission for the Arts Presents Statewide  

Application Assistance Workshops

 

The Virginia Commission for the Arts will present a series of statewide application assistance workshops to be held in November and December 2017. Workshop locations include: Fredericksburg, Richmond, Arlington, Newport News, Emory, Lynchburg, and Harrisonburg.

 

VCA staff will provide an overview of grant programs, including information about the new Online Grant Application System as well as updates to the Guidelines for Funding, application and review procedures, and general tips on preparing competitive proposals in preparation for the March and April 2018 application deadlines.

 

Workshops are free and open to the public; pre-registration is not required. Attendance is not required in order to apply for Commission funding; however, workshops can be helpful for first-time applicants preparing requests for:

• General Operating Support Grants for Arts Organizations
•  Project Grants
•  Local Government Challenge Grants
•  Artists In Education and AIE Express Grants
•  Technical Assistance Grants
•  Touring Assistance for Presenters
•  Applications for inclusion in the Performing Arts Tour Directory and the Artist Roster
• Artist Fellowships

 Participants are encouraged to read theOnline Guidelines for Fundingand preview the Online Application Webinar and Tutorials here: http://www.arts.virginia.gov/grants.html. Those persons requiring the services of an interpreter for the hearing impaired should contact the Commission office at least one week in advance of the workshop.

 

Virginia Commission for the Arts Application Assistance Workshops will be held in the following locations:(Note: for specific directions or details for parking for the workshop you wish to attend, please contact the host sites directly in advance of the meeting day.)

 

Area 4B  Fredericksburg

Tuesday, November 28, 2017; 1pm-3pm

Fredericksburg Public Library  

1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

(540) 372-1144 ext. 7226; http://www.librarypoint.org/fredericksburg

 

Area 5   Richmond 

Tuesday, December 5, 2017; 10am-12noon                  
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Pauley Center Parlor
200 N. Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220

(804) 340-1400; www.vmfa.state.va.us

                                                                                                              

Area 4A   Arlington 

Wednesday, December 6, 2017; 1pm-3pm

Arlington Arts Center             
3550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Metro: Silver & Orange Lines: Virginia Square 
(703) 248-6800; www.arlingtonartscenter.org

 

Area 6 Newport News

Friday, December 8, 2017; 10 am to noon

Peninsula Fine Arts Center

101 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606

(757) 596-817; https://pfac-va.org/

 

Area 2 Lynchburg

Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Academy Center for the Arts
600 Main Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504

(434) 846-8499; www.academycenter.org

 

Area 1  Emory

Wednesday, December 13, 2017; 10 am-12noon

McGlothlin Center for the Arts at Emory & Henry College
30481 Garnand Drive, Emory, VA 24327

(276) 944-6333; www.ehc.edu/mca/

 

Area 3  Harrisonburg

Thursday, December 14, 2017; noon-2pm

The Ice House, Meeting Room 117
127 West Bruce Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
540-568-4696; Parking in the Bruce Street garage, one half block from the Ice House

 

The Virginia Commission for the Arts is the state agency that supports the arts through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Commission distributes grants to arts and other not-for-profit arts organizations, educational institutions, educators, artists, and local governments. For more information about the Virginia Commission for the Arts, visit www.arts.virginia.gov or call (804) 225-3132

Opportunity: Postcards from the Edge

Postcards from the Edge 2018 will be held January 19-21, 2018
at Gallery 524, located at 524 West 26th Street in NYC!
The schedule of events is as follows:
January 19, 6-8 PM - Preview Party
January 20, 10 AM - 6 PM - Benefit Sale
January 21, 12-4 PM - Sunday Special Benefit Sale: Buy 2 Postcards, get 1 FREE! 
Reminder: The postmark Deadline for Artwork is
December 4, 2017

2018 will mark the 20th anniversary of Visual AIDS' benefit art sale and I hope that you will participate and join us at the event!

 

Artists: For complete guidelines, information on mailing artwork, and to download the submission form, visit the Visual AIDS website.

PFTE is one of our most important fundraisers of the year, and its success will allow Visual AIDS to produce important art activism projects in 2018. By participating, artists support their mission, enabling them to produce AIDS-focused contemporary art programs and provide supplies and assistance to artists living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom are unable to continue producing work without such support.

Call for Proposals   site-specific installation | learn more >  We are now accepting proposals for site-specific installations for Harwood Art Center's 2018 Encompass show! Encompass is a unique multi-generational art event that takes place annually in March. Featuring four gallery exhibitions, open studios, collaborative art making projects, live music, food trucks and activities for all ages, Encompass is both a reflection of and an offering to our community. Encompass 2018 will focus on "Dream Spaces," as we think about our hopes and dreams for the future. INVITATION We invite artists to submit proposals for large-scale, site-specific installations for the Harwood front lawn. The installation will be honored at the Encompass 2018 reception on Saturday, March 3. All proposed works should: - Achieve significant visual impact - Contribute to the beauty of the Harwood front lawn - Account for safe and secure construction - Engage visitors at Harwood - Relate to the Encompass 2018 theme of "Dream Spaces" APPLICATIONS ARE DUE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017. Apply >