How to Hang Your Artworks

Not from me... 

Read the tips here.

Modern Gothic: The Photographic Art of Jamie Mahon

If you are a fan of the erotic dark side of spectacularly beautiful women who in many cases transform themselves into unbelievably sensual (and dangerous)... and somewhat predatory examples of what happens when natural beauty descends (or climbs) into the realms of darkness...

Then this is the book for you! 

Had H P Lovecraft seen these photos, he would have understood the nuances behind some of these awe-inspiring models, all captured in brilliant dark glory by a very talented photographer.  These are not the historical Goths who destroyed the Roman Empire in the 400s and raided their way through Western Europe and settled in Spain, France and northern Italy to make up those modern nations.

These are today's Goths.

Mahon is a master of the set-up, of the light (ironic no??) and of the posture... I can almost hear him whispering to the clear-eye beauties in this book, trying to draw even more danger and darkness from the dark moistness that is their bodies and the harsh light that beams from their eyes. 

Mahon must be familiar with Robert Ervin Howard's "The Song of a Mad Minstrel", which can be (almost) heard being whispered behind some of these unique women:

There was never a king or priest to cheer me by word or look,
There was never a man or beast in the blood-black ways I took.
There were crimson gulfs unplumbed, there were black wings over a sea,
There were pits where mad things drummed, and foaming blasphemy.

There were vast ungodly tombs where slimy monsters dreamed;
There were clouds like blood-drenched plumes where unborn demons screamed.
There were ages dead to Time, and lands lost out of Space; 
There were adders in the slime, and a dim unholy Face.

Oh, the heart in my breast turned stone, and the brain froze in my skull--
But I won through, I alone, and poured my chalice full
Of horrors and dooms and spells, black buds and bitter roots--
From the hells beneath the hells, I bring you my deathly fruits.

DC Art Bank: Call for DMV Artists!

Great news: Just heard from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, and this year’s Art Bank call to artists is open to metropolitan area artists and District galleries representing metropolitan area artists - not just DC artists! 

Details here.

Bethesda Painting Awards finalists selected!

$10,000 to be Awarded to Best in Show

Eight painters have been selected as finalists for the Bethesda Painting Awards, a juried competition and exhibition produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District. Nearly 300 artists from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. submitted work to the 14^th annual competition created to exclusively honor regional painters. The work of the eight finalists will be on display at Gallery B from June 6-30, 2018.

The top prize winners will be announced and honored on Wednesday, June 6 at 7pm at a private reception held at Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E. The Best in Show winner will be awarded $10,000, second place will be honored with $2,000 and third place will be awarded $1,000.

The artists selected as finalists are:

Kim Abraham, Alexandria, VA

Sarah Boyts Yoder, Charlottesville, VA

Carolyn Case, Cockeysville, MD

Leigh Anne Chambers, Courtland, VA

Emma Childs, Baltimore, MD

Caleb Kortokrax, Baltimore, MD

Khanh Le, Washington, D.C.

Stephen Towns, Baltimore, MD

A public opening will be held on Friday, June 8, from 6-8pm. Gallery B is located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E in downtown Bethesda. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12-6pm.

The competition jurors are Sally Bowring, Professor of Painting and Director of Administration for the Painting & Printmaking Department, Virginia Commonwealth University; Laura Roulet, independent curator and writer and Bill Schmidt, artist and winner of the 2016 Baker Artist Awards and the 2015 Bethesda Painting Awards.

The Bethesda Painting Awards was established by my good friend and local business owner Carol Trawick in 2005. Ms. Trawick has served as a community activist for more than 25 years in downtown Bethesda and established The Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation in 2007. She is the former Chair of the Maryland State Arts Council, Strathmore, Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc. and founder of The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards.

For more information, please visit www.bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660.

 

Previous Best in Show winners include:

2017 Katherine Tzu-Lan Mann, Washington, D.C.

2016 Tanja Softic, Richmond, VA

2015 Bill Schmidt, Baltimore, MD

2014 Kyle Hackett, Baltimore, MD

2013 Barry Nemett, Stevenson, MD

2012 Ali Miller, Baltimore, MD

2011 Alison Hall, Roanoke, VA

2010 Nora Sturges, Baltimore, MD

2009 Camilo Sanin, Jessup, MD

2008 B.G. Muhn, North Potomac, MD

2007 Matthew Klos, Baltimore, MD

2006 Tony Shore, Baltimore, MD

2005 Joe Kabriel, Annapolis, MD

Call for Artists

Deadline: May 21, 2018

 

Budget: Project budget, including materials, fabrication, installation, travel and expenses, is $75,000. 

 

Selected artists will be paid a stipend of $1,000 to develop their proposals and accompanying support materials, including story boards, maquettes, etc. Eligibility: Professional artists and design professionals are invited to apply as an individual or a team. Preference will be given to artists who have public art experience and are residents of, or maintain a studio in Prince George’s County, Maryland or Montgomery County, Maryland. Selection Process and Criteria: Three artists/artist teams will be selected to develop proposals for the project. They will meet for preliminary briefing with the Art Advisory Panel, as well as potentially with members of the Peppermill Community, after which they will each be paid a stipend of $1,000 to develop their proposals. After the proposals are developed, the selected artists/teams will be required to present their design proposal and maquette for review by the Art Advisory Panel and others. After the review process is completed, the final selection of the artists/teams for issuance of a contract for production of the artwork will be made.

 

For additional information, visit here.

 

Qualifications must be submitted to: https://m-ncppc.submittable.com by 12 Midnight on May 21, 2018. For issues accessing PDF or questions: Please Contact: ALEC SIMPSON, alec.simpson@pgparks.com; Countywide Visual and Public Art Coordinator, 301-446-3237, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this rip off artist... if you want to know how the scam works... use the search box to the left and search for "art scam."

From: thomasfred500500@engineer.com

Top of the Morning to you, I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes some of your art piece, I must also say you are doing a great job. I would like to know what inspired that work. I am very much interested in the purchase to surprise my wife. Kindly confirm the availability for immediate art work for sales.(Thomasfred500500@gmail.com) Regards Thomas

Also this one:

 From: online-oceanengineer@tfred.com

 Good Day Im Thomas Fred From NC. I observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of art work, I'm also impressed to have seen your different piece of works too, : ) You are doing an amazing job.I would like to receive more information about your piece of artwork and what inspires you. I am very much interested in buying a piece of art ,to surprise my wife. Kindly reply for the immediate art work for purchase ?? (Thomasfred5050@gmail.com) Best Regards Thomas

DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Request for Applications

Request for Applications

FY 2019 Project Support and Fellowship Grants

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) invites the submission of applications from qualified individuals and organizations for the following FY19 grants programs (all times EST):

Grants for Organizations Only

Arts and Humanities Education Projects

Application Deadline: June 8, 2018 at 4 pm 

East of the River Projects

Application Deadline: June 8, 2018 at 4 pm 

Upstart

Application Deadline: June 15, 2018 at 4 pm 

Field Trip Experiences 

Application Deadline: June 22, 2018 at 4 pm 

Facilities and Buildings

Application Deadline: July 27, 2018 at 4 pm

Grants for Individuals Only

Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program

Application Deadline: June 1, 2018 at 4 pm

Curatorial Grant

Application Deadline: July 27, 2018 at 4 pm

Grants for Individuals and Organizations

Projects, Events, or Festivals (Cycle 1)

Application Deadline: June 8, 2018 at 4 pm

Sister Cities Grant

Application Deadline: June 15, 2018 at 4 pm

Art Bank Program

Application Deadline: July 20, 2018 at 4 pm

Grant application guidelines are available online.

FY19 Grants Introduction Sessions 

CAH is coming to your ward! Join us at a free information session to learn about these FY19 funding opportunities for individuals and organizations. The FY19 Grants Introduction will be presented in all 8 wards of the District this week. View the complete schedule.