BlackRock Center for the Arts presents “Mandy Chesney is gaudy”

BEST.NEWS.RELEASE.EVER!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On view

15 July–10 Sep 202

Tues–Fri: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM

Sat: Noon–4:00 PM

Sun: 10:30 AM–2:30 PM

Reception & Artist Talk: 18 Aug 2023, 6:00–8:00 PM

IN THE KAY GALLERY

Mandy Chesney is gaudy. Mandy Chesney is gaudy is Mandy Chesney’s first solo exhibition. Born spitting into the wind on the bow of a Mississippi riverboat casino, Chesney has known when to hold ‘em since day one. At age 4, she learned glitter magic from the Lion’s Creek Baptist Church organist, Mr. Robert—known far and wide for his lace drawers. At age 15, Chesney graduated from the Chattanooga Coiffer Academy and spent seven years and a month of Sundays as a beautician to the stars. Her talents have gloried the crowns of Marty Stuart, Pat Metheny, Janice Wendell Crouch, and William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys, among many others. 

But she also knows how to make a home. A master of the Domestic Arts, Chesney cannot be worn slap out. She will split a frog hair four ways, jerk a knot in your tail, and smell great while doing it.

From 2015 to 2017, Chesney graced the halls of the Mount Royal School of Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and she’s lived in Baltimore City ever since. 

Mandy Chesney is not a natural blonde. She’s a 42DD. 

Glitter is a particularly divisive material. Glitter is judged as frivolous in a way that is seen as too feminine, irredeemably low class, and possibly queer… It is loud. Glitter demands to be seen, it steals light. Glitter responds when you move your body, it has a conversation with your eyes. Glitter likes to party, it flirts with the viewer. It winks to something more behind the shine.

—Mandy Chesney, 2021, from an interview with Morgan Everhart for awomensthing.org

IG: @mandychesney

###

Sheer genius!!!!

Guess who's in the Washington Post today?

A few days ago I expressed my frustration here about the waste of print space in the WaPo's only column dedicated to our area's art galleries. Today the WaPo published my letter on the subject online and then in print in their Saturday issue.

Read it here.

Arts Beat from 1999

Back from the past: When the WaPo used to have multiple columns looking at gallery shows:

In a group show at Georgetown's Fraser Gallery, "Salvador Dali: A Modern Homage to a Modern Icon," many works feature the artist himself, black eyes ablaze, famous waxed mustache in fine form. In synergy with his explosive, colorful works, Dali had a showman's personality and theatrical looks.

Read the piece by Nicole Lewis here.

Spatial thinking activities in PK-12 classrooms

Spatial thinking activities in PK-12 classrooms: Predictors of teachers’ activity use and a framework for classifying activity types is the new research paper where the Professah is a co-author.

Read it here.

Stolen Artwork

Reviving this post from 2018 in case someone has come across this stolen artwork. 

Click here.

Maryland Federation of Art at Gallery B

Gallery B is pleased to announce its July exhibition, “MFA @ Gallery B,” a juried exhibition of work by Maryland Federation of Art members consisting of 31 artists and 45 selections of works. The exhibit will be displayed from July 12 – August 6, 2023 at Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E, Bethesda, MD. Gallery hours for the show will be Wednesday – Saturday, 12-6pm, with a public reception on Saturday, August 5, 2023 from 3-5 PM.

Members of the Maryland Federation of Art residing in any of the states or territories

of the United States, Canada and Mexico were asked to enter the “MFA @ Gallery B” summer member show. The exhibition will include original 2D or 3D work.

 

Selected works by the following artists will be featured:

 

Nada Romanos Abizaid	McLean, VA
John T Allen	Silver Spring, MD
Kenneth L. Bachman	Bethesda, MD
Sally Canzoneri	Washington, DC
Pearl B Chang	Rockville, MD
Ray Conrad	Frederick, MD
David Diaz	Annapolis, MD
Jayne BentleyGaskins	Reston, VA
Georgi	Bethesda, MD
Deborah Kommalan	Pasadena, MD
Nichole Leavy	Pasadena, MD
Gordon LYON	Gaithersburg, MD
Steve Mabley	Washington, DC
Rod Mayer	North Potomac, MD
Cindy Mehr	Bel Air, MD
Marcella Morgese	Knoxville, MD
David Mosher	Gaithersburg, MD
Richard Niewerth	Severna Park, MD
Katharine K. Owens	Fredericksburg, VA
Angela E. Petruncio	Arnold, MD
Maria Stella Quezada	Rockville, MD
Roz Racanello	Chesapeake Beach, MD
Joh Ricci	Gettysburg, PA
Edward Shmunes	West Columbia, SC
robert steinem	colrain, MA
Paul Tambellini	Silver Spring, MD
Dave Vetal	Pasadena, MD
Elaine Weiner-Reed	Severn, MD
Robert Bruce Weston	Milton, DE
Megan Whitfield	Arnold, MD
Edward C Wlodarczak	North Potomac, MD

“MFA @ Gallery B” was juried by Margery Goldberg, wood artist, founder, and director of Zenith Gallery. “I make art because that is who I am. I’ve known this since I was 10 when I started sculpture classes at Rochester Memorial Art Gallery”. 

Goldberg majored in Art at George Washington University, and after college in 1973, she became the first female in America with a complete woodworking studio. For over 45 years, she’s been obsessed with the medium of wood.

 

Art Connection in the Capital Region is looking for original artwork

Art Connection in the Capital Region is looking for original artwork that is framed and ready to install. Whether you're an artist or collector, they are eager to discuss donation opportunities with you. 

Applications are ongoing, apply anytime. Complete the form at this link to submit artwork.