Artomatic is returning Spring 2024!

Good news for the DMV art scene! Artomatic will be back next year! They met today (See their announcement below) and I got some intel that AOM is on!

AOM is "estimating a March/April show. Huge space, 8 levels of office space in center of everything DC, 2100 M St. NW. No signed contract- but looks very likely. 

In its 25 year history, Artomatic has become a DC institution. It has provided an alternative venue for local artists, offering a festival that’s part art fair and part circus, but always the best open art show on planet Earth!

And because it doesn't use judges, curators or hierarchy, Artomatic is as democratic as an art show can get... which usually drives art critics crazy!

Besides heaps of visual arts of all types, the fair showcases local Dance, Theater, Spoken Word, Music, Film, Story Telling, Workshops, and whatever else DMV creatives can incorporate into the month long event. 

I am told that there was some talk of adding “culinary arts” to this show- but not set yet.

Below is the call for volunteers for today's meeting - but still has some good info:

Artomatic is returning Spring 2024 and we need your help!

 

The time has come to form committees and round up volunteers to make Artomatic 2024 the best ever. We meet this Sunday 17 December. 

 

·         This is our 1st return to Washington, DC Proper since 2009

·         Artomatic hosts our largest DC Building ever at over 400,000 sq ft

·         We are in the Golden Triangle BID for the 1st time

·         The building is “Taylor Made” for an Artomatic with office & open space

·         This will be Artomatic’s 25th anniversary event

 

If you are interested in participating in the organization of Artomatic 2024, please make time this Sunday 17 December.  We are hosting a meeting to begin the formation of committees and volunteers.  

 

This is the 1st such meeting since 2009 and we are excited to have you on board.  

 

● The address is  2100 M Street, NW 20037

● Meeting starts at 2:00 PM and will go till 5:00 pm

● The building’s parking lot will be accessible (paid)

   (Enter garage on 21st between M and K, one way south bound)

● Street parking is free on Sunday!

 

Bring your idea cap and be ready to get to work.  This is strictly a volunteer and committee sign up meeting so if you just want to see the building, please wait for other announcements

 

We are also looking for organizations that would like to bring performance to Artomatic. 

 

Dance            Theater          Spoken Word            Music              Story Telling

 

So if you know folks in these arts please make them aware of this gathering!

 

To get your mind jogging, here are some committees to consider

 

Music / Performance  Film ▪  Site Operations ▪ Marketing & Development ▪ Arts Program Resources ▪ Staffing & Volunteer Management ▪ Merchandising and Bar

"Four Stories" at Gallery B

Stop by Gallery B for the December exhibit, "Four Stories." This group collection presents the contemporary work of local artists Karen Van Allen, Mimi Guernica, Tamora Ilasat and Kate McConnell representing their woven voices. Working both independently and together over many years in workshops and art associations, these artists use various media to reflect on their personal journeys to create work that tells a story through each of their respective narratives.

Gallery hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 12 PM to 5 PM and Sundays from 11 AM to 2 PM. Gallery B is located at  the location of the former Fraser Gallery at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E, in Bethesda, Maryland.

Oprah Winfrey portrait unveiled at Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery

Just back from the National Portrait Gallery, where somehow someone invited me to the unveiling of Oprah's portrait by Chicago artist Shawn Michael Warren.

I am told that the chain of events started when Warren, a muralist, painted an Oprah Winfrey's portrait as part of a mural in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood.

Oprah saw the mural and the rest is history... and oh yeah: This dude can paint!

Oprah Winfrey portrait by Shawn Michael Warren 

Newly Selected Artists at Hillyer

"Newly Selected Artists: George Lorio, E.d. Adegoke, and Dan Ortiz Leizman"

January 6–January 28, 2024.

The opening reception is Friday, January 5

(“First Friday”), 6 to 8 p.m

International Arts and Artists at Hillyer

9 Hillyer Ct, NW, Washington, DC 20008

Asshole(s) of the Month

Assholes of the Month for December (and maybe for all of 2023) goes to Virginia's 2nd Sundays Art and Music Festival! They cancelled a scheduled menorah-lighting ceremony because...

Instead, the planned celebration turned into a debacle when Second Sundays leadership decided, on Nov. 16, not to hold the menorah lighting because they feared it would be seen as an endorsement of Israel during its war with Hamas in Gaza.

The excuses seemed flimsy:

 Shirley Vermillion, the festival’s founder, said 2nd Sundays are inclusive to different religions or cultures, and the menorah lighting “seemed very inappropriate” given current events in Israel and Gaza.

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival Application Deadline Approaching

The 2024 Bethesda Fine Arts Festival application is open for submissions. This annual festival features 120 of the nation's finest artists, in categories including, but not limited to, ceramics, fiber, glass, painting, photography and sculpture. The juried festival provides artists with amenities including 24-hour security of the festival site, booth sitters, breakfast & lunch for participating artists, and more. The deadline to apply is Friday, December 22, 2023, and selected artists will be notified in late January 2024.

The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival will be held on May 11 & May 12, 2024 in Woodmont Triangle and will feature our selected artists, live music and local restaurants.

Details here.

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this insect trying to rip off artists:

From: Jonathan Bassett - bassettjay25@gmail.com 

Good day,

How are you today? I hope this email email finds you well! This is Jonathan Bassett a learning facilitator.  I’m privileged to be writing you this, I got your contact details online. I need the service of an illustrator/animator or cartoonist.

I’m intrigued by your skill and creativity I’ve seen on your website. I’m willing to work with you as I know you’d be a great fit for our forthcoming coming workshop, I’ll give you the ideas of what needs to be illustrated/drawn so you can get back to me with a quote to get it done, hopefully we can take it from there. Pls get back to me for more details

Bests Regards,

Jon