At the next Affordable Art Fair

 

WOVEN: Threads of Identity in Abstract Expressionism at the Popcorn Gallery

Just back from the opening at Glen Echo's Popcorn Gallery of WOVEN: Threads of Identity in Abstract Expressionism, an excellent group exhibition by the artists of The Black Art Today Foundation. 

The news release reveals that the "show showcases the dynamic and powerful works of contemporary Black women artists who utilize the language of Abstract Expressionism" and...

Abstract Expressionism, a movement known for its focus on emotion, gesture, and individuality, becomes a powerful tool for these artists to explore themes of identity, race, and resilience. Through bold colors, gestural marks, and innovative techniques, they challenge traditional narratives and forge their own visual vocabulary.

This exhibition celebrates the artistic mastery and unique perspectives of Black women in the contemporary art world, while also acknowledging the historical exclusion of these artists from the canon of Abstract Expressionism.

This is a spectacular exhibition, and in my many decades of reviewing and attending art shows, this was of the few group art shows where every single work packs an intelligent punch to the solar plexus of the mind in what the artists - and the aim of the show - deliver!

Both Alida and I were immediately drawn to the paintings of Janet Walters, which are harmonious and fluid, flexing the artistic superpower of watercolors, the most difficult of media, at the hands of a very talented artist. She notes that "color on color creates depth and an ethereal feeling, as well as, little spaces ripe to become secret little vignettes.  I strive to give the viewer three ways to see my work;  a view from some distance, a closer view that shows more detail and an even closer perspective that reveals those little spaces that let viewers feel that they have come upon a secret space discovered only by them."

Another artist in full mastery of her media is Tommi Blake, whose attractive resin paintings (some done in collaboration with fellow artist Marie Antoinette) are not only powerful abstract works, but also beautifully delivered in technical skill. I especially liked a large work titled "In the Beginning", which almost dominates the side of the gallery where it is displayed.

Anita Henley Carrington "Riptide"

One of the most powerful weapons of Abstract Expressionism is the ability to deliver nuanced psychological messages, which in the hands and brush of a gifted artist can be a memorable experience. In the painting titled "Riptide", artist Anita Henley Carrington delivers this exceptionally well, not only by offering us a beautiful painting, but also planting the image in our minds with an intelligent title, that forever moves that abstract painting into a recognizable event. 

Washingtonian Maria-Lana Queen "Black Girl #11" is another work where the title and the energetic work full of marks and forms planted and floated anchor an image delivered by a very elegant abstract work. The piece seduced me visually and mentally.

Dr. Yemonja Smalls "Dream Day"

In every thematic group show there's always a work that stretches or redefines the focus of the show. In this case it is a powerful substantial work by Dr. Yemonja Smalls titled "Dream Day." It is not Abstract Expressionism by any definition of the genre, and personally, I do not care as I was enthralled by the multimedia, three-dimensional work, which managed to showcase Smalls' painting skills in the background of the work, and enviable design talent in the construction and incorporation of the figure atop the painted surface - it has not only presence, but WOW factor!

On the other hand, Washingtonian Dr. Harriet Smith is a self-taught artist whose striking and colorful paintings, especially the one titled "Seventh Space" are the pure essence of what is Abstract Expressionism in all of its wonder! Another artist whose work delivers and does so with exuberance and clear gusto is Alma Roberts. Her superbly composed paintings - she has six in the show - are abstract gems.

Alma Roberts "Interposed"

Both Dr. Vanessa Chappell Lee and Marie Antoinette also deliver superb works well within the lanes and footprint of Abstract Expressionism, with Antoinette's frenetic paintings full of energy bursting out of the paintings' surfaces - this is painting superpower at a nuclear chain reaction pace. Chappell Lee's "Hidden Figures" teases the viewer by hiding in plain sight dozens of figures, which pop in an out of the painting as they tease the eye.

My kudos to the curators - this is a powerful show with deep resonance and presence. The show runs through September 29, 2024.

Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) program

 

Dear Visual Arts, Design, and Media Arts Community: Congress is on the brink of devastating cuts to education funding! The House Appropriations Committee's FY25 proposal slashes Title I by 25%, eliminates Title II, and proposes the complete elimination of the Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) program. Their rationale? "Funding should focus on core subjects like reading, writing, and math."   We cannot let Congress strip away critical support for arts education and essential federal programs. We need your voice NOW to protect the arts. Join the VoterVoice campaign to tell Congress why arts education matters to YOU. We encourage you to personalize your message and defend the arts in education!   Act today to ensure Congress hears our support for arts education and rejects these harmful cuts. Together, we can protect opportunities for every child! Join the Campaign

Pool Basketball Slam

Pool Basketball Slam, 2024 pen and ink by F. Lennox Campello

Happy 4th!

 Today I'm going to thank my parents who had the foresight, strength, and courage to escape the Castro brothers' brutalized island; leave everything behind; leave everything they knew, and raise me as an American.

I am grateful to them.

I am so proud of this nation, and so lucky to be Cuban by ancestry, but American by the grace of God.

Happy birthday USA!

New Bisque

These will make their debut at the Bethesda Row Arts Festival this coming September, and then whatever remains (if any) will make an appearance in New York at the Affordable Art Fair in Chelsea, also in September.

When the Empire finally arrived, she was the first one to put the video on TikTok

Her pencil skirt always made her feel like a lioness

Medusa

In an alternate Universe, Taylor Swift was a Vulcan

Bats

Bat

Nun on a bike

The Lilith consoling Eve (After the Expulsion)

The G.O.A.T (Homage to Ali)

Assassin Wasp

Biden during his Elvis period

Elvis

Andy Warhol

She decided to sting the next fucker who tried to step on her

Bat

Hipster Archie

Frida Kahlo

All Member Show at Foundry

“All Member Show”- An Exhibit by Foundry Gallery

Opening Reception: July 6, 2024 4PM-6PM

From the gallery: 

“Join Foundry Gallery for a tapestry of our gallery’s members, each artist displaying their unique style as a collective narrative that resonates with creativity and passion.  Our group exhibit celebrates the diversity of artistic expression among our members by showcasing the spectrum of styles, mediums, and perspectives in a collective exhibit. 

Our members invite you to join them to explore the realms of imagination and emotion through their various works of art. Our members will exhibit works such as painting, photography, and mixed media.  The "All Member" exhibit features artworks from Duly Noted Painters, Roderick Turner, Josef Isaiah Keyes, Deb Fury, Dilip Sheth, Tasha Overpeck, and many more!  Enjoy the watercolor works of the people and places of Washington, DC, vibrant abstract figurative works, and photographs of the world as our members see it.   

Foundry Gallery and its members are dedicated to pushing boundaries and challenging perceptions with artworks that tell stories of their journeys with color, form, and texture.  Our “All Members” group exhibit is a testament to the amazing artists who call Foundry Gallery home.  Our members take this opportunity to showcase their individual voices while harmonizing as a collective in an artistic expression similar to a chorus.”