Happy New Year's! I hope 2004 brings all of you lots of good things.

At the Post's "Galleries" column, Jessica Dawson opens the year with a review of a graffiti show at MOCA DC and a review of The Out-of-Towners at Transformer Gallery. The latter features work by Laura Amussen, Lily Cox-Richard, Harrison Haynes, George Jenne, and Michele Kong.

Not sure from reading the reviews if Jessica liked or disliked either of the two shows.

This is the second or third graffiti show that MOCA DC has hosted in the last couple of years, although one of the first graffiti gallery shows held in our area (that I can remember) was "Painting with Air: Graffiti Inspired Art," at the Target Gallery in Alexandria in 1996. I recall that they got in trouble with the City of Alexandria (who funds the gallery) for staging a graffiti show just as the city was spending a lot more money than they give Target, to clean up graffiti from Alexandria's walls.

Under the able leadership of Jayme McLellan and Victoria Reis, Transformer Gallery has enjoyed spectacular success in 2003, and is a shining example of what a non profit arts space can accomplish with hard work and a vision. My kudos to Jayme and Victoria and we all wish you an even better 2004!

Also, in last Sunday's Post Blake Gopnik had his opinion of the visual arts in 2003, where "an absence, not a presence, was the most striking thing about art in 2003."

The University of Virginia is currently reviewing proposals for solo, group and curated visual arts exhibitions for 2004 for its "Artspace" gallery, which is run by students. For info call 434/924-3286 or send exhibition proposal, resume, slides and a SASE to:
Amanda Berlin
Newcomb Hall, Rm. 149
PO Box 400701
Charlottesville, VA 22904

Joanna Shaw-Eagle, the Chief Art critic for the Washington Times has an excellent review of Robert Longo: The Freud Cycle, Prints and Drawings" at David Adamson Gallery.

The show includes original drawings and gyclee reproductions of Longo's drawings centered around the artist's fascination with a book of photographs of Freud's apartment in Vienna.

Robert Longo has long been one of my favorite artists, although I suspect that his meticulous drawing style is not liked by many of our local art critics, suspicious as they are, of anything that implies technique and not art theory, or is not "new."

It is however, this meticulous technique, which really adapts well to the super-black pigments in which Adamson Editions has spectacularly reproduced them, is precisely what attracts me to his work, or to the work of the equally meticulous Vija Celmins.

Longo is a perfect example of what an artist, superbly confident in his technical vituosity, can accomplish when he marries his skill to interesting ideas and concepts, such as his fascination with the photographs about Freud's apartment. This show hangs until January 31st.

More opportunities for artists...

For Photographers:
Deadline: January 30, 2004. SNAP '04 National Juried Photography Exhibition - Slide entries must be received on or before January 30, 2004 at Runnels Gallery, Eastern New Mexico University. $25 entry fee for 3 slides, $5 for each additional slide. Cash prizes and certificates awarded. Exhibition dates: March 26 - April 9, 2004. Juror: Carol Squiers, curator, International Center of Photography in New York. For inquiries contact Dr. Haig David-West at this email address or (505) 562-2778. For prospectus go: here or send #10 SASE (4.25in x 9.5in only) to: SNAP '04, Runnels Gallery, Department of Art Station 19, Eastern New Mexico University, Portales NM 88130.

For All Artists:
Deadline January 31, 2004. 20" X 20" X 20": A National Compact Competition with $5000 in cash awards. Open to artists residing in the US. All media. $23 entry fee for three entries. Juror is Bill North, Senior Curator, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. For a prospectus send an SASE to: Gallery Assistant, LSU Union Art Gallery, Box 25123, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge LA 70894 or call (225) 578-5117 or fax (225)578-4329 or email unionartgallery@lsu.edu

For Printmakers:
Deadline: February 28, 2004. Sumei National Juried Print Exhibition. The juror is none other than David Kiehl, Curator of Prints at The Whitney Museum of Art. Open to all artists, original works created within the last three years, any print media. Giclee and digital media prints accepted in separate category. For prospectus send SASE to: Sumei Juried Print, 19 Liberty St, Newark NJ 07102 or download from sumei.org.

For All artists:
Montage Gallery is now accepting new artists in all mediums. Please send portfolios to Mitch M. Angel: Montage Gallery, 925 S. Charles, Baltimore, MD 21230, 410-752-1125.

For Sculptors:
Deadline January 15 – Slides due for renovated lobby of DC Courthouse - Theme: “Family” - Budget: $100,000. Eligible: Artists from Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. To receive a detailed “Call to Artists,” contact Francoise Yohalem at 301 816-0518. Or email her.

For All artists:
The Margaret W. and Joseph L. Fisher Gallery in the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center has an open call for artists. The Schlesinger Center is located on the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. To receive an application to exhibit, please provide your name and complete mailing address to Dr. Leslie White, Managing Director, via email to LWHITE@NVCC.EDU.

North Carolina Public Art Call:
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is seeking professional artists for design collaborations and/or public art commissions for its Art-in Transit Program. Over the next few years, Charlotte is building a rapid transit system and will incorporate public art into its stations, park and rides, and maintenance facilities and has allocated $2.3 million for art. Design fees range from $5,000-$25,000: commissions from $25,000-$250,000. In preparation for Phase I and subsequent phases, artists are requested to submit their materials to a new slide registry that will be used to make selections of artists as the system is phased in. For more information and an on-line application visit their website and click on Art-in-Transit or call 704/432.0479.

Arizona Public Art Call:
Deadline January 16 - The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture is requesting qualifications from professional artists for the Phoenix Civic Plaza Expansion Public Art Project. The project budget is $2,000,000. The Phoenix Civic Plaza selection panel is seeking the best possible artwork for this landmark building and has identified two primary goals for the artwork for the facility. First, the selection panel is seeking one to two signature works of art for integration into the building. Second, the Phoenix Civic Plaza is seeking a program of integrated works of art that showcase the diverse and vital artistic communities of Arizona. This opportunity is open to all professional artists with demonstrated artistic excellence. Visit the project website here, and click on the link for "Expansion & Highlights". For complete details about the project, including submission requirements, visit here or email Greg Esser

For Video Artists:
Deadline January 9, 2004. 11th Annual San Francisco Art Institute Film & Video Festival. Short films (max 30 minutes), any genre, completed any time. For entry forms, contact the San Francisco Art Institute at 415/771-7020 ext. 4816.

For Video artists:
Deadline February 1, 2004. Mt. San Jacinto College Fine Arts Gallery has an open call for NTSC video shorts. No fees. Send to:
Mt. San Jacinto College Fine Arts Gallery
1499 N. State Street
San Jacinto, CA 92583

Application Deadline: March 1, 2004
The inaugural Bethesda Fine Arts Festival will be held Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16, 2004 in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is currently accepting artists's applications for this event. 150 booth spaces are available to artists who create original fine art and fine craft. Click on the image above for more info and to download the application. This is a great opportunity for artists to sell their work directly to the public.

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Application Deadline: January 30, 2004
The Bethesda Artist Market will continue in 2004 on Sunday, May 9; Sunday, June 13; and Sunday, July 11. Applications are being accepted for the 2004 Markets. The Bethesda Artist Market is sponsored by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District. Local, regional and national artists can display and sell their work from 11am-6pm at the 2004 Bethesda Artist Markets, which take place in the Bethesda Place Plaza located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue. See some photos of the last artists' market here.

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Application Deadline: January 27, 2004
The Northern Arizona University Art Museum has a call for printmakers for its Biennial Print Exhibit. Prints must have been completed in the last three years. Show is March 19 - May 7, 2004. For application, call (928) 523-3479 or send a SASE to:
Northern Arizona University Art Museum
PO Box 6021
Flagstaff, AZ 86011

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Application Deadline: February 14, 2004
FSU Museum of Fine Arts has a call for artists for its 19th annual Combined Talents, which will be juried by FSU's Visual Arts Faculty. The show will hang Aug 23 - Sept 26, 2004. There is no sales commission and a catalog will be printed. Call (850) 644-3906 for an application or download the form here.

Exchanged a couple of emails with video artist and photographer Darin Boville on the subject of art books. The number one spot in my top ten most influential books (on me) of all times has been occupied since 1977 by The Painted Word by Tom Wolfe.

I think that this book should be required reading for all art school freshmen across the nation, as it will prepare and armor them against all the bull that the art world will be about the heave at them. If you have not read it, please do.

Below is the text of a review of the book that I wrote for Amazon.com:

Can I start by saying that this book "saved my art life"?

Let me explain. In 1977 I started art school as a not so impressionable 21 year-old with a few years as a US Navy sailor under my belt. But in the world of art, there's a lot of moulding and impressions being made by a very galvanized world. And although I was a few years older than most in my class... I was probably as ready as any to swallow the whole line and sinker that the "modern art world" floats out there.

Then I read this book - it was given to me by Jacob Lawrence, a great painter and a great teacher --- although I didn't get along with him too well at the time. I read it (almost by accident and against my will --- it was a get-a-way "love weekend" with my then-girlfriend - it went sour). And this book OPENED my EYES!!! It was as if all of a sudden a "fog" had been listed about all the manure and fog that covers the whole art world.

I used it as a weapon.

I used it to defend how I wanted to paint and feel and write. And it allowed me to survive art school.

And then in 1991 - as I prepared to look around to start my own gallery - I found it again, in a gallery (of all places) in Alexandria, VA. I read it again, and to my surprise Wolfe was as topical and effervescent and eye-opening as ever!

Wolfe has a lot of bones to pick with the art world -- 25 years ago!!! He destroys the proliferation of art theory, and puts "art gods" like Harold Rosenberg, Clement Greenberg, and Leo Steinberg (who have ruined art criticism for all ages - by making critics think that they "lead" the arts rather than "follow the artists") into their proper place and perspective. He has a lot of fun, especially with Greenberg and the Washington Color School and their common stupidity about the flatness of the picture plane.

Here's my recommendation: If you are a young art student or a practicing artist: SAVE YOUR LIFE! Read this book!