"Big Al" Carter
By Shauna Lee Lange
The Alexandria Black History Museum is currently hosting a photographic exhibition of Allen D. "Big Al" Carter's work. All photographs were taken in the 1970s in Leesburg, Virginia.
Titled "God Has Made A Way in Leesburg," the exhibition runs through January 20, 2008. In this second exhibition at the museum, Carter explores his family connections in one moment of time - working, relaxing, and surviving more than thirty years ago.
Then space was open, homes were modest, life was simpler. And although Carter's male relatives have sadly left us, Carter looks back on their influence and inspiration, and he sees valuable messages: Make the best of what you have; Enjoy the gifts you're given.
Carter, a Virginia native, loves Virginia history and is proud of the advancements made by African Americans. In May of 2006, the Washington Post called his talent "inexhaustible creativity." Sometimes known as Big Al, Al, or Big, Carter while teaching in Arlington, calls himself a "burnt umber man."
He is a poet, a painter, an educator, a sculptor, a music lover, and at times an insomniac. Two of his works can be found in the Corcoran's permanent collection and more should be acquired by other Virginia museums and institutions.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Wanna go to a closing in Delaware today?
Heather Levy is one of those super hardworking artists who instead of moaning around about how hard it is to be an artist (it is), tackles the issue and gets exhibited.
This DC-based artist is having a closing reception for her solo exhibition "Flights of Fancy," at 205 Lavinia Gallery in Milton, DE which is right near Rehoboth today Saturday Sept. 22nd, from 3-5pm. Music provided by Basso Moderno Duo.
Also coming up in October (Oct. 12 - Nov. 16) she's having a solo exhibition of her "rocket science series" at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
This will be the first exhibition of this series, which has some really large paintings... some are 10 feet or longer.
Although one of those paintings was displayed on a billboard on 34th and 7th in Manhattan and a few others were featured in a show at the now defunct CBGB's gallery this will be the first time they are shown as a series. The opening reception is on Friday, Oct. 12th, 2007 at 12:00 p.m with an artist's talk.
All dates and times and other important info about those exhibits and a lot more where Heather is showing can be found here.
Check out the DC City Hall art collection
At 12 p.m. on Wednesday September 26, the public is invited to the Wilson Building for a guided tour through the City Hall public collection of art on permanent display on floors 1-5 of the Wilson building. The tour will be lead by local artist Sondra N. Arkin, curator to the collection of over 170 pieces.
This is a unique chance to meet with local artists featured in the collection and have a discussion on being an artist in the Nation’s Capital and to see a rich cross section of local artists (both established and emerging). This will be a bi-monthly occurrence.
The tour is free, however advanced registration for the series is preferred. Please RSVP to beth.baldwin@dc.gov with the number in your party. Meet at the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance — the building is located at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW. ID is required to enter the building.
Did you know that?
The National Museum of Women in the Arts’ 20th Anniversary Festival of Women’s Film & Media Arts will take place September 25-30, 2007 in the NMWA Theater.
The only reason that I know, since I never get any press releases from the NMWA (I don't even know who their press person or PR person is), is because the talented Zulma Aguiar, who is a local DC video artist armed not only with a ton of talent but also with a shiny new MFA on Electronic Arts, has been spreading the word.
The opening is next Tuesday at 5:30pm, and Zulma's video installation is right at the entrance of the glass door enclosed Education Gallery of the Museum.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Horus
Below are three new small tiny drawings. Each about an inch or an inch and a half high.
They are all charcoals and both are my interpretation of the ancient Egyptian god Horus, of whom it is said was born on December 25, conceived by a Virgin, the only begotten son of the god Osiris, his mother was Mehturt, her husband was Seb (or Jo-Seb), his birth was heralded by Sirius (the morning star) and witnessed by shepherds, and then Herut tried to have him murdered, he then came of age at 12, and then baptized in the river Eridanus at age 30 by Anup The Baptizer (who was subsequently beheaded).
He was then taken from the desert of Amenta up a high mountain by his arch-rival Set, who is an Egyptian evil dude. Horus resisted the temptation, acquired 12 followers, walked on water, cast out demons, healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, raised Osirus from the grave, and for all his troubles was then crucified together with two thieves and buried in a tomb, but resurrected after three days, and his resurrection was apparently witnessed by some women.
And in the Zodiac he's associated with Pisces, the fish.
He also has issues with one of his eyes.
"Horus" Charcoal on Paper
1.5 inches by 3 inches
"Eyes of Horus" Charcoal on Paper
1.5 inches by 2.5 inches
"Mouth of Horus" Charcoal on Paper
1 inch by 3.5 inches
Opportunity for Artists
Deadline: November 16, 2007
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts Juried Exhibition. Deadline: November 16, 2007. Applications are now being accepted for the DCCA's Annual Members' Juried Exhibition entitled Interrogating Beauty. The exhibition will be held from February 21 - May 25, 2008. For more information and application guidelines contact Samantha Fruchtman, Curatorial Coordinator, at sfruchtman@thedcca.org or by calling (302) 656-6466, ext. 7103.
