An example of...

What not to call a product that you're trying to sell as food:

Flux Studios' New Emerging Artist Program

Flux Studios in the Gateway Arts District in Mount Rainier, MD has announced their new Emerging Artist Program.

Accepted applicants will receive a 45 square foot work space, 24 hour access with free parking, an annual solo exhibition at Flux, immersion in a professional art studio and the opportunity for mentorship in their art practice as well as in areas of professional development.

Cost is $200/month, one year commitment required.

Flux Studios is now accepting applications for this program. If interested in applying, please contact Novie Trump at info@fluxstudiosdc.com

Flux Studios LLC is a contemporary art space in Mt. Rainier, MD housing the professional studios of six artists and a small informal gallery space with rotating exhibitions.

Flux Studios has a visiting artist program, hosting artists from the US and abroad for residencies ranging from two weeks to three months. They also offer workshops taught by master artists in a variety of media, ranging from encaustic to ceramic sculpture.

Trapping the scammer

Yesterday I posted the art scam email that I received (it's also at the bottom of the email trail below); here's my initial response - let's see if we can scam him into wasting some of his time:

Dear Johnson,

Thank you so much for your inquiry. Were you referred to me by Mr. Saatchi? Your name sounds familiar, perhaps we met at his party in Cannes last year? Were you the guy who fell in the pool? No... that was Johnston, not Johnson.

Anyway, I would love to place some of my artwork in your collection, and will ship it to you provided that you can pay me with a money order. As soon as I have the money order in my hand, I will ship all the artwork to you... the same day that the money order arrives.

Before that, I would like to ask you one question, as I am very particular as to whom I sell my artwork: Are you descended from the Scottish Johnsons or the English Johnsons? I'm a little leery of selling art to sassenachs, you know...

But wait... is Johnson your first name? I think so now... that would make Taylor your last name, and that sounds English... are you of English descent?

Please let me know... Here's Tae Us – Wha's Like Us – Damn Few And They're A' Deid

Cheers,

The Lenster....

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From: johnsontay88@hotmail.com
Subject: Art Order
Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:08:49 +0100

Hi Dear,

My name is Johnson Taylor, i will like to order for some piece of your work from your studio as gift for my parent are celebrating their wedding anniversary, so i will be glad to have your reply as soon as possible, i will be glad if you can send me your website address to choose or send me four of your artworks via email that is available for me to choose.

Waiting to read from you today.so that we can make some progress.

I will be waiting to read from you at you convinet time.

Best Regards,

Johnson.

Scam art email

My response will be posted tomorrow... meanwhile, this is an art scam email:

From: johnsontay88@hotmail.com
Subject: Art Order
Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:08:49 +0100

Hi Dear,

My name is Johnson Taylor, i will like to order for some piece of your work from your studio as gift for my parent are celebrating their wedding anniversary, so i will be glad to have your reply as soon as possible, i will be glad if you can send me your website address to choose or send me four of your artworks via email that is available for me to choose.

Waiting to read from you today.so that we can make some progress.

I will be waiting to read from you at you convinet time.

Best Regards,

Johnson.

Opportunity for Artists: Wallmountables

The District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC) has announced the return of 1460 Wallmountables, DCAC’s annual open exhibition. On Wednesday, July 21 DCAC will open its doors at 3pm, beginning a three-day installation process during which artists can purchase up to four 2' x 2' spaces to hang their work.

Spaces sell on a first-come, first-served basis for $15 per square, with DCAC members receiving one free space and brand new members receiving four spaces for their membership fee of $30. It’s not unusual to see returning participants lined up outside DCAC’s door by 2:30pm, patiently waiting for installation to begin with an eye towards grabbing the gallery’s prime wall space. Work is accepted from a wide range of media created by artists at various stages in their careers. There is no curating; if it fits, it shows.

To sweeten the deal, a $100 “Best Use of Space” prize is presented during the opening reception to the artist who makes the most innovative use of their 2’ x 2’ squares. Since the first Wallmountables in 1990, the exhibition has become a celebrated summer tradition at DCAC. One of the center’s most important fundraising events, the open exhibition runs from July 22–August 28.

The Facts:
1460 Wallmountables 2011
July 22 – August 28
Installation: Wed., July 20, 3–8pm; Thur., July 21, 3–8pm; Fri., July 22, 3–6pm
Opening Reception: Friday, July 22, 7–9pm
Contact: info@dcartscenter.org, call 202-462-7833, online at 0 comments

Lori Anne Boocks at Delaplaine

Saturday, July 2 from 3 to 5pm is the opening reception for The Distance Between from Germantown artist Lori Anne Boocks.

Using varying lengths of rope to mark both time and emotional space between opposing or related concepts, this installation invites viewers to consider where these intersections occur in their own lives.

The Distance Between builds on her on-going series of paintings called textscapes that incorporate the written word.

The Delaplaine Visual Arts Center
July 2 – August 21, 2011.

Tomorrow - BITE: Identity and Humor

Wilmer Wilson IV, one of the artists in the Strathmore Mansion mentorship program that Susana Raab, Tim Tate and yours truly has been working with, will have video works, film stills, and a sculpture in an exhibition entitled BITE: Identity and Humor, curated by Jefferson Pinder, at the Greater Reston Arts Center.

The show will be up from June 23 to July 29. There is an opening reception on Saturday, June 25, from 5-7p. In addition, my good friend Phillipa Hughes will moderate a dialogue in conjunction with the show on July 11 at 7:30p.

See ya there!