Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Channeling Jackson Pollock

As I noted earlier, recently I was approached by the chief curator for an outfit that is hired by firms all over the world to acquire artwork for their spaces. In this case this curator was acquiring art to include in the collection of a brand new luxury liner currently being built.

She wanted me to submit a proposal that fit a particular theme for one of the decks of the ship. I struggled with an idea that has been growing little by little in my brilliant mind... cough, cough. 

Here's the proposal that I sent them:

In response to the request for an art proposal for _____________’s collection for the ship’s third deck along the theme “_______________” I hereby submit the following proposal. It should be noted that the concept is adaptable since it will be created specifically for this project.

“Rock, Paper, Scissors.” This work would be a mixed media piece with three embedded video components. The painting part of the work is a large, colorful drip painting done in the style of Jackson Pollock. Embedded in the piece are three video windows, which start as “part” of the painting (in other words, the video starts as a drip painting window as well, and at first sight it is just a continuation of the painting). After five seconds of the video windows being part of a Pollock-style painting, they all fade into three individual videos of (1) rock, (2) paper and (3) scissors. In all three cases the video will be customized to show a falling object (i.e. a rock, or a sheet of paper, or the scissors) falling in slow motion and bouncing on a hard surface. The video loops and starts all over again. The size of the piece is adaptable to the space, but will be framed under glass and requires access to electricity. The largest dimension that it can be is 40x60 inches.

A variation to this approach could be a Piet Mondrian approach, where one, two or three of a Piet Mondrian-style painting’s squares shift colors, thus forever showcasing an ever changing work. This can also be approached in the same “Rock, Paper, Scissors” playful idea discussed above; that is, three of the painting’s windows shift to videos of rock, paper, scissors.

Installation of this work requires access to US electric wall outlet standards, which all ships generally have. The electrical cord and connection will require an electrician to hard-wire the piece behind the wall, or it can also be channeled on the wall itself to the nearest electric outlet. The work comes with a remote control, which allows the piece to be turned off and on as desired.

The artwork and framing can all be done within the budget assigned for this project ($______ USD), and installation would be the responsibility of ________.

I am honored to be considered for this project. Please feel free to contact me at my cell (301/_______) or via email (lenny@lennycampello.com) if there are any questions.
After I submitted this proposal I decided to see if I could create a variant on the idea for the Miami art fairs... I will be at the CONTEXT Art Miami (within Art Miami) fair in Wynwood in booth E-82. In the variant, I've created a large painting in the style of Jackson Pollock, with a window in the middle where a video plays and shows that part of the painting (where the window has been cut) as it is being created... below is the video itself.


Below is the piece drying inside my studio in between layers of paints... note the window in the center...




And here is the work, still with the cut out window in place, but now with all the Pollockian layers of paint...


And below you can see several images of the finished piece with various parts of the video playing where the painting develops... some shot inside studio and one outside in bright sunhine... but behold "Channeling Jackson Pollock"


Channeling Jackson Pollock  Oil and embedded video on Gessoed Paper. 2013. 30x60 inches.
Channeling Jackson Pollock
Oil and embedded video on Gessoed Paper. 2013. 30x60 inches.


Channeling Jackson Pollock  Oil and embedded video on Gessoed Paper. 2013. 30x60 inches.






Grant for Latino/a artists

DEADLINE: 2/6/2014


The NALAC Fund for the Arts (NFA) is a national grant program open to US-based Latino working artists, ensembles and Latino arts organizations that demonstrate artistic excellence in pursuit of social justice through the arts. To date, the NFA has awarded over one million dollars to a diverse range of artists and organizations representing every discipline and region of the country. Applying to the NFA is a benefit of NALAC Membership.

Details here.

Monday, November 25, 2013

New Executive Director at GRACE

The Board of Directors for the Greater Reston Arts Center today announced the appointment of Holly Koons McCullough as the Center's Executive Director. Ms. McCullough, who currently serves as the Center's Curator, will keep that responsibility as well. 

Holly Koons McCullough - Executive Director and Curator for the Greater Reston Arts Center
The Board praised Ms. McCullough as uniquely positioned to not only manage the institution and envision its future as part of the "Destination Reston" proposition with the coming of Metrorail, but someone who can articulate and model that vision in ways that are essential for fundraising. 

"My goal is to lead GRACE to a position of growth and prosperity, allowing the organization to better serve its mission to enrich community life by promoting involvement and excellence in the visual arts," Ms. McCullough said. "I intend to bring in exhibitions that inspire and educate, in addition to promoting Reston as a cultural destination. I also hope to expand the reach of our educational programming that currently serves over 20,000 students in more than 40 schools regionally, and take our highly-anticipated annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival to an even higher level of quality and success." 

Ms. McCullough has a 17-year career devoted exclusively to the visual arts. She served as the Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah, Georgia, in the 15 years prior to her appointment as the Center's Curator. She managed the Telfair's prestigious permanent collection and twelve to sixteen changing exhibitions annually, was responsible for an extensive curatorial budget and staff of six, and pursued grants and fundraising in support of exhibitions, collections, and acquisitions. 

Moving to the Center in 2012 she inherited an exhibition program largely structured through 2013, but has infused it with her personal choices. She has scheduled upcoming exhibitions featuring nationally-recognized artists and has proposed collaborative installations beyond the gallery’s walls, cultivating a greater awareness of the Center and its mission. As Curator she has gained an understanding of the Center’s operations and built positive relationships with staff, Board Members, and partner organizations. 

Ms. McCullough holds a B.A. in English and Art History from the University of Georgia and an MA in Art History from the University of Notre Dame. She will assume the Executive Director role January 1. 

"The Center is a special place, and with the coming of Metrorail we are uniquely poised for growth," said Ms. McCullough. "I am delighted to be working with such a talented staff and engaged Board of Directors to launch the next chapter in the organization's development."

Sunday, November 24, 2013

50% off coupon

And with your teacher ID you get an extra 10% off! Now go get some art supplies and create something!

Click here. Coupon good today through Wednesday only.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Karyn Miller is new director of exhibitions at AAC

Arlington Arts Center announced yesterday that Karyn Miller has joined the organization as the new director of exhibitions. In this role Miller will be responsible for conceiving and delivering a year-round exhibition schedule including public programs for three distinct exhibitions programs.

This addition to AAC's staff coincides with the organization's upcoming 40th anniversary exhibition slated to open January 2014. Miller's arrival at AAC will be heralded by this show designed to celebrate mentorship and emphasize AAC's contribution to the careers of local artists.
 
"Arlington Arts Center has prime space for exhibitions. I'm eager to leverage my relationships and knowledge of regional artists, work with them to transform the space, and to create dynamic programs that stimulate and engage audiences," Miller commented.

For more than six years Miller headed the visual arts and communications at CulturalDC where she directed the artist recruitment and selection at Flashpoint Gallery while leading exhibition efforts for public projects like Construct and CONNECT 4. Prior to this she served as gallery director for five years at Connersmith giving her more than 11 years of experience in her field.

With her knowledge of emerging arts, Miller is a perfect fit for AAC's mission which supports regional artists in the early stages of their careers. Her experience curating exhibitions coupled with her long history in DC's contemporary arts scene is a significant addition to the programming at AAC. 

"This is a great gain for AAC, because I know she'll bring energy, ideas and momentum to our exhibitions program," commented AAC Executive Director Stefanie Fedor. 

Along with her work in the arts, Miller has also served on panels and given talks at various institutions including the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Corcoran College of Art + Design, and will be serving as an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University this spring.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Wanna find a place to draw?

Looking for a chance to hone your figure drawing skills? Del Ray Artisans offers a range of open life drawing sessions for just this purpose. These sessions operate on a drop-in basis so there is no need to register in advance. Bring your supplies and join them at the gallery to draw or paint their live models. They don't supply easels - only plenty of chairs - but you are welcome to bring your own if you want to use one. All skill levels are welcome.

Gesture Sessions (two hours)
Come to the gesture sessions to loosen up and participate in a fun, fast-paced drawing experience. These two-hour sessions are composed primarily of multiple series of dynamic 1-5 minute poses. Occasionally they throw in a continuous motion drawing exercise to keep things interesting.

Short Pose Sessions (two hours)
Short pose sessions predominantly feature poses lasting 5-15 minutes. These sessions are a wonderful way to get in lots of drawing practice with a wide variety of poses.

Short/Long Pose Sessions (three hours)
The three-hour short/long pose sessions start with some short 1-5 minute warm-up poses and progressively move into longer poses lasting 10-45 minutes. These sessions provide a great opportunity to hone your drawing and observation skills.

Long Pose Sessions (three hours)
If you want to spend an extended amount of time on a pose, come to their long pose sessions. These sessions are generally be composed of two long poses with perhaps a few warm-ups at the start. Please no acrylics or oils; but pastels, watercolor and ink are welcome.

The fee for each three-hour session is $10 for Del Ray Artisans members and $12 for non-members. Two-hour sessions are $8 for members and $10 for non-members.

 
For session dates and times, visit their online calendar at calendar.TheDelRayArtisans.org. If you have any questions, please contact Katherine Rand at 703-836-1468 or LifeDrawing@TheDelRayArtisans.org.