The Writer's Center: A new art exhibition venue added to Women Artists of the DMV survey show!

We are now up to seven art spaces to exhibit what is now the largest ever curated fine arts exhibition in the history of the DMV!

The art exhibition spaces at the Writer's Center in Bethesda confirmed yesterday that they will participate in the survey exhibition -- that means that I can ow curate about 20-24 more female artists for this DMV-wide show! Below is an image of the show spaces from the recent "Panorama" exhibition by the very talented DMV area artist Sophia McCrocklin, who (by the way) creates artwork that is not only socially important and superbly done, but also defies categorization!

The Center is located at 4508 Walsh Street in Bethesda MD 20815 and online here.

The seven confirmed venues are:

• The American University Art Museum at the Katzen - Washington, DC
• The Athenaeum - Alexandria, VA
• The McLean Project for the Arts - McLean, VA
• The Strathmore Mansion Art Galleries - Rockville, MD
• The Artists & Makers Studios and Galleries in Rockville, MD
• The Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center - Hyattsville, MD
• The Writer's Center in Bethesda, MD

Who's in the Top 100?

Daily Campello Art News has been selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 100 Art Blogs on the web!

This is the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Art Blogs on the internet and I'm honored to be part of this!

Check it out here.

Participating in Art Fairs 101

"Participating in Art Fairs 101" with yours truly as the host - 12 February at 8pm on Google Meet. 

I'm going to go over the process and answer questions about entering outdoor art fairs. I will cover applications, logistics, sales and much more! 

Contact info@artomatic.org to register and submit your questions in advance.

Google Meet joining info: Email info@artomatic.org for Video call link or dial: ‪(US) +1 551-900-1744‬ PIN: ‪447 552 265#

Ally Morgan and the delivery of ideas

I'm always discussing and identifying some of the super powers that great artists have in their arsenal of artistic weapons. Ally Morgan is one of those artists who is lucky enough to have multiple superpowers, but in my opinion, first and foremost is her superpower to visually transmit ideas onto a visual artwork in such a way that the idea stops the viewer, mesmerizes the frontal lobe (which in men doesn't fully develop until their 30s - sorry dudes) and reaches deep into the solar plexus of the mind.

That's a lot of art lingo... Ally says:

"I’ve long been captivated by the American Southwest. In 2011, I moved to Arizona to pursue my master’s degree, and during my time there, I immersed myself in exploring the vast, rugged beauty of the desert landscape. While many might view the desert as a harsh, barren place, I have always found it to be meditative, beautiful, and deeply spiritual. It’s a space that has inspired countless historical prophets who sought enlightenment through its solitude. 

“I Can See Through the Rain” is a gouache painting that reflects my interpretation of the contemporary West. The work focuses on the color blue, a hue rich with symbolic meaning, and features figures bathed in various shades of blue, quietly lost in thought within a flat, simplified, surreal landscape. These figures are surrounded by golden raindrops, which hover between the real and the metaphysical—a visual representation of both the tangible and the spiritual realms. 

When my father passed away in 2020, I began painting raindrops as a way to process my grief and express my emotions surrounding his death. In this piece, “I Can See Through the Rain” continues that symbolism. Where raindrops once embodied sorrow, here they have transformed into symbols of spiritual peace and healing."

Behold “I Can See Through the Rain” by Ally Morgan , 2024, Gouache on panel, 10"x8" and it will be at the Women Artists of the DMV survey show!

I Can See Through the Rain by Ally Morgan
Gouache on panel 10"x8"

Rejected!

Another example of why artists need to have thick skins! I've been rejected from an outdoor art festival -- one which I've done for many years, and one for which I have won multiple awards in the past, and one for which I was one of the jurors in the past!

But... we must all understand that jurors are people, and thus subjective - and the three jurors this year (Jordan Brown from the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Nicola Charles, who worked at the Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery and whom I knew from the many years that I've been at the Affordable Art Fairs, and Mallory Kimmel, who makes "conceptual furniture to address exclusionary design practices") did not like my work, so they gave me a thumbs down, as it is their right as jurors.

Make sure that you visit the festival! It is an amazing show and well-worth the visit to see incredibly talented artists!

Bottom line: Learn from it, breathe in, and re-apply next year! I've been accepted like 20 years out of 22 or so, so pretty good batting average!

Dear F. Lennox,

Thank you for applying to the 34th annual Tephra ICA Arts Festival.

The highly competitive pool of applications was individually evaluated by three independent jurors and selections were made based on their reviews. Unfortunately, your application was not selected for display at the Festival this year. We encourage you to apply again next year when we have a new panel of qualified professional jurors whose perceptions may vary. As a 2025 Festival applicant, you will automatically receive notification regarding the 2026 Festival application in the fall.

We sincerely appreciate your support and interest in the Festival, and we wish you much success in all your artistic endeavors.

Sincerely,

Hannah Barco

Associate Curator and Festival Director

Michal Hunter and the power of vision

I've been lucky enough to have met and admired Michal Hunter's artwork for decades now. And the first meeting, way back at the very beginning of the second decade of the 21st century,  during the glory days of the iconic Fraser Gallery, still remains as vivid as the last time that I saw her work in person a few months ago.

Hunter is a master painter. She will forget more about painting techniques, skills and applications than most artists will ever learn.  

But it takes more than immense technical skill to make a great artist. It takes the vision to recognize a moment on time, which in life may be mundane and ordinary, but once elevated to the canvas, becomes sublime and unique.

Hunter has that vision, and when married to her immense skill, it delivers artwork that would have astounded centuries ago, and will astound in centuries to come.

Behold "Floating", 37" x 60", 2018 oil on canvas. It will be at the Women Artists of the DMV survey show.

"Floating" by Michal Hunter
37" x 60", 2018 oil on canvas

Vintage 2013 Campello original at auction!

Vallot Auctioneers in Rhode Island has a cool 2013 framed Campello original at auction starting at only $50!

Bid for it here.