"I think it is just terrible and disgusting how everyone has treated Lance Armstrong, especially after what he achieved, winning seven Tour de France races while on drugs. When I was on drugs, I couldn't even find my bike.”
Willie Nelson
Since 2003... the 11th highest ranked art blog on the planet! And with over SIX million visitors, F. Lennox Campello's art news, information, gallery openings, commentary, criticism, happenings, opportunities, and everything associated with the global visual arts scene with a special focus on the Greater Washington, DC area.
"I think it is just terrible and disgusting how everyone has treated Lance Armstrong, especially after what he achieved, winning seven Tour de France races while on drugs. When I was on drugs, I couldn't even find my bike.”
Dear Mr. Franklin,
This note is to express both my disappointment and even outrage at the news that The Gazette intends to terminate Dr. Claudia Rousseau's visual arts coverage in The Gazette as part of an apparent decimation of its arts coverage in general.
While I suspect that the reasons behind these planned coverage cuts are all economic and due to reduction in overall coverage and reduction in size, I shouldn't have to remind anyone in the newspaper business that a newspaper's mission has several critical components that make it a newspaper and not just stuff printed on newsprint.
And coverage of the visual arts is a key one.
Unless you also plan to eliminate restaurant reviews, movie reviews, local events, etc. and reduce The Gazette to coverage of local High School sports, the idea that a "neighborhood" newspaper can be a contributor to its readership and part of the cultural tapestry of that neighborhood without critical components such as Dr. Rousseau's columns on the visual arts is a barbaric lack of understanding of what your readers deserve.
I also suspect, since The Gazette is owned by The Washington Post, that perhaps some of this "guidance" has come from above, most probably from bean counters as far removed from newsprint as possible. This is predictable, as the Washington Post is the only major newspaper in America (and possibly the world) without a visual arts critic in its permanent staff, and for the last two decades, since its last full-time gallery critic retired, has used a dizzying set of rotating freelancers to cover the Greater DC area visual art scene in an ad hoc manner.
Claudia Rousseau has been covering The Gazette's areas visual arts for over 11 years - that span is equaled by just one other published visual arts critic in the region. Ms. Rousseau's knowledge, access and insight into the area's visual arts cannot be lost by a simple reason of economics.
I plan to help rally the DC area's artists, gallerists, curators, collectors, donors and supporters to make sure that The Gazette (and the Washington Post) hear about Dr. Rousseau's termination. And for the first time in the many years that we've known each other, I plan to mix business with friendship and bring this to the personal attention of Jeff Bezos, whom as you probably know, is an ardent supporter of the arts.
I also intend to publish this note in DC Art News, and in the event that I receive an answer from you, or anyone else in The Gazette, will offer the opportunity to also publish your response.
Let me close this note by asking you to bring this issue to the attention of whomever is making this ill-advised decision; it will not happen without a lot of resistance from the DMV's visual art scene.
Warm regards,
F. Lennox Campello
BlackRock Center for the Arts is pleased to present “His & Hers”: Ron Loyd & Jodi Walsh. The exhibition will be on view in the Main Gallery from Wednesday, November 12 through Friday, December 19, 2014. On Saturday, November 15, the center will host a Meet the Artist Reception from 5:30pm to 7:30pm with an informal Artist Talk by the two local artists. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public and it is always free to view gallery exhibitions at BlackRock.
Ron Loyd
www.ronloydart.com
Ron Loyd earned a BFA and MFA in Painting and Ceramics from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. He studied Animation at the School for Visual Arts, New York, NY and Film Studies at New York University, New York, NY, and Ceramics with world-renown artist Bill Van Glider. Loyd was selected as a 2004 Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Fellow and a Washington Post Fellow. Loyd has been teaching art at Rockville High School since 2001, where he is currently Head of the Fine Arts Department and is teaching AP Studio Art, IB Visual Art, Ceramics, Paintings, Studio Art and Digital Arts.
Jodi Walsh
www.jodiart.com
Jodi Walsh left her native country of Canada in 1967 for the Far East and Europe, a move that would influence her life and work forever. She moved to the United States in 1978 and while art has always been a part of her life she first began to emerge as a serious artist in 1995. Although Walsh has received private training, she has never studied painting or ceramics at an academic institution. This has allowed her the independence and freedom to develop her unique style. Walsh has participated in international residencies, to include Raymond International, London, England. Her work has been exhibited regionally and nationally at venues which include Affordable Art Fair New York City and Artexpo New York, New York, NY; Longview Gallery, Washington, DC; Zenith Gallery, Washington, DC; Smithsonian Craft Show and Washington Craft Show, Washington, DC; Gallery 555 and Artists’ Museum. Washington, DC; Gallery 43, Atlanta, GA; and The Dessert Gallery, Houston, Texas.
EXHIBITION TITLE: “His & Hers”: Ron Loyd & Jodi Walsh
EXHIBITION ON VIEW: Wednesday, November 12 – Friday, December 19, 2014
MEET THE ARTIST RECEPTION: Saturday, November 15 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm
LOCATION: Main Gallery (first floor)
BlackRock Center for the Arts 12901 Town Commons Drive
Germantown, MD 20874
PRICE: FREE
GALLERY HOURS: Monday–Friday 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.*, Saturday 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.* (when classes are in session), Closed Sunday*. Please call 301-528-2260 to confirm open hours for specific dates.
*Galleries are also open during evening and weekend hours when performances and classes are offered at the center.
INFORMATION: 301-528-2260 or www.blackrockcenter.org
Dear Mr. Franklin,
This note is to express both my disappointment and even outrage at the news that The Gazette intends to terminate Dr. Claudia Rousseau's visual arts coverage in The Gazette as part of an apparent decimation of its arts coverage in general.
While I suspect that the reasons behind these planned coverage cuts are all economic and due to reduction in overall coverage and reduction in size, I shouldn't have to remind anyone in the newspaper business that a newspaper's mission has several critical components that make it a newspaper and not just stuff printed on newsprint.
And coverage of the visual arts is a key one.
Unless you also plan to eliminate restaurant reviews, movie reviews, local events, etc. and reduce The Gazette to coverage of local High School sports, the idea that a "neighborhood" newspaper can be a contributor to its readership and part of the cultural tapestry of that neighborhood without critical components such as Dr. Rousseau's columns on the visual arts is a barbaric lack of understanding of what your readers deserve.
I also suspect, since The Gazette is owned by The Washington Post, that perhaps some of this "guidance" has come from above, most probably from bean counters as far removed from newsprint as possible. This is predictable, as the Washington Post is the only major newspaper in America (and possibly the world) without a visual arts critic in its permanent staff, and for the last two decades, since its last full-time gallery critic retired, has used a dizzying set of rotating freelancers to cover the Greater DC area visual art scene in an ad hoc manner.
Claudia Rousseau has been covering The Gazette's areas visual arts for over 11 years - that span is equaled by just one other published visual arts critic in the region. Ms. Rousseau's knowledge, access and insight into the area's visual arts cannot be lost by a simple reason of economics.
I plan to help rally the DC area's artists, gallerists, curators, collectors, donors and supporters to make sure that The Gazette (and the Washington Post) hear about Dr. Rousseau's termination. And for the first time in the many years that we've known each other, I plan to mix business with friendship and bring this to the personal attention of Jeff Bezos, whom as you probably know, is an ardent supporter of the arts.
I also intend to publish this note in DC Art News, and in the event that I receive an answer from you, or anyone else in The Gazette, will offer the opportunity to also publish your response.
Let me close this note by asking you to bring this issue to the attention of whomever is making this ill-advised decision; it will not happen without a lot of resistance from the DMV's visual art scene.
Warm regards,
F. Lennox Campello
WPA is extremely proud and grateful to be the recipient of the 2014 Mayor's Arts Award for Excellence in Service to the Arts. The Mayors Arts Awards are the highest honor conferred by the District of Columbia for artistic excellence and service among artists, arts organizations, and arts patrons.
Our members and participating artists share equally in this award for ensuring our programming is of the highest caliber. Thanks to all of our supporters and patrons for allowing us to do what we do. And thank you to all of our artists for continuing to experiment and explore and create. You all make this city, this community, this world a better place for your efforts.Many thanks to the DC Commission the Arts & Humanities, Mayor Vincent Gray, the DC City Council, the enlightened and distinguished jury who selected us, and our fellow finalists and nominees who continue to set the bar so very high for the arts in DC.