Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) Grants Winners

Congrats to all these talented and lucky folks - they are winners of the 2019 Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) Grants!

That "Florence" down there is me - this is my first award since I was an art student at the University of Washington School of Art, when I received Ford Foundation art grants 1977-1981.


Painting

Lesa Cook Frederick
Bobby Coleman Baltimore City
Lania D'Agostino Baltimore City
Sally Davies Prince George’s
Brian Michael Dunn Montgomery
Ric Garcia Prince George’s
Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi Montgomery
Jahru Anne Arundel
Matt Klos Baltimore
Kate Kretz Montgomery
Lindsay McCulloch Montgomery
Gregory McLemore Baltimore City
Ping Shen Anne Arundel
Grace Doyle Baltimore City
Jessica Van Brakle Montgomery
Nicole Dyer Baltimore City
Taha Heydari Baltimore
Sam Lacombe Baltimore City
Giulia Piera Livi Baltimore City
Janet Olney Baltimore City
Randi Reiss-McCormick Baltimore
Carolyn Case Baltimore
Maud Taber-Thomas Montgomery
Deborah Tomlin Montgomery
Alice Valenti Baltimore
Karen Warshal Baltimore City
Lauren Frances Adams Baltimore City
Scott Ponemone Baltimore City
McKinley Wallace III Baltimore City

Works on Paper
Erin Fostel Baltimore City
LaToya M. Hobbs Baltimore City
LeJea Williams Howard
Amy Boone-McCreesh Baltimore City
Florence Lennox Campello Montgomery
Deborah Addison Coburn Montgomery
Elliot Doughtie Baltimore City
Ariston Jacks Baltimore City
Kristina King Montgomery
Angelo Kozonis Baltimore City
Mike McConnell Baltimore
Jerry Truong Montgomery
Lu Zhang Baltimore City
Amanda Burnham Baltimore City
Jackie Milad Baltimore City
Leslie Suzanne Shellow Baltimore City
Julie Wills Kent
Jowita Wyszomirska Baltimore City

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

On Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory Art Center

A decade ago I wrote this about the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria - one of my fave places in the DMV... how much of it has come to pass?

Read my 2009 thoughts here...

Monday, April 15, 2019

At the CATO Institute

Should art offend? Does it matter if people are offended? Should offensive art be displayed? Should it be censored? Who decides what is offensive or appropriate? Join us to hear a discussion of these questions and more.

A discussion panel featuring Philip Kennicott, Chief Art and Architecture Critic, the Washington PostJanis Goodman, Panelist, WETA Around Town, Associate Professor of Fine Arts, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, George Washington University; Lenny Campello, Author, Daily Campello Art News; and Jason Kuznicki, Research Fellow, Cato Institute and Editor, Cato Books; moderated by Caleb O. BrownCato Daily Podcast host, Director of Multimedia, Cato Institute.



May 22, 2019 
6:30PM to 8:00PM EDT


Cato Institute

1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20001-5403

Phone (202) 842 0200

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Awake

“Awake”

It’s about a child suffering from insomnia and anxiety. It’s a topic not often addressed in children’s books, but something that the author - Susanna Fields-Kuehl, a licensed therapist and artist in Maryland sees daily in her practice. 

I Hope you can all support the project and spread the word! Kickstarter end April 24! 

kck.st/2CguKH8

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Lyrical Flight | Barbara Januszkiewicz

My good friend Barbara is opening at the gorgeous Athenaeum in Old Town Alexandria - easily one of the most beautiful art spaces in the DMV!

Lyrical Flight | Barbara Januszkiewicz

April 18 – June 2, 2019

Artist Reception: Sunday, May 12, 4 - 6 pm

Collaboration: Light Exists, Sunday, June 2, 1 pm

Artist Talk: Sunday, June 2, 2 pm
Barbara Januszkiewicz luminous and elegant paintings evolved out of her early work in watercolor, a progression evident in the almost liquid flow of colors across her large compositions. In these acrylic works, tones melt together and "veils of pigment appear to fold over one another, creating illusory creases and hollows. The overall affect is one of slow, powerful visual rhythms. Januszkiewicz semi-translucent colors floats across her surfaces, soaking into the unprimed canvas and paper to create tactile fusions of paint and support that envelope the viewer in diaphanous veils of paint. 
Januszkiewicz pure abstract forms call to mind the stained canvases of Morris Louis and Helen Frankenthaler, but her work embodies a unique elegance that differentiates it
from that of her color fields with wonderful abstract shapes that are rendered loosely with a great feeling of fluidity and motion. "My brushwork is applied in waves of curving, color shapes, submerged in translucent washes. My goal is to achieve the highest degree of richness, with a light source that comes not from applied paint, but rather from the luminosity of the brilliant white paper or canvas," said Januszkiewicz. Here we see Januszkiewicz produce zen-like brush strokes across large formats with watercolor-like acrylics effortlessly.

Friday, April 12, 2019

Saint Joseph's University galleries says NO!

Another layer of thick skin added:
Dear Mr. Campello,
Thank you very much for sending us your resume and images for consideration in our 2019-2020 exhibition schedule.  The committee was pleased to learn about you and view your work.  Unfortunately, we are unable to exhibit your work at this time.
There were close to three hundred applications and only five available slots this year.   We thought that many of the applicants this year would show well in our gallery, and as you can imagine, it was very difficult to limit our choices. 
We wish you the best of luck with your artistic endeavors and thank you again for your interest in our program.  
Sincerely,
Jeanne Bracy
--
Jeanne Bracy
Gallery Curator
The University Galleries, 
Merion Hall and Boland Hall
Saint Joseph's University
5600 City Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19131

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this art scammer!
From:  "Jill Welberg" j.welbergsinc@gmail.com
Do you ship to Switzerland and accept US issued credit card as payment?, you will contact my shipper who handles all of my shipment, they pick up the items at your location and deliver directly to my store doorstep without hassle. Let me know if i can e-mail you what am interested in ordering. 

Jill Welberg

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Tonal Visions

Multiple Exposures Gallery
Presents an Exhibition of New Photography by
Alan Sislen

"Tonal Visions"

May 7th - June 15th, 2019

Please join them for the Artist's Reception on Saturday, May 11th,   2 - 4 pm
This exhibit of dramatic black and white architectural photographs explores the range of tonal possibilities that might or might not have existed, but were visible in the mind of the photographer. None of the photographs are of total or complete structures. Each is a piece, a portion, an extraction that may convey more a sense of the whole than the entire building. The beauty of the forms, the lines, the shapes, the volumes and the play of light and shadow created by the infinite tonalities is what this exhibit celebrates.
Multiple Exposures Gallery
The Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union Street, #312
Alexandria, Virginia  22314
703.683.2205
Hours:  Daily 10 am - 5 pm, Thursdays 2 pm - 8 pm
www.MultipleExposuresGallery.com

Tuesday, April 09, 2019

Navy drawing

Just found a bunch of pen and ink, and also pencil drawings and sketches that I did back in the 1970s when I was a young Petty Officer in the Navy.

If you ever served in the USN, then you'll capish the title...

"Seaman Schmuckatelli Grew Up", 1975 pen and ink by F. Lennox Campello
"Seaman Schmuckatelli Grew Up", 1975 pen and ink by F. Lennox Campello

Monday, April 08, 2019

WPA Collectors' Night

WPA Collectors’ Night A Silent Auction to Benefit Artists

Date: Saturday, May 4, 7:00 – 11:00 pm | Location: 1501 M St NW


President Obama Walking to his Right Charcoal on Paper  c. 2009 by F. Lennox Campello
President Obama Walking to his Right
Charcoal on Paper

c. 2009 by F. Lennox Campello
The above drawing will be one of the pieces being silent-auctioned off at the WPA Collectors' Night gala. This drawing, done in 2009, was one of about 15-20 drawings that I did between 2008 and 2009 for an exhibition which Philadelphia's Projects Gallery staged once the Senator from Illinois became President.

Details on bidding, gala, etc. HERE.

Sunday, April 07, 2019

Tim Tate to be Included in GLASSTRESS During Venice Biennale!

Huge news for DMV area uberartist Tim Tate!

He reports:
Such good news to report! I will be one of the few Americans representing the USA in the upcoming Glasstress show during the Venice Biennale. The show has amazing artists, such as Ai Wei Wei, Tony Oursler, Karen Lamonte and Dustin Yellin and is being curated by Vic Muniz and Koen Vanmechelen. This represents a huge step forward in my career. You can read all about it below. 
I want to be your ambassador to the United States! Its so expensive to get there though! If you want to help me out, I put together an Indiegogo campaign to raise monies. Even just sharing this link would do me a huge favor! I am honestly just happy to report that I will be one of those artists! Thank you all for supporting me over the years! I appreciate every one of you!
Here is my iniegogo link... click here.
This a monster of a huge step for one of the DMV's most visible and hardest working artists! Here's the news release from GLASSTRESS:
Returning for the 58th Biennale di Venezia, the sixth edition of GLASSTRESS brings together a new line-up of leading contemporary artists from Europe, the United States, Latin America, India, and China in an ambitious exhibition exploring the endless creative possibilities of glass.
Tim Tate; “The Endless Cycle”; 36″ x 36″ x 4″Glass, Aluminum, Poly-Vitro, electronics
GLASSTRESS is a project by Adriano Berengo dedicated to supporting his mission of marrying contemporary art and glass. Since its debut in 2009 as a collateral event of the Venice Biennale, GLASSTRESS has revived the traditional craft of Murano glassblowing by forging new alliances with internationally renowned artists and designers and has since become an unparalleled platform showcasing ground-breaking new works in glass.
To celebrate 10 years of GLASSTRESS and 30 years of , the exhibition goes back to its historical roots on the island of Murano. An old abandoned glass furnace is now an evocative exhibition space for striking new works and installations by returning artists Ai WeiweiTony Cragg and Thomas Schütte as well as first time participants Prune NourryJosé ParláTim Tate and Xavier Veilhan, amongst others.
 For this section, Brazilian artist Vik Muniz has invited all artists to explore ‘how glass redefines our perception of space’. In another section of the exhibition, curated by Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen, highlights from the past ten years will also go on display, including Mutter (2016/17) by Erwin Wurm, Laura’s Hands (2011) by Jaume Plensa and A Different Self (2014) by Mat Collishaw. Referring to the making of glass works, Vanmechelen says: ‘the world of the unknown and unseen becomes visible and tangible through beautiful accidents in time.’
With little or no prior experience working with glass, these artists have embraced the challenge of creating extraordinary works in this very delicate medium in collaboration with Muranese artisans. The output of this unusual encounter defies the stereotypes associated with this ancient craft, ultimately pushing the boundaries of both contemporary art and glass. This year’s edition of GLASSTRESS will also provide visitors with the opportunity to watch Murano glass masters at work at the adjacent glassblowing studio and learn more about Fondazione Berengo’s preservation efforts of this centuries-old artistry of Venetian glass-making. 
GLASSTRESS 2019 – PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
GLASSTRESS runs from May 9 to November 24, 2019

New artists :
Saint Clair Cemin (Brazil), Pedro Friedeberg (Mexico), Carlos Garaicoa (Cuba), Artur Lescher (Brazil), Prune Nourry (France), José Parlá (USA), Pablo Reinoso (Argentina), Valeska Soares (Brazil), Tim Tate (USA), Janaina Tschäpe (Germany), Xavier Veilhan (France), Robert Wilson (USA).
Returning artists :
 Ai Weiwei (China), Monica Bonvicini (Italy), Tony Cragg (UK), Shirazeh Houshiary (Iran), Alicja Kwade (Poland), Karen LaMonte (USA), Paul McCarthy (USA), Vik Muniz (Brazil), Jaume Plensa (Spain), Laure Prouvost (France), Thomas Schütte (Germany), Sudarshan Shetty (India), Koen Vanmechelen (Belgium), Erwin Wurm (Austria).
GLASSTRESS Anniversary highlights :
Jean Arp (Germany), Ayman Baalbaki (Lebanon), Miroslaw Balka (Poland), Fiona Banner (UK), Mat Collishaw (UK), César (France), Jake and Dinos Chapman (UK), Tracey Emin (UK), Jan Fabre (Belgium), Kendell Geers (South Africa), Francesco Gennari (Italy), Abdulnasser Gharem (Saudi Arabia), Michael Joo (USA), Ilya & Emilia Kabakov (Russia/USA), Michael Kienzer (Austria), Hye Rim Lee (South Korea), Oksana Mas (Ukraine), Hans Op de Beek (Belgium), Tony Ousler (USA), Javier Pérez (Spain), Antonio Riello (Italy), Bernardì Roig (Spain), Joyce Jane Scott (USA), Wael Shawky (Egypt), Lino Tagliapietra (Italy), Fred Wilson (USA), Dustin Yellin (USA).

Saturday, April 06, 2019

“I Am Offended”: Art & Free Expression

Should art offend? Does it matter if people are offended? Should offensive art be displayed? Should it be censored? Who decides what is offensive or appropriate? Join us to hear a discussion of these questions and more.

A discussion panel featuring Philip Kennicott, Chief Art and Architecture Critic, the Washington PostJanis Goodman, Panelist, WETA Around Town, Associate Professor of Fine Arts, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, George Washington University; Lenny Campello, Author, Daily Campello Art News; and Jason Kuznicki, Research Fellow, Cato Institute and Editor, Cato Books; moderated by Caleb O. BrownCato Daily Podcast host, Director of Multimedia, Cato Institute.


May 22, 2019 
6:30PM to 8:00PM EDT


Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20001-5403

Phone (202) 842 0200

Friday, April 05, 2019

Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi at Hemphill

One of my fave DMV area artists is having a solo at Hemphill:
HEMPHILL is pleased to announce the exhibition, HEDIEH JAVANSHIR ILCHI: I surrender to you, ashen lands and blue skies, opening on Saturday, May 11, 2019 with a reception from 6-8pm. The exhibition will remain on view through June 29, 2019.
Moving to an aerial view, observing from a distance, there may be no such thing as a cultural war. There may only be a process, a moment in an ever-evolving world of cultural forces. Although this viewpoint does not champion good or evil, it does acknowledge movement and outcome. The paintings of Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi arise from cultures often portrayed at war. Each culture measures itself by a different clock. Each respective clock sometimes runs faster than the other, then slower, sometimes backward and then again forward. The clocks rarely synchronize, until the conflicts are spent and the two clocks merge. Ilchi’s work takes us to an aerial viewpoint where we see traditional Persian imagery merging with modernist American painting techniques. The content is not in conflict, but there is sense of broken parts coming together and things from a past appearing in a present. Contrary to our times, where a speeding flow of expedient information engulfs everything, Ilchi asks us to step back, slow down, take the aerial view. From this vantage point we see intricately executed tazhib patterns, sometimes floating over and at other times captured within scenes of organic chaos. Chaos created by the layering of translucencies, controlled pours and the topographical accumulations of paint. It is as though we are witnessing the reactions of chemical components. It takes time to comprehend the dazzling luminosities of her paintings, to see the merging of two cultures. Yet Ilchi’s work is not of an ideal state, there is a sense of trouble in her pictures, an apprehension of beauty, and a pining wishful-ness for the outcomes we are moving towards.
Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi was born in 1981 in Tehran, Iran and currently lives and works in the Washington DC area. Ilchi received a BFA with honors from the Corcoran College of Art + Design in 2006 and an MFA in Studio Art from the American University in 2011. She has been awarded residencies at the Ucross Foundation, Vermont Studio Center, The Jentel Foundation, and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. She has exhibited in New York, Switzerland, Washington DC and Winston- Salem, NC and her work is included in several private and public collections. HEDIEH JAVANSHIR ILCHI: I surrender to you, ashen lands and blue skies is the artist’s second exhibition at Hemphill Fine Arts.

Thursday, April 04, 2019

Museum call for artists

Sightlines, 2019-2021

Deadline: May 12, 2019

The South Bend Museum of Art (SBMA) is seeking large-scale 2D and 3D artwork for long-term display in Sightlines, a collaborative project between SBMA and Century Center. The two year exhibition will highlight the work of six new artists. Indoor and outdoor sites for the work are available and will be considered for accepted work. 

Artist submission review and selection will be done by representatives from SBMA and Century Center. There is a $10 entry fee to apply. $1000 stipend for each selected artist. A modest printed piece will also be produced. 

For full details and to apply securely online, please visit www.southbendart.submittable.com

For more information on the South Bend Museum of Art, please visit this site.

Wednesday, April 03, 2019

Trawick Prize Deadline: 8 April!

The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is inviting regional artists to submit work to the annual Trawick Prize!

This juried art competition awards $14,000 in prizes to four selected winners. The deadline for submissions is Monday April 8, 2019. Up to eight selected finalists will be chosen to display their work at Bethesda’s Gallery B in September 2019.

The competition will be juried by Jonathan Monaghan, Assistant Professor of Digital Art & Studio Art Advisor, Catholic University, and the 2015 Trawick Prize Best In Show Winner; Foon Sham, Professor of Sculpture, University of Maryland, and Sue Wrbican, Associate Professor of Photography & Director of Photography Program, George Mason University.

Submission requirements:
  • Artists must be 18 years of age or older
  • Residents of Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C.
  • All original 2-D and 3-D fine art including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, fiber art, digital, mixed media and video will be accepted.
  • Artwork must have been completed within the last two years and must be available for the duration of the exhibition.
  • Selected artists must deliver their artwork to the exhibit site in Bethesda, MD.
  • Each artist must submit five images, an application and a non-refundable entry fee of $25
The Best in Show will be awarded $10,000; second place will be honored with $2,000 and third place will be awarded $1,000. A “young” artist whose birth date is after April 8, 1989 may also be awarded $1,000.

Tuesday, April 02, 2019

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival Returns May 11 and 12

The Bethesda Urban Partnership has announced the 16th annual Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, a two-day event highlighting more than 120 contemporary artists selling their original fine art and craft. The festival will take place Saturday, May 11 from 10am – 6pm and Sunday, May 12, 2018 from 10am – 5pm. 

The festival will once again welcome artists from across the country to showcase and sell their original painting, drawing, photography, furniture, jewelry, woodwork, ceramics and more in downtown Bethesda.

The event will be in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle along Norfolk and Auburn Avenues and will be held rain or shine. The festival will also feature live entertainment, children’s activities and local restaurants. Admission to the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival is free. The festival is located six blocks from the Bethesda Metro station and free parking is available adjacent to the event in the parking garage located on Auburn Avenue.

LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Sunrise Senior Living, Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club and Bethesda Magazine are serving as event sponsors.

For more information, please visit www.bethesda.org or call 301/215-6660.

Monday, April 01, 2019

Washington Sculptors Group Annual Members Image Show

2019 ANNUAL MEMBERS' IMAGE SHOW
Sunday, April 14, 2019, 4-7pm

Presented by Washington Sculptors Group at:

Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies – House A
3100 Whitehaven St NW
Washington, DC 20008
www.chs.harvard.edu

Free and open to the public
Parking on premises and street
The Washington Sculptors Group cordially invites you to attend the Annual Members Image Show! Join WSG members as they offer insight into some of the best work being done by sculptors in the DC area.
WSG’s Annual Members Image Show aims to support the talent and highly diverse work of Washington area sculptors. The Image Show gives member artists the opportunity to present images and videos of their work, and artists have the opportunity to discuss the artwork while it is being shown. New members are strongly encouraged to participate, and all members receive feedback from the audience.
WSG will also invite DC area gallerists, curators, collectors, reviewers, and other art representatives to attend this important member event. Refreshments provided by WSG will be served during intermission; WSG members are also welcome to bring food to share.
Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies is graciously hosting the WSG Annual Members Image Show again this year. Join us for an informative evening at the CHS campus, located in the Embassy Row neighborhood of NW Washington, DC.
RSVP to programs@washingtonsculptors.org

Sunday, March 31, 2019

WPA: Collectors' Night: A Silent Auction to Benefit Artists



From The Washington project for the Arts:
INTRODUCING THE ARTISTS
We are excited to announce the 84 artists participating in Collectors' Night: A Silent Auction to Benefit Artists on Saturday, May 4. Nearly all the artists were selected from an open call by this year's incredible art committee, with the exception of a half dozen -- among them the inimitable Richard Tuttle -- who were invited by the staff.
Ebtisam Abdulaziz, Kristin Adair, Farnoosh Ahmadi Shirazi, Sondra N. Arkin, Eames Armstrong, Mary Anne Arntzen, Selin Balci, David Barr, Kyle J. Bauer, Mary Baum, Erick Antonio Benitez, Julia Bloom, Chris Bohner, Lori Anne Boocks, Michael A. Booker, Anthony J. Bowers, Nakeya Brown, Gerardo Camargo, Florencio Lennox Campello, David Carlson, Hsin-Hsi Chen, Larry Cook, Kyrae Dawaun Cowan, Markele Cullins, Frank Hallam Day, John Deardourff, Monique Muse Dodd, Alexis Duque, Alex Ebstein, Pam Eichner, Edgar Endress, Nico Fertakis, Amy Finkelstein, Lloyd Foster, Stephen Hendee, Jessica Hopkins, Timothy J. Horjus, Michael Horsley, Erik Hougen, James Huckenpahler, Sarah Hull, Nate Larson, Magnolia Laurie, Khanh H. Le, Kim Llerena, Timothy Makepeace, Tsedaye Makonnen, Jon Malis, Katherine Tzu-Lan Mann, Antonio McAfee, Nat Meade, Veronica Melendez, Linn Meyers, Maggie Michael, Greg Minah, Tyra Mitchell, Goitseone Bothale Moerane, Jonathan Monaghan, Ali Newhard, Lee Nowell-Wilson, Christos J. Palios, PLAKOOKEE, Rodrigo Pradel, Amber Robles-Gordon, Kate Sable, Nicole Marie Salimbene, Kim Sandara, Josh Sender, Joseph Shetler, Alexandra Silverthorne, Dafna Steinberg, Dan Steinhilber, Mark Stockton, Cindy Stockton Moore, Monica Stroik, Martin Swift, Rob Tarbell, Trish Tillman, Richard Tuttle, Julie Willis, Jordann Wine, Ellen Xu, and Helen Zughaib
 Find more information about the artwork selection process and artists here.

LAST CHANCE FOR EARLY-BIRD TICKETS

Don't forget to purchase discounted early-bird tickets while they are available through April 3! 

If you have any questions about tickets or sponsorship, please email Ashley McDonald at amcdonald@wpadc.org or visit wpacollectorsnight.org.

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Open Studios!

DC Arts Studios (DCAS) invites you to their annual Spring Open Studios on Sunday, April 28, 10am - 5pm!
Take a self-guided tour through our participating artists' studios and have a "behind the scenes" peek into their creative process -- a great way to introduce kids to the arts and learn about different techniques and mediums! 
Purchase original artwork and other handmade gifts directly from the artists themselves! Featured artwork and gifts will include photography, paintings, mixed media, fiber art, sculpture, stained glass, weaving, art made from re-purposed bicycle and computer parts, and much more. 
Swing by the Willow Street Gallery Group Show and Sale, "ELEMENTS" on our first floor.
Have your photo taken with an Afghan camera box. There will be food and refreshments throughout the studios. 
The event is free, accessible, family friendly, and open to the public.
And please help us spread the word! Share the DCAS Spring Open Studios Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2286059881661833/
 
*This arts event is presented as part of Takoma Park's Art Hop, a neighborhood-wide weekend arts festival. Learn more at Art Hop Takoma.

DC Arts Studios is located at 6925 Willow St NW, Washington, DC 20012, next to Downtown Takoma Park, MD.
 
Driving: There is street parking. 
Metro: Take the Red Line to the Takoma DC Metro Station. Walk a few blocks on Carroll Ave towards Downtown Takoma Park, MD. Turn right onto Willow Street. We are halfway down the block on the left-hand side of the street.
Questions? Contact Valerie Fenton, Administrative Director, at office@dcartsstudios.org.

Friday, March 29, 2019

Open life drawing sessions

Hyattsville Figure Drawing Group

Tuesday, April 2, 6-9pm
Model: Jalene

Welcome to open life drawing sessions every Tuesday, 6-9pm in Pyramid Atlantic's gallery space in the Gateway Arts District, Hyattsville. Bring along your favorite art materials and draw with us! Chairs, tables and drawing boards provided.

All are welcome, under 18 legal guardian permission required. Drop-ins welcome, no experience necessary!

Where: 
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center*
4318 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, MD 20781
Free parking in rear of building

When: 
Tuesdays, 6-9pm

Cost: 
$20/session or $75/5-session punch card or $15/session for Pyramid Atlantic members (proof required)

For more information: 
https://www.meetup.com/Hyattsville-Figure-Drawing-Group-Meetup

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Artist as Entrepreneur Program for Visual Artists

Upcoming Event for Artists
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center

Artist as Entrepreneur Program for Visual Artists
May 18 & 19, 10-4PM 

Applications are now open for this professional development program, presented by New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), in partnership with Alper Initiative for Washington Art at the American University Museum, and provided to selected participants free of charge through the support of the Stephen & Palmina Pace Foundation. 

Open to visual artists (painting, photography, sculpture and installation, ceramics, folk art and traditional, craft, printmaking, drawing and book arts, performance art, film, video and new media) the program has been customized to fit the needs artists in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. 

The Artist as Entrepreneur Program offers the fundamental principles of sustainability—and ultimately profitability—in the arts. This includes topics such as strategic planning, finance, and marketing. Additional material is drawn from NYFA’s popular textbook, The Profitable Artist (Allworth Press, 2018), now in its second edition. Participants have access to flexible and dynamic entrepreneurial tools such as the “Artists Action Plan” and Business Model Canvas (BMC) that provide a blueprint for your practice or specific projects. The structure is a blend of formal lectures and breakout groups, designed to build community among the participants and encourage ongoing dialogue, collaborations and support. 

Artists of all career stages, including students, are encouraged to apply through this Submittable link. Participants will be selected through a panel review process. Please view the required application materials. Application deadline is April 17, 2019. 

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Booth at AAFNYC

Our booth at the Spring Affordable Art Fair in New York - booth B4 with work by Matthew Langley, Alexei Tereynin and me!


Tuesday, March 26, 2019

The Dynamics of Buying a Work of Art

An oldie... but always a goodie:

The Dynamics of Buying a Work of Art


After setting up hundreds of art shows in galleries over the years, and dealing with both novice and experienced collectors, I am sometimes still amused by the dynamics that go into the decision to buy (or more often than not pass) a piece of art.
And I have detected a pattern most easily seen at an art fair.
Put together a few thousand people, paying an entry fee to enter the fair, an assortment of dealers, and a huge diverse variety of offerings and it’s an education in people watching.
The married couple: 
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, I like it- it’s just what we’ve been looking for.”
“Where would we put it?”
“We have a couple of spots that it’d fit.”
“Do you really like it.”
“Yeah, how about you?”
“Yeah, I kinda of like it.”
“Should we get it?”
“If you want it.”

(five minutes later)
“Let’s think about it.”
“OK”
 [To me] “Do you have a business card?”
The couple (not married):
Her: “Do you like it?”
Him: “Sssoright”
Her: “Where would we put it?”
Him: “Dunno.”
Her: “Do you really like it.”
Him: “So’OK.. Yeah, how about you?”
Her: “Yeah, I kinda, sorta, really like it.”
Him: “Dunno though”
Her: “What? You don’t like it?”
Him: “If you want it.”
(five minutes later)
Him: “Let’s think about it.”
Her or Him: “OK” [To me] “Do you have a business card?”
The Single Woman (SW) with a Woman Friend:
SW: “WOW! Now, I really like this!”
Friend: “Yeah… it’s nice”
SW: “It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for!”
Friend: “I have a friend who does work just like this…”
SW: “I am really drawn to it!”
Friend: “Are you really sure you like it?”
SW: “Uh - yeah!… why? Don’t you like it?”
Friend: “Yeah… it’s OK”
SW: “I think it’s really good… I think it’s the first piece in this whole show that I really like.”
Friend: “There’s a few more booths we haven’t seen.”
SW: “I think I’m going to buy this.”
Friend: “Are you sure?”
SW: “Uh - yeah!… It’s a good price too…. why? Don’t you like it?”
(five minutes later)
SW: “Do you have a business card?”
The Single Woman (SW) with a Man Friend:
SW: “WOW! Now, I really like this!”
Friend: “Yeah… Cool”
SW: “It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for!”
Friend: “I think it’s a lithograph” [it's actually a charcoal]
SW: “I am really drawn to it!”
Friend: “Are you really sure you like it?”
SW: “Uh - yeah!… why? Don’t you like it?”
Friend: “I have something like it… I got it cheaper though…”
SW: “I think it’s really good… I think it’s the first piece in this whole show that I really like.”
Friend: “You like lithographs?”
SW: “I think I’m going to buy this.”
Friend: “Are you sure?”
SW: “Uh - yeah!… It’s a good price too…. why? Don’t you like it?”
(five minutes later)
SW: “Do you have a business card?”
The Single Focus Dream Buyer:
[Walks straight up to one piece, never looks at the rest of the work in your booth]
“I’ll take this”
[Me] “Thank you… it’s a very striking charcoal drawing - will be that be a check or charge?”
“Charge
[Me] “I can send you more information on this artist…”
“That will be great - I love this work - it’s exactly what I’m interested in!”
[Me] “I have a few more pieces here, would you like to see them?”
“No, thanks…”
The “I’m glad you’re here guy (IGYHG)”:
IGYHG: “Hey! I’ve been looking for you!”
[Me]: “Hi, how are you?”
IGYHG: “… been walking this whole fair looking for you!”
[Me]: “Yeah… lots of dealers this year… glad you found us!”
IGYHG: “Howsa been goin’?”
[Me]: “Yes… quite good actually…”
IGYHG: “Well, let me look at what you’ve got!”
[three minutes later]
IGYHG: “Well… I’m glad you’re here… see ya next year!”
The “I Shudda Bought It Last Year Guy (Shudda)”:
Shudda: “Hey! You’re here again!”
[Me]: “Hi, how are you? Yeah… It’s our 7th year here…”
Shudda: “… been walking this whole fair looking for you!”
[Me]: “Yeah… lots of dealers this year… glad you found us!”
Shudda: “Howsa been goin’?”
[Me]: “Yes… quite good actually…”
Shudda: “Well, let me look at what you’ve got!”
[three minutes later]
Shudda: “Where’s that really good watercolor of the fill-in-the-blank?”
[Me]: “Uh… I sold it last year - but I have a few more pieces by that artist.”
Shudda: “Ah! - I really wanted that one! Do you have another one?”
[Me]: “Well, no… it was an original watercolor, and I sold it; but I have —”
Shudda: “I really wanted that piece; and it was a good price too…”
[Me]: “Maybe you’d like some of his new work…”
Shudda: “I shudda bought it last year”
[Walks away]
Shudda: “You gonna be here next year?”
The “Where’s That Piece Guy (WTP)”:
WTP: “Hey! You’re here again!”
[Me]: “Hi, how are you? Yeah… It’s our 7th year here…”
WTP: “… been walking this whole fair specifically looking for you!”
[Me]: “Yeah… lots of dealers this year… glad you found us!”
WTP: “Howsa been goin’?”
[Me]: “Yes… quite good actually…”
WTP: “OK… last year I saw this piece… it was a fill-in-the-bank and I should have bought it then! “
[Me]: “Yeah… that is a nice piece.”
WTP: “I’ve been thinking about it for a whole year”
[Looks around the booth and doesn't see it]
WTP: “Do you still have it?”
[From here there are two paths...]
Path One -
[Me]: “Uh… I sold it last year - but I have a few more pieces by that artist.”
WTP: “Ah! - I really wanted that one! Do you have another one?”
[Me]: “Well, no… it was an original watercolor, and I sold it; but I have —”
WTP: “I really wanted that piece; and it was a good price too…”
[Me]: “Maybe you’d like some of his new work…”
WTP: “I shudda bought it last year”
[Walks away]
WTP: “You gonna be here next year?”
Path Two
[Me]: “Let me get it for you… I have it in the back!”
WTP: “Great”
[I bring it out and give to WTP]
WTP: “Yeah this is it! It’s great!”
[Me]: “This artist has done really well this last year and —”
WTP: [Handing it back] “Excellent! I’m glad you still have it… until what time are you going to be here?”

Sunday, March 24, 2019

MSAC Seeking Panelists for Public Art Project Grant Program

The Maryland State Arts Council is seeking panelists to review Public Art Project grant applications for the 2019 fiscal year. The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) relies on a diverse array of arts experts from the field to do the important work of evaluating grant applications submitted by Maryland arts organizations and arts programs. Panelists review grant applications online, and meet in spring for the Grants Review Panel Meeting. Serving as a panelist is a great opportunity to learn about Maryland arts organizations and the granting processes of the Maryland State Arts Council. Panelist application forms are due, Friday, April 19, 2019. Please apply here.

The Maryland State Arts Council has committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in grantmaking as all funding mechanisms continue to be examined and updated. The design of the Public Art Across Maryland Grant application is meant to inspire authentic reflection and internal analysis for each applicant, with the knowledge that the Maryland State Arts Council is to be seen and utilized as a collaborative partner in the process. 

After applications have been reviewed, panelists are appointed by the Maryland State Arts Council for a one-year term, which may be renewed, and receive a modest honorarium and travel reimbursement for serving.

The Maryland State Arts Council uses Google products for all panelist activities. Applicants must have a Gmail account to apply. You may establish a Gmail account here.