PROGRESSION at MEG

Multiple Exposures Gallery (MEG) is pleased to announce PROGRESSION, a new fine art photography exhibition.

On display at MEG through July 28, 2024, the exhibition features a sequence of photographs, with each one chosen for its relation to the previous image. The relationships among the 45 included images may be based on composition, color, geography or other characteristics — the choice was left to each of the 15 contributing artists. Exhibition visitors are invited to observe each image as it appears in the sequence and consider what the connection to the previous image might have been. 

Exhibition Artists: Stacy Smith Evans, Soomin Ham, Tim Hyde, Eric Johnson, Irina Lawton, Sandy LeBrun-Evans, Matt Leedham, Francine B. Livaditis, Maureen Minehan, David Myers, Van Pulley, Sarah Hood Salomon, Alan Sislen, Tom Sliter and Fred Zafran

Exhibition hours: 11am-5pm daily

Location: Multiple Exposures Gallery | Torpedo Factory Art Center | #312

Pictish Nation drawing at auction!

This 2012 drawing of mine from my "Pictish Nation" series shows up at auction in Florida! Ridiculous starting bid! I sold that drawing during Art Basel week in Miami ages ago for five times that!

Bid for it here.

Vicky Surles at Watkins Nature Center

Vicky Surles Exhibition

at Watkins Nature Center

July 1- September 21, 2024

From the news release:

Vicky Surles is an award-winning local artist, member of Wheaton Arts Parade Gallery, Montgomery Art Association, Gallery 209 in Artists & Makers Studios, Rockville and a Juried Member of the Baltimore Watercolor Society. In her figurative drawings, she tries to reflect nature's beauty and order. A love for nature drives her to explore the structure and intricate details of life around her. She mainly works in watercolor and colored pencil. Her work is in many private collections as well as in the United States Department of State's Art in Embassies Program.

You are invited to meet the artist at a free, public art reception on August 11 from 1-3 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Watkins Nature Center is located at 331 Watkins Dr., Upper Marlboro, MD 20774. Regular visiting hours are Monday- Friday 10am- 5pm and Sunday 10am- 4pm. To see works by Vicky,  click here!

This weekend: 2024 STORYBOX Comics Fair

DWIGHTMESS Cartooning & Comic Arts, a gallery and arts compound devoted to experimental and cutting-edge independent comics and illustration, is proud to announce the 2024 STORYBOX Comics Fair, now in its second year of convening of capital-area comic creators. Events will take place on  Saturday, June 22nd at Dwightmess, and on Sunday, June 23rd at Third Hill Brewing Co. from 12-4pm. Admission to Saturday’s event is free. 
Admission to the expo at the brewery on Sunday is $10.

The first day of events will be led by our Special Guests; DC-based artist Sierra Barnes, author of “Hans Vogel is Dead,” released by Dark Horse Comics; DC-based Dana Jeri Maier, New Yorker Shouts artist and author of “Skip to the Fun Parts: Cartoons and Complaint About the Creative Process” and Baltimore-based artist Ben Claassen III, former Washington City Paper cartoonist of the long-running comic, “Dirt Farm.”

Visitors can expect to encounter a selection of exhibitors showcasing their self-published comics, illustrations and swag, and participate in discussions and workshops surrounding the craft of making comics. Events include a show of Dana Jeri Maier’s illustration in our secret tiny gallery, an opening reception & BBQ for SWAMP MESS, the gallery’s annual DC-comics creator summer show, featuring artwork by Ben Claassen III, Andrew Cohen, Chris Combs, Liam Crooks, Brandon Geurts, Art Hondros, Marcie-Wolf Hubbard, John Kinhart, and Dale Rawlings, plus an opening reception for Halcyon Scene, our vintage boutique offering sleek 1980’s furniture and decor. (IG: @_halcyon_scene_)

Exhibitor List (Saturday 6/22): Mercedes Campos Lopez, JESSJESS PRESS, TC Pescatore, Anna Selheim.

The second day of the fair is a comics mini-expo taking place at Third Hill Brewing Co. in downtown Silver Spring. Featuring 19 DMV-region cartoonists,illustrators and makers, with book signings by our special guests and workshops led by DC-based autobio-cartoonist Athena Naylor, Washington Post comics editor Hannah Good, and Ray Orr, Former Design and Comics Editor of The Lily for the Washington Post Style Section.

Special Guests: Sierra Barnes, Ben Claassen III, Dana Jeri Maier
Exhibitor List (Sunday 6/23): All the Old Posions, Carolyn Belefski, Kat Brenowitz, Hannah Good, Hobbes Holluck, Art Hondros, Paul Hostetler, Erin Lissette, Alex Lupp, Athena Naylor, Ray Orr, Nami Oshiro, Karly Perez, Perilous Adventure Studios, Dale Rawlings, Christine Skelly, Shannon Spence.

Schedule of Programming : 



Saturday, June 22nd, 12-4pm 

DWIGHTMESS, 805 Silver Spring Ave, Silver Spring MD 20910 (closest to Fenton Street Village Garage)

Swampmess Exhibition Opening Reception/BBQ

1pm Workshop with Sierra Barnes
2pm: Comics Process Town Hall with Ben Claassen III

3pm: Book Discussion with Dana Jeri Maier

*All events are free and open to the public.

Sunday, June 23rd, 12-4pm

Third Hill Brewing Co, 8216 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring MD 20910 (closest to Bonifant-Dixon Garage)

1pm: Make a Collage Comic w/ Hannah Good and Rachel Orr

2pm: “Main Character Energy” Workshop with Athena Naylor

3pm Special Guests Book Signings

*$10 Admission.

Event Locations: DWIGHTMESS, 805 Silver Spring Ave, Silver Spring MD 20910, Third Hill Brewing Co, 8216 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring MD 20910

Public Transit Reminder: **Silver Spring Metro Station on the Red Line is currently closed for the summer as well as the Takoma, Wheaton and Glenmont Stations*

Options for getting to STORYBOX:

1) Free shuttle buses will run from Fort Totten and Glenmont Metro Stations (add 30 min to your travel time). 

2) Uber / Lyft / Taxi / Carpool! Paid Hourly Parking is available at the Fenton Street Village Garage (8110 Fenton St) or the Bonifant-Dixon Garage (1101 Bonifant St).
3) For Alternative Bus Routes, visit:

https://www.wmata.com/.../Red-Line-Summer-Construction...

Sponsored by: Third Hill Brewing Co., DWIGHTMESS, DC Conspiracy, and Peoples Book Takoma.



Shiri Achu 10th Anniversary 'InPrint' Exhibition

 

Exciting events such as a Workshop, Books Launch, Taste of Cameroon, a Fashion Show and an Auction during the 10 weeks long period. Early bird registration is Free until Sat.29th June. Thereafter it will be $10. 

Shiri will be launching a Campaign on the 30th of June to raise money toward completing a school floor in Santa, Cameroon. 45% of every entry fee or 10th Anniversary gift will be put towards this GROUNDED campaign. Also, 10% of every art sale, merchandise sale etc throughout the 10 weeks long exhibition will be put towards this campaign.

Register here.

MAP Call for Entry

 

reGENERATE
 

TIMELINE:

Submission Deadline: 
Monday, August 12, 2024 @ Midnight

Notification of Acceptance: 
Week of August 19, 2024

Artwork Drop Off: 
Tuesday, September 3 - Saturday, September 7, 2024

Exhibition on View: 
Thursday, September 12 - Saturday, November 2 , 2024

Opening Reception: 
Thursday, September 12, 2024

Exhibition Closes: 
Saturday, November 2nd, 2024

Artwork Pick Up: 
Tuesday, November 5 - Saturday, November 9

Application Form

Maryland Art Place (MAP),  in partnership with Lumina Solar, is excited to announce an open call for reGENERATE, an upcoming exhibition exploring the dynamic, controversial, and multifaceted concept of "energy." This exhibition aims to delve into the various interpretations and manifestations of energy. We are seeking artworks centric to energy (new and old) and any interpretations thereof. Artworks can be literal or abstract, but must tie-in with ideas surrounding energy and energy conservation: Key words: light, the built environment, conservation, physical energy, the sun, atmosphere, energy collection, energy sources etc...

We encourage artists to interpret this theme broadly and creatively. Submissions can explore, but are not limited to, the following aspects:

• Kinetic and potential energy
• Renewable and non-renewable energy sources
• Cosmic and universal energies
• Environmental impacts of energy production and consumption

Submission Guidelines:

• All mediums are welcome, including painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, video, and mixed media.
• Both individual and collaborative works are eligible.
• Artists may submit up to three pieces for consideration.
• Each submission must include:
• Title, medium, dimensions, and year of creation
• High-resolution images (JPEG or PNG, 300 dpi)
• An artist statement (max 500 words) explaining how the work relates to the theme of energy
• A brief artist biography (max 300 words)
• Contact information (name, email, phone number)

How to Submit:

To apply please see the following application and required attachments: Please send your application to submissions@mdartplace.org 

OR fill out the Google application HERE by MIDNIGHT on Monday, August 12, 2024. 

Workhouse Arts Foundation Appoints Keith Gordon as New President and CEO

The Workhouse Arts Foundation, Inc., which operates the Workhouse Arts Center, has appointed Keith Gordon as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, responsible for leading the Workhouse into its next phase of growth. Keith brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the non-profit and private sectors. He begins his new role on Monday, July 1, 2024.

Keith’s extensive professional background includes C-suite leadership roles, most recently serving as President and Chief Executive Officer at Fight For Children (FFC), a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of underserved youth, and as President for the NFL Players Incorporated (NFLPI), a subsidiary of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), where he successfully rebuilt and repositioned both organizations to achieve significant growth.

A graduate of Arizona State University, Keith started his career in advertising in New York City before joining the National Basketball Association (NBA). At the NBA, he was instrumental in driving collaboration amongst teams, sharing best practices, refining team marketing strategies, and increasing team and league revenues.

“We are very excited to welcome Keith Gordon as our new President and CEO,” said Caroline Blanco, Chair of the Board of Directors. “With his significant experience as a leader in the non-profit sector and engaging personality, I have no doubt that Keith has what it takes to turn the potential of this wonderful organization into a reality.”

Keith's appreciation for the arts began early, influenced by his mother, an aspiring artist and later a professor of art history, and his older brother, a television and film actor in New York City.

"I’m excited to join the Workhouse at such a pivotal time,” Keith said. “The rich history of the facility, combined with the unwavering commitment from Fairfax County and a dedicated Board of Directors, has led to one of the most unique and inspiring destinations in the region. I look forward to collaborating with our talented team and the vibrant community of resident artists to bring the vision for this dynamic property to life.”

On the subject of art fairs

Multiple times over the last few years I have been discussing artists, arts organizations, art galleries, and art fairs, most recently here.

Cristina Salmastrelli, the energetic Regional Managing Director for Ramsay Fairs, pipes in to that last post with some terrific comments:

My comments, in no particular order:

I love that artists should not be required to come to an art fair if they do not want to. There are some artists that cannot stomach the fast pace of a fair or the harsh realities that comes with it. This is why artist representatives are so important, in my opinion. Visitors and potential art buyers can be quite harsh and sometimes artist cannot hear negative feedback. I never want an artist to hear negative feedback unless it’s filtered through their representation or a proper lens. In my opinion and in the most idyllic sense, the entire gallery system is there to protect the artist and their creativity from external messages. I have seen artist wilt when representing their own work and that makes me really upset, so I love the fact that the artist onsite requirement theory can be eliminated.

The formula for art fair success is an ever changing one. It more and more reminds me of early motherhood or Instagram’s algorithms every day. Once you feel like you got your system down pat, CURVEBALL STRAIGHT AHEAD! And the only way to properly prepare for this is to come in feeling strong and excited to talk to people at every opportunity. Every edition needs to be your first and there can be no assumptions that you will be as successful as your last. And with that theory, the fair experience never ends on the last day and that constant follow up and dedication to build relations with new clients, old clients and potential ones will pay off down the line.

It never hurts to take time to try and understand the different motivations when it comes to purchasing art. From there, take time to practice how to close deals based on the variety of reasons why someone buys an artwork. In the end, this exchange is about emotions and this purchase is emotive, so understanding people really helps to make your experience a successful one.