Azul Exhibit Extended

| ART OPENINGS |

The Studio H exhibition of digital photographs by photographer Geoff Ault has been extended. There will be a closing reception on February 6 from 6-8pm.

****** UPDATE *******

Due to the weekend blizzard, this closing show will be CANCELED

***********************

Voyeurism as Art

| REVIEWS |

The Hoya, Georgetown University's newspaper, has an excellent review of Conner Contemporary's current exhibit by Jeremy Kost Anyone Other Than Me.  It should come as no surprise that the author of the article, who has come of age during an era of instant digital imagery and social media, could have written such a poignant article on the issues of voyeurism raised by Kost's exhibit.

Anyone Other Than Me runs until March 6, 2010.  Conner Contemporary is located at 1358 Florida Ave, NE and is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. or by appointment. 202. 588.8750

CHAW's Fourth Annual Photography Exhibition

| REVIEWS |

Kevin Mellema of Northern Virginia Art Beat found work that is "challenging, entertaining and quite informative" in the Fourth Annual Photography show at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. Sixteen photographers are represented in the show which runs until February 4, 2010.

Honfleur Gallery and Vivid Solutions "Stories"

  | EXHIBITS |

Stories, an exhibit of photographic stories created by three artists to help raise awareness and funds for relief efforts in African nations, will run from January 22, 2010 through February 26, 2010. Stories features documentary photography created by Antoine Sanfuentes in a 2008 visit to East Goma with NBC’s Ann Curry covering topics such as children soldiers of Africa, education and rape. Works by Ann Curry will be presented from the same trip, alongside Deborah Terry’s images of Sudanese and Ugandan refugees and conflict victims as well as multimedia presentations of the grassroots work done by International Lifeline Fund. While exhibits at Honfleur are free and open to the public, all proceeds collected from this exhibition  will go to support International Lifeline Fund.

Concurrently, Terry will be exhibiting at The Gallery at Vivid Solutions, also in Historic Anacostia, with a solo exhibition entitled Migrations, illuminating the lives of two disparate groups at odds in the Darfur conflict; the nomadic families of herders/warriors known as Janjaweed, and the refugees displaced by them.

Honfleur Gallery
1227 Good Hope Road SE
Washington DC 20020

The Gallery at Vivid Solutions
2208 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE
Washington DC 20020

Capitol Hill Art League February Show

  | ART OPENINGS |

The Capitol Hill Art League, a program of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW), will open its next exhibit on Saturday, February 13, 2010, 5-7 PM at CHAW, 545 7th Street SE with a reception and gallery talk for the public. Admission to the opening and exhibit is free. The no-theme, all-media show of original art work continues through March 5th. Gallery hours are: 9:30AM-9:00 PM (M-Th), 9:30AM-6:00 PM (F), and 9:00AM-2:00 PM (Sat).

The juror for the show is Betsy Anderson, a Torpedo Factory studio artist, former commissioner for the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, and President of The Art League. Anderson’s paintings ebb and flow with color and motion to reveal a sense of place. A commitment to landscape is at the heart of her art and color is its strength. She gains inspiration from frequent travels which yield colors and patterns. She holds a BFA from Wright State University and also studied at Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University. Her work is in private, corporate, and government collections in the U.S., Europe, and South America.

For more information about CHAL, the exhibit, and other CHAW events, visit www.chaw.org or call: 202-547-6839.

Industry Gallery Inaugural Opening "Round the Corner"

| REVIEWS |

At the edge of Trinidad NE, right before Florida avenue ends at the five pointed intersection of H street NE, Benning road and Maryland avenue, a facade in a former industrial building glows brightly on a dark January evening.  While slightly overshadowed by its ground floor neighbor Connor Contemporary,  visitors  enter a distinctly different gallery space once they reach the second floor.  In this second floor space, Industry Gallery's inaugural exhibit displays the work of Shlomo Harush, an Israeli artist who splits his time between New York, Milan and Tel Aviv.

Aptly named, Industry Gallery is raw space framed by unfinished concrete walls and floors making this the perfect environment for a Harush exhibit.  Harush's over-sized, seemingly unfinished  metal work warms Industry Gallery's space and gives it purpose.  Harush's "Round the Corner" and its industrial backdrop will delight visitors who enjoy contemporary design and sculpture.

The work found in "Round the Corner" can be broken down into three general categories- objects wrapped in generous amounts of shiny aluminum-like metal, sculptures made-up of small aluminum links to form larger objects and whimsical illustrations both drawn on paper and animated.  A large truck covered in aluminum dominates the entry.  Nearby, a large metallic sculpture resembling a double chair invites guest to sit.   A video screen also wrapped in aluminum loops minimalist cartoons. Off to the side, a former automotive entrance ramp is decorated by another wrapped object.  At the center of the exhibit, unexpectedly, three frames, wrapped in metal, display three minimalist illustrations.  Further down the hall, in a window-less room hangs an isolated semi-circular sculpture.

To see selected photos of the exhibit, click here

Shlomo Harush's  “Round the corner”  will be on display from January 16, 2010 -- March 6, 2010 at Industry Gallery located at 1358 Florida Avenue, NE, Suite 200, Washington DC 20002    T:  202 399 1730

 

From Art Crimes to City Landmarks

  | EXIBITS |

In this particular instance, these exhibits are permanent- murals created by graffiti artists with the blessing of the local authorities.

The city has finally decided taken a pragmatic approach to "combating" graffiti in the city by creating the Murals DC program.  Council member Jim Graham spearheaded the program in 2007.  The program pairs students with artists who learn aerosol painting techniques and the execution of a large scale work. The program has led to the creation of 20 breathtaking murals city-wide including the following five East City murals:

"One City," 2420 Martin Luther King Ave. SE.

"Unity," 600 Alabama Ave. SE.

"Movement," under the Franklin Street Bridge at Edgewood and Eighth Street NE.

"Metamorphosis," 615 Division Ave. NE.

"Life Makes Music," Riggs Road NE at South Dakota Avenue.

 Many of these murals have become landmarks in their own right.  You can view these murals online here as well as the other 15 murals finished in NW neighborhoods (after having to watch 10 seconds of an inane commercial).

Portrait Painting

  | CLASSES |

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
545 7th Street, SE
202 547-6839
www.chaw.org
Teaching Artist, Sarah Griffin Thibodeaux
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m
4 weeks: January 16-Feb 6, 2010 (January 16, 23, 30, Feb 6)
$192 + Materials

This class teaches the fundamentals of painting the head in oil. Students will paint the model from life in 4 sessions. Beginning with a toned canvas, students will execute a careful drawing and subsequently build up the structure of the head from darks to lights. Emphasis is on understanding the structure of the head and learning to mix colors to create realistic and harmonious flesh tones. The class will begin with a demonstration of the alla prima technique, used by John Singer Sargent and handed down through generations of atelier painters and teachers. Experience with drawing and/or painting preferred.

H Street Art Galleries

| REVIEWS |

Modern Luxury Magazine has published an article about the burgeoning H street art gallery scene.  Aside from what many ECA blog readers who frequent the H street NE art scene already know, they might not know that G Fine art will soon be joining our midst.  Also worth noting is that my last name was misspelled in the article.  It should read Phil Hutinet and not Phil Sutinet.  Very funny!!

Grand Opening of Industry Gallery

  | ART OPENINGS |

The list of galleries continues to grow in the H Street Corridor.   Industry Gallery will be hosting their grand opening this  Saturday, January 16th, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. The inaugural opening will feature unique metal and aluminum sculpture designs by Jerusalem-born artist Shlomo Harush.

Also worth noting, Industry Gallery will be featured in the Thursday, January 14th, 2010 issue of the New York Times and in today's Washington Post.

Industry Gallery is located at 1358 Florida Avenue, NE, Suite 200, Washington DC 20002  T: 202.399.1730  E: info@industrygallerydc.com

Tom Pullin "Faces and Fancies" at Park Cafe

| EXHIBITS |

From January 3 to February 13, 2010 Faces and Fancies a photography show by Tom Pullin will be on display at the Park Cafe at 106 13th ST SE, Washington DC.    Tom Pullin's work includes both abstract work and portraiture.   Some of his abstract work is printed on metallic archival paper and mounted on hand made raised wood frames creating beautiful, surreal effects. To see more of his work online click here.

Life Drawing I

  | CLASSES |

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
545 7th Street, SE
202 547-6839
Teaching Artist, Ellen Cornett
Thursdays, 6:30 – 8:30
8 weeks February 11 – April 1
$272

Painters and sculptors have celebrated the nude for centuries. In this class students will increase their understanding of and comfort with rendering the human figure. It is assumed that all students taking this class have some prior drawing experience. There will be demonstration and lecture, but instruction will be primarily individual with an emphasis on perfecting previously acquired skills and trying new approaches to rendering the figure. The class will be complemented with theory and examples in art history. If time allows, there will be group critiques of work during the semester. This is intended to both allow students to see what others are doing and learn from their work and to enhance the student art vocabulary. There is strong emphasis on building a community in the classroom that allows students to comfortably take risks with their work. Students may be invited to meet for informal “field trips” to exhibits and other art-related events. No materials are supplied. It is strongly recommended that students be adults with previous drawing experience.

Drawing II

  | CLASSES |

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
545 7th Street, SE
202 547-6839
Teaching Artist, Ellen Cornett
Tuesdays, 6:30 – 9:00
8 weeks, February 9 – March 30
$340
***THE LOCATION OF THIS CLASS IS TBD***

You know your way around a stick of charcoal, and you’ve got gesture and contour drawing under your belt. Now you can take those skills to the next level. Polishing Your Drawing Skills will be a intensive study of shading, value, and rendering drapery, reflective and transparent surfaces. Students will do a series of exercises designed to teach technique, then execute a still life drawing incorporating these skills. Pre-requisite 1 -2 semesters of Intro to Drawing or equivalent.

Introduction to Oil Painting

  | CLASSES |

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
545 7th Street, SE
202 547-6839
www.chaw.org
Teaching Artist, Ellen Cornett
Mondays, 6:30-8:30 pm
8 weeks: February 8 - April 5 (no class 2/15)
$272 + $15 Materials Fee

In this class students learn the fundamentals of working with oil paints including some basic drawing and composition as well as color theory. They will learn how to handle the materials safely and gain some familiarity with the different methods and techniques involved in oil painting. The instruction will stress observation as the main tool in the painting. We will complete one small painting of a single item—an apple or a lemon and two larger paintings. Students are encouraged to interact with each other, to see what others are doing and learn from their work and to enhance the student art vocabulary. There is strong emphasis on building a community in the classroom that allows students to comfortably take risks with their work. Students may be invited to meet for informal “field trips” to exhibits and other art-related events. Materials will be supplied. Students should bring a roll of paper towels and wear old clothes. There is no age limit though the teaching methods are designed for the adult student. Drawing experience helpful but not required.

Azul at Studio H Gallery

  | ART OPENINGS |

Braving the cold, I attended the opening of Geoff Ault’s photography show, Azul, at Studio H Gallery Saturday night. Stepping into the gallery is like walking into the home of a friend—the space is warm and inviting, the food and wine excellent and abundant.

Full disclosure, Geoff is a good friend and we served together on the Steering Committee for the Capitol Hill Art League a few years ago. I expected to like his work and I was not disappointed. Geoff studied at the Corcoran in the 1970s and more recently with noted photographer and critic, Bruce McKaig. He is an accomplished photographer in his own right, but in his recent work he collaborates with other photographers. Geoff transforms their gray scale photographs of male figures into dream-studies. The digital images are mysterious, erotic and faintly sinister, suggestive of secret fantasies and desires. Pretty heady stuff. Geoff’s palette is rich and subtle—the photos glow. I have seen a few of these images online and in exhibit, but seeing all 15 of them in one show tells a story most compellingly. I heartily recommend this exhibit.

Studio H Gallery at 408A H Street, NE.  Please call 202.468.5277 to schedule a viewing.