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Friday, July 30, 2010

Weekend East City Event Round Up

Anacostia Icon H Street Icon  Capitol Hill Icon  | EVENTS |


Greetings from Historic Anacostia
Four art exhibits open concurrently in Anacostia tonight, Friday July 30th beginning at 6:30pm.  The exhibitions are spaced out over three venues as follows: Honfleur Gallery (1241 Good Hope Road SE), ARCH Training Center (1231 Good Hope Road SE) and The Gallery at Vivid Solutions (2208 MLK Jr Ave SE).  At Honfleur, Ward 7 & 8 Artists will be featured at the gallery's annual East of the River Juried show.  Upstairs see the works of local photographer Bruce McNeil who captured the beauty of the Anacostia with his lens. At ARCH see an ecologically inspired student photography show. Finally, at Vivid Solutions, an interactive exhibition featuring local bloggers and community residents will use personal photographs to construct a visual narrative of life East of the River.

Open Drawing at CHAW
On Saturday, head over to CHAW from 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.  Brush up on your figurative skills and draw from a live model.  Easels, small folding tables, and drawing boards are available.  Feel free to bring any props to enhance the pose.  There is a $20 walk-in fee.   This is a great group of people and a great chance to meet many of the local working artists of the area.

Networking Opportunity for Artists
.
Conner Contemporary Art will be hosting an event for area artists.  The Pannel includes gallery owners, a psychologist, a public art program managers and artists.  This is a fantastic opportunity to network and understand the process of moving you work out of your studio and into the public sphere.  An RSVP is requested.  Respond to info@connercontemporary.com

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Brentwood Arts Exchange Call For Entries: "All Mixed Up" -- A Juried Exhibition of Mixed Media Work

Outside the Diamond  | CALLS FOR ENTRY |




Application Deadline: 5:00pm on Tuesday, September 7

ALL MIXED UP
All Mixed Up is a juried exhibition of works in two or more media, sponsored by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George's County, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division. The exhibition will be on display at the Brentwood Arts Exchange at the Gateway Arts Center, 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood, MD from November 1 - 27, 2010.

APPLICATION DEADLINE 
September 7, 2010
All submissions must be received by 5:00pm on Tuesday, September 7.

DATES

    * Deadline for receipt of entries: September 7, 2010
    * Notification of selected works: October 1, 2010
    * Art work drop-off period: October 21-23
    * Exhibition closes: November 27, 2010
    * Artwork pick-up period: November 29-30

JUROR
Philippa Hughes creator of the Pink Line Project.

AWARDS
$1000 in cash awards will be made by the juror. The Prince George's Arts Council will make a Purchase Award from this exhibition.

ELIGIBILITY & SUBMISSION CRITERIA
This call for entries is open to all artists 18 years of age or older who live, work, attend school or have studios in Prince George's County, MD, whose artwork is constructed of two or more media ("mixed media"). Artists may submit a maximum of 3 artworks for consideration. All works must be original (no reproductions). Proposals for mixed media installation or performance works should include example images, video or audio of the type of work being proposed as well as a brief document describing the proposed art work.

WHAT TO SEND
Materials should be submitted by mail or delivered in person to 7833 Walker Drive, Suite 430, Greenbelt, MD. Please send:

    * A CD/DVD containing images and/or segments of audio/video, each no longer than five minutes in duration.
    * A printed list of the works submitted with titles, media, and dimensions.
    * If you would like your materials returned, please include an SASE.


MAILING ADDRESS FOR SUBMISSIONS
:
Attn: All Mixed Up Juried Exhibition
Arts & Cultural Heritage Division, M-NCPPC
7833 Walker Dr., Suite 430
Greenbelt, MD  20770

GUIDELINES FOR DIGITAL FILES
Effort will be made to review all submissions, regardless of format. However, please be aware that incompatible files may cause submissions to be rejected. Applicants are encouraged to format files as described below.

    * Name each file according to the following format: "last name" underscore "document". Example: jones_statement.pdf.
    * Please number each image file corresponding to the work sample list. Example: 01_jones_untitled.jpg
    * Image files should not be larger than 1MB, and should be formatted as jpeg, tiff or png.
    * Video and audio submissions may be submitted as a DVD or on a CD and formatted as Quicktime, Windows Media, .wav or .mpeg files, as appropriate.

DELIVERY & INSTALLATION

Artists are responsible for transporting work to and from the gallery. Art work must be delivered ready to hang and appropriately presented. For works that require projection, sound or other electronic equipment, those materials must be provided by the artist. Art works that differ significantly from the images submitted for judging or are not ready for gallery installation may be rejected. If you need to ship the work, please call us to let us know what arrangements you have made. The exhibition will be installed and dismantled by M-NCPPC staff unless the nature of the work requires special assistance. All work accepted for exhibition will remainat the Brentwood Arts Exchange for the duration of the exhibition.

SALES & INSURANCE

The M-NCPPC will retain a 25% commission on all art works sold during, or as a result of the exhibition. The M-NCPPC will insure all consigned artwork in the custody of the Brentwood Arts Exchange from the time they are received by delivery, until the pick up date only.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact: Julia Morelli, Visual Arts Specialist, M-NCPPC julia.morelli@pgparks.com Tel. 301-446-3249; tty. 301-446-6802.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Design Studio Art Gallery Calls For Entry for "3:1" (3 disasters, 1 decade)

Outside the Diamond  | CALLS FOR ENTRY |

Artwork Drop-Off Date: Thursday, August 12th from 11am-6pm 

The Design Studio Art Gallery is currently seeking submissions for their upcoming show "3:1 (3 disasters, 1 decade)".   The three disasters refer to hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake and the gulf oil spill.  For a complete prospectus and entry requirements click here.

Submission requirements:
Artists must submit images of 2d or 3d works in the following size: width @ 480 pixels, height @ 378 pixels. If the work does not conform to those sizes, please adjust size closest to that measurement. The gallery is seeking size-ready that they can easily upload them to their website. Any ideas specifically regarding a special, planned installation must be explained in a minimum of 2 paragraphs along with images of works.  For more information, click
here.

Theme
The exhibition seeks to raise awareness of the socio-political impacts of the following disasters: the response to huricane Katrina, the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti and the devastation brought about by the gulf oil spill.

The gallery is located in Hyattsville’s burgeoning Gateway Arts District at 5702 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD, 20781. Contact the gallery at (301) 779-4907 or (202) 446-7373 and by email at info@designstudioartgallery.com  Regular hours are Wed - Fri 11am - 7pm, Sat 10am -5pm, Sun 1pm - 5pm

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

(e)merge Discussion Panel and Party Saturday, July 31st from 4 to 8pm

H Street Icon | EVENTS |



(e)merge discussion panel and party Saturday, July 31st: 4 to 8pm

Conner Contemporary Art will host an event specifically for area emerging artists beginning with a discussion panel focusing on how emerging artists build communities. An rsvp via return email to info@connercontemporary.com is appreciated.

Panelists:

Kristina Bilonick - visual artist + Washington Project for the Arts program director
Zoë Charlton - visual artist + American University art professor
Damian Elias, Ph.D. - psychologist
Karyn Miller - Cultural Development Corporation program manager
Sheldon Scott - performing artist
Paul So - founder of Hamiltonian gallery + artist fellowship program
Jamie Smith, Ph.D - partner and curator, Conner Contemporary Art

(e)merge discussion panel begins at 4pm; directly followed by (e)merge party – hang out with your community, with DJ Keenan Orr, food and drink. (e)merge is generously sponsored by Restaurant Marvin, Pink Line Project, and Red Hook.

Monday, July 26, 2010

The Corner Store Presents: Ezara Spangl "Things of Things" July 29 - August 1

Capitol Hill Icon  | ART OPENINGS |

Opening Reception: Thursday July 29 from 6 to 9 pm



The Corner Store will present "Things of Things", an exhibition of works by Ezara Spangl. The exhibition will include six oil paintings executed in 2010 in Vienna, Austria.  The exhibition will have an opening reception on Thursday July 29 from 6 to 9 pm.  The artist will be present at the reception.

Ezara Spangl currently lives and works in Vienna.  She received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BA from Oberlin College.  She has had solo exhibitions at Skestos Gabriele Gallery, Chicago; Devening Projects, Chicago and Contemporary Art Workshop, Chicago.  Spangl has participated in group exhibitions at Bell Street Projects, Vienna; Julius Ceasar, Chicago; Trottoir, Hamburg; Koloni, Dresden; Guertin Graphics, Chicago; and Fifty50 Gallery, Chicago.  In Chicago, she is represented by Skestos Gabriele Gallery.

The Corner Store 900 South Carolina Avenue SE, Washington DC 20003. For more information contact: Kris Swanson & Roy Mustelier at 202.544.5807 or visit the website at www.cornerstorearts.org

Friday, July 23, 2010

Weekend East City Event Round Up

H Street Icon  Outside the Diamond Capitol Hill Icon  | EVENTS |


East City Weekend Openings, Exhibitions and Classes



This weekend is looking like it's going to be a scorcher with temperatures soaring into the triple digits.  Why not stay indoors where it's cool?  Here are several activities, most free, that you can do this weekend without breaking a sweat.

Temporium
Tonight from 6-8 PM, the grand opening festivities of the Temporium begin at 6pm featuring music by DJ Obeyah.  The fun continues Saturday starting at 6pm with Will Rast, Alex Vans at 7pm and DJ Mike Bolo from 8-10 pm.  Can't make the festivities but are dying to see what's being shown in the emporium?  Not a problem.  Hours of operation will be as follows: Thursday: 6 to 10 PM, Fridays: 6 to 10 PM, Saturdays: 2 to 10 PM and Sundays: 12 to 5 PM.  So drop in after having brunch at your favorite H Street eatery.

Open Drawing at CHAW
On Saturday, head over to CHAW from 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.  Brush up on your figurative skills and draw from a live model.  Easels, small folding tables, and drawing boards are available.  Feel free to bring any props to enhance the pose.  There is a $20 walk-in fee.   This is a great group of people and a great chance to meet many of the local working artists of the area.

Gateway Arts District
Even though the show's opening reception doesn't take place until August 5, why not head over to the Brentwood Arts Exchange for recent Paintings by Ellen Baer.  The Brentwood Arts exchange is open until 8pm on Friday and until 6pm on Saturday.  While you're in the Gateway Arts District, why not check out "Colors of Summer" a group show of works in warm palettes paying homage to the warm summer season at the Design Studio Art Gallery.  The gallery is open until 7pm on Friday and until 5pm on Saturday. 

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Honfleur, Vivid Solutions and ARCH Present: ‘Greetings From East of the River!" July 30th through September 10th 2010

Anacostia Icon | ART OPENINGS |

Opening Reception: July 30 at 6:30pm


‘Greetings From East of the River!’
Arts community presents stories of Anacostia

Four art exhibits open concurrently in Historic Anacostia on Friday July 30th at 6:30pm, highlighting the multifaceted Anacostia community. Local artists explore and react to the spiritual, social, environmental and historical issues of this neighborhood. The exhibits encompass the voices of a range of emerging to established artists and creative minds.

For the fourth year running, artists rooted in Wards 7 and 8 will be featured in Honfleur Gallery’s (1241 Good Hope Road SE) juried East of the River exhibition. Eleven artists are included in the exhibition; BK Adams, Nigil Brice, Ralston Cyrus, Melani Douglass, MatthewMann, Samuel Mercer, Marlon Normon, Luis Peralta, Amanda Stephenson, Deborah Terry and Renee Woodward. Photography, drawings, paintings and sculptures by artists who are Anacostia natives and recent newcomers.

Upstairs at Honfleur Gallery, Capturing the Spirit, a exhibition of photographs by local talent Bruce McNeil examines the Anacostia River, using the mythic spirit Mami Wata as inspiration.  McNeil uses portraits of women, including his own mother, to personify the spirit of the river, overlaying them with nature imagery shot on the river.

A collection of student photography on show at ARCH Training Center (1231 Good Hope Road SE) features ecologically-inspired imagery. TREEts & TREEties: Documenting gifts from nature and examining our agreement with the environment includes works by James Holiday, Joseph Roberson, Brittany Jackson, and Audrea Blackwell are the final product of a digital photography class sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

At The Gallery at Vivid Solutions (2208 MLK Jr Ave SE), Anacostia: Never Far From Home is a look at the past and present of Anacostia, with the help from the following local bloggers: 
This interactive exhibition includes community participation-- everyone is invited to bring their own photographs to hang on the community wall and assist the gallery in telling a visual story of Anacostia. The exhibit will evolve over the course of the show, as local residents and bloggers react to and build their story.

These exhibits will be on view from July 30th to September 10th 2010, at three venues in Anacostia and are free to the public. The closest metro is Anacostia (green line) For further inquiries, please contact Briony Evans Hynson, Honfleur’s Creative Director at 202-536-8994 or arts@archdc.org. Be sure to visit the Honfleur website for details: www.honfleurgallery.com

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Design Studio Art Gallery Presents "Colors of Summer: An Exploration of Warm Shades, Hues, and Tones" July 15th - August 8th, 2010

Outside the Diamond | ART OPENINGS |




Design Studio Art Gallery presents "Colors of Summer: An Exploration of Warm Shades, Hues,and Tones" focusing on color identity defined by a warm palette.  "Colors of Summer: An Exploration of Warm Shades, Hues and Tones" will be on exhibit at Design Studio Art Gallery from July 15th - August 8th, 2010. 

The exhibit looks into how warm colors define and illustrate mood, ambiance and environment. The curators have sought to examine how these colors, reminiscent of the summer, combine to create art that denotes familiarity in terms of place and environment. 

As we collectively experience this warm season, the exhibit seeks to provide responses to how the summer's energy can be interpreted through the warm palette used by the works on display.

Design Studio Art Gallery is owned and operated by two Interior Designers, Erica Riggio and Nancy Evans. Both designers are committed to advancing the arts. Ms. Evans is a Professor at The George Washington University and has dedicated her life’s work to education and design. Erica Riggio is a graduate of The George Washington University and has an MFA in Interior Design. Ms.Riggio and Ms. Evans both own their own design firms as well. 

The gallery is located in Hyattsville’s new Arts District at 5702 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD, 20781. Contact the gallery at (301) 779-4907 or (202) 446-7373 and by email at info@designstudioartgallery.com  Regular hours are Wed - Fri 11am - 7pm, Sat 10am -5pm, Sun 1pm - 5pm

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Brentwood Arts Exchange Presents "Spectrum: Memories of Natural Forms and Light " Recent Paintings by Ellen Baer July 26 - September 3, 2010

Outside the Diamond | ART OPENINGS |

Opening Reception:  Saturday, August 7  5:00 - 8:00pm


Meditative in their simplicity, Ellen Baer's paintings are a provocative exploration of material, surface, and color.  Using simple pairings of vibrant color - a brilliant orange glowing through a smoky red - Baer creates striking resonances of space within singular, iconic forms.  Through thick curls of paint edging giant scrapes, Baer reveals to us anew the sensuousness of the physical act of painting.  In its serenity and focus, her new exhibition at the Brentwood Arts Exchange, Spectrum: Memories of Natural Forms and Light, is the perfect remedy for summer inside the Beltway.

Working from her paint-strewn storefront studio in Hyattsville, Ellen Baer has been busily paring down visual forms, creating paintings that are at once tense and serene, wedged among the interplay between surface and perceived space.  The works in her exhibition at the Brentwood Arts Exchange developed from her desire to create spare, simple work.  Yet, to the eyes of practiced students of painting, they retain distant hints of their origins in explorations of natural forms, floating on the canvas as singular responses to painters' perennial challenge of structuring space with color and economy.

Painting by Ellen BaerSome seemingly as simple as a broad scrape made with a screen printer's squeegee, the paintings in Spectrum: Memories of Natural Forms and Light reveal their makings unpretentiously.  Their process and simple forms liken them to post-minimalist painting - one-stroke descendants of Stella's pinstripe paintings.  Visually, however, her paintings are as much in debt to Joseph Albers as Mark Rothko.  And, much like that lofty heritage, Spectrum: Memories of Natural Forms and Light is a demanding exhibition.  It demands that viewers pay attention to subtlety, slow down, and remove themselves from the clutter of the rest of the day.  Those who do are rewarded with the pleasure of presence, a chance to return to the world outside the gallery with renewed openness and acuity. 


The Brentwood Arts Exchange at the Gateway Arts Center is located at 3901 Rhode Island Avenue Brentwood, MD 20722.  Call the center at 301-277-2863/ tty. 301-446-6802.  Hours are Monday through Friday: 10am - 8pm and Saturday: 10am - 6pm. 

Monday, July 19, 2010

The Temporium is Coming to H Street

H Street Icon | ART OPENINGS |

Grand Opening: Friday July 23 from 6-10PM



Green Door Advisors and The Pink Line Project have teamed up to create the Temporium, a pop-up design shop, in the former R.L. Christian Library Kiosk at 1300 H Street NE. The Temporium will showcase some of H Street’s and DC’s best designers and artists from July 23 through August 15.  The project supports the District’s Temporary Urbanism and neighborhood retail development initiatives, and this project will fit in with the creative vibrancy already happening on H Street.  



With the help of DC-based artists Billy Colbert, Albus Cavus, and amRadio, Green Advisors and Pink Line Project will transform the kiosk into a cool design shop and event space using repurposed materials and lighting.  Over 20 DC-based fashion, art, home deco, and jewelry designers will rotate through to showcase and sell their unique creations.  Some of the local designers who will display their designing prowess include: Dana Greaves, Derringer Friday, Bill Johnson, Kristi Riggs, Hugh & Crye, and many others. DC-based musicians and performance artists will perform on the opening and closing weekends with the help of Josh Phelps, who is currently organizing the Monumental Music Festival, and Bluebrain, both DC Based musical duos.   Contact Pink Line Project at info@pinklineproject.com if you have any ideas for collaboration. 



This Sunday, East City Art went to visit the site of Temporium to see how construction was coming along.  Inside several workers were hard at work sprucing up the kiosk for the upcoming events.  Outside, we caught up with Peter Krsko who runs programs for the students of Albus Cavus.  Braving the merciless heat, Peter was hard at work painting the exterior of the temporium in time for this weekend's grand opening.   Krsko's inspiration for the colors came from the Temporium logo. The outside of the former Chirstian Library Kiosk is now covered in bright colored patterns resembling clouds.  

The Temporium will be open July 23 through August 15, 2010 at 1300 H Street, NE.

The following is scheduled for this weekend:

Friday, July 23
6 to 10 PM
DJ Obeyah

Saturday, July 24
6PM: Will Rast, DC’s premier groove keyboardist.
7PM: Alex Vans, DC singer/songwriter/guitarist Alex
8-10PM: DJ MikeBolo

Sunday, July 25
2 to 4 PM: BT Richardson

Hours of operation will be as follows:
Thursday: 6 to 10 PM
Fridays: 6 to 10 PM
Saturdays: 2 to 10 PM
Sundays: 12 to 5 PM

Friday, July 16, 2010

Calder Brannock Winner of Academy 2010

H Street Icon | PROFILES

Congratulations to Calder Brannock, Academy 2010 winner at Conner Contemporary Art! Calder wins the opportunity to join Conner Contemporary Art at the next PULSE Miami 2010 art fair. His "Camper Contemporary" is currently parked at Conner Contemporary Art as a part of the tenth annual student show. Academy 2010 runs through August 21st.

Look for a Wade Carey interview with Calder here on East City Art around the end of July. 




Calder Brannock, Camper Contemporary.
Copyright Calder Brannock, Courtesy Conner Contemporary Art

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Wally Szyndler

H Street Icon | PROFILES


City Gallery regrets to announce the passing of gourd sculptor, Wally Szyndler. He was an inaugural member of the Gallery and one of our most popular and accomplished members. We are heartbroken and will miss him terribly.

Wally began creating and showing gourd sculptures after his retirement as Director of Research and Demonstration from Melwood. His masks and containers were very well-received and he exhibited widely in juried and invitational shows, winning numerous awards for the work.

His work is exquisitely crafted pieces with perfect little joints, precisely fitted inlays, and exact stitching. Each piece is remarkable in its execution. And humor. Read the titles of Wally’s work, such as "Fantasy Diva" to the left, and gain insight into the man’s sense of play and wicked wit.

Wally approached this work with sympathy for the cultural traditions out of which it grew and deep respect for both the cultures and for his materials.

About his work, Wally wrote:

“My introduction to gourds came from a book that caught my eye in a craft display at a local bookstore in 2003. The many years I had lived and worked in other countries had instilled in me an enthusiasm for diverse cultures, especially those of Africa, India and the indigenous peoples of the Americas. My training as a horticulturalist gave me a natural appreciation for the fruits of nature. The years I had spent guiding persons with developmental disabilities in maximizing their often hidden talents had unwittingly prepared me to discover my own. I was a gourd artist waiting to happen.

As a practicing artist, many of the ideas that come to me come as dreams and then evolve along lines which I’m sure are influenced by the sights and sounds of my many world travels. Masks are for the moment what most intrigue me, and the final product is very often quite different from what I had in mind when I started.”

Wally’s career path included some exotic twists and turns. He was born in 1940 in Massachusetts and raised in New Jersey. For a while he was a Trappist brother with the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia. From there he did a two-year stint as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nigeria and India. Wally’s experience with people with disabilities led him to become a co-founder of Melwood in 1968. His work with international organizations serving people with disabilities took him all over the world.

In retirement Wally became involved with Art Enables, an arts-based training and employment placement program for persons with developmental disabilities. He also served on the steering committee for the Capitol Hill Art League and volunteered at Watkins Elementary School.

To quote a friend, Wally was a walking hug. He was a big, warm, loving man with a huge laugh and so much joy in living that he lit up the space around him. People loved being near him, and at any show, he was the center of the action, laughing, hugging, joking, and holding forth about one subject or another.

There will be a Celebration of Wally’s Life on Saturday, July 17 from 4-7pm at the Melwood Center, 5606 Dower House Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. www.melwood.org.

Please join us in offering love, support and sympathy to Wally’s family and his partner of 21 years, Jose Segura.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Dino Almaguer’s Papurniture

H Street Icon | PROFILES |

Dino Almaguer Artist Profile by Anna Flaaten

Papurniture” is art first, functional furniture second. Composed of 100% recycled paper and opting for No-VOC paint over the use of toxic resins or finishes, Dino Almaguer handcrafts work that is both playful and environmentally-friendly: “It’s a perfect blend of my love for design and the environment.” Papurniture is a 3-D sketch put together in ways that are visually pleasing. Having developed the concept while attending the Rhode Island School of Design, Dino asserts “a sketch is as fresh as an idea can be, in its most organic form.”

But it’s not just form over function. He aspires for his work to be “interactive art where people can touch it and not have their hands behind their back. People have been afraid to sit on it because it is made of paper, and I reassure them that my Grandpa has sat on this, and he’s big.” Although upon initial sight, audiences may think his work is made of plastic or bended wood, Dino attests that ten people have once stood on a bench made of paper in his studio (at the same time).

Dino Almaguer has been a Washingtonian since the age of 11 where he attended open drawing sessions at an old mechanic shop off of New York Avenue close to Marrakesh and a fine arts program in a Suitland, MD high school. Then at RISD, his shop class was accustomed and classic. He grew tired of plane a piece of wood to perfection, laminate, steam, bend- where the work would transform from a sketch, to building design, then models and prototypes: “the freshness was lost in this reproduction process, human nature is to fiddle with things until they are reworked too many times.” Dino wanted to pull his final product straight from a sketch: “very sketchy, but not in a bad way.” He moves pieces primed white around until the final piece is in place as his sketching methodology: “it’s like opening up a jigsaw puzzle and putting it together”.

His talent and love of art came at a very young age. In second grade, he won an award for a sketch he did called “clownsies” which peaked his interest, then in a hospital stay battling leukemia twice at the ages of 9 and 11, he illustrated and published a book called Don’t be Afraid of the Hospital, which was sent out to other children's hospitals all around the country. “Because of this experience with leukemia, nothing gets me upset, and I love making playful, bubbly art.”

His work is in private collections in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Rhode Island, and Virginia .  Studio H will display Almaguer's work at the first ever Art House Open House at 610 Independence Avenue, SE on July 15, 2010 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop Hosts Hands of Time Exhibit by Leslie Schwing July 17 through August 9, 2010

Capitol Hill Icon  | ART OPENINGS |
 
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 17, 2010 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm


 
The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) presents the exhibit Hands of Time by local artist Leslie Schwing opening on Saturday, July 17, 2010 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.  The exhibit features watercolors, pastels, and etchings, from figurative urbanscapes to abstract designs.  CHAW is located at 545 7th Street SE, a short distance from Eastern Market metro. 

Leslie Schwing is well known in Baltimore for her animated city and landscapes, but her roots are very strong in Washington, DC where she was known as Leslie Montgomery. A 1975 graduate of George Washington University in Painting, Leslie also studied Printmaking with Washington’s Leonard Maurer in the early 70’s, and did graduate studies in Sculpture with Connie Costigan at GW.  She moved to the Dominican Republic in 1979.  When she returned in 1986, she moved to Baltimore with a new palette and a new name.  This exhibition tracks her work for the last 10 years.  The landscapes and cityscapes emerge from colorful fractal pattern reminiscent of several regionalists of the 40’s and 50’s such as Charles Burchfield.  There is an obvious metaphysical instinct beneath the recognizeable forms.  “For me the canvas is a playground that invites contemplation.”

The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop is located at  545 7th Street, SE two blocks from Eastern Market Metro on the Blue & Orange Lines.  For more information call 202.547.6839 or visit their website at www.chaw.org Gallery hours are: 9:30AM-9:00 PM (M-Th), 9:30AM-6:00 PM (F), and 9:00AM-2:00 PM (Sat).

Monday, July 12, 2010

CITY Gallery and Studio H Present: Art House Open House July 15, 2010

Capitol Hill Icon  | ART OPENINGS |

Opening Reception: Thursday July 15 from 5:30pm-8:00pm



Arbor Media in conjunction with John C. Formant Real Estate, Simplicity Staging, CITY Gallery and Studio H present the first ever "Art House Open House" at 610 Independence Ave SE.  The public is invited to a happy hour Thursday July 15 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm to browse the work of local artists and view the renovated home.

As native Washingtonians, we can assure you that the most talked about topic in Washington has never been politics- it has always been real estate!  Art House Open House gives real estate hounds and art lovers the opportunity to preview DC's hottest real estate while viewing the work of local artists.  See what an ecclectic mix of art from traditional oil portraiture to street art looks like when installed collectively in a home.

The show will feature the work of local artists including Tim Conlon, Ellen Cornett, Rod Glover, Martha Huizenga, Katherine Mann, Anne Oman and Sarah Thibodeaux.  In addition, Studio H is proud to present the work of Dino Almaguer who produces one of a kind furniture from recycled and environmentally responsible materials.

610 Independence Avenue SE is a home that has been stripped to the studs and completely renovated inside and out with the highest end finishes.  The three bedroom, three and a half bathroom home features living spaces on three finished levels, a two story deck and a beautiful flagstone patio.  The Master bedroom suite includes a massive walk-in closet, sit-in shower and overlooks beautiful Brown's court, one of Capitol Hill's treasured alleys.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Weekend East City Event Round Up

H Street Icon | ART OPENINGS |

East City Super Weekend of Art Openings and Monday Entry Deadlines


Openings
There are four openings this Saturday in the H Street Corridor.  All openings begin at 6pm Saturday July 10.

First, head over to CITY Gallery to see the opening of their  First Annual Associate Member Show.  The show features the work of thirteen artists showcasing everything from photography, painting and ceramic sculpture.

Next head over to G Fine Art, Industry Gallery and Conner Contemporary Art. The best part is that they are all next door to each other on Florida Avenue NE so you can kill three birds with one stone.

On Friday evening G Fine Art will present a Q&A session between Melissa Anderson of the Village Voice and Karen Yasinsky whose work "I Choose Darkness" opens on Saturday at 6PM.  

On Saturday Conner Contemporary Art showcases the best and brightest BFA and MFAs of the DC-Baltimore metropolitan area at a show aptly named Academy 2010.  At 7PM, Pulse Contemporary Art Fair will select a winner who will be given space at Pulse Miami 2010.

Above Conner Contemporary, Industry Gallery will be hosting a group show entitled "Getting to Now- Pathways to 21st Century Design" featuring the work of internationally acclaimed artists. 

Two Calls for Entry Deadlines

First CITY Gallery's First Annual Regional Show deadline submissions must be postmarked by midnight  Monday, July 12, 2010

Second, the DCCAH deadline for their Interactive H Street - A Pop-Up Public Art Project has been extended to Monday, July 12 at 6PM. 10AM; the DCCAH site keeps changing the time.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Interactive H Street - A Pop-Up Public Art Project

H Street Icon | CALLS FOR ENTRY |


DEADLINE:  Monday, JULY 12, 2010 at 10AM

+++++++++++++++++
Note DCCAH website keeps changing the deadline time for Monday; It not states 10AM
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EDITOR'S NOTE: East City Art just found out about this proposal as we went to publish.  The DCCAH put this proposal out very quickly and has only solicited proposals for a short two week period and it has not been well publicized.  The original deadline for this event was Friday July 9 but has been extended to Monday July 12 at 10am.  We have pleaded to extended the deadline so that more local artists could participate but this is as far as we got.  We will keep readers abreast of all developments related to this Call for Entry.

Public Invitation
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH), DC Creates! Public Art Program would like to invite you to participate in our “Pop-Up Public Art Project” on a donated plot of land at 3rd and H Street, NE is a partnership initiative between DCCAH, the DC Office of Planning and the H Street BID to activate “Interactive H Street”.  This initiative will establish a 14-block creative corridor along H Street NE, creating a framework for civic innovation; activation of dormant real estate; and creative business incubation. This project will make a critical contribution toward H Street becoming a destination for arts, business and community experiences in city design.

“Interactive H Street” is inspired by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD).  MICD has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designs for their cities.  MICD mayors know that the arts and culture contribute greatly as core components in building livable and sustainable communities.  Cities across the country create diverse projects through the support of the MICD program.   Projects include planning, design, and arts engagement.

Description of the Pop-Up Public Art Opportunity:
The selected artist or artist team will design, fabricate and install temporary public displays of artwork on 1.4 acres of dormant green space at 3rd and H Street, NE from July 30th, 2010 – September 30, 2010.  Potential projects may be designed for site-specific installation.  Contemporary and interdisciplinary approaches, innovative uses (or re-uses) of materials and new technologies are encouraged.  Community-centric and engagement projects are encouraged. Note that community programming may take place on this property during this time. Once development begins at the site DCCAH will work with the selected artist(s) to move the work to another location in DC.

Work must be durable with minimal maintenance in an outdoor setting.  There are several wells in the ground and utility lines that run through the site that must be avoided.  The selected artist(s) will be responsible for installation and removal of the artwork at the site.  No works or materials deemed to be dangerous, toxic, or hazardous to public safety will be accepted and all construction methods on site must be adequate and safe for public interaction.  DCCAH will not be responsible for any artwork that is damaged or removed during the exhibition.  Any work left by the artist(s) at the end of the exhibition will be considered abandoned property and may be disposed of.  The site must be returned to its original condition at the end of the exhibition.

Context:
H Street, NE from Union Station to the Starburst Intersection, where Benning Road, H Street, Maryland Avenue and Bladensburg Road merge, is currently going through a major street renovation to install the streetcar, which will provide service between the Gallery Place/Chinatown and the Minnesota Avenue Metros.  This corridor has also seen ongoing rehabilitation and streetscape projects that have provided significant improvements facing H Street.  The corridor marks a digital and demographic divide of residents on either side.

For more information about H Street, NE visit the following websites:
http://hstreet.org/index.php
http://www.bakerprojects.com/hstreetne/

Great Street information:  http://dcbiz.dc.gov/dmped/frames.asp?doc=/dmped/lib/dmped/pdf/HStUpdate.pdf

For more information on the future development of the 3rd and H Street, NE site:
http://dcbiz.dc.gov/dmped/cwp/view,A,1365,Q,610207.asp

Click HERE for images of the site.

Exhibition Goals
Potential projects should reflect the historic, environmental, cultural, functional, urban design, and/or aesthetic parameters of the site and should be well researched, well planned and feasible.
·       Showcase artworks that are innovative and go beyond the ordinary art scene;
·       Activate a dormant site;
·       Create partnership opportunities between the private sector and creative community to support the city’s economic efforts;
·       Create artworks that raise the creative profile of the city;
·       Attract residents and visitors to explore beyond the monumental core;
·       Create artworks that can be moved to other vacant sites around the city;
·       Create opportunities for artists to experiment with approaches that are not possible through permanent commissions;
·       Gateway or entrance works;
·       Performance works of all kinds;
·       Utilization of fences or screening devises;
·       Amenities for visitors and residents – such as benches, bike racks, shade structures, recycling and trash collection receptacles;
·       Establish play areas or game sites;
·       Loan of existing artwork, such as sculptures or assemblages.

Eligible Entities
This competition is open to DC artists, curators or non-profit visual arts organizations that have curatorial capacity and an interest in public art. We strongly encourage applicants to collaborate with a DC arts organization or with a civic organization to provide local insight necessary to curate the exhibition. The applicant must meet all of the following criteria to apply:
1.      Have a principal place of business located within the District of Columbia or current resident of the District of Columbia.
2.     Demonstrate prior experience in creating temporary projects within the last 5 years.

Budget
Each selected artist(s) will receive $70,000 to execute the selected project(s).  These funds are available for all costs associated with the design, fabrication, insurance, permits, installation, and final documentation.  Selected artists will be asked to submit a budget and budget narrative.  Please note that a maximum of 15% of the total budget may be allocated for project management.  Selected artists are encouraged to leverage their projects with other funding and resources.

Tentative Schedule:
July 12, 2010: Proposal Deadline
Mid July: Proposals Selected
Mid July: Execution of grant agreement to DCCAH
End July:Installation of Selected Proposals
Early August:Launch event
End of September:Remove works from site

Selection Process
A Selection Committee, representing diverse interests and expertise, will review submissions and recommend projects for this site.  Final approval may be subject to review from community groups as well.  The curators will then enter into an agreement with DCCAH for fabrication and installation of the approved proposals.  DCCAH reserves the right to make no selection from the submitted applications.  Selected proposals must be ready to commence 10 days after award notification, and be installed within 15 days of award notification.


Submission Materials
Applicants must include:
1. A maximum 2-page letter that:
·       describes your interest in the project and experience with temporary works,
·       addresses your experience and interest in placing works in public spaces,
·       provides your thoughts and suggestions on working with potential partners,
·       provides preliminary thoughts regarding programming,
·       addresses the exhibition goals and review criteria, and

2.  A Project Proposal that:
·       Identifies a theme.  Keep in mind the project may be placed in other parts of the city.
·       Provides a scaled layout of art placement.
·       Outlines fabrication and installation methods and materials/equipment that you will use.

3.  A resume (maximum 2 pages). If a team is submitting, a resume should be submitted for each member of the team. If an organization is submitting, an organizational description should be included along with the lead curators resume.

4. Two references from previous curatorial projects that include the reference’s name, institution, current telephone and email contact information.

5. Description and collateral materials for previous projects.

6. Up to 10 images (no less than 5 images) of previous projects on CD or DVD. Or, 5 images and up to two WEBSITES and/or VIDEOS – 60 second clips only on DVD.

·       File Format — Images must be no more than 1920 pixels on the longest side and “high quality” JPG file format at 300 dpi. Do not submit TIFFs, PDFs, Word or any other non-JPG formats.

·       File Labeling — Files must be titled with a number indicating the viewing order, followed by the curator's last name. Use "0" in front of single digit numbers. Do not use more than 30 characters; use only letters, numbers and underscores. (Example: 01_Smith; 02_Smith. Mac OS users include ".jpg" at the end of each image title. Example: 01_Smith.jpg)

7. An annotated work sample list that indicates information about each project including: the artists involved, a brief description of the project concept (100 words or less), media involved, date, total budget/cost and host institution and/or partners involved.

Submission materials will not be returned. Submit only digital materials or hard copy reproductions. Please submit any written materials on plain white 8 ½” X 11” paper. Please do not staple or bind application materials.

For More Information and to RSVP for the Information Meeting Contact Rachel Dickerson at (202) 724-5617 or rachel.dickerson@dc.gov

Submit to:
Interactive H Street Pop Up Public Art Project
Attn: Rachel Dickerson
1371 Harvard Street, NW; Washington DC 20009

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Industry Gallery Presents Getting to Now- Pathways to 21st Century Design July 10 - August 7, 2010

H Street Icon | ART OPENINGS |

Opening Reception: Saturday July 10th 6-8 pm



Industry Gallery will open "Getting to Now - Pathways to 21st Century Design", July 10, 2010, 6-8PM, with a dozen works by nine designers, including the Design Miami/Basel Designer of the Future Nacho Carbonell, and internationally renown designers Fernando and Humberto Campagna, Shiro Kurimata, Forrest Myers, Marc Newson, and Peter Traag.  The exhibition will also include work by Washington, DC-based Patrick McDonough, Joel D'Orazio and Tuesday Winslow.

"This exhibition highlights work by some of the designers who, I think, have substantively, innovatively and provocatively expanded the boundaries of international design," said Industry Gallery owner Craig Appelbaum.  "In a break with gallery tradition, I've decided to include some late 20th century work to provide visitors with a broader timeline and perspective on the 21st century works we're committed to exhibiting."

"Getting to Now - Pathways to 21st Century Design" includes work by:

Nacho Carbonell, the Valencia-born, Eindhoven-based artist created a sensation in 2009 when he was named Design Miami/Basel Designer of the Future (and sold his entire collection to one prominent collector).  He is represented by two works from his "Skin" series first introduced in Milan.  Carbonell extrapolates from a basic desk and chair concept that he sheathes in elastic, skin-like latex that yield storing and hiding places suggestive of body cavities. (Designed and executed in 2009; prototype).

Fernando and Humberto Campagna, the Brazilian-born brothers are represented in significant public and private collections throughout the world. Their "Vermelha Chair" utilizes 500 meters of red cotton rope, seemingly looped and woven together in a chaotic pattern, which is laid over a steel armature.  (Designed in 1993)

Shiro Kurimata, a Japanese designer, upended and revolutionized the idea of modular furniture with his red, twenty drawer "Revolving Cabinet" made from polished metacrylate.  (Designed in 1970 and executed 2003).

Forrest Myers, a California-born sculptor, has been using traditional furniture as a launching off point for his sculptural works for several decades.  His airy solid "Red Cube" is formed from overlapping loops of anodized aluminum.  (Designed and executed in 2007; this work is unique).

Marc Newson, a London-based Australian, who is considered one of the world's most influential industrial designers, has works in major public institutions and private collections.  His "Wicker Chair" is a classic example of his simultaneously streamlined and exaggerated approach to volume and form, here clad in traditional wicker.  (Designed and executed in 1988).

Peter Traag's "Sponge Chair" looks like it might have been inspired by a wrinkly-skinned Shar-Pei.  Traag, originally from Tegelen, the Netherlands, creates the chair by molding excessive amounts of fabric over injected polyurethane - the result is no two look exactly alike.  (Designed and executed in 2004).

Three Washington, DC-area artists will participate:
·     Patrick McDonough, selected as one of "Ten Young Artists to Watch" by DC Magazine (December 2009) will debut a swing fabricated from a rubber tire that toys with both functional and sculptural expression;
·     Joel D'Orazio gives classic, Modernist chairs a new look by wrapping, mummifying and corrupting the chair frames with cable and rubber tubing;
·     Tuesday Winslow, a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, will exhibit her mirror designs sculpted from recycled paper and paper-mache.  

Industry Gallery www.industrygallerydc.com is located at 1358 Florida Ave., NE, 2d Floor, Washington DC 20002,  info@industrygallerydc.com   (202) 399 1730.  The gallery is open Wednesday - Saturday, 11AM - 5PM, and by appointment.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

G Fine Art Presents: Karen Yasinsky I Choose Darkness July 10 - August 7, 2010

H Street Icon | ART OPENINGS |

Preview and Q & A on Friday July 9 at 7pm
Opening Reception: Saturday July 10th 6-8 pm




I Choose Darkness realizes the possibilities of stop-motion animation and puppetry to gratify and reflect on social interaction, sexual repression, and the manipulation of narrative. The show, composed of three films, and drawings. The final film, Marie finished just weeks ago, I Choose Darkness and Enough to Drive You Mad  were completed in 2009.

The series appropriates characters and narrative from Robert Bresson’s 1966 film Au Hasard Balthazar. Yasinsky’s handmade figures and sketchy animation naturally mirrors Bresson’s own tenet of filmmaking. Casting people without experience and coaching them to remove all evidence of acting, Bresson made films that rely on scenery, movement and sound for emotional maneuvering. Yasinsky investigates this through her use of figurines with restricted movements and drawings that rely on the shifting of lines for animation. She develops enigmatic renderings, where we are left to solicit meaning from inside ourselves.

In the film I Choose Darkness, Yasinsky depicts Bresson’s characters, Marie the young protagonist, Balthazar the donkey, and Girard the abusive lover as puppet figurines, experiencing a shifted storyline. The stop animation creates a choppy unnerving atmosphere with the figurines moving stiffly within it. The characters undergo experiences like kissing, dancing, and fighting, but their faces remain frozen and give up zero emotional interpretation. The shifting background becomes a major character for the donkey Balthazar. Enough to Drive You Mad follows as a quirky antidote to I Choose Darkness and introduces Mr. Magoo as a supporting character who dances around the screen and spits red dots.

Yasinsky’s latest film, Marie is animated by vibrating and fluctuating line work and the occasional pseudo-pixilation of the image. Bresson’s source frame periodically fades in and out. The work is punctuated by the collapse of traditional music into harsh digital sounds and reveals perspectives on the character and filmic malfunction.

Yasinsky received a BA from Duke University in 1988 and a MFA from Yale University School of Art in 1992. In 2010 she received the Baker Artist Award at the Baltimore Museum of Art and a fellowship from the American Academy in Rome, and is a finalist for the Sondheim Prize.  Yasinsky’s works have been exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally.  A selection includes the Baltimore Museum of Art, at The Sculpture Center in Long Island City, PS1 Contemporary Art Center, Spreuth Magers Projekte, Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, and the UCLA Hammer museum among others.

Yasinsky lives in Baltimore and currently teaches at MICA as well as Johns Hopkins University.  This September she and her family will move to Rome for the year.

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Q & A PREVIEW

Melissa Anderson, a regular contributor to the Village Voice and Artforum.com, will engage Karen Yasinsky in a conversation.  Melissa Anderson is also a member of the New York Film Festival Selection Committee and is currently writing a monograph on Jacques Demy’s The Young Girls of Rochefort for BFI Film Classics.

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Gallery Hours are Wednesday – Saturday noon – 6 pm at 1350 Florida Ave, NE Washington, DC  20002. 202.462.1601 www.gfineartdc.com

City Gallery First Annual Regional Juried Competition

H Street Icon | CALLS FOR ENTRY |


Time is running out to submit for the First Annual City Gallery Regional Juried Competition. The show will be judged by noted Washington artist and gallerist, Jack Rasmussen. Rasmussen is currently Director and Curator of the American University Museum.

Accepted work will be exhibited at City Gallery located in the heart of the Atlas Arts District from August 7-28. There will be an opening reception on August 7 from 6-9pm.

To download a complete prospectus and entry form go to www.citygallerydc.com or email info@citygallerydc.com.

All entries must be postmarked by midnight July 12.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Conner Contemporary Presents ACADEMY 2010 10th Annual MFA/BFA Invitational July 10 - August 23, 2010

H Street Icon | ART OPENINGS |


Opening reception: Saturday, July 10th: 6 to 8pm
 


Conner Contemporary Art presents ACADEMY 2010, the ten year anniversary of their annual invitational survey of outstanding work by MFA/BFA students in the Washington/Baltimore area.

Exhibition founder and curator, Jamie Smith, Ph.D. invited the following 15 artists to participate: Calder Brannock, Kate Demong, Michael Dotson, Philip Hinge, Mindy Hirt, Timothy Horjus, Chie Iwasaki, Benjamin Kelley, Joyce Lee, Christina Martinelli, Katie Miller, Teresa Sites, Jenny Yang, Michelle Yo, and Ting Zhang.

These 15 artists represent the following institutions: American University, Corcoran College of Art and Design, Gallaudet University, George Washington University, Maryland Institute College of Art, and University of Maryland.

In conjunction with the Academy 2010 exhibition, The following initiative will take place:

PULSE Presents Award – winner announced Saturday, July 10 at 7pm.

PULSE Contemporary Art Fair will award one Academy 2010 exhibiting artist an exhibition space at PULSE Miami 2010. The jurors are Eric Romano, PULSE Art Fair Producer, Sarah Haselwood, PULSE Art Fair coordinator, Sarah Tanguy, independent curator; and Renée Maurer, Associate Curator, The Phillips Collection.

PULSE is committed to creativity and innovation which furthers the influence of contemporary art in all corners of society. PULSE Presents, a collaboration between PULSE Contemporary Art Fair and organizations, institutions, artists and individuals dedicated to the visual arts and contemporary culture, stages exhibitions and symposia in various cities around the world. These events bring the public together with leaders in the culture sector to explore themes relating to contemporary art and society.


For further information:
www.connercontemporary.com  
202 588 8750
Conner Contemporary Art is located at 1358 Florida Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 Gallery summer hours: Wednesday through Saturday 10 - 5pm.