May 4, 2011 – The Art League

A Visit to the Open-Life Class

May 4, 2011

Upon first entering the Duke Street Annex of The Art League School, it’s easy to miss the Open Life classroom. The doors are disguised as part of a huge wall mural. Inside, the only lights are turned on a still nude model and the only sounds are those of purposeful strokes brushing against each canvas. The artists are in deep concentration until the timer beeps for a five minute break. Donna Cramer, the class monitor, moves quickly to lay tape at the model’s feet, ensuring an identical position when class returns.

“I call this the Pin Drop Society,” says Cramer as she finishes the taping job and the model moves for his robe. “Obviously because you can hear a pin drop in the room while everyone is working. They’re all so engrossed.”

A walk around the room reveals the array of works in progress, each one a different medium. Some artists are using acrylics, others are working in charcoal, and another is simply sketching with a burnt sienna pencil.

“I’m trying to be Leonardo Da Vinci,” laughs the student while finishing up a facial shadow on his drawing. “I love this class and I’ve taken it for years, mostly because of the freedom to choose your own direction.”

Another student is busy smudging the charcoal along the figure’s leg. She says her finished product will include several angles of the model, occasionally rotating the canvas to give it a circular shape. “At this point, I don’t know what it’s going to look like,” she says. “But that’s part of the fun in these classes.”

The variety of interpretations is a treat for the eye. Each unique angle, coupled with the individual artist’s weapon of choice, makes for an original contribution. An abstract painting with a purple and yellow pallette sits next to a pastel black-and-white while an acrylic piece is getting ready for another layer. “I use acrylic because it dries fast,” says the painting’s artist. “With a human subject, you have to make room for change because things are constantly moving, even when he sits still.”

The model returns and takes his position. The students give him direction as another 20 minutes are put on the clock.

“Raise your chin a bit.”
“I think your shoulders were forward a little more.”

Then silence falls across the room once more as the artists resume stratching at their easels. Little by little, each work takes shape in its own unique colors, in its own unique dimension and in its own unique life.

To learn more about The Art League School’s Open Life class, visit the website.

Art League Artist Wins Prize at International Portrait Competition!

May 4, 2011

Teresa Oaxaca (courtesy of artist website)

Teresa Oaxaca, a young professional artist residing in Arlington, Virginia, took 2^nd place in the International Portrait Competition for her portrait of “Father Time.” She was one of fifteen finalists selected out of over 1,800 entries in the Portrait Society of America’s bi-annual International Portrait Competition. Awards were announced on April 30, 2011 during the 13^th Annual Art of the Portrait Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The finalists’ works were on display and were judged by a panel composed of leaders in the field of traditional fine art portrait and figurative art.

“Father Time” by Teresa Oaxaca

Oaxaca’s “Father Time” is a double portrait in that it represents both the allegory of Father Time (an immortal old man, usually accompanied by an hour glass, scythe, or a white beard) and a portrait of her grandfather Joze Velikonja. Oaxaca says:

“In the portrait you can see his story written in his face. This is a very humanist portrait; I have not idealized him but painted him just the way he is. I saw no reason to add arching eyebrows, a one foot beard, wings, or anything majestic of that sort. All these qualities I felt were self-contained in his gaze, and that the human condition was written in his face and unequivocal posture.”

Oaxaca, a full-time professional painter, is a 2005 H-B Woodlawn (Arlington VA) graduate, and studied art in Italy for five years. Oaxaca recently displayed “Father Time” and other works at the Arlington Central Library in December 2010.

Oaxaca began her art education at The Art League School at the age of five. At 17, she left to study in Florence professionally at the Angel Academy of Art and the Florence Academy of Art. She was selected for a solo show in 2010 at The Art League Gallery. She has received numerous accolades from The Art League for her work, including two “Best in Show” awards at May and September 2008 Art League exhibits. Now at 23, she continues to take classes at The Art League School.

More information can be obtained on her blog post, at http://teresaoaxaca.blogspot.com.

New Artist Opportunities

May 4, 2011

CALL FOR ENTRIES: OPTIONS 2011

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: Monday, June 20, 2011 at midnight

EXHIBITION DATES: September 15 – October 29, 2011

LOCATION: Downtown DC, exact address TBA
SUBMIT ONLINE

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

OPTIONS 2011 is the fifteenth WPA biennial exhibition of emerging and unrepresented artists from the Mid-Atlantic region. OPTIONS presents visitors with a glimpse into the breadth and diversity of contemporary art practice in the area and showcases work in any medium by artists without gallery representation. WPA began the OPTIONS biennial series in 1981 with legendary artist Gene Davis and Washington Review Managing Editor Mary Swift as curators. Stefanie Fedor, the curator for OPTIONS 2011, encourages the submission of work in all media, including installation, performance and new media. A catalogue will be produced to accompany the exhibition. Participating artists will receive a $300 stipend.

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Stefanie Fedor is the Assistant Director of the American University Museum at the Katzen Art Center in Washington, D.C. and has over 15 years experience organizing exhibitions of contemporary art in Chicago, New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. She holds a BFA in studio art from the Art Institute of Chicago and a MA in visual arts administration from New York University. She is currently curating an exhibition of sound art to open in 2013.

ELIGIBILITY

· All artists residing in DC, Maryland, and Virginia are eligible.

· Artists must not have current or any past gallery representation.

· You do not have to be a WPA member to apply and there is no submission fee.

· All work must have been produced within the past 3 years.

· Submissions from artists working in all media are welcome.

DELIVERY, LOAN PERIOD and SALES

· Artists are solely responsible for delivery and installation of their accepted work on the installation dates, and de-installation of their work on the pick-up date.

· Staff will be available onsite to provide some assistance to artists with installations. The gallery will not receive shipments of artwork.

· All work accepted and exhibited must remain on display for the full duration of the show, unless specified by curators.

· WPA will charge a 30% commission on all sales.

CALL FOR ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS

Submissions for OPTIONS 2011 will be accepted through an online submission form on the WPA’s website. Submitting artists must complete the registration form and upload the following materials with their submission. For any questions or technical difficulties related to the submission process, please contact Blair Murphy, Program Director at [email protected] or 202-234-7103 x 1

Required submission materials

· Up to ten work samples (see formatting information below)

· For each work sample, please include the title, year, medium, and dimensions (or duration in the case of video, sound or performance) in the appropriate fields in the online form.

· Artist Statement (no longer than 300 words)

· Current resume

Optional submission materials:

· Up to five news clippings, show announcements or other support material

FORMATS FOR SUBMISSION MATERIALS
Work samples may be images submitted as .jpg files or links to video, sound, or performative work posted on a personal website or video sharing website (Youtube, Vimeo etc.). Submitted .jpg files should be 72dpi and at least 5″ x 7″.

Artist Statement and Resume may be submitted as .doc or .pdf files. Optional additional material (news clippings, show announcements etc.) may be submitted as .jpg, .doc or .pdf files.

TIMELINE

· Monday, June 20, 2011 – Submissions must be completed by midnight

· Thursday, July 14, 2011 – Notification of accepted artists

· September 6 – 9, 2011 – Delivery and installation of work

· Thursday, September 15 – Opening reception with artists 6:00 – 9:00 PM

· (other programming such as the curators and artists talks will be scheduled and posted closer to the exhibition’s opening)

ABOUT WPA

Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide the essential resources to support the creative spirit and success of regional artists. WPA presents contemporary art through imaginative and provocative programs, and connects artists with the community in both traditional and unexpected ways. Since its founding in 1975 by Alice Denney, WPA has showcased the works of thousands of artists and has reached hundreds of thousands of visitors and viewers with its programs and projects. Today WPA stands as the oldest and largest 501(c)(3) artist membership organization in the region and the premier source for excellence in contemporary art. For more information about WPA and its programming, visit www.wpadc.org

Play with your Food in black and white

Call to 2-D Artists

June 12, 2011-January 29, 2012

The exhibit will promote the talent of local artists. The exhibit will be juried by Fierce Sonia a local award winning artist. The show will hang for 6 months in the Fairlington Room at Rampart’s Music Tavern. This is a public space used as a dining room open to all members of the public, including children, and are asked to submit work appropriate to this venue. Artists living or working in the Virginia, Maryland, and DC area are eligible. Special considerations will be made for students at TC Williams High School.

Deadline for digital Submissions: postmarked by June 1,2011 mail to Rampart’s Music Tavern c/o Fierce Sonia, 1700 Fern Street, Alexandria, VA 22302 or hand cd and applications to Fierce Sonia

Delivery of work: June 12, 2011 Sunday, 11am-1pm in the Fairlington Room at Rampart’s 1700 Fern Street, Alexandria, VA 22302

Theme: Play with your food: dining, still life, restaurants, kitchens; all media black and white limited to 2d. This is not just a photography show; charcoal, pencil, paintings, ink, and collages strongly considered.

Reception: TBA at Rampart’s Fairlington Room. Date announced later.

Exhibition Dates:June 12, 2011-January 29, 2012

Exhibition Hours: 11:00 am -12:30am Monday – Sunday

End of Show Pick Up: Sunday January, 2012, 11am-1pm, work not picked up may be assessed a storage fee

Eligibility: Open to all artists living or working in Maryland, Virginia or the District of Columbia. Special Considerations will be made for students of TC Williams High School

Entry Fee: $10 per cd, up to 5 images per cd. This fee will be waived for TC Williams students

Submitting Work:

1. The juror will only accept digital entries. Works should be in a black and white media, and reflect themes of “food,” for consideration. Only 2-d works.

2. Image entries must be PC compatible JPEG digital files. Artists may submit up to 5 images. CDS must contain the artists name on both the actual cd and the case. JPEGS should be no larger than 300 dpi at approximately 4″ x 6″. All digital files must include the artist’s name and the title of the submission (e.g. smithpaintingtitle2.jpg)

3. CDs and applications become the property of Rampart’s. They will not be returned to you.

4. A non-refundable fee of $10 per cd must accompany each entry form. Checks are to be made payable to Rampart’s.

5. The entry form must be complete and include media, dimension information. Be sure to sign and date the loan agreement. Please print clearly, we need your information to be legible and accurate, including your e-mail address.

6. Artists are responsible for delivery of their work to Rampart’s, 1700 Fern Street, Alexandria VA 22302 on June 12, 2011 between 11am-1pm. Artists are responsible for pick up of their work on January 29, 2012 between 11am-1pm.

7. All work must be ready for display, securely framed with screw eyes and wires firmly attached. Black or white frames only. No taped or clip style frames are allowed. Works on paper should have a protective covering of glass or plexiglass. Works will be eliminated if poorly prepared or wet. All works must be original. No giclee reproductions will be accepted. No works over 40 lbs or larger than

3′ x 4′ will be considered

8. At drop off artists will be required to sign a standard loan agreement.

Sales: Work may be for sale or marked NFS (Not for sale). A 20% commission will be applied to all artwork sold.

Awards: The juror will select works for monetary awards

More Information: Email Fierce Sonia at [email protected]