Year: 2012

First Book Club Meeting and a Group Art Critique

Just a friendly reminder about two upcoming events! See below for details and let the gallery know if you’ll be attending:

Announcing The Art League Book Club!
Are you interested in books about art and artists? Art League member Rebecca McNeely is organizing our new Art League book club. Our first book will be Off the Wall: A Portrait of Robert Rauschenberg by Calvin Tomkins. This easy-to-read book is a fascinating view of the New York art world from the ’50s to the ’70s.

The first meeting will be Tuesday, May 22, 1:00 pm in The Art League Gallery. This meeting will include a discussion of the book and planning for future meetings. Bring books and ideas for future selections. If you’re interested in joining this group, please contact [email protected] or call 703-683-1780.

Critique with Art League Instructor Delna Dastur
Wednesday, May 23, 11:00 am-1:00 pm in The Art League Gallery

Artists may bring up to two pieces each for review in a group setting.

Dastur has taught at The Art League since 2002 and also teaches for the Smithsonian Associates. She received her B.A. in Art History from Wellesley College and her M.F.A. in Oil Painting from American University. She has exhibited her narrative abstract works through-out the world and exhibits locally at Gallery Plan b in DC and Twelve Gates Gallery in Philadelphia. Please contact the Gallery to sign up: [email protected], 703-683-1780.

News

Time for “Tea” – an Internationally Juried Ceramics Exhibit

 

The beautiful ceramic works in this month’s “Tea” exhibit mark a first for The Art League: it was internationally juried from hundreds of digital submissions of wares associated with drinking, preparing, and presenting tea. John Neely, a ceramic artist and teacher, chose from digital submissions from 200 artists from the United States and Canada.

In the end, he selected 47 pieces created by 33 artists from 19 states and Canada. Including cups, bowls, teapots, and everything else to do with tea, the pieces exhibit a wide variety of styles and sensibilities.

(You can see more photos on our Facebook page and on Flickr.)

Later this month, artists from the Washington, DC branch of the Sogetsu school of Ikebana — the Japanese art of flower arranging — will be filling the rest of the gallery with their arrangements to complement the ceramics exhibit. Come see “Tea” (now through June 3) and the 14th Biennial Ikebana Show (May 31 – June 3) and quench your (metaphorical) thirst for art!

Exhibits

Board of Directors Announces the Next Executive Director

The Art League Board of Directors is delighted to announce that Suzanne Bethel has been appointed to the position of Executive Director commencing on October 1, 2012. She will succeed current and long time Executive Director, Linda Hafer.

Currently the Executive Director for Operations, Suzanne’s multi-faceted experience and career at The Art League will bring a unique wealth of knowledge to her future role as the chief executive officer. From her days as School Registrar, Curriculum Director, School Director, and Deputy Director of Operations, to her present position as the Executive Director for Operations, Suzanne has excelled in every project she has undertaken. She will continue to direct the day-to-day management of The Art League, which includes all operations and programming, and will oversee all Development and community programs. The Art League’s School, and Gallery, with their celebrated and renowned educational, membership and exhibition programming will continue to be under her very experienced hand.

Suzanne will continue to lead The Art League staff in serving the long time mission and constituencies of The League, and will be fostering new creative partnerships within Alexandria and beyond. Focusing on sustainability, Suzanne is leading the way with the establishment of a newly consolidated school facility at the Madison Annex. This complex will house 3-D and 2-D art programs in a synergistic environment that will be ready for launch by the beginning of the Fall 2012 term.

We have enormous pride in her many accomplishments and respect for Suzanne and her extraordinary capabilities and vision for The Art League’s future. Current Executive Director, Linda Hafer, has offered a ringing endorsement of Suzanne’s succession to this new position:

“Suzanne is the perfect choice to lead The Art League ‘onward & upward!’ She has a deep understanding of the culture of The Art League, and the experience, vision, and passion to recognize the strengths and the wonderful potential of our organization. She has earned the respect of all who have worked with her. I have complete confidence in Suzanne’s ability to continue building on the successes of the generations of artists who have created this living community, and enthusiastically congratulate her on this well deserved recognition!”

Nancy Pane Fortwengler
President
The Art League Board of Directors

News

Storytelling Exhibits Now Open!

Be brave, and bring a friend
"Be brave, and bring a friend" by Elissa Farrow-Savos

Three new exhibits open today in The Art League Gallery: the membership exhibit “Bedtime Stories: Storytelling Through Art,” the internationally juried tea ceramics exhibit, and “Conversations With My Mother,” the solo show of work by Elissa Farrow-Savos.

“Conversations With My Mother” is comprised of 11 sculptures that began with found objects and became storytelling works of art. Artist Elissa Farrow-Savos says, “Every piece I make is about storytelling – each a narrative of some woman somewhere, and every woman everywhere.” The figures are created from polymer clay and layers of oil paint.

"Sometimes in life you have to jump through hoops. Try to do it with style" by Elissa Farrow-Savos
"Learn from this experience. Then it will all have meant something" by Elissa Farrow-Savos

“Bedtime Stories” asked artists to create narrative artwork, as well. Artists responded in a variety of ways, with abstract and representational work in all media, each with a unique emotion.

Detail from "Lost and Found" by Sushmita Mazumdar.
"Blue Days, Blue Nights" by D.J. Gaskin (behind it: "Iglu," fused glass by Doris Ross)

“Conversations With My Mother” and “Bedtime Stories” are open through May 28. Come visit and hear some stories! More photos below: Continue reading Storytelling Exhibits Now Open!

Exhibits

One Day Left to Register for Artomatic — and Other Opportunities

Announcements and reminders for upcoming exhibition opportunities are below! Watch this space or subscribe to the blog for more announcements as we get them.

Artomatic
Registration for visual artists closes Friday, May 4 at 5:00 pm. Artomatic will take place May 18–June 23 in Crystal City. Click here to register!

“Call it the Blues” exhibit
Deadline: May 16, 2012. As part of the Tinner Hill Blues Festival, the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation is participating in FIRSTfriday of Falls Church by hosting a juried all-media exhibition, entitled “Call It the Blues” at Art and Frame of Falls Church. The exhibition will focus on the meaning of the “blues” from an artist’s or visual perspective. Works of art may explore the nature of blues music, poetry, literature, or history; interpret or reflect the emotions and events inspiring or evoked by the “blues”; focus on blues performers; or the submitted work may explore the “hue of blue” (perhaps, for example, paying homage to the “blue” periods of such artists as Picasso, Degas, Tanner, Bearden, Lawrence, or O’Keefe). Details are here.

A Tribute to Margaret’s Garden
Deadline: June 10, 2012. Herndon ArtSpace invites all artists over 16 to submit artwork for a show honoring Margaret’s Garden, an iris garden kept by Margaret Thomas on Lawyers Road in Herndon. Artwork must pertain to the garden. Details are here.

RRUUC call for art-exhibit proposals
River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation (RRUUC) in Bethesda, Maryland invites proposals for exhibits to be displayed in the gallery of its Fellowship Hall.  The gallery is 42 by 43 feet, with one full wall of windows. Two walls are available for hanging art with approximately 60 feet of wall space. Exhibits are about six weeks in duration.  Proposals are welcome year round from individuals or groups, with rolling acceptances.  There is no entry fee.   RRUUC charges a commission of 20% on work sold.   Further details and instructions for applications are available at http://www.rruuc.org/finearts.  Please read “Becoming an Exhibitor” carefully.

Artist Opportunities

A MILLION THANKS!

What an amazing day! Thanks to your help and your incredible generosity during this year’s Spring2ACTion event, we achieved FIRST Place on the “most donors” leader board, winning $5,000; reached SECOND place on the “most dollars” leader board, winning $2,500; won an additional $2,300 throughout the day; AND raised $32,416 from an astounding 610 donors! The grand total for the launch of our “30-something” Madison Annex Project on Spring2ACTion day was $42,216!!!

We are overwhelmed and honored by the outpouring of generosity from our Art League community! And most grateful! With donations from the Spring2ACTion initiative combined with other contributions received toward the “30-something” Madison Annex Project, plus the grant prizes earned on May 2, and the very generous $35,000 lead gift provided anonymously by a dedicated and generous student — the current amount received to date for our Madison Annex Project is… $82,339!!!!

You had the power to make this happen and you did! Thank you!! We are off to a fantastic start for funding our build-out campaign, and are excited to bring you this newly expanded facility in the fall!

A million thanks,

The Art League Staff and Board

Please note: We’ll still be holding classes in the Duke Street Annex through the summer—and Summer Term Registration opens next week, Monday, May 7. SIGN UP NOW!

News

We’re Going to Make $30K Today!

WOW, what an amazing day!  Thanks to your generosity we’ve had a HUGE surge in donations and are in FIRST place on the “most donors” leader board with 472 donors, AND FIRST on the “most dollars” leader board with over $26,000 in donations! We’re on the brink of surpassing our one day fundraising goal of $30K through Spring2Action! Check out our progress!

Be a part of this historic fundraising campaign for the arts in Alexandria and become a “30-Something” for The Art League!!

We have until midnight to cement our standing at the top. By donating any amount between now and midnight tonight, you could help us win these two $5,000 grants to help fund our Madison Annex Project! We already won three $500 grants today thanks to your generosity AND two $100 bonus prizes. Let’s keep the momentum going!

We’re also fighting for first on the Individual Fundraiser Leader board, and could win another $3,000 grant. Make your donation through Executive Director Linda Hafer’s page or student Marie Drissel’s page. These donations count towards our overall total.

YOU could be the ONE that keeps us in 1st place! Please help us by making a donation or by helping us spread the word!

Thank you so much for your support!

News

How to Help The Art League During Spring2ACTion!

How to Help The Art League During Spring2ACTion!

Spring2ACTion on May 2 is the day! It’s the kick-off for our “30-Something” campaign, and it’s the day that your donation, no matter how big or small, can help The Art League win more than $15,000 in additional grants and prizes to help fund our Madison Annex Project. We need you to help us spread the word and tell your friends and colleagues why The Art League is so important to you.

Where to donate: On May 2, between 12:00 midnight – 11:59 pm, go to http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/The-Art-League and make a donation! If you or another supporter can’t donate on May 2, you can go to the above link and SCHEDULE A DONATION (In the “Make a Donation” box click on “schedule one for Spring2ACTION 2012.”)! Scheduling your donation saves the transaction for May 2 (Spring2ACTion day) and makes us eligible for those big grants and prizes.

5 Ways to use Facebook during Spring2ACTion

1. “Like” The Art League’s Facebook page. This will keep you connected and up to date with the latest info about The Art League and Spring2ACTion: http://www.facebook.com/theartleague. “Like” the Spring2ACTion Facebook page to keep up with the latest information throughout the day: http://www.facebook.com/Spring2ACTio

2. Engage your friends and supporters in conversation. This is an opportunity to engage people and tell your story. Tell them why you support The Art League and post it on your page. Upload photos and videos of you painting or creating your artwork. Let people see how The Art League has impacted you and the community.

3. Promote The Art League and Spring2ACTion!

  • Use the “mention” function to connect with The Art League and Spring2ACTion. To “mention” The Art League or Spring2ACTion, type the @ symbol and Facebook will prompt you to type in the name of a page or a friend. If you’ve “liked” Spring2ACTion or The Art League, it will show up below the update window as a selection.
  • Share the link for The Art League’s Spring2ACTion page  – http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/The-Art-League – on your page to help familiarize individuals with the site and direct them to it on May 2. Remind them that they can SCHEDULE A DONATION in advance if they like (In the “Make a Donation” box click on “schedule one for Spring2ACTION 2012.”)

4. Explain your goals and what your friends and supporters can do to can help you reach them.

  • Tell stories that bring The Art League’s mission to life.
  • Invite your friends and followers to “like” The Art League’s Facebook page.

5. On May 2, update your Facebook status throughout the day with The Art League’s progress to help increase awareness, excitement and motivation to give.

 

5 ways to use Twitter during Spring2ACTion

Twitter is a great place to engage with people throughout the campaign. Use Twitter to post fun facts about The Art League, thank supporters, and engage supporters to share their stories about The Art League and why they give.

1. Follow The Art League (@theartleague) and Spring2ACTion (@Spring2ACT) and make sure you are following people The Art League wishes to reach. This will grab their attention and direct them to your organization’s Twitter profile.
2. In your tweets, share information about Spring2ACTion and what it means for The Art League. You can tag Spring2ACTion by typing @Spring2ACT in your messages and you can tag The Art League by typing @theartleague in your messages.
3. Upload photos of you painting at The Art League and share them on your Twitter account. Share stories of your time at The Art League and ask other Art League friends and supporters to share their message of support on their Twitter accounts.

  • Include the hashtag #Spring2ACT in your tweets. Using a hashtag is like assigning a category to your tweets. Spring2ACTion will retweet your posts when you use this tag.

4. Post updates on fundraising goals throughout the day on May 2 to help increase awareness, excitement and motivation to give. This keeps donors up to date on The Art League’s standing in the event.

5. Create Twitter lists for Art League supporters and other organizations participating in Spring2ACTion. Use this list to follow what Art Leaguers and other Spring2ACTion participants are doing on Twitter. Find out how to make Twitter lists here: https://support.twitter.com/articles/76460-how-to-use-twitter-lists

How to Help by Email:

Send an email to your connections! Email your friends, family, collectors, etc and let them know why they should help support this organization you love on May 2. Ask them to join you in becoming a “30-Something.”

Be sure to direct them to: http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/The-Art-League to donate! Remind them that they can SCHEDULE A DONATION in advance if they like (In the “Make a Donation” box click on “schedule one for Spring2ACTION 2012.”)

Have questions? Need help? Call 703-519-1741 and we’ll get you started!

News

Talk This Tuesday: “100 Artists of Washington, DC” book

Interested in learning more about the local arts scene from someone who’s been writing about it for years? This upcoming Tuesday, May 1, local artist, art critic, blogger, and author F. Lennox Campello will be telling the story behind his book, “100 Artists of Washington, DC.” Here’s are the details:

WHAT: “The story behind the 100 Artists of Washington, DC book”: Morrison House Presents: F. Lennox Campello, Author
WHEN: Tuesday, May 1, 6 to 8pm
WHERE: Morrison House, 116 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
INFO: Morrison House: www.morrisonhouse.com / Phone: 703-838-8000 / Torpedo Factory Art Center Website: www.torpedofactory.org
ADMISSION: Free admission (Food and drink available for purchase)

Author F. Lennox Campello, an award-winning artist and prominent critic and commentator, has compiled works by 100 leading contemporary visual artists who represent the tens of thousands of artists working in this culturally and ethnically diverse region. Equally diverse are the artistic styles and media included in this book, the first of its kind for the capital area. With more than 640 works of art, 100 Artists of Washington, DC, is a primer for both the savvy art collector and the beginning collector, highlighting his selection of emerging artists who deserve more attention.

Past and upcoming events in the Morrison House cultural discussion series are listed here.

News

Studying Color with Danni Dawson

Art League instructor Danni Dawson, whose work you may recognize from the front of The Art League School catalog, let us stop by her portrait painting class last week to see a very interesting portrait painting demonstration. The demo was all about building up a portrait by layering planes of color. Here’s part one:

You can watch part 2 here, and all of our artist demos so far are up on YouTube in this playlist. Check them out!

Art Classes

Q&A with Award Winner Susan O’Neill

Susan O’Neill won the Anne Banks Collage Award this month for her work Connections, on display in The Art League Gallery as part of the “Earth” exhibit through April 30. We asked Susan to tell us more about this collage and her work in general.

What is the inspiration or idea behind Connections? What materials went into creating it?
Susan: I’m inspired by different cultures, relationships between people, nature, and the earth. How each are interrelated, and how they inspire and effect one another. The materials that went into creating the collage, Connections are from my travels, and the experiences and people in these places. My interest in collage began when I lived in Japan.

How do you think “Connections” fits into the “Earth” theme? What do you want the viewer to come away with?
I want to express the multiplicity of life, intermingling and supporting a new experience that offers unfamiliar combinations or connections to the viewer.

Connections by Susan O'Neill

As the winner of the Anne Banks Collage Award, why do you work in collage, or why did you choose to for this piece? Do you usually work in collage?
Currently, my main focus is the human figure. However, I find working in collage therapeutic and visually exciting so I’m always attracted to exploring this medium. During the last 2 years I completed two large collage commissions where I explored these same themes — earth, culture, and how they relate. This took my collage to a larger format and new materials which I would like to pursue. These commissions consisted of a triptych and a diptych. Connections was an opportunity to continue this theme. Continue reading Q&A with Award Winner Susan O’Neill

Artist Interviews

Artist Opportunities Around the US

Announcements courtesy of FindArtInfoBank.com:

77th Annual National Juried Art Exhibition – NY
Deadline: May 15, 12. You must be a resident of the United States to enter. Possible $3500 in prizes. Read more at http://www.cooperstownart.com/national.html Qualifications: Open to U.S. residents. The CAA seeks excellence in all media and styles. All work must be original and completed within the past two years. Works previously shown in the gallery are not eligible. How to Apply: All entries must be postmarked by May 15th and submitted with a filled out prospectus available at www.cooperstownart.com. CD entries must be 300 dpi JPEGs. JPEG filenames should reflect titles. No enhancement, except cropping is allowed. Please note that any work deemed misrepresented by its slide/CD will be declined. There is a non-refundable entry fee of $20 ($18 for members). This fee entitles the artist to two entries in one category. Sculpture is allowed one additional detail image per entry. Check or money order should be made out to the CAA.

Park City Public Art Board Seeks Requests for Qualifications for a Pedestrian Tunnel Mural – UT
Deadline: May 10, 12. The Park City Public Art Advisory Board seeks qualifications from artists interested in creating a mural within the Deer Valley Drive Pedestrian Tunnel in Park City, Utah. An electronic copy of this RFQ can be obtained at www.parkcity.org listed under Doing Business, Current RFPs. Budget for project is $8,000. Questions can be submitted to Sharon Bauman via e-mail: [email protected]. How to Apply: All details are listed in the RFQ. Please review carefully.

“Look Attractive” – MO
Deadline: October 1, 12. UMKC Gallery of Art is seeking new work that addresses attraction. Attraction has as much to do with physical appearance as is does with biology, culture, environmental factors, and societal influence. Human courtship rituals evolve as standards of beauty and attraction change, but the basic biological behaviors that guide mate selections remain hardwired in our biology. Flirting, staring, and physical responses to beauty are biological behaviors that nature instills in us to ensure our selection of a mate. Could these same principles be at play when viewing art? Is there any similarity between our physical reaction to humans we find attractive and artwork we find attractive? What catches our eyes, what lures us in, what causes us to stop and stare when experiencing visual art? How does your art attract or depict attraction? The UMKC Gallery of Art is the public exhibition space of the College of Arts and Sciences and located in the Fine Arts Building at the University of Missouri – Kansas City. This exhibition is curated by the Davin Watne, Amye Metcalf, Amy DeSitter and Logan Chermack. Qualifications: Conditions of entry: Open to artists over 18 years of age, no geographic restrictions, and all mediums as long as space allows. How to Apply: Images must be submitted in JPG format at 72dpi emailed to [email protected]. Artists can submit up to 3 images. http://cas.umkc.edu/art/gallery-contact.asp Continue reading Artist Opportunities Around the US

Artist Opportunities

Opportunities for Book Lovers!

Calling all bookworms: The Art League has some upcoming book-related events and reminders to share — please read on and join us!

Art League instructor Nancy Johnson will be offering a free bookmaking activity in the Torpedo Factory on Mother’s Day. The Art League Book Club is also getting started, and the gallery wants to remind you about all the great resources in its library! Details are below.


Bookmaking Activity for Kids During Spring Open House
Art League instructor Nancy Johnson will conduct a free bookmaking activity for kids during the Torpedo Factory Art Center Spring Open House on Sunday, May 13, 1:00–4:00 pm. Participants will have the opportunity to make accordion fold books to give as gifts to their mothers since it is also Mother’s Day! This activity is free of charge and is available on a first come, first service basis.

Announcing The Art League Book Club!
Are you interested in books about art and artists? Art League member Rebecca McNeely is organizing our new Art League book club. Our first book will be Off the Wall: A Portrait of Robert Rauschenberg by Calvin Tomkins. This easy-to-read book is a fascinating view of the New York art world from the ’50s to the ’70s.

The first meeting will be Tuesday, May 22, 1:00 pm in The Art League Gallery. This meeting will include a discussion of the book and planning for future meetings. Bring books and ideas for future selections. If you’re interested in joining this group, please contact [email protected] or call 703-683-1780.

The Art League Gallery Library
As Yun Choi, our intern from George Mason University, has been reorganizing our library she’s noticed that many books are never checked out. In an effort to boost usage of our art library, Yun will be setting up a small display on the library shelves in upcoming weeks and she has written some book reviews. Books in our library range from biographies of artists, general art history books, books on technical skills in varied media, museum and exhibition catalogues, framing, and color mixing and theory. These books are a great resource! Books can be checked out at no charge for two weeks at a time. You may browse our collection of titles online at www.librarything.com, user name: artleague, password: library.

Here are a couple books that Yun has recommended:

1) The Decorated Page: Journals, Scrapbooks & Albums Made Simply Beautiful, Diehn, Gwen, 2002, Lark Books.
One of the good ways to find inspiration in daily life is to keep a journal. Not a plain journal, but a decorated journal full of artistic creations. This book provides step-by-step instructions on how to keep your personalized scrapbooks and journals. Each section of the book, which covers materials, techniques, and applications, provides insights from the author who helped many to make both verbal and visual records of their experiences. It’s a great book to get your journal going!

2) Ideals of Beauty: Asian and American Art in The Freer and Sackler Galleries, Raby, Julian, 2010, Thames and Hudson.
Washington, DC is a great place to be for museum visitors. This guidebook provides a brief description of historically significant works from the Freer and Sackler. There are more than one hundred masterworks from the collections of both museums. Besides providing a history of each work, the colored pages could serve as inspirational images for jewelers!

News

Big News!

The Art League’s Impending Duke Street Annex Move & Madison Annex Project
It’s official. The Art League is moving out of its Duke Street Annex location September 1, 2012 – after the completion of our school’s Summer 2012 Term. We’re replacing our space by expanding at the Madison Annex, and are excited to open a dynamic, consolidated educational facility that offers 2D and 3D classes in the same location for our school’s Fall Term 2012. Click here to learn more about the build-out and new facility. Construction will begin shortly and we need your help!

 

Be a “30-Something” for The Art League
& Help Us Raise Money for The Art League School Madison Annex Project
We need you to help us raise $210,000 to fund the build-out and move. We already have a significant 30-something commitment to this campaign from one of our loyal, longtime students. If every student, member, donor, instructor, volunteer, and patron donates $30, we’ll raise enough money to fund the whole project!

Be a “30-Something” for The Art League by donating $30 to our build-out campaign!
Own a piece of our­­­—of your—new home.

 

And Here’s How to Start….

Spring2ACTion on May 2 is THE DAY!
Spring2ACTion on Wednesday, May 2 is the kick-off for our campaign and is the day to give! This 24 hour giving event throughout the city of Alexandria hosted by ACT for Alexandria and ACTion Alexandria allows us to compete against dozens of other nonprofits for the opportunity to win up to $15,000 in additional grants and prizes. Your donation on May 2, no matter how big or small, will help us win big! Click here to schedule your donation for May 2, or bookmark the page for this important date! Please spread the word and help The Art League fund its way towards its new home!

Please click here to read the FAQ for the build-out. Have more questions? Want to help? Call 703-549-5450.

News

Q&A with Award Winner Cristy West

Cristy West and her mixed-media painting Regenesis (pictured below) won the Marshall Award for best in show in this month’s all-media exhibit, in The Art League Gallery through April 30. Juror Joseph Di Bella said of the painting, “The color modulation is beautiful. The shapes, color, marks, and use of space really work. There is a fine sense of proportional relationships and groupings, which organize the piece. It’s dynamic, yet controlled.” Cristy told us more about her artwork and the story behind Regenesis.

What is your artistic process like?
Cristy West: I often start with messy scribbles, then work in a couple layers of color, and at some point slap on a piece of collage or a fragment of an old painting I have cut up. There is usually music going in the background and this helps me stay focused and motivated. I paint and step back, paint and step back. If a piece begins to go dead, I set it aside and work on another. It usually takes me an hour or two to get in the “the zone” and I have to stop when I begin to run out of steam and start becoming too fussy. There is much more control than may be obvious from the end product. I draw intuitively on color theory and design principles, using my knowledge of different media to achieve different effects. And my work is informed by diverse artists like Richard Diebenkorn and Joan Mitchell whose work, along with many others, I return to again and again for inspiration.

What media did you use in Regenesis?
Media include acrylic paints and gels, collage, marks of graphite pencil and caran d’ache crayon, artist’s tape. I work on Arches watercolor paper which I coat on both sides with two coats of gesso.

Is there a story behind Regenesis? What was your inspiration or motive for the piece?
Regenesis grew out of an earlier painting, Night in Rio, which appeared in the “Carnival” show in 2011. The strength of the earlier painting, I thought, was its raw energy, but in retrospect, it had begun to seem too chaotic and rather garish, lacking in particular a modulated range of values. So I took it out of its mat and frame and set aside. Some weeks later I attacked it anew, veiling over parts with gesso, toning down the color and simplifying the design, trying to be careful to let some of the old painting show through. Here are before and after versions:

Before: Night in Rio (upside down from how it was shown)
After: Regenesis (upper right shows some of earlier painting)

Thus, on one level, the title refers to the way the new painting was a “regenerated” out of the old, a kind of phoenix rising from the fiery flames. However, there was, in addition, another more personal layer of meaning to the title.

Keep reading for more about how Cristy rediscovered her artistic voice!

Continue reading Q&A with Award Winner Cristy West

Artist Interviews

A Different Kind of Art Class

You know The Art League School offers classes in painting, drawing, ceramics, fiber arts, sculpture, jewelry, and every other medium under the sun. Did you know there’s also a class in crime-solving?

Forensic artist Joe Mullins teaches “Mystery Solved: Facial Reconstruction” Wednesday nights at the Madison Annex. Students start with only a cast skull, and over seven weeks, they reconstruct a mystery face bit by bit. Joe was kind enough to show us a little bit of the process this week:

Joe, who is a Forensic Imaging Specialist at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, does forensic work on unidentified crime victims and recently reconstructed a 2,500-year-old mummy’s face. We blogged about some of his work in November — check it out! You can also watch other demos from Art League School teachers on YouTube.

Art Classes

Local Artist Opportunities

See below for notes and announcements! Some of these opportunities have deadlines very soon:

  • George Mason University, Manassas Campus, is looking for a caricature artist for an event on April 26 (10-2). If anyone is interested, please contact Marit Majeske, 703/993-7741, [email protected] before April 18.
  • Registration for Artomatic is still open! The site crashed when we first posted about this last week, but they have added capacity to deal with the traffic, so try again if you haven’t already.
  • The XL-XS show by Maryland Federation of Art, previously mentioned in this space, has a entry deadline April 18. The show is for extra-large and extra-small works in two dimensions. For more details and online entry, visit the MFA website.
  • Alexandria studio for lease: An 11,500 sq. ft. warehouse is being remodeled for artists. It’s about 2.5 miles from the Torpedo Factory and near the intersection of Duke Street and S. Quaker Lane. The studios have full spectrum lighting. Onsite parking is free, and you will have 24/7 access. Each artist has a key to his or her studio and another key to the building’s main entrance. For information on the available studio space please contact Liz Boynton: [email protected] or 703-759-4227.
Artist Opportunities

Q&A with Award Winner Betsy Kellum

Artist Betsy Kellum won the Carol Bruce Pastel Award for The Ram, her piece in this month’s all-media show, in The Art League Gallery through April 30. Juror Joseph Di Bella said of the painting, “The nuanced color palette really allows the viewer to sense the light falling on the form. The progression from light to dark shows that the artist has the ability to modulate temperature. The colors are very transitional and soft. There’s a great quality of light in this piece.” We asked Betsy to tell us more about the piece, her other artwork, and her art education.

Is there a story behind The Ram? What was your inspiration or motive in creating the piece?
Betsy: I love animals and love painting them. I know of no other medium that can capture the texture of fur, hair, or fleece the way pastel can… probably because is it a dry, soft medium. Sheep are especially fun because of their coats, plus they are rather inactive, curious creatures, thus allowing for close up examination, both ways. This ram fellow was the main star in a previous painting called The Committee Meeting, and guess who was the chairman! I decided to showcase him in a large format, up close and personal. The dramatic lighting that day cast an array of color in the shadow areas that I couldn’t resist.

The Ram by Betsy Kellum

You won the Carol Bruce Award. Why do you work in pastel? What initially drew you to pastel and to realism in particular?
I knew Carol, and we shared space in Diane Tesler’s Wednesday class for several years. At that time I was learning to paint in oils, but was intrigued by what I saw Carol, Barbara Rachko, and some other pastellists doing. A friend and I shared a box of pastels, set up a simple still life, and painted it. That first painting was accepted into a local art show and got an award…. I was hooked! After an Art League workshop with Albert Handell and his introduction to working pastel on sanded paper, I fell in love with the versatility and brilliance of this wonderful medium. It always came easy to me.

Continued below: Continue reading Q&A with Award Winner Betsy Kellum

Artist Interviews

Today’s Critique with Deanna Schwartzberg

Today’s critique with Deanna Schwartzberg, who teaches abstract painting at The Art League School, offered a small group of artists constructive criticism on a variety of their works.

Deanna and the group set up a semicircle in the gallery. She offered ideas on composition, color, and other perspectives. The other artists present were asked for their thoughts on questions such as: do the relationships of form, color, and line create a composition that holds together? Does the work have its own voice, style, or vision? Does it show competency of materials and technique?

For future free enrichment events like this, make sure to read this blog or check the calendar on theartleague.org! They are also posted on this page.

Events

League of 25 Sculpture Competition Photos

Thursday night was the opening reception for the April exhibits in The Art League Gallery, and it also marked the launch of the League of 25 with a relay-style found object sculpture competition.

The League of 25 is a new society of Art League supporters who pitch in to fund an exhibit while having a little fun, and “Earth” was the first exhibit they funded. Donors were invited to partake in a recycled art challenge as part of the inaugural event. Some of the donors showed up on Thursday ready to showcase their creativity! Donors were divided into two teams, and each team was given a variety of found objects and recycled materials from which to build a sculpture. Each team was given 10 minutes to brainstorm, and then each team member had 2 minutes to make their artistic contribution individually, relay style.

Torpedo Factory artist Lisa Schumaier acted as judge. After a hectic few minutes of planning and frenzied construction, she selected the piece with the branches as the winning sculpture. Members of the winning team received Nancy Reinke woodcut prints, and everybody had a whole lot of fun recycling!

League of 25 member Jean Schwartz and judge Lisa Schumaier.
The winning sculpture under construction
The two completed sculptures.

Stay tuned for future League of 25 events! More photos below: Continue reading League of 25 Sculpture Competition Photos

Events

Support Arts Advocacy Day!

Today, hundreds of dedicated arts supporters from across the country have come together in Washington, DC for National Arts Advocacy Day, a united effort to tell Capitol Hill how important culture is to our communities, how much arts education means to our children, and how much the arts improve our daily lives.

As part of Arts Advocacy Day, you can send a letter to your members of Congress using an online tool. Be heard, and urge your representatives to fund the arts!

You can read more about Arts Advocacy Day here.

News

Free Plein Air Painting Demo with Mike Francis!

Art League instructor Mike Francis is offering a FREE plein air demonstration prior to his Plein Air Workshop in May!


Free Plein Air Demonstration with Mike Francis: An Introduction to one of the many ways to approach the landscape
Saturday, April 28, 2012, 1:00 pm
Daingerfield Island Sailing Marina’s South Parking Lot (GW Pkwy approximately three miles north of the Torpedo Factory, just south of Reagan National Airport)
No reservations required!

Workshop: Weekends in the Plein Air Landscape with Mike Francis
May 5, 6, 12, & 13 (Rain dates: May 19 & 20)
Cost: $175
This workshop is composed of four afternoon painting sessions over two weekends . Participants meet along the Potomac in Alexandria. Artists of all media are invited to join in for the session demos, critiques, and discussions of the materials and techniques. Prerequisite: some experience in drawing and painting. Students supply all materials, some easels are available for student use during the workshop. Click here to register. Contact the school office for more information.

News

Q&A with Award Winner Shanthi Chandrasekar

Artist Shanthi Chandrasekar, whose solo show “Red Dots” appeared in The Art League Gallery in September, was awarded Best In Show for her painting Kolam-Shakthi in this month’s “Earth” exhibit. Juror Helen Frederick said of the painting, “This piece is reflective, symbolic, and quietly captures what’s happening ecologically around the world.” We asked Shanthi to tell us more about the painting and her work in general.

Can you share some background about Kolam-Shakthi — your inspiration or source material, and what it means to you? Can you explain what a kolam drawing is, and who Shakthi is and the role she plays in your work? Do you think this cultural knowledge is necessary to “get” your piece?
Shanthi: Kolam is a form of artistic self-expression of the women from Tamil Nadu, India, created everyday at dawn and at dusk on the thresholds of their houses. Kolams reinforce the concept of impermanence through the cycle of creation and dissolution as people walk over them. It is a very earth-friendly art form as it is drawn using rice flour or rock powder on the ground.

The word Shakthi means energy and also represents the goddess of strength.

Kolam-Shakthi by Shanthi Chandrasekar

This painting is about the collective female energy and Mother Earth, a goddess.  Indian mythology is filled with stories about the birth of the goddess Shakthi and other women from ploughed fields. The cracks on the edges of the painting represent the cracks on the surface of the earth as a result of ploughing. The faces of the women, the many forms of Shakthi, are the daughters of Mother Earth who decorate the earth with Kolams in spite of all the ups and downs they face in life. One of the philosophies behind Kolam drawing is that the dots represent the obstacles in life and if a woman can weave her way through these dots with lines and end where she began, she will be able to successfully deal with life. It is a tradition that is handed down from generation to generation.

Continued below: Continue reading Q&A with Award Winner Shanthi Chandrasekar

Artist Interviews