Year: 2012

Sign Up for a Critique on Tuesday

Flow by Deanna Schwartzberg

Artists: you are formally invited to register for a free critique with Art League School instructor Deanna Schwartzberg this Tuesday, April 17. From 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, Deanna will critique work in the Gallery. Artists can bring two works each to the critique. Deanna teaches abstract painting at The Art League School, but works can be of any type.

Call or email the gallery to sign up! The gallery e-mail address is [email protected] and the phone number is 703-683-1780. For more information, click here.

Events

Artist Opportunities and Deadlines

See below for details on exhibition and studio space opportunities:

Washington Craft Show
Late deadline: April 16, 2012. The 25th annual Washington Craft Show, November 16, 17, & 18, 2012, sponsored by Crafts America, will be held at the Washington Convention Center in the heart of Washington, D.C. It is a multi-media crafts exhibition and sale focusing on contemporary American craft. The Washington Craft Show and the Westchester Craft Show, both previously featured here, have a late deadline of April 16.

(e)merge art fair
Deadline: May 15, 2012. The (e)merge art fair celebrates galleries, artists, and the creative process with an an energetic environment of collaboration and discovery. The 2012 Fair will take place October 4–7 at the Capitol Skyline Hotel in Washington, DC within blocks of the U.S. Capitol Building and several of the nation’s leading museums. 

(e)merge will present over 80 international exhibitors in two platforms. Click here to apply.

Art Studio

  • Artist-tenant building in Alexandria
  • 2.5 miles from Torpedo Factory
  • Free onsite parking – 24/7 access
  • Full Spectrum Lighting!
  • 266 sq ft, 12 ft ceiling — $340/month

Contact Liz Boynton: 703-759-4227, [email protected]

Artist Opportunities

Spring Update From The Art League Plein Air Painters

Plein Air Painters at the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington. Photo by Jean Schwartz.
At River Bend Park. Photo by Susan Johnson.

The Art League Plein Air Painters have wasted no time taking advantage of the beautiful spring weather! These are just two of recent paint outs that members have attended. The tulips were in full bloom at the Carillon, and the Virginia Bluebells were the attraction at River Bend.

The Plein Air Painters formed last summer as has grown since then. Anyone interested in joining the group can contact Susan Johnson at [email protected] or Jean Schwartz at [email protected].

News

Opening Reception and Sculpture Contest Thursday

"Earth"

Light refreshments and friendly competition are on the menu for Thursday’s opening reception for April’s exhibits, “Earth,” “April All-Media Exhibit,” and “Somewhere in the Orient II.” (More photos are in this blog post.)

The opening reception and meet the artist will take place from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in The Art League Gallery. Things will kick off with a recycled art activity as part of the inaugural League of 25, a fundraising group that funded the “Earth” exhibit.

Donors will be split into teams to create collaborative sculptures from found materials, which they’ll build relay-style after a short planning session. Their challenge: in a few minutes, create a work of art from the beads, tires, CDs, ice cube trays, glue guns, wires, duct tape, and assorted other materials available to them.

Torpedo Factory artist Lisa Schumaier will choose the winners, who will each receive an original woodcut print by Nancy Reinke. There will also be a drawing for donors from prizes including: a stay at Hotel Monaco on King Street, a four-course tasting for two at the Grille at Morrison House, and a gift certificate to Jackson 20.

We hope to see you at what promises to be an eventful opening reception! You can find out more about the League of 25 on this page.

Events

Pete and Alison Duvall’s Show in Maryland

In case you missed it: Pete and Alison Duvall, who are photography instructors here at The Art League School, have an exhibition going on at the Publick Playhouse in Prince George’s County through April 30:

Pete and Alison Duvall are well known throughout the area, especially within the arts community, for the photographic services and teaching they provide through their company, Anything Photographic. The Publick Playhouse presents their own artworks, a chance to see the incredible knowledge required for their company expanded into deeply expressive photos and photomontages.

More info is here.

News

April Exhibits Are Open!

If you thought last month’s shows were good, wait until you see what artists brought to April’s exhibits at The Art League Gallery.

The themed exhibit, “Earth,” invited artists to address the planet and our relationship to it. Some pieces incorporate found or recycled materials:

"Rebirth" by Carlos Beltran Baldiviezo
"Reclamation" and "Gingerbread" by D.J. Gaskin

The April All-Media Exhibit includes works in all media and covering any subject matter. This is just a sampling:

"Bird by the River" by Charla Wilkerson and "Limitless" by Andrew Caraiso
"Elliot" by Riana Bovill

And certainly not least, this month in the solo artist room, “Somewhere in the Orient II” showcases the raku ceramic work of Art League and Torpedo Factory artist Marcia Jestaedt. The exhibit, opening today, centers on large robes composed of raku tiles, accompanied by ceramic planters and even a crown and slippers. The room is more of an environment than an exhibit — you can read more about it and the raku process on the exhibit page.

"Lakshmana Planter" and "Deco Jewel" by Marcia Jestaedt

These shows are up through April 30, so don’t miss out! The opening reception, including awards and a meet the artist, is April 12 at 6:30 in the gallery. More photos below! Continue reading April Exhibits Are Open!

Exhibits

Ceramics Artists: Enter “Tea” by April 17

 

A friendly reminder: time is running out to enter artwork for the Tea – Ceramics Exhibit at The Art League!

Entry is open to all artists, everywhere. Digital submissions are due by April 17 at 6:00 pm.

Artists are asked to celebrate the organic diversity of ceramic form while exploring “tea” as the functional muse. Artwork may be traditional, modern, or conceptual in design. Entry is open to all wares associated with drinking, serving, and presenting tea.

Potter John Neely will jury the exhibit. For more details on the exhibit, including prizes and entry forms, click here.

Artist Opportunities

Call For Artists: Public Art and XL-XS

See the announcements below for information!

The XL-XS Show
Deadline: April 18. The Maryland Federation of Art invites all artists residing in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada to enter its fine art open-juried competition for artists working in extra large and extra small formats. Any two-dimensional submissions following exhibition guidelines will be considered by the juror. The selected artworks will be on exhibit at The Art Gallery, University of Maryland, College Park, by invitation to MFA.

  • Only 2-D works following exhibition size requirements are eligible. Measure carefully before entry.
  • Exhibition Dates: June 24- August 5, 2012
  • Submission Deadline: April 18, 2012
  • Juror: Barry Nemett, Chair of Painting Department, Maryland Institute College of Art

More details and the prospectus are on the MFA website.

Outdoor Temporary Public Art Project
Deadline: April 20. The Alexandria Commission for the Arts (ACA) is accepting proposals through April 20, 2012 for the temporary placement or experience of art in public spaces through a special opportunity grant. The ACA is seeking innovative, thought-provoking projects by artists that relate to a proposed space or spaces in an engaging way. All artistic disciplines will be considered including, but not limited to: visual art, storytelling, poetry, spoken word, dance, music, theatre, performance art, and new media. Continue reading Call For Artists: Public Art and XL-XS

Artist Opportunities

An Opera Gala Celebration

Attention arts lovers: As part of its 125th anniversary celebrations, the Friday Morning Music Club is hosting a concert — free and open to the public!

The gala concert will take place Sunday, April 15, at 7:00 pm at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria. The Orchestra of the Friday Morning Music Club, conducted by Pablo Saelzer, and the Friday Morning Music Club Chorale will present opera selections from Mozart, Rossini, Puccini, Verdi, and Bizet, as well as Tzigane by Ravel.

News

Alla Prima Workshop with Rob Liberace

Painting instructor Rob Liberace taught a workshop last weekend — “The Painterly Sketch: Advanced Alla-Prima Portrait” — that packed the classroom with painters eager to learn from the talented artist. Rob was also kind enough to let us film his demo on the first day!

In the video, Rob talks technique, color, and other tips as he paints model Wayne, who was dressed as a Civil War soldier. Here’s part one of the three-part demo:

(Visit YouTube for part 2 and part 3.)

Kim Stenberg attended the workshop and wrote this blog post detailing her work and recapping the workshop experience, with lots of photographs.

As Kim writes, alla prima is a “daredevil approach” to painting. Also called wet-on-wet or direct painting, alla prima asks artist to lay down color without lots of layering. Painters such as Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent are known for using the technique.

As Rob demonstrates in the video, there is no elaborate underpainting, and color is applied while the first strokes are still wet, requiring some improvisational skill and a good deal of practice. Rob’s demo, edited down into three videos, only took about an hour to complete!

You can click here to see upcoming classes and workshops by Rob, who also occasionally teaches travel workshops like next week’s trip to Scotland. Other demos from Art League School teachers are up on our YouTube channel.

Art Classes

Q&A with Award Winner Ahmed Alkarkhi

"Birds of Play" by Ahmed Alkarkhi

Birds of Play, above, was winner of the Evelyn Turner Award for outstanding abstract work in this month’s “Play” exhibit, in The Art League Gallery through April 2. Juror Judy Bass, who selected the acrylic painting on canvas for the award, praised the painting’s composition and sense of color, as well as the looseness and sense of movement created by the birds.

We asked the artist, Ahmed Alkarkhi — profiled in this 2010 NPR story not long after moving to the U.S. — to tell us a little about the painting.

Ahmed said the painting should appeal to the “thrill of discovery” and stimulate a sense of adventure and imagination, much like fantasy or adventure literature. “Life is an adventure,” he wrote, drawing a comparison to his arrival in the U.S., a place he knew nothing about. Ahmed came here from Syria in 2009 after leaving Baghdad in 2006. His home in Iraq continues to inspire his work, as featured in this YouTube video.

Different media produce different effects, Ahmed said, saying that he tries different raw materials and surfaces depending on what is called for. Ahmed works in acrylic, watercolor, and oil.

Ahmed won the Urquhart Award last year for his painting, DC Kaffee Freedom, in the “Emancipation and Freedom” exhibit.

Our Q&A with this month’s other award winner is here.

Artist Interviews

Artist Opportunities from FindArtInfoBank

Exhibition and residency opportunities courtesy of FindArtInfoBank.com:

The XL-XS Show – MD
Deadline: April 18, 2012. The Maryland Federation of Art invites all artists residing in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada to enter its national juried competition for artists working in extra large and extra small formats. Any two-dimensional submissions following exhibition guidelines will be considered by the juror. The selected artworks will be on exhibit June 24 – August 5, 2012 at The Art Gallery, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, by invitation to MFA. $1,000 in Cash Awards. Juror: Barry Nemett, Chair of Painting Dept., Maryland Institute College of Art. One-two entries $35 (MFA members $20); additional four entries $5.00 each. Download prospectus (PDF format) at: http://www.mdfedart.com/exhibits/2012_XL_XS/XL-XS_2012_Prospectus.pdf. Questions? Please contact Kyle Freeman at [email protected] or call 410-268-4566. http://www.mdfedart.com/pages/call_for_artists.php

Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors – NY
Deadline: April 9, 2012. View in Old Forge, NY announces a call to artists for a juried exhibition, August 11 – October 8, 2012. Jurors: Pat San Soucie, Paul Jackson. Competitive exhibition open to all artists working with water-media on paper; only water soluble media on unvarnished paper will be considered. Water soluble media include: acrylics, casein, egg tempera, gouache, inks, and transparent and opaque watercolor. Collage mechanicals, including computer imaging and prints are not eligible. $30 members/$40 non-members for up to two entries. Visit website for prospectus, http://www.viewarts.org/View_Watercolors.cfm, or send a SASE to: PO Box 1144, Old Forge, NY 13420. Questions? Contact Linda Weal at [email protected] or 315.369.6411. http://www.viewarts.org

Call to artists for Nelson Gallery’s 13th Annual Juried Show – VA
Deadline: June 12, 12. Call to artists for 13th Annual Juried Show at NELSON GALLERY (an artists’ cooperative in Lexington, Virginia.) Eligibility: mid-Atlantic residents (NC, SC, VA, PA, MD, DE, DC). Prizes include: $1,000 best in show and Members’ Choice Award of solo show at Nelson Gallery in July, 2013, plus additional cash awards. Theme: “Feast on This” interpreted as artist wishes. Two or three dimensional art up to 50 inches, length or width. No crafts. Juror: Matt Klos, MFA, U of MD, chair of Art Dept at Anne Arundel Community College, winner of many awards, oils in New American Paintings. Entry fee: $30 for 3 jpgs. All works must be for sale. For more information and to download prospectus, contact [email protected] or call Nelson Gallery at 540.463.9827.

Continued: Continue reading Artist Opportunities from FindArtInfoBank

Artist Opportunities

June Travel Workshop: Provence by Car

The Pennsylvania Lavender Festival at Willow Pond Farm. Photo by Michael Chapman.

The Art League is hosting two lavender-themed travel workshops this summer: Susan Abbott’s popular trip to Provence, France, and closer to home, a plein air painting workshop with Bobbi Pratte following the Pennsylvania Lavender Festival. The weekend trip (June 23–24) will include painting time in lavender fields, a tour of the fields, and a five-course lavender luncheon.

The New York Times wrote of domestic lavender: “If I can’t get to the lavender fields of Provence, in France, Willow Pond Farm in Fairfield, Pa., will do just fine.” Visitors will be going to Willow Pond, near Gettysburg, which grows over 70 varieties of lavender and celebrates their blooms in June.

The workshop with start with a demo at 9:00 am Saturday. Bobbi’s lesson will address issues related to plein air painting — when you’re presented with a huge, sweeping landscape, where do you start? How do you decide what to paint? Drawing on the picturesque fields and surrounding views for inspiration, painting will continue with plein air sessions on Saturday evening and Sunday. Saturday will include the farm tour and five-course luncheon.

The workshop price is $225, including the luncheon fee. Optional (and limited) lodging is also available. For more information and to register, visit the travel workshop page!

Travel Workshops

New Art In City Hall Exhibit Opens

Next week’s Art In City Hall, a juried exhibit of artwork on display in Alexandria’s City Hall, is the latest exhibit in a long partnership between The Art League, Del Ray Artisans, the Torpedo Factory Artists Association, and the Alexandria Commission for the Arts. Since the first show, in February 2006, the shows have hung twice a year in City Hall, sharing works of art with the community and giving artists a new venue for exposure.

The upcoming show, running March 26–September 14, was juried by Ali Ringenburg of Principle Gallery and features artwork from each of the collaborating organizations. The juror awarded four $200 prizes, one from each of the participating organizations — the winners are pictured above.

The partnership with the city, which supports the project by providing space and promoting local art, also works to make the arts accessible to people who visit City Hall. Two exhibits go up each year, each hanging for about six months.

The exhibit can be viewed on weekdays, 8:00 am–5:00 pm, on the second floor of City Hall (310 King Street). The opening reception for Art In City Hall is May 21 at 5:30 pm.

“Simple View” by Catherine Powers received an honorable mention.
News

Interns Needed for Summer Art Camp

Enjoy art or working with kids? The Art League needs interns for Summer Art Camp! The weekly art camps, running June 18–August 24, feature a different syllabus each week and a new art project each day for children ages 5 and up.

Interns will assist instructors, help set up and coordinate classes, and evaluate the effectiveness of classes offered. Interns are trained and directly supervised by the camp coordinator.

College credit is available for summer-long internships. Only six spaces are open, so interested candidates should send their resume and letter of interest, including any experience with teaching or children, to Ali Wunder: aliw (at) theartleague.org, or call the school office, 703-683-2323, with any questions.

The Art League — a multifaceted, non-profit visual arts organization — operates a gallery, school, and store and is stationed in the historic Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. More information about Art Camp is here.

News

Paint Out and Shoot the Blossoms!

Cherry Blossom Triptych by Mike Francis

Three upcoming opportunities for artists:

FotoDC National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest
Deadline: April 15, 2012. Entry fees apply. FotoDC, in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, is presenting the second annual Photography Contest to honor the 100-year anniversary of the gift of trees. Winners will recieve cash prizes, exposure on the popular FotoDC website, exhibition and/or projections during the FotoWeek Festival, public exhibition in Crystal City and exposure throughout the Cherry Blossom Festival March 20 – April 27. Full details on FotoDC’s website.

Something and Nothing: Activating the Void
Deadline: April 3, 2012. $25 entry fee. McLean Project for the Arts is calling for submissions to a juried exhibition of works exploring negative space and the in-between. Artists in the mid-Atlantic can submit up to four digital images of works in any medium. To download the prospectus, visit the MPA website.

Piscataway Park Paint-Out
On Saturday, June 2, in celebration of National Trails Day, the Accokeek Foundation invites artists to an all-day plein air painting event. Artists can capture on canvas the historic buildings of the National Colonial Farm, the heritage breed livestock grazing in green pastures, the flora and fauna of this picturesque site, and the inspiring views of the Potomac. Light refreshments will be available for participating artists in the Visitor Center. To sign up, visit the Accokeek Foundation website.

Artist Opportunities

Q&A with Award Winner Monna Kauppinen

This month’s “Play” exhibit in The Art League Gallery includes many chuckle-inducing moments. One of them is the pastel, Rasta Billy, which artist Monna Kauppinen says was the idea. But the painting didn’t earn only appreciative laughter: juror Judy Bass also chose it as the recipient of the Jane McElvany Coonce award for realism. We spoke to Monna about Rasta Billy and her work in general.

"Rasta Billy" by Monna Kauppinen

Realism is a goal in her work, Monna says: “I want people to get it on the first try. I don’t want them to have to figure it out.” Juror Judy Bass specifically praised Rasta Billy for its mastery of detail and the color in the angora goat’s nose, calling the piece “beautifully drawn.” Monna says the object was to recreate the texture of the fur with her pastels.

But while Rasta Billy was awarded for its realism, the other important goal was playfulness — the theme of this month’s show. Monna says she hopes the viewer comes away with a smile or a chuckle. The painting has its origins in childlike playfulness: Monna was at a county fair when the goat in question was brought to her attention by some children.

“It was the children’s enthusiasm that brought the subject to me,” she says. Adding to the “play” factor, some child clearly had fun giving the goat its distinctive hairstyle.

Inspiration can come from anywhere, including the county fair, Monna says. “I never understand writer’s block, because I have 18 pictures I like to be working on.”

This creative spark is the beginning of her artistic process. Monna: “Something inspires me, for one reason or another, and I decide I have to paint that. Then I decide what medium I’m going to use and try to get the drawing fairly firm” before starting. Monna does watercolors and some drawing, but mainly works in pastel. “I like the hot colors you can get from it,” she says, as well as the texturing it makes possible.

Emphasizing the importance of drawing technique, Monna makes an analogy to the fashion world: drawing is like having a model’s figure, where you can hang any clothes on it — “if you can draw, you can hang any medium on it.”

Artist Interviews

One Day Left to Join the League of 25!

We’re still looking for a few arts-lovers to join the League of 25, the new society that fully funds an exhibit in The Art League Gallery with donations of only $100 each!

If you visit the gallery and enjoy the monthly exhibits — like this month’s “Play” — consider making the small donation to keep the exhibits coming. There are a lot of costs associated with monthly exhibits, including jurying, awards, promotion, and gallery maintenance. Joining the League of 25 for $100 means the shows can go on! Tomorrow will be the last day to donate.

Art on the Rocks 2011

“Earth” will be the first exhibit funded by the League of 25, and it’s shaping up to be very interesting. Artists have been invited to submit artwork incorporating found or recycled materials, or otherwise address our relationship to the planet. At the opening reception, $100 donors will have the chance to participate in a competitive art relay using materials donated by Hotel Monaco. Two teams will build sculptures within a time limit, and a special guest will declare the winner.

You can donate through tomorrow, March 16, on this page. Want to pitch in but don’t have $100? Contact Charlene at the development office: [email protected].

News

“Play” On

"Charge!" by Wayne Guenther – "Play"

This month’s “Play” exhibit — part of Virginia’s Minds Wide Open collaboration celebrating children and the arts — is about to get more playful, with additional activities for kids starting this weekend. Kids (and adults) can look forward to playing with:

  • A child-height graffiti wall, made from gallery pedestals — grab chalk and make your own art!
  • A zinc plate for etching — anyone who leaves their mark can also leave their email address and pick up a free print of the finished etching
  • A scavenger hunt based on the art in the gallery, with blank space for kids to make their own art
  • A version of the Surrealist game, the exquisite corpse (“cadavre exquis”) in which different artists can contribute to a collective drawing with an unexpected outcome

These additional activities start this weekend, so grab the kids and swing by the gallery — no smock necessary!

Exhibits

Exhibition Opportunities Knock

The announcements below are courtesy of FindArtInfoBank.com. The call to artists from the Torpedo Factory, previously featured on this blog, has a deadline in less than a week! Also, three craft shows we’ve written about have deadlines April 1: the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, the Westchester Fine Craft Show, and the Washington (DC) Craft Show.

For more opportunities for artists, watch this space, and check out the classifieds directory maintained by the New York Foundation for the Arts.

Forged: Torpedo Factory Art Center/Target Gallery – VA
Deadline: March 19, 12. Exhibition Dates: May 19th – June 24th, 2012. Description: This is a media specific sculptural exhibition that explores the contemporary approaches to forged metal work. The work can range in size with the stipulation that it incorporates forged metal elements. This is open to all artists nationally and internationally. Juror: Twylene Moyer: Twylene Moyer, managing editor of Sculpture magazine, has published numerous articles and catalogue essays on contemporary art. She has been a featured speaker at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and at SOFA Chicago and has juried and curated several exhibitions, including “Insight Out” and “Disintegration” at the Arlington Arts Center. She is the co-editor of The New Earthwork: Art, Action, Agency, A Sculpture Reader, Conversations on Sculpture, and Landscapes for Art, all distributed by the University of Washington Press. Website: http://www.torpedofactory.org/galleries/targetcallforentry.htm

Continue reading for more announcements: Continue reading Exhibition Opportunities Knock

Artist Opportunities

Opening Reception Tonight: “Play” and “Elemental”

Details from encaustic paintings in "Elemental," solo show by Georgia Nassikas

The March shows in The Art League Gallery are in like a couple of lions, with a solo show of encaustic paintings by Georgia Nassikas and the juried “Play” exhibit featuring works in all media incorporating the theme of play. The opening reception for these amazing shows is tonight at 6:30!

If you can’t make it to tonight’s reception, at least see the shows by April 2 — these pictures don’t do the artwork justice. Well, they never do, but particularly this month: for one, the color and texture in Georgia’s paintings need to be seen in person. She uses wax from bees she keeps herself for the abstracted, ethereal landscapes.

"Night Waves" and "Clarity" by Georgia Nassikas

The other reason you need to come to the gallery: you can play with the “Play” pieces!

“Play” — a first for the gallery — asked artists to create interactive work, and they delivered. “Touch me” signs abound: some works are rearrangeable, one painting asks viewers to contribute dry-erase dialogue, and you can even play darts:

"576" by Victoria Cowles

The non-interactive art took “Play” to heart as well, expressing fun in a wide variety of ways, from the reflective to the laugh-out-loud. (You can see the full show on flickr here.) Juror Judy Bass, a widely exhibited artist who also teaches at Marymount University, noted that the artwork interpreted the theme widely, with some artists coming at the idea of play literally, and others reproducing play at its most abstract.

"Horse Play" by Lillis Werder and "Hip/Hop" by Anne Buchal

Judy Bass said the photographs and drawings were particularly strong, praising their “beautiful composition.”

The “Play” reception is part of the “Minds Wide Open” regional kickoff in the Torpedo Factory, celebrating children and the arts in Virginia. Events will include live music by Keira Moran, proclamations from Alexandria’s town crier, and visits from assorted dignitaries. The “Play” awards presentation is at 7:30.

More photos below: Continue reading Opening Reception Tonight: “Play” and “Elemental”

Events, Exhibits

Opportunities for Artists: Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, and Online

We have three local shows, one festival in Connecticut, and one online exhibition to share today. They all have upcoming deadlines for submission. Good luck!

City of Fairfax 36th Annual Fall Festival
Deadline: March 15, 2012. $12 application fee. Celebrating its 36th year in 2012, The City of Fairfax Fall Festival invites you to participate with more than 400 juried crafters and food vendors showcasing their wares. Enjoy this family friendly exciting outdoor street festival in the heart of the City of Fairfax, VA. Activities include children’s activities, amusement rides and musical entertainment for all ages. Attracts 25,000 shoppers annually. Details and application here.

City of Fairfax 26th Annual Holiday Craft Show
Deadline: March 15, 2012. $12 application fee. The City of Fairfax Holiday Craft Show is celebrating its 26th year in 2012. This annual show 2 day indoor show provides an opportunity to purchase one-of-a kind handmade crafts such as baskets, dolls and accessories, floral, jewelry, paintings, pottery/clay, and a multitude of wood items made by local and regional artists. More than 200 juried crafters and gourmet food vendors participate. Attracts 7,000 shoppers annually. The show is held at Fairfax High School in Fairfax, VA. Details and application here.

Online Exhibition — International Society of Acrylic Painters
Deadline: March 15, 2012. $46 application fee. Join the International Society of Acrylic Painters in celebration of its Fourth Open Online Internation Exhibition held on our website: www.isap-online.com. The Juror for this event is Marilyn Hughey Phillis, AWS.  This is an opportunity for all Acrylic Artists who work in all sizes but especially in very large formats where shipping to shows is financially stressful.  This show will be permanently archived on the ISAP website. ISAP entrants and members have a significant reputation in the art collecting community with galleries and buyers actively checking this website. Prospectus, due dates, and additional info is also posted on the ISAP website: www.isap-online.com


Westport, Connecticut Fine Arts Festival
Deadline: March 19, 2012 (late deadline March 26). $40 application fee/$450 booth fee. Westport’s Fine Arts Festival is held in one of the most affluent communities in the country. Nestled along the picturesque Saugatuck River, the show is located in the quaint, downtown commercial district with some of the finest shopping and dining establishments within a commutable distance to New York City. Original artwork will be viewed by thousands of shoppers who reside in Westport year round as well as many summer residents who call this upscale beach community home during the month of July. With a long-standing tradition as an artistic community, the Westport Fine Arts Festival remains a highlight on the calendars of collectors from New England and Manhattan each year. Glass, Ceramics, Fiber, Jewelry, Wood and Digital Art will debut at this summer festival along with traditional mediums of Painting, Watercolor, Photography, Scultpure, Drawing, Printmaking, Mixed Media. Details and application here.

Art In the Park — Easton, Maryland
Deadline: April 21, 2012. Booth fees apply. “Art in the Park…Easton” is taking place at Idlewild Park on May 12, 2012, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is the second year for this show. Talbot County Visual Arts Center is the hosting organization. The show is located in a beautiful park-like setting in a charming neighborhood of Idlewild Park. There will be extensive publicity for this show and hoping for a large turnout of shoppers.

Jurying will be based solely on images that are provided with the application. Click here to download the rules and application (PDF).

Artist Opportunities

Free Japanese Ceramics Workshop Saturday

Colorado potter Kazu Oba will be teaching a free workshop on Japanese Ceramics this Saturday, March 3, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Kazu, who came to the United States as a young adult, will be focusing on modern and traditional forms from Karatsu, Japan, a center of ceramics where he apprenticed in 2003–2004. You can expect to see mostly bowls, plates, and cylinders, thrown “off the hump” and slightly altered.

Yes, the workshop is free! For more information, call the Art League School office at 703-683-2323.

Events