To and Fro, mixed media, by Fierce Sonia. Winner of the Anne Banks Collage Award.
Fierce Sonia is an artist who’s been with The Art League for a long time. You might remember her work from the 2010 solo exhibit “Paper Dolls” (reviewed by Lenny Campello). If you’ve been a student, she might even have been your model back in the day! This summer, you can catch her in Studio 7 in the Torpedo Factory.
Sonia’s art career started with photography, and she has added layers — literally and figuratively — as time goes on. The collage above, To and Fro, won the Anne Banks Collage Award in this month’s Open Exhibit, and we asked the artist to tell us about it:
What was your goal with To and Fro?
Fierce Sonia: Repeating interlocking figures across a page in balanced dancing “paper doll” pattern. I was elated with the hair element, “Fro.” The hair element is the “wig” that fits over the figure on the far left side.
What materials did you use in this collage?
String
Collage materials from large format “W” magazines. I like working with these pages because they are 13″ tall. I have been limited by the width of my printer. Also, they frame nicely in a standard frame 16″ × 20″. Fashion magazines are brimming with female figures.
Print of the cow skull woman image
The cow-skull self portrait image appears in other Fierce Sonia collages, such as this one from her 2010 solo exhibit (in the top center).
What does the central image — the figure with the skull — mean to you?
Self portrait
I love the “S” shape of the figure, undeniably female
Balance of contrasts
Animal/human
Hard/soft
Death/life
Black white
Morbid and hopeful
New work by Fierce Sonia
As someone who started out in photography, how has your artistic practice changed over time? What other media do you work in?
My very first images were fairly straightforward black-and-white nude self portraits inspired by my modeling experiences with The Art League. I craved a more painterly aesthetic and experimented with printing the photographs on painted surfaces for the texture and marks.
This idea opened me up to printing on a variety of surfaces. Magazine pages and white paint gave way to collage and colors as I gained control and courage over a process that can still sometimes feel magical. I continue to be inspired by the artists I work with. My palette layers and subjects can shift from season to season but my voice has stayed feminine and figurative as I create narratives with abstractions.
New work by Fierce Sonia
When and why did you first commit to being an artist?
I was modeling with The Art League and was inspired by the figurative work the artists created. I was pretty naive when I decided to shoot self portraits, thank goodness! If I knew how hard it would be I might not ever have started on the long path. I cabled my camera to a TV so I could compose and light myself, and triggered the shutter with an infrared remote.
What are you working on now?
I love that multimedia has allowed me to continue to grow so much as an artist. I can chase ideas and experiment with new materials as interests evolve.
I’m creating my most current works in studio 7 at the Torpedo Factory. This summer, my work is a series of female figures built on colorful collage and acrylic paint elements. I’m consciously creating a bright, positive, dreamy world for my paper dolls, my girls.
Deadline: July 18. The Berkeley Arts Council in Martinsburg, West Virginia announces the Call for Entries for “Heavy Metal,” a juried exhibit of railroad art to be on display from August 31 through October 1, 2016. The exhibit is open nationally to all visual artists over the age of 18 in all media.
Fairwood Arts Festival
Deadline: August 19; early bird discount before July 29. The Prince George’s County Dept. of Parks & Recreation is seeking art vendors for the Fairwood Arts Festival in Bowie, MD. The application fee is $50 through July 29.
Chalk contest
Event: August 20; advance registration required. As part of the Annual Riverfront Chalk Festival in Lynchburg, VA, adults and children are invited to register for a 4′ × 4′ space for chalk art and compete for cash prizes. First prize is $500.
The nude figure
Deadline: September 9. The Nude Figure at Wayne Art Center in Wayne, PA is juried by Paul DuSold and Scott Noel. Open to all artists working in painting, drawing and sculpture.
Photography about homelessness
Deadline: October 1. For Picture This, organized by Flashlight Baltimore, entries can depict the homeless experience from around the country, however the Baltimore region is preferred. Entries must be original photography.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Photographers
Deadline: June 30. Photo ’16 is a national juried fine art photography exhibit at Multiple Exposures Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. Sam Abell, a long-time National Geographic photographer, will be the juror. All photographers living in the U.S., 18 years or older, working in traditional, digital or alternative photographic processes are eligible to participate.
Projekt30
Deadline: July 1. Projekt30 in Baltimore is taking submissions for our August publicly juried exhibition. We are an artist-run arts organization dedicated to promoting emerging artists.
National juried exhibit
Deadline: July 1. The AI&G National Juried Exhibition in Salisbury, MD is long-held tradition featuring the best artwork by artists from across the country. The theme for 2016 is “Tradition & Innovation”. Open to all artists aged 18 or older and all media.
Public sculpture 1
Deadline: July 1. Art in Place (Charlottesville, VA) is seeking submissions for the Outdoor Sculpture Competition 2016/2017, with sculptures to remain in place for 11 months at selected locations around the city. Each artist selected will receive a $1,500 honorarium.
Public sculpture 2
Deadline: July 1. Four locations around the City of Fredericksburg, VA have been selected for the display of public sculpture from October, 2016 to September, 2017. Liability insurance provided. Stipend of $2000. Artist responsible for delivery and removal.
Politics
Deadline: July 5. For the national juried exhibition Art as Politics at Touchstone Gallery, express everything you love and hate in the current election process as a visual art form.
Photography competition
Deadline: July 8. The Academy Center of the Arts (Lynchburg, VA) 2016 National Juried Photography Exhibition applications are now available! Entries must be original photographs or photographically derived work. Open to U.S. residents 18 years or older.
Plein air competition
Deadline: July 8. Harford Plein Air (October 10-15, 2016) invites artists from all over the U.S. to enter this second annual competition to create art in the “open air.” 30 competing artists, juried by Michele Byrne, will paint throughout Harford County, MD.
Holiday Market
Deadline: July 9. The Downtown Holiday Market (outside the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture) is a juried, high-quality crafts and gift market featuring a diverse display from exhibitors of many types of merchandise, as well as prepared food and beverage vendors.
Hyattsville Arts Festival
Deadline: July 15. Exhibitor applications for the Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival (September 10, 2016) are now available online. Artists from DC, Maryland, and Virginia are invited to apply to this juried festival.
Mural project
Deadline: July 18. For the second “Paint the Town,” the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District invites artists to beautify the plaza at 3 Bethesda Metro Center. Applicants must be residents of DC, MD, or VA who are 18 years or older.
Ward 5 Wonders
New deadline: July 20. Art Enables is seeking work made by Ward 5 artists for the August/September exhibition, “Ward 5 Wonders” (see bottom of page) in Off-Rhodes Gallery.
Harrisonburg juried exhibit
Deadline: August 1. National Juried Art Show at Larkin Arts in Harrisonburg, VA: This is a national juried visual art competition and exhibition that is open to any artist, who is a resident of the United States and is over the age of 18, working in two-dimensional media. Painting, drawing, printmaking, photography or other traditional or non-traditional two-dimensional media, excluding film, are welcome.
Pets and animals
Deadline: August 10. For “Fur, Feathers, and Fins” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, the jury seeks works that explore the wide world of pets. All media welcome; small to large-scale installations; new media encouraged; indoor and outdoor works accepted; cash awards to be presented.
Games
Deadline: August 18. For “Games: From Marbles to Minecraft” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, the jury invites artists to submit works that celebrate and explore the broad spectrum of game history, development and innovation, including game design, production, packaging, and marketing.
Athenaeum
Deadline: August 18. The Athenaeum Invitational in Alexandria, VA is a theme-based event featuring the works of both specially-invited artists who have exhibited in the Athenaeum Gallery in the past, as well as works selected through a call for submissions open to anyone living or working in Virginia, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, or Maryland.
Fall art show
Deadline: September 1. The 45th Annual Fall Foliage Art Show (Waynesboro, VA) is seeking fine artists and artisans for the annual two day outdoor juried fine art exhibition.
Digital Fabrication Residency
Deadline: September 1. Digital Fabrication Residency program residents learn and gain hands-on experience with laser cutting, CNC routing, FDM 3D printing, digital embroidery, 2D plotting and 3D scanning. Applications for the 3 Day Onsite Residency Program in Easton, MD must include a project proposal that outlines what the resident plans to work on while onsite.
Art League solo exhibits
Deadline: September 23. Entry is now open for 2018 solo artist exhibits at The Art League. Entry is open to all Art League members.
Paintings
Deadline: September 28. “Root to Bloom: Places Artists Call Home” at Principle Gallery (Alexandria, VA) will feature paintings representative of where the featured artists call “home.” Works must be paintings no more than 40 inches along the longest edge (measured unframed).
Bas-relief
Deadline: October 3. The Dexter Jones Award, an unrestricted prize of $5,000, is presented annually to a sculptor for an outstanding work of sculpture in bas-relief. Each competitor must be a United States sculptor between the ages of 18 and 39.
Restaurant residency
Deadline: ongoing. The Artist-in-Residence program at Palette 22 showcases and promotes the original work of VA- based and regional artists inside and beyond the restaurant.
Deadline: Ongoing. Washington ArtWorks (Rockville, MD) is holding an Open Call for the Walls. Artists pay a fee to hang work for two-month periods in these unjuried exhibits.
We hope you saved some room in your summer for us!
You’re invited to your own weekly, creative staycation this summer at The Art League. We have a bunch of summer classes that haven’t started yet, and we’re saving a stool for you. Here are the deets:
Portrait and Figure Painting who: Kurt Schwarz when: Wednesdays, starting June 29 what: Capture personality in paint
Intro to Photography who: Andargé Asfaw when: Thursdays, starting July 7 what: Learn how to use your camera creatively
Town Fair, Midway by Art League instructor Susan Abbott
Art Fundamentals (Ages 5-8) who: Jean Stark when: Saturdays, starting July 9th what: Jump into painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, and sculpture
Painting (Oil or Acrylic) who: John Blee when: Saturdays, starting July 9th what: Our recommended starting point for beginning painters
Painting (Oil or Acrylic) who: Marjorie Forgues when: Mondays, starting July 11th what: Our recommended starting point for beginning painters
It’s the first week of summer art classes at The Art League — not to mention summer art camp — so we had a lot going on. And, our awesome students kept us up-to-date by sharing images on Instagram, #theartleague.
Oust students spent the week …
… starting one foot at a time.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG-FRw5pPQP/
… capturing fleeting beauty.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG2MD2cAaKK/
… finding their happy jam.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG_xDyavUru/
… enameling.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG8L8GZQtuZ/
… painting.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG8SMQbQKz9/
… getting excited.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG5X8DZh_Hs/
… thinking big.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG7VwFOtx_4/
… pulling out another success.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG4TLeQMf8l/
Looks like fun, right? Lots of summer classes haven’t started yet, so check out the catalog!
What are you up to in the classroom? Tag your photo with #theartleague or tag us @theartleague to share it!
If you’re an artist and you don’t have a website yet — or if you want to change the one you have now — it’s never too late to get started!
That’s why we started our original artist website post, and three years later, it’s more true than ever. If you’re ready to take the plunge, you’ve come to the right place! This guide will walk you through:
A website is another way for people to find out about you and your artwork. They could be strangers who find you by googling “sculptors in DC,” or people who already know you and want to learn more.
Think about it this way: where do you go when you’re making a purchase or doing research? Online. So will your potential customers (and email subscribers, and fans, and so on).
The website of Andy Yoder is built in WordPress using the Vertex theme.
Step 1: Define your goal
Your goal for your website will determine what features you need. Common goals include:
I want to sell artwork through my website
I want my website to serve as a portfolio for interested galleries, customers, and fans
I want people to find and contact me
I want to keep my fans and customers updated with my latest news
If you want to sell work through your website, make sure the service you choose (below) has an option for an online store — and make sure it’s easy to use! If you want to make a portfolio site, make sure the service you choose can handle beautiful image galleries. If you want to keep customers updated, you will probably want a built-in blog and email newsletter.
If any of these are must-haves for you, make sure they’re a possibility on the platform you choose.
We made a chart comparing some of the most popular options out there. Some are geared specifically toward artists, but most of them have portfolio templates for your design, and they’re all suitable for use by artists. See below for an explanation of the terms used and links to the websites:
How to read this chart
Hosting: This is how your website is delivered to visitors. You’ll pay around $10 a month if you get hosting on your own (for example if you use WordPress.org), but it’s included in all the other services above.
Store: Is there a built-in way for people to purchase through your website? Typically, you’ll pay extra for this feature.
Stats: Can you get information on how many people are visiting your site and how they’re getting there?
Domain: A domain name, like theartleague.org, is an important factor. Do you get your very own domain? Or do you have to share one, like theartleague.squarespace.com? (This is sometimes offered as a free option, but it’s worth it to pay for your very own domain.) See below for tips on choosing your domain name.
Before committing, see if there’s a free trial. You should also look for examples of live artist websites using the service you’d like to use. Keep your goal (step 1) in mind as you tick off the following checklist:
Can you use the back end? The back-end is the part of the website that’s visible only to you, where you go to make changes to your website.
Is there customer service? When your website goes down or disappears, will there be someone to answer the phone?
Is it mobile friendly? Most of your visitors will be viewing on their phone (possibly at the very moment they’re standing in front of your artwork). Make sure everything works properly and is easy to use.
What designs are available? Notice that this is last on the list. It’s typically the easiest thing to change, and it’s most important to consider the function and content before appearance. That said, you’ll want to pick a service that matches your abilities. There’s a trade-off: easier services with drag-and-drop builders will tend to look more bland, but a highly customized site will take more work and know-how.
As explained above, the domain name is where people will find you online. It typically ends in .com. Follow this formula if you can:
your first name + your last name + .com
For example, fridakahlo.com. That should be your first choice, but if that’s taken, try one of these variations: fridakahloart.com, fridakahloartist.com, fridakahlostudio.com, or frida–kahlo.com.
Note that people are more likely to visit a website that ends in .com than .net or something else.
Now comes the fun part. Again, what you put on your website depends on your goal. At a bare minimum, you will want the following two things:
images of your artwork
your contact information
You’ll probably expand on this to include things like your artist bio or statement, different image galleries, or a store or blog, depending on your needs.
It’s important to start small and keep your website up to date. Any obviously out-of-date information is going to lead to visitors leaving your website. As you get comfortable with building and updating your website, you can start to build more.
A functional, up-to-date website is a must for any artist working today. While it takes some time to set up and maintain — time that you’d rather spend in the studio — it pays dividends in creating a visible, professional presence for your art.
Hopefully, this guide gave you a head start on the process. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments!
Other resources
Here are some other articles you might find helpful:
Deadline: July 8. The Academy Center of the Arts (Lynchburg, VA) 2016 National Juried Photography Exhibition applications are now available! Entries must be original photographs or photographically derived work. Open to U.S. residents 18 years or older.
Plein air competition
Deadline: July 8. Harford Plein Air (October 10-15, 2016) invites artists from all over the U.S. to enter this second annual competition to create art in the “open air.” 30 competing artists, juried by Michele Byrne, will paint throughout Harford County, MD.
Hyattsville Arts Festival
Deadline: July 15. Exhibitor applications for the Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival (September 10, 2016) are now available online. Artists from DC, Maryland, and Virginia are invited to apply to this juried festival.
Fall art show
Deadline: September 1. The 45th Annual Fall Foliage Art Show (Waynesboro, VA) is seeking fine artists and artisans for the annual two day outdoor juried fine art exhibition.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Photographers
Deadline: June 30. Photo ’16 is a national juried fine art photography exhibit at Multiple Exposures Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. Sam Abell, a long-time National Geographic photographer, will be the juror. All photographers living in the U.S., 18 years or older, working in traditional, digital or alternative photographic processes are eligible to participate.
Projekt30
Deadline: July 1. Projekt30 in Baltimore is taking submissions for our August publicly juried exhibition. We are an artist-run arts organization dedicated to promoting emerging artists.
National juried exhibit
Deadline: July 1. The AI&G National Juried Exhibition in Salisbury, MD is long-held tradition featuring the best artwork by artists from across the country. The theme for 2016 is “Tradition & Innovation”. Open to all artists aged 18 or older and all media.
Public sculpture 1
Deadline: July 1. Art in Place (Charlottesville, VA) is seeking submissions for the Outdoor Sculpture Competition 2016/2017, with sculptures to remain in place for 11 months at selected locations around the city. Each artist selected will receive a $1,500 honorarium.
Public sculpture 2
Deadline: July 1. Four locations around the City of Fredericksburg, VA have been selected for the display of public sculpture from October, 2016 to September, 2017. Liability insurance provided. Stipend of $2000. Artist responsible for delivery and removal.
Politics
Deadline: July 5. For the national juried exhibition Art as Politics at Touchstone Gallery, express everything you love and hate in the current election process as a visual art form.
Holiday Market
Deadline: July 9. The Downtown Holiday Market (outside the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture) is a juried, high-quality crafts and gift market featuring a diverse display from exhibitors of many types of merchandise, as well as prepared food and beverage vendors.
Mural project
Deadline: July 18. For the second “Paint the Town,” the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District invites artists to beautify the plaza at 3 Bethesda Metro Center. Applicants must be residents of DC, MD, or VA who are 18 years or older.
Ward 5 Wonders
Deadline: July 25. Art Enables is seeking work made by Ward 5 artists for the August/September exhibition, “Ward 5 Wonders” (see bottom of page) in Off-Rhodes Gallery.
Harrisonburg juried exhibit
Deadline: August 1. National Juried Art Show at Larkin Arts in Harrisonburg, VA: This is a national juried visual art competition and exhibition that is open to any artist, who is a resident of the United States and is over the age of 18, working in two-dimensional media. Painting, drawing, printmaking, photography or other traditional or non-traditional two-dimensional media, excluding film, are welcome.
Pets and animals
Deadline: August 10. For “Fur, Feathers, and Fins” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, the jury seeks works that explore the wide world of pets. All media welcome; small to large-scale installations; new media encouraged; indoor and outdoor works accepted; cash awards to be presented.
Games
Deadline: August 18. For “Games: From Marbles to Minecraft” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, the jury invites artists to submit works that celebrate and explore the broad spectrum of game history, development and innovation, including game design, production, packaging, and marketing.
Athenaeum
Deadline: August 18. The Athenaeum Invitational in Alexandria, VA is a theme-based event featuring the works of both specially-invited artists who have exhibited in the Athenaeum Gallery in the past, as well as works selected through a call for submissions open to anyone living or working in Virginia, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, or Maryland.
Digital Fabrication Residency
Deadline: September 1. Digital Fabrication Residency program residents learn and gain hands-on experience with laser cutting, CNC routing, FDM 3D printing, digital embroidery, 2D plotting and 3D scanning. Applications for the 3 Day Onsite Residency Program in Easton, MD must include a project proposal that outlines what the resident plans to work on while onsite.
Art League solo exhibits
Deadline: September 23. Entry is now open for 2018 solo artist exhibits at The Art League. Entry is open to all Art League members.
Paintings
Deadline: September 28. “Root to Bloom: Places Artists Call Home” at Principle Gallery (Alexandria, VA) will feature paintings representative of where the featured artists call “home.” Works must be paintings no more than 40 inches along the longest edge (measured unframed).
Bas-relief
Deadline: October 3. The Dexter Jones Award, an unrestricted prize of $5,000, is presented annually to a sculptor for an outstanding work of sculpture in bas-relief. Each competitor must be a United States sculptor between the ages of 18 and 39.
Restaurant residency
Deadline: ongoing. The Artist-in-Residence program at Palette 22 showcases and promotes the original work of VA- based and regional artists inside and beyond the restaurant.
Deadline: Ongoing. Washington ArtWorks (Rockville, MD) is holding an Open Call for the Walls. Artists pay a fee to hang work for two-month periods in these unjuried exhibits.
Emergency grants
Deadline: Reviewed monthly. The Foundation for Contemporary Art’s Emergency Grants provide prompt funding for innovative visual and performing artists who: have unanticipated, sudden opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding; or incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates.
That’s because the exhibit, open through July 3, isn’t only ceramics: glass, fiber, and wood and metal furniture are included this time for an all-media celebration of the table.
Why the table? What’s so special about the art we use there, like a bowl, a tumbler, or a table runner? We asked the exhibit’s jurors — McKenzie Smith for ceramics, Kate Lydon for everything else — to share their thoughts on functional art.
Side Table by George Tkabladze, Best in Show for Functional Art FormsPitcher by Diane Kenney, Best in Show for Functional CeramicsMoon Spirits by Barbara Freeman Warden (Equal Merit Award)
In functional art, what sets a successful piece apart?
Kate Lydon: Whether functional or sculptural, key elements — high quality craftsmanship, use of material, balance and form — are key to the success of the work. If the intent of the work is function, the object should be well designed and function perfectly.
McKenzie Smith: What sets a successful piece apart is that it is thoughtful in the way it’s made, in both the form, and relationship to the decoration.
What stood out in the Best in Show piece you selected?
MS: The best of show in ceramics went to Diane Kenney because her Pitcher was beautiful, and showing her mastery of form, surface, and function.
KL: The artist’s craftsmanship, execution and knowledge of woodworking.
Quote and artwork: juror McKenzie Smith
What’s your relationship with functional art?
KL: I am engaged by functional art because of the role it has played in the history of decorative arts and more recently in the contemporary craft movement. What is most engaging for me is art that encourages dialogue and an exchange of ideas. For example, a quilt that moves beyond its intended use as a bed covering and is recognized as a piece of art that shares personal narrative or history.
MS: I have been a functional potter for over 30 years. Function is what we do. It is on our minds always, and the pots we make serve the table in daily use.
Cup Caddy, porcelain and pine, by Kate Fisher (Equal Merit Award)
Is there a particular tabletop form or object that holds special meaning for you?
MS: A table set for dinner is a wonderful sight and still holds special meaning for me. Food, family, and friends all play a part in this romance and it is one that is shared worldwide.
KL: Over the years I have gathered together an extensive collection of handmade mugs. I begin each day by selecting a cup — porcelain or wood fired, colorfully glazed or bearing beautiful markings from its firing. Each mug has a unique fit in my hand and offers an engaging dialogue with its artist maker.
No, we’re not talking about the solstice. It’s the start of summer classes and Art Camp at The Art League!
Classes (in painting, ceramics, drawing, sculpture, photography, fiber arts, printmaking, jewelry, and more!) start on or after Monday, June 20. Many are scheduled to start after July 4, so you can still fit in that vacation.
Art Camp runs weekly, Monday to Friday, from June 20 to August 19. Kids ages 5 and up can try lots of different art projects this summer!
When Brian Kirk (welder, artist, and Art League instructor) left a cardboard box on his steel welding table, it was an accidental start down a new artistic avenue.
Two months later, he was surprised to discover a beautiful pattern on the box — created by the oxidation of the table below. That led to five years of experimentation and, as with any artistic endeavor, a lot of trial and error.
Brian Kirk with two prints and a steel sculpture.
How to Make a Rust Print
Cardboard was the inspiration, but for his on-purpose prints, Kirk uses archival watercolor paper.
He places a steel plate between two sheets of paper, then soaks it for six weeks in water. During that time, the steel oxidizes (rusts) and transfers that rust onto the paper. Afterward, he seals the finished print.
Dancing Moons by Brian Kirk
Each print is unique, and while the outcome is somewhat predictable, Kirk said the interesting and unexpected effects are what make the process enjoyable. By using two sheets of paper, one on top and one on bottom of the steel plate, the process yields two distinct prints each time. The bottom is typically more “watery,” and the top more “crisp,” Kirk said.
Originally, the steel plates were found scrap metal, and then he started to use metal he cut for the purpose with a torch. Today, he’s cutting steel with a laser cutter for precise edges.
Kirk’s background is as a sculptor and welder, but he also has some printmaking experience that guided him on his five years (so far) of diversifying his art practice and trying to perfect the prints.
The exhibit
Through August 30, you can see rust prints from the past two years at Old Ox Brewery as part of his exhibit, “Metal.” There’s a reception July 1 (read more about the exhibit).
Andy Yoder making sheets of paper, numbers 1 to 476.
When we last visited artist Andy Yoder for the “Highest Honor” project he’s spearheading, papermaking had just begun. Now in a new studio space and with help from a number of volunteer participants, the papermaking has reached the halfway point!
A little background about the project: inspired by the Army-Navy “E” Award given to the Torpedo Naval Station staff during World War II, Yoder is creating a three-story banner to hang in the Torpedo Factory this summer. To do so, he started with military scrubs, which he’s turning into paper to make the banner. You can read more about it in our original blog post.
Here’s “Highest Honor” by the numbers:
476
squares of paper so far
914
squares needed to complete the banner
50
red and blue scrubs used to create the paper
36
volunteer participants … and counting
Want to join in the fun? Anybody is welcome to visit Studio 326 (the project’s new location for June) during Yoder’s daily studio hours, which are posted on the project page.
As a newcomer to papermaking himself, Yoder says participants are helping him learn the whys of the process, and it’s easy for beginners to pick up. (And if red’s not your color, he’s switching to blue paper after today.)
Extended deadline: June 20. “HotHot” at Foundry Gallery in Washington, DC is open to painting, drawing and mixed media by artists age 18 and up in Washington, Maryland or Virginia. Work should not be more than 40” wide. There is no theme.
Gentrification
Deadline: June 21. Sankofa Bookstore is calling local DC artists to submit work that embodies the products, changes and outcomes of gentrification.
Holiday Market
Deadline: July 9. The Downtown Holiday Market (outside the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture) is a juried, high-quality crafts and gift market featuring a diverse display from exhibitors of many types of merchandise, as well as prepared food and beverage vendors.
Ward 5 Wonders
Deadline: July 25. Art Enables is seeking work made by Ward 5 artists for the August/September exhibition, “Ward 5 Wonders” (see bottom of page) in Off-Rhodes Gallery.
Games
Deadline: August 18. For “Games: From Marbles to Minecraft” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, the jury invites artists to submit works that celebrate and explore the broad spectrum of game history, development and innovation, including game design, production, packaging, and marketing.
Open Call
Deadline: Ongoing. Washington ArtWorks (Rockville, MD) is holding an Open Call for the Walls. Artists pay a fee to hang work for two-month periods in these unjuried exhibits.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Art League members: Installation art
Extended deadline: June 15. “Not a Box” at The Art League is an exhibit of installation art, juried by Alex Paik. For more information, read our FAQ and the juror’s tips.
Vermont fellowships
Deadline: June 15. Vermont Studio Center is thrilled to announce 54 fellowships available at our June 15th, 2016 deadline. Fellowships for Visual Artists include those specifically for east coast artists of color, female painters over 45, craft artists, and emerging artists, plus 25 fellowships open to all.
Annual juried show
Deadline: June 19. The Jacksonville Center for the Arts is located in beautiful, rural Floyd VA. We invite visual media artists to submit work for exhibition in our annual juried show.
Photographers
Deadline: June 30. Photo ’16 is a national juried fine art photography exhibit at Multiple Exposures Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. Sam Abell, a long-time National Geographic photographer, will be the juror. All photographers living in the U.S., 18 years or older, working in traditional, digital or alternative photographic processes are eligible to participate.
Projekt30
Deadline: July 1. Projekt30 in Baltimore is taking submissions for our August publicly juried exhibition. We are an artist-run arts organization dedicated to promoting emerging artists.
National juried exhibit
Deadline: July 1. The AI&G National Juried Exhibition in Salisbury, MD is long-held tradition featuring the best artwork by artists from across the country. The theme for 2016 is “Tradition & Innovation”. Open to all artists aged 18 or older and all media.
Public sculpture 1
Deadline: July 1. Art in Place (Charlottesville, VA) is seeking submissions for the Outdoor Sculpture Competition 2016/2017, with sculptures to remain in place for 11 months at selected locations around the city. Each artist selected will receive a $1,500 honorarium.
Public sculpture 2
Deadline: July 1. Four locations around the City of Fredericksburg, VA have been selected for the display of public sculpture from October, 2016 to September, 2017. Liability insurance provided. Stipend of $2000. Artist responsible for delivery and removal.
Politics
Deadline: July 5. For the national juried exhibition Art as Politics at Touchstone Gallery, express everything you love and hate in the current election process as a visual art form.
Mural project
Deadline: July 18. For the second “Paint the Town,” the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District invites artists to beautify the plaza at 3 Bethesda Metro Center. Applicants must be residents of DC, MD, or VA who are 18 years or older.
Harrisonburg juried exhibit
Deadline: August 1. National Juried Art Show at Larkin Arts in Harrisonburg, VA: This is a national juried visual art competition and exhibition that is open to any artist, who is a resident of the United States and is over the age of 18, working in two-dimensional media. Painting, drawing, printmaking, photography or other traditional or non-traditional two-dimensional media, excluding film, are welcome.
Pets and animals
Deadline: August 10. For “Fur, Feathers, and Fins” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, the jury seeks works that explore the wide world of pets. All media welcome; small to large-scale installations; new media encouraged; indoor and outdoor works accepted; cash awards to be presented.
Athenaeum
Deadline: August 18. The Athenaeum Invitational in Alexandria, VA is a theme-based event featuring the works of both specially-invited artists who have exhibited in the Athenaeum Gallery in the past, as well as works selected through a call for submissions open to anyone living or working in Virginia, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, or Maryland.
Digital Fabrication Residency
Deadline: September 1. Digital Fabrication Residency program residents learn and gain hands-on experience with laser cutting, CNC routing, FDM 3D printing, digital embroidery, 2D plotting and 3D scanning. Applications for the 3 Day Onsite Residency Program in Easton, MD must include a project proposal that outlines what the resident plans to work on while onsite.
Art League solo exhibits
Deadline: September 23. Entry is now open for 2018 solo artist exhibits at The Art League. Entry is open to all Art League members.
Paintings
Deadline: September 28. “Root to Bloom: Places Artists Call Home” at Principle Gallery (Alexandria, VA) will feature paintings representative of where the featured artists call “home.” Works must be paintings no more than 40 inches along the longest edge (measured unframed).
Bas-relief
Deadline: October 3. The Dexter Jones Award, an unrestricted prize of $5,000, is presented annually to a sculptor for an outstanding work of sculpture in bas-relief. Each competitor must be a United States sculptor between the ages of 18 and 39.
Restaurant residency
Deadline: ongoing. The Artist-in-Residence program at Palette 22 showcases and promotes the original work of VA- based and regional artists inside and beyond the restaurant.
Deadline: Reviewed monthly. The Foundation for Contemporary Art’s Emergency Grants provide prompt funding for innovative visual and performing artists who: have unanticipated, sudden opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding; or incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates.
Printmaking is one of those processes that seems daunting if you’ve never tried it before. But what if we told you there’s an easy way to jump right in?
Jumpstart workshops are designed as easy entry points to different artistic media. In this two-day workshop, beginning artists can try engraving different kinds of blocks and printing onto different kinds of paper. There’s a starter kit available at The Art League’s store, with three blocks, two tools, a tube of ink, and a sharpening stone to keep your tools in shape.
The process is pretty straightforward: you’ll start with a drawing, translate it into a wood block, which you’ll then ink and print onto paper. You can read more about the wood engraving process (and how it differs from a wood cut) in this artist Q&A.
The best part about wood engraving? You don’t need a press to print with — or a steamroller.
… “Watermarks,” the exhibit of watercolor waterscapes by Alex Tolstoy
The opening reception is tonight (Thursday, June 9) at 6:30 pm, but you can catch these exhibits through Sunday, July 3.
“Watermarks” by Alex Tolstoy“Tabletop”: Vessels by Christina Orthwein and Marcel Artes Deolazo on a side table by George Tkabladze.“Tabletop”: Funny Table and Funny Chair by Joan WoodillFrom the June Open Exhibit“Tabletop”: Place Setting by Herrick Smith
Stay tuned for more about these exhibits, and we’ll see you soon!
Deadline: June 8. The Eclectic: A National Open Media Exhibition celebrates professional quality, original artworks in a variety of media and aesthetics. Open to all artists living in the United States, this exhibition is held at the d’Art Center in Norfolk, Virginia.
Annual juried show
Deadline: June 19. The Jacksonville Center for the Arts is located in beautiful, rural Floyd VA. We invite visual media artists to submit work for exhibition in our annual juried show.
Projekt30
Deadline: July 1. Projekt30 in Baltimore is taking submissions for our August publicly juried exhibition. We are an artist-run arts organization dedicated to promoting emerging artists.
Pets and animals
Deadline: August 10. For “Fur, Feathers, and Fins” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, the jury seeks works that explore the wide world of pets. All media welcome; small to large-scale installations; new media encouraged; indoor and outdoor works accepted; cash awards to be presented.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Cultural viruses
Deadline: June 12. For “Dank Memes” at Non-Fiction Gallery (Savannah, GA), artists are invited to dig deep and decode the cultural viruses that live in you: show us your dank memes. $25 for 4 images.
On the Wild Side
Deadline: June 13. The Tappahannock Artists Guild invites you to participate in the Summer All-Media Show, July 29–September 5, 2016, at the Tappahannock (VA) Art Gallery. The theme is On the Wild Side: Exploring Creativity.
Curatorial proposals
Deadline: June 13. Target Gallery (Alexandria, VA): This is an open call for independent curators working in North America to submit proposals for a group exhibition in the fall of 2016. The exhibition may not include work by the curator. Juror: Virginia Treanor.
Art League members: Installation art
Extended deadline: June 15. “Not a Box” at The Art League is an exhibit of installation art, juried by Alex Paik. For more information, read our FAQ and the juror’s tips.
Vermont fellowships
Deadline: June 15. Vermont Studio Center is thrilled to announce 54 fellowships available at our June 15th, 2016 deadline. Fellowships for Visual Artists include those specifically for east coast artists of color, female painters over 45, craft artists, and emerging artists, plus 25 fellowships open to all.
Photographers
Deadline: June 30. Photo ’16 is a national juried fine art photography exhibit at Multiple Exposures Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. Sam Abell, a long-time National Geographic photographer, will be the juror. All photographers living in the U.S., 18 years or older, working in traditional, digital or alternative photographic processes are eligible to participate.
National juried exhibit
Deadline: July 1. The AI&G National Juried Exhibition in Salisbury, MD is long-held tradition featuring the best artwork by artists from across the country. The theme for 2016 is “Tradition & Innovation”. Open to all artists aged 18 or older and all media.
Public sculpture 1
Deadline: July 1. Art in Place (Charlottesville, VA) is seeking submissions for the Outdoor Sculpture Competition 2016/2017, with sculptures to remain in place for 11 months at selected locations around the city. Each artist selected will receive a $1,500 honorarium.
Public sculpture 2
Deadline: July 1. Four locations around the City of Fredericksburg, VA have been selected for the display of public sculpture from October, 2016 to September, 2017. Liability insurance provided. Stipend of $2000. Artist responsible for delivery and removal.
Politics
Deadline: July 5. For the national juried exhibition Art as Politics at Touchstone Gallery, express everything you love and hate in the current election process as a visual art form.
Mural project
Deadline: July 18. For the second “Paint the Town,” the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District invites artists to beautify the plaza at 3 Bethesda Metro Center. Applicants must be residents of DC, MD, or VA who are 18 years or older.
Harrisonburg juried exhibit
Deadline: August 1. National Juried Art Show at Larkin Arts in Harrisonburg, VA: This is a national juried visual art competition and exhibition that is open to any artist, who is a resident of the United States and is over the age of 18, working in two-dimensional media. Painting, drawing, printmaking, photography or other traditional or non-traditional two-dimensional media, excluding film, are welcome.
Athenaeum
Deadline: August 18. The Athenaeum Invitational in Alexandria, VA is a theme-based event featuring the works of both specially-invited artists who have exhibited in the Athenaeum Gallery in the past, as well as works selected through a call for submissions open to anyone living or working in Virginia, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, or Maryland.
Digital Fabrication Residency
Deadline: September 1. Digital Fabrication Residency program residents learn and gain hands-on experience with laser cutting, CNC routing, FDM 3D printing, digital embroidery, 2D plotting and 3D scanning. Applications for the 3 Day Onsite Residency Program in Easton, MD must include a project proposal that outlines what the resident plans to work on while onsite.
Art League solo exhibits
Deadline: September 23. Entry is now open for 2018 solo artist exhibits at The Art League. Entry is open to all Art League members.
Paintings
Deadline: September 28. “Root to Bloom: Places Artists Call Home” at Principle Gallery (Alexandria, VA) will feature paintings representative of where the featured artists call “home.” Works must be paintings no more than 40 inches along the longest edge (measured unframed).
Bas-relief
Deadline: October 3. The Dexter Jones Award, an unrestricted prize of $5,000, is presented annually to a sculptor for an outstanding work of sculpture in bas-relief. Each competitor must be a United States sculptor between the ages of 18 and 39.
Restaurant residency
Deadline: ongoing. The Artist-in-Residence program at Palette 22 showcases and promotes the original work of VA- based and regional artists inside and beyond the restaurant.
Deadline: Reviewed monthly. The Foundation for Contemporary Art’s Emergency Grants provide prompt funding for innovative visual and performing artists who: have unanticipated, sudden opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding; or incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates.
This exhibit is an annual celebration of the table — breakfast table, dinner table, what have you — and the art we use that goes with it. Previously limited to ceramics, this year’s “Tabletop” was open to all functional art forms.
With jurying now complete, and installation set for next week, we have a host of art designed to be used on top of — or as — tables. Here’s a small preview. To see the full exhibit, and possibly take home your next tabletop love, come to The Art League between June 8 and July 3!
Nick Lammay, Oil CruetMelissa Yungbluth, Trinket BoxMaura McCandlish, Small BottleMarilyn Harrington, All the StarsKeiko Stusnick, Autumn LeavesJulia Walther, Watercolor Swirl Place SettingJoan Woodill, Funny Coffee TableGeorge Tkabladze, Side TableChristina Orthwein, Small Deco BowlBarbara Warden, The Gathering 2
157 artworks were entered, and 46 were accepted by the jurors, McKenzie Smith and Kate Lydon.
“Tabletop” will be on view June 8 to July 3, 2016.
