Frommer’s is nice, but as an artist, Gilbert is able to direct your attention to all the best spots. You’ve noticed the crisscrossing lines fragmenting these scenes. Gilbert calls them “lines of refraction” and uses them to focus your gaze when so much activity is calling out to you.
With these guide lines, a single painting can be both busy and focused.
Tram to Roosevelt Island by Robert Gilbert
… an architect
In this case, literally: Gilbert has a master’s degree in architecture. As he recreates the towering structures of New York, he’s also building a structure of his own within the painting. Gilbert says he approaches the pieces of a scene as though they are “part of a puzzle.” Perspective, narrative, and color all contribute to the structure that solves that puzzle.
by Robert Gilbert
… a storyteller
What’s a city without a million stories? What’s a cityscape without that feeling of being dropped onto the street?
By placing the viewer at ground level looking up, Gilbert’s paintings put you in the thick of it. But instead of focusing on individual people, it melds crowds and buildings into a single scene, capturing a thread of a story without spelling one out.
“I don’t want to paint just a skyscraper,” Gilbert says. “I want to paint a story.”
Robert Gilbert earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Washington in Seattle. His artwork has received numerous accolades, awards, and press attention, including articles in Elan Magazine and Art Business News. Gilbert’s work has been featured in fourteen solo exhibitions in addition to numerous juried group shows. Gilbert currently resides near Great Falls, VA, where he paints, teaches, and continues working on his series depicting New York City.
Looking to go somewhere new? Paint something new? This summer, we have just the opportunity for you: artist Mike Francis is leading a workshop to Virginia’s Eastern Shore and the town of Wachapreague.
Wachapreague by Mike Francis
Wachapreague?
Yep. It’s a tiny town about 45 minutes from Chincoteague, with lots of good spots to paint. For an idea of where the workshop has gone in past years, check out these Facebook albums:
Marshes, marinas, vineyards, beautiful homes — whatever you fall in love with, you can capture on canvas.
This workshop includes demos, critiques, and discussion of techniques and materials. You can work in whatever you wish — oil, acrylic, drawing media — but you should have some experience with your chosen medium!
There are also non-painting related activities if you’re so inclined: a boat ride, the firefighter’s fair, and a wine tasting.
From the June 2017 workshop
Two options
The workshop will be held at the end of June 2018. There are two options: a two-day workshop on Saturday and Sunday only, or a full five-day workshop.
Mike Francis teaches workshops and classes for The Art League.
He studied at the Corcoran School of Art, and went on to receive his BFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and his MFA at George Washington University. He’s also studied at American University.
painting by Mike Francis
He has held positions at George Washington University, Trinity College, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, Charles County Community College, and Prince George’s Community College. He has also studied and taught both individually and under the auspices of various institutions in Paris, Brittany, France, Madrid and Southern Spain, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Thailand, Cambodia and Iceland.
Extended deadline: April 13. VisArts invites applications and proposals from local, national, and international artists for a six month Studio Fellowship at VisArts at Rockville, MD.
Works on paper
Deadline: April 20. The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Public Art Trust are issuing a call for art to reactivate the Contemporary Works on Paper Collection with new acquisitions from artists living in Montgomery County and the Greater Washington area. This call is specifically for the purchase of original and unframed two-dimensional works of art that are contemporary and modern in style. There is no entry fee for this call for art.
Apparel and jewelry
Deadline: June 1. STYLE ‘18 will take place over two days at the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco. Jurors will hand select 36 national and international designers to participate in the 2018 event.
Tabletop wares @ The Art League
Deadline: June 15. Tabletop: Exploring Food and Function will showcase the artistry of various functional wares associated with the table. Mediums that will be accepted include ceramic, metal, fiber, wood, and glass. All works must be functional. Open to all artists; Art League members receive discounted entry.
Printmakers
Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Out of Order
Installation: April 5 (first come, first served). By covering the walls from floor to ceiling, Out of Order at Maryland Art Place provides an opportunity for artists to hang their work in a salon-style exhibition. Proceeds from art sales are split equally between MAP and the artist.
Wanderlust
Deadline: April 5. artlessBastard in De Pere, Wisconsin is calling for 2D & 3D works of art, in all mediums – except performance art or film – for their May 2018 Wanderlust Show. Themes of work may include anything related to the journey of leaving home.
Deadline: April 6. The Gloucester (Virginia) Arts Festival is pleased to announce it is accepting submissions for its 2018 Juried Show. This show is a unique opportunity for artists across the mid-Atlantic to curate their own exhibit and earn a share of more than $5,000 in prize money.
Annapolis festival
Deadline: April 7. Art @ the Park (Annapolis, MD) features original art work from exhibitors throughout the region and includes musical performances, other activities, eclectic food, wine and beer.
Teach for the Library of Congress
Deadline: April 9. The Library of Congress is seeking applications from current performing arts or visual arts teachers for a teacher-in-residence position within its Educational Outreach division during the 2018-2019 school year.
VA fair
Deadline: April 13. Calling exceptional artisans for the 74th Waterford Fair. Located in the Historic Landmark of Waterford, Virginia, our event draws 18,000+ visitors over 3 days, October 5–7, 2018.
Exhibit proposals: Maryland
Deadline: April 14. Brentwood Arts Exchange is seeking proposals from artists and curators to present exhibitions for available dates November 2018–November 2020. Solo and group exhibitions are welcome.
Woman Made Gallery, Chicago
Deadline: April 22. Wordplay serves to highlight the voice of all female identified artists who use text and image or text as image as a means of creative expression. Works in all media.
Glow in the dark
Deadline: April 29. Target Gallery (Alexandria, VA) invites national and international artists to apply for Illuminate, a special glow-in-the-dark exhibition that is focused on the relationship between art and light. The lights will be turned off in the gallery, turning the viewer’s attention to the illuminated artwork whether it be through the lighting of video, light installation/sculpture, or use of black light mediums.
NYC festival/exhibit
Deadline: May 1. Art in Odd Places: BODY, curated by Katya Grokhovsky, invites proposals for its fourteenth annual public art and performance festival in Manhattan, NY and accompanying coinciding group exhibition at Westbeth Gallery, for visual and performance art projects by women, female identifying and non-binary artists.
Deadline: May 7. The Academy Art Museum Craft Show (Easton, MD) draws patrons from all over the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Exhibit at Goodwin House Alexandria
Deadline: May 15. Goodwin House Alexandria is currently seeking DMV area artists interested in showing their work during the 2019 calendar year. Shows run for approximately six weeks. Display space for 3-D work is limited unless it is able to be hung. All mediums are encouraged.
Mural Request for Proposals
Deadline: May 31. Akre Capital Management, located in the historic building formerly known as Mosby’s Tavern in Middleburg, has released a RFP to have an exterior mural painted on the side of their office building. They are seeking proposals from those who have the ability to design, manage and implement the project to completion.
Athenaeum Invitational
Deadline: July 13. Artists who live or work in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia may enter the 2018 Athenaeum Invitational (Alexandria, VA). The theme is “Cabinet of Curiosities.”
New prize for women painters
Deadline: September 28. The recently announced Bennett Prize will spotlight women artists who paint in the figurative realist style, and who have not yet reached full professional recognition – both new artists and those who have painted for many years.
Hotel Indigo
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3″. If interested contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected]
NYC volunteer opportunity
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org, contact us at http://awnyc.org/contact-us/ or find us on Facebook at artworksnyc.
Artists 50 and over
The Beacon is holding a regional competition for people over 50 who have picked up a new artistic endeavor: painting/drawing, 3D art, photography, or poetry. The competition opens in April 2018. For details, download the PDF flyer.
Superfine art fair
Deadline: rolling admission through September 2018. Applications are now open for Superfine!’s first fair in DC, coming this Halloween to Union Market. Galleries, artist collectives, and solo artists can apply for space.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Foundry Gallery
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
On Thursday, we held a members-only Draw-a-Thon at The Art League. That means short-pose figure, long-pose portrait, and bring-your-own art materials. The perfect opportunity to draw or paint from models all day long in the company of other artists — and our instructors.
From last year’s Draw-a-Thon
Who’s a member?
There are three ways to become a member of The Art League:
You have paid the exhibiting artist dues in the gallery (Active Exhibiting Artist Member)
You have enrolled in at least one course in the last five academic terms AND have taken 12 or more courses in the past four years at the school (Active Student Member)
F.O.M.A. (noun): “fear of missing art”; the nagging feeling that cool art events are passing you by.
It’s officially springtime and the FOMA is real. Exhibits and events are popping up like crocuses! Here’s your art guide to April in DC, so you can rest easy knowing you won’t be missing out.
A “Drone Zone” painting by Beverly Ryan
Events @ The Art League
On April 1, The Art League will be closed for Easter Sunday. But the rest of the month will be a whirlwind of artistic activity. Are you ready?
April 25: Spring2ACTion! Give on this day to help us reach our goal of $25,000. Your donation will be matched thanks to a generous gift by the Mason Hirst Foundation. Stay tuned for more details on Spring2ACTion!
April 1: The first Sunday of every month is the Free Community Day at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. You’ll be able to see — at no charge — the exhibits Women House (including Laure Tixier’s works above) and Hung Liu in Print.
Sonic Blossom @ NPG
April 5–29: “May I give you the gift of song?”
That’s how the performance Sonic Blossom created by Lee Mingwei begins, with a simple question from a costumed performer. If the answer is yes, the lucky museumgoer (and anyone in earshot) is treated to an intimate rendition of one of Schubert’s Lieder.
These performances will take place at the National Gallery of Art, Thursdays through Sundays, April 5–29, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. Performers might snag participants from anywhere, but the song portion takes place in the Great Hall.
Slow Art Day @ worldwide
April 14: On this unassuming Saturday, Slow Art Day returns around the globe. The idea is simple: find a participating venue, register if necessary, look at the assigned artworks for 5–10 minutes each, and then meet to discuss.
In the DC area, the Hirshhorn, National Portrait Gallery, and National Museum of Women in the Arts are all participating.
Jonathan Monaghan
In the Midst of the Inferno @ Arlington Planetarium
April 20–22: Jonathan Monaghan is the artist behind In the Midst of the Inferno, a full-dome projection that will play for three nights only at the David M. Brown Planetarium in Arlington, VA. It’s free, but tickets are required.
Kite Fly Day @ Strathmore
April 22: Bring your own kite to fly, watch indoor and outdoor performances, check out the kite exhibit inside the mansion, and more at Strathmore’s Kite Fly Day. (Art Leaguer Jennifer Allevato also has an exhibit going on at the same time.)
Deadline: April 22. Wordplay serves to highlight the voice of all female identified artists who use text and image or text as image as a means of creative expression. Works in all media.
NYC festival/exhibit
Deadline: May 1. Art in Odd Places: BODY, curated by Katya Grokhovsky, invites proposals for its fourteenth annual public art and performance festival in Manhattan, NY and accompanying coinciding group exhibition at Westbeth Gallery, for visual and performance art projects by women, female identifying and non-binary artists.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Video art
Deadline: March 28. The PhotoPhore, proud partner of ADAF 2018, opens its call for artists TECH BREAK. We are searching for video-art works, short movies, digital and animation films, to include in our official selection for the 14th Athens Digital Arts Festival – ADAF 2018. The screening will be part of the festival programmed from May 2018 in Athens, Greece.
Reimagining Residencies
Event: March 28. This panel in Washington, DC will discuss non-traditional and DIY residencies, including strategies and experiences of creating your own residency, and residencies for artists with children, jobs, and non-studio oriented practices.
Hamiltonian fellowship
Deadline extended: March 30. The Hamiltonian Fellowship Program serves as a professional steppingstone for emerging visual artists by helping them reach new levels in their artistic practice and career. Emerging visual artists working in all media are encouraged to apply.
2019 solo exhibits
Deadline: March 30. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites artists working in all media to apply for 2019 Solo Exhibitions in the Gibbs Street Gallery and Common Ground Gallery.
Out of Order
Installation: April 5 (first come, first served). By covering the walls from floor to ceiling, Out of Order at Maryland Art Place provides an opportunity for artists to hang their work in a salon-style exhibition. Proceeds from art sales are split equally between MAP and the artist.
Wanderlust
Deadline: April 5. artlessBastard in De Pere, Wisconsin is calling for 2D & 3D works of art, in all mediums – except performance art or film – for their May 2018 Wanderlust Show. Themes of work may include anything related to the journey of leaving home.
Deadline: April 6. The Gloucester (Virginia) Arts Festival is pleased to announce it is accepting submissions for its 2018 Juried Show. This show is a unique opportunity for artists across the mid-Atlantic to curate their own exhibit and earn a share of more than $5,000 in prize money.
Annapolis festival
Deadline: April 7. Art @ the Park (Annapolis, MD) features original art work from exhibitors throughout the region and includes musical performances, other activities, eclectic food, wine and beer.
Teach for the Library of Congress
Deadline: April 9. The Library of Congress is seeking applications from current performing arts or visual arts teachers for a teacher-in-residence position within its Educational Outreach division during the 2018-2019 school year.
VA fair
Deadline: April 13. Calling exceptional artisans for the 74th Waterford Fair. Located in the Historic Landmark of Waterford, Virginia, our event draws 18,000+ visitors over 3 days, October 5–7, 2018.
Exhibit proposals: Maryland
Deadline: April 14. Brentwood Arts Exchange is seeking proposals from artists and curators to present exhibitions for available dates November 2018–November 2020. Solo and group exhibitions are welcome.
Glow in the dark
Deadline: April 29. Target Gallery (Alexandria, VA) invites national and international artists to apply for Illuminate, a special glow-in-the-dark exhibition that is focused on the relationship between art and light. The lights will be turned off in the gallery, turning the viewer’s attention to the illuminated artwork whether it be through the lighting of video, light installation/sculpture, or use of black light mediums.
Deadline: May 7. The Academy Art Museum Craft Show (Easton, MD) draws patrons from all over the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Exhibit at Goodwin House Alexandria
Deadline: May 15. Goodwin House Alexandria is currently seeking DMV area artists interested in showing their work during the 2019 calendar year. Shows run for approximately six weeks. Display space for 3-D work is limited unless it is able to be hung. All mediums are encouraged.
Mural Request for Proposals
Deadline: May 31. Akre Capital Management, located in the historic building formerly known as Mosby’s Tavern in Middleburg, has released a RFP to have an exterior mural painted on the side of their office building. They are seeking proposals from those who have the ability to design, manage and implement the project to completion.
Athenaeum Invitational
Deadline: July 13. Artists who live or work in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia may enter the 2018 Athenaeum Invitational (Alexandria, VA). The theme is “Cabinet of Curiosities.”
New prize for women painters
Deadline: September 28. The recently announced Bennett Prize will spotlight women artists who paint in the figurative realist style, and who have not yet reached full professional recognition – both new artists and those who have painted for many years.
Hotel Indigo
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3″. If interested contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected]
NYC volunteer opportunity
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org, contact us at http://awnyc.org/contact-us/ or find us on Facebook at artworksnyc.
Artists 50 and over
The Beacon is holding a regional competition for people over 50 who have picked up a new artistic endeavor: painting/drawing, 3D art, photography, or poetry. The competition opens in April 2018. For details, download the PDF flyer.
Superfine art fair
Deadline: rolling admission through September 2018. Applications are now open for Superfine!’s first fair in DC, coming this Halloween to Union Market. Galleries, artist collectives, and solo artists can apply for space.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Foundry Gallery
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
Spring is the time to try something new, don’t you think? That could include any one of our Spring art classes, starting the week of April 2. We could also point you to some classes in particular that might be new and different to you.
Let us put some classes on your radar:
Anatomy
At the intersection of human biology and art lies anatomy, where artists learn what’s beneath the surface of the people they draw, paint, and sculpt. John Murray teaches twosections of Figure Sculpture and one of Artist Anatomical Drawing this Spring, all on Tuesdays.
by instructor Charlene Fuhrman-Schulz
Sumi-e
Painting in the Western tradition is fun, but are you curious to learn this East Asian approach to painting? Sumi-e: East Asian Brush Painting has twosections this Spring, both taught by Charlene Fuhrman-Schulz.
Night Photography
Bi-weekly shoots, technical lessons, and critiques are part of Peter Duvall’s Night Photography class. Challenge yourself to create some dramatic, low-light images!
Rug-making
Learn a non-traditional approach to rug-making and create a contemporary rug or wall-hanging in Michael Heilman’s class.
This class is suitable for absolute beginners, too. Steel Furniture Design and Construction with Donna Reinsel takes you through the process of designing and building your own chair, shelf, lamp, or something similar.
Urban Landscapes
Capture your favorite urban settings as you learn from cityscape expert Joey Mánlapaz. Students in Urban Landscapes paint in oil or acrylic; some drawing experience is helpful.
Developing the Narrative
If you’re looking for new ways to make your painting talk, why not learn some narrative techniques with Beverly Ryan? Build your own stories in Developing the Narrative.
Lakeside Villa, acrylic on canvas, by Kay Walsh. Winner of The Art League Award for Best in Show.
When it came time to name awards in this month’s “Landscape” exhibit, juror Timothy Clark’s eyes landed on a wild, expressive scene indeed. Where does Lakeside Villa take you?
To find out more about this abstract ’scape, we chatted with the artist, Kay Walsh.
What was your goal with Lakeside Villa?
Kay Walsh: Painting in the abstract often comes by chance, since my goal is to be free and spontaneous. I had two thoughts … first, I enjoy painting in complementary color ranges and secondly, I wanted to experiment by adding many layers to discover new techniques and strengthen my process.
Chapel on the Hill by Kay Walsh
Is this painting part of a series? If so, where does it fit in the progression of that series?
This painting is not a part of a series. However, I have created a number of paintings that have a similar style.
The paintings look as if I was floating above the earth using an aerial painterly style. I usually have a strong horizon line with flat architectural shapes creating a focal point. After I finished the painting it reminded me of our Lakeside Villa at the beach. This brings up strong emotions of being happy while relaxing at the beach.
My Favorite Geranium by Kay Walsh
What is your creative process like, in terms of conceiving and planning a piece?
I am an intuitive painter, often letting things just happen. My background in graphics gives me many perspectives on what a painting could look like. I have spent a lot of time experimenting and exploring different aspects of abstract art … like going on an adventure with so many surprises around every corner. I love to problem-solve which is fun in abstract art because it is easy to create unpredictable situations.
Homage to Pop Art by Kay Walsh
Why are you a painter?
To create, educate, enjoy the journey, and share my art.
While in college I took classes in several of the different disciplines, as in pottery, photography, and printmaking. But most of all I enjoyed painting … getting my hands into the paint and creating was most exciting. I was schooled on Michelangelo and other old masters from the beginning. It was fascinating with all the amazing pieces of art and the history behind the time period.
We All Scream For Ice Cream, acrylic, by Kay Walsh (from the October 2014 exhibit Art NOW)
After college I continued to paint and went through an impressionism period studying Cezanne, Monet, Matisse, and Degas. Then after moving to Virginia, I started with The Art League and decided to study abstract art. I felt that if I could understand and paint in the abstract style that this would improve my painting going forward, since many of the same elements were in the abstract as well.
Unconsciously, abstract art can have a great narrative where with the use of many amazing materials the artist can engage in their own inspirational story. When you think about the universe, everything was imagined and created, and the curiosity in that is so inspiring.
King of the Hill by Kay Walsh
Do you listen to music while you paint? Any recommendations for a painting playlist?
Sometimes. I often listen to books on tape. Mysteries are my favorite. I love to listen to sports too. I am a big Nats baseball fan. The team and I have competed along side by side through many ups and down of the entire season.
What are you working on now?
As a big Art League fan, I am always interested in engaging in education through classes. This year I am hoping to spend some time on getting organized and working on my website. Also, I will continue on a hard edge abstract series and most of all have fun with my abstract expressionism friends and artwork.
“Landscape” is on view through Saturday, March 31, 2018.
Do you have four to ten friends in walking distance? Get together for a game of A Fake Artist Goes to New York! This is a game where everyone contributes to a drawing, one mark at a time, except one person doesn’t know what they’re drawing.
Installation: Thursday, April 5 (first come, first served). By covering the walls from floor to ceiling, Out of Order at Maryland Art Place provides an opportunity for artists to hang their work in a salon-style exhibition. Proceeds from art sales are split equally between MAP and the artist.
Teach for the Library of Congress
Deadline: April 9. The Library of Congress is seeking applications from current performing arts or visual arts teachers for a teacher-in-residence position within its Educational Outreach division during the 2018-2019 school year.
Exhibit at Goodwin House Alexandria
Deadline: May 15. Goodwin House Alexandria is currently seeking DMV area artists interested in showing their work during the 2019 calendar year. Shows run for approximately six weeks. Display space for 3-D work is limited unless it is able to be hung. All mediums are encouraged.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
VisArts fellowship
Deadline: March 20. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites applications and proposals from local, national, and international artists for a six month Studio Fellowship at VisArts at Rockville. The Studio Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for a dynamic individual artist or collaborative artist team to create a new body of work, evolve an existing body of work, or develop a project in a stimulating, supportive environment.
Bird art
Deadline: March 26. For “Of a Feather: Birds in Art” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center (Solomons, MD), all media are welcome. This includes small- to large-scale work intended for the indoors or outdoors.
Video art
Deadline: March 28. The PhotoPhore, proud partner of ADAF 2018, opens its call for artists TECH BREAK. We are searching for video-art works, short movies, digital and animation films, to include in our official selection for the 14th Athens Digital Arts Festival – ADAF 2018. The screening will be part of the festival programmed from May 2018 in Athens, Greece.
Reimagining Residencies
Event: March 28. This panel in Washington, DC will discuss non-traditional and DIY residencies, including strategies and experiences of creating your own residency, and residencies for artists with children, jobs, and non-studio oriented practices.
Hamiltonian fellowship
Deadline extended: March 30. The Hamiltonian Fellowship Program serves as a professional steppingstone for emerging visual artists by helping them reach new levels in their artistic practice and career. Emerging visual artists working in all media are encouraged to apply.
2019 solo exhibits
Deadline: March 30. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites artists working in all media to apply for 2019 Solo Exhibitions in the Gibbs Street Gallery and Common Ground Gallery.
Wanderlust
Deadline: April 5. artlessBastard in De Pere, Wisconsin is calling for 2D & 3D works of art, in all mediums – except performance art or film – for their May 2018 Wanderlust Show. Themes of work may include anything related to the journey of leaving home.
Deadline: April 6. The Gloucester (Virginia) Arts Festival is pleased to announce it is accepting submissions for its 2018 Juried Show. This show is a unique opportunity for artists across the mid-Atlantic to curate their own exhibit and earn a share of more than $5,000 in prize money.
Annapolis festival
Deadline: April 7. Art @ the Park (Annapolis, MD) features original art work from exhibitors throughout the region and includes musical performances, other activities, eclectic food, wine and beer.
VA fair
Deadline: April 13. Calling exceptional artisans for the 74th Waterford Fair. Located in the Historic Landmark of Waterford, Virginia, our event draws 18,000+ visitors over 3 days, October 5–7, 2018.
Exhibit proposals: Maryland
Deadline: April 14. Brentwood Arts Exchange is seeking proposals from artists and curators to present exhibitions for available dates November 2018–November 2020. Solo and group exhibitions are welcome.
Glow in the dark
Deadline: April 29. Target Gallery (Alexandria, VA) invites national and international artists to apply for Illuminate, a special glow-in-the-dark exhibition that is focused on the relationship between art and light. The lights will be turned off in the gallery, turning the viewer’s attention to the illuminated artwork whether it be through the lighting of video, light installation/sculpture, or use of black light mediums.
Deadline: May 7. The Academy Art Museum Craft Show (Easton, MD) draws patrons from all over the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Mural Request for Proposals
Deadline: May 31. Akre Capital Management, located in the historic building formerly known as Mosby’s Tavern in Middleburg, has released a RFP to have an exterior mural painted on the side of their office building. They are seeking proposals from those who have the ability to design, manage and implement the project to completion.
Athenaeum Invitational
Deadline: July 13. Artists who live or work in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia may enter the 2018 Athenaeum Invitational (Alexandria, VA). The theme is “Cabinet of Curiosities.”
New prize for women painters
Deadline: September 28. The recently announced Bennett Prize will spotlight women artists who paint in the figurative realist style, and who have not yet reached full professional recognition – both new artists and those who have painted for many years.
Hotel Indigo
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3″. If interested contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected]
NYC volunteer opportunity
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org, contact us at http://awnyc.org/contact-us/ or find us on Facebook at artworksnyc.
Artists 50 and over
The Beacon is holding a regional competition for people over 50 who have picked up a new artistic endeavor: painting/drawing, 3D art, photography, or poetry. The competition opens in April 2018. For details, download the PDF flyer.
Superfine art fair
Deadline: rolling admission through September 2018. Applications are now open for Superfine!’s first fair in DC, coming this Halloween to Union Market. Galleries, artist collectives, and solo artists can apply for space.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Foundry Gallery
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
We’re smack dab in the middle of Women’s History Month, which makes this the perfect time to spotlight some more awesome women artists, plus events and exhibits you can experience.
Pay a visit
Here in the DC area, we’re lucky to have the National Museum of Women in the Arts, open 362 days a year. Go ahead and pay them a visit now; we’ll be here when you get back.
Lilla Cabot Perry, Lady With a Bowl of Violets, ca. 1910; Oil on canvas, 40 1/4 x 30 in.; National Mu- seum of Women in the Arts, Gift of Wallace and Wilhelmina Holladay; Photo by Lee Stalsworth
… Pretty cool, right? The NMWA addresses a huge gap in museum collections all over the globe, which vastly under represent women.
51% of U.S. visual artists are women. They earn 81 cents for every $1 by a male artist.
In the book Basic History of Western Art, 8% of the artists are women. Less than 1% are women of color.
5% of artworks on major museum walls are by women.
Whether you already know 5, 50, or 100 women artists, this month’s full of opportunities to find women artists who are new to you. Here are some exhibits to see and events to attend:
Exhibits to see
Drone Zone (open through March 31, 2018 at The Art League): Beverly Ryan’s multi-media exhibit of inflatable and metal sculptures, paintings on aluminum, and installation explores the implications of widespread drone use.
Women House (open through May 28, 2018 at NMWA): 36 women artists are part of this exhibit on domestic spaces. Humor is an important part of the artist’s toolkit here, as Sadie Dingfelder writes in her review.
Razzle Dazzle Landscape II, mixed media, by Ann Barbieri. Part of “Landscape” at The Art League gallery, open through March 31.
The Torpedo Factory Art Center (open 7 days a week), including The Art League gallery, is full of working women artists in every medium you can imagine. This blog post by Visit Alexandria has some suggestions on studios to visit. Our recommendation? Take the time to wander all three floors and find someone whose work connects with you. The great thing about the Torpedo Factory is you can chat with the artists and ask questions, too.
Sally Mann, Deep South, Untitled (Scarred Tree), 1998, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund.
Sally Mann: A Thousand Crossings (open through May 28, 2018 at the National Gallery of Art) presents the photographer’s famously affecting photographs of the American South.
In the Tower: Anne Truitt (open through July 8, 2018 at the National Gallery of Art) is totally worth a visit if you haven’t yet seen this artist’s minimalist sculptures.
Local Women in Abstraction (open through April 27, 2018 at Publick Playhouse) is exactly what it says: a celebration of local female artists with different approaches to abstract artwork.
Events to attend
March 17: For the Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon at NMWA, bring your own laptop and help work to address the underrepresentation of women artists in the world’s most popular encyclopedia. Reservations required, no experience necessary.
March 21: Arts and Drafts at the Textile Museum invites you to embroider a small patch — no experience necessary — while enjoying talks and beer. Register online.
March 22: In conjunction with their exhibit “The Message: New Media Works,” the Hirshhorn is hosting an artist talk with Camille Henrot. This artist’s practice combines film, drawing, and sculpture. Reservations required.
March 28: NMWA Nights: Welcome to Our House is a happy hour-style event that also includes “subversive crafts” inspired by the Women House exhibit. $25 to attend; reservations recommended.
Articles to read
Why wait until the museums are open? You can read about women artists right now:
We hope you have an enlightening Women’s History Month! If you learn about any new women artists whose work you want to share, won’t you leave us a comment below?
It’s almost here. Close and getting closer! (Even if it doesn’t feel like it outside.)
We’re talking SPRING, and the arrival of Spring classes at The Art League. Are you signed up yet?
Classes start the week of April 2 and meet once a week for (typically) nine weeks.
Why take an Art League class?
Do it for the art. Classes here are for personal enrichment, not a degree. Your classmates will be people of all ages and careers who come together once a week to do something a little different.
Do it for the challenge. Just because anyone can take an art class doesn’t mean it’s easy. A good class will challenge you to think in new ways, to use your creativity differently, and to do difficult things. Some of our instructors even assign homework.
Event: March 28. This panel in Washington, DC will discuss non-traditional and DIY residencies, including strategies and experiences of creating your own residency, and residencies for artists with children, jobs, and non-studio oriented practices.
Hamiltonian fellowship
Deadline extended: March 30. The Hamiltonian Fellowship Program serves as a professional steppingstone for emerging visual artists by helping them reach new levels in their artistic practice and career. Emerging visual artists working in all media are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: September 28. The recently announced Bennett Prize will spotlight women artists who paint in the figurative realist style, and who have not yet reached full professional recognition – both new artists and those who have painted for many years.
Hotel Indigo
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3″. If interested contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected]
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Fairfax festival
Deadline: March 15. The City of Fairfax (VA) Fall Festival returns on October 13, 2018. All work must be original, handcrafted art and craft items produced by the vendor (US based artists only).
NC internships
Deadline: March 15. Elsewhere is a museum and artist residency set in a 3-floor, former thrift store in Greensboro, NC. Internships at Elsewhere offer a professional, creative, hands-on opportunity to work and live within an alternative, non-profit organization run by a small, but an impactful team of staff, artists, and community partners.
VisArts fellowship
Deadline: March 20. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites applications and proposals from local, national, and international artists for a six month Studio Fellowship at VisArts at Rockville. The Studio Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for a dynamic individual artist or collaborative artist team to create a new body of work, evolve an existing body of work, or develop a project in a stimulating, supportive environment.
Bird art
Deadline: March 26. For “Of a Feather: Birds in Art” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center (Solomons, MD), all media are welcome. This includes small- to large-scale work intended for the indoors or outdoors.
Video art
Deadline: March 28. The PhotoPhore, proud partner of ADAF 2018, opens its call for artists TECH BREAK. We are searching for video-art works, short movies, digital and animation films, to include in our official selection for the 14th Athens Digital Arts Festival – ADAF 2018. The screening will be part of the festival programmed from May 2018 in Athens, Greece.
2019 solo exhibits
Deadline: March 30. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites artists working in all media to apply for 2019 Solo Exhibitions in the Gibbs Street Gallery and Common Ground Gallery.
Wanderlust
Deadline: April 5. artlessBastard in De Pere, Wisconsin is calling for 2D & 3D works of art, in all mediums – except performance art or film – for their May 2018 Wanderlust Show. Themes of work may include anything related to the journey of leaving home.
Virginia festival
Deadline: April 6. The Gloucester (Virginia) Arts Festival is pleased to announce it is accepting submissions for its 2018 Juried Show. This show is a unique opportunity for artists across the mid-Atlantic to curate their own exhibit and earn a share of more than $5,000 in prize money.
Annapolis festival
Deadline: April 7. Art @ the Park (Annapolis, MD) features original art work from exhibitors throughout the region and includes musical performances, other activities, eclectic food, wine and beer.
VA fair
Deadline: April 13. Calling exceptional artisans for the 74th Waterford Fair. Located in the Historic Landmark of Waterford, Virginia, our event draws 18,000+ visitors over 3 days, October 5–7, 2018.
Exhibit proposals: Maryland
Deadline: April 14. Brentwood Arts Exchange is seeking proposals from artists and curators to present exhibitions for available dates November 2018–November 2020. Solo and group exhibitions are welcome.
Glow in the dark
Deadline: April 29. Target Gallery (Alexandria, VA) invites national and international artists to apply for Illuminate, a special glow-in-the-dark exhibition that is focused on the relationship between art and light. The lights will be turned off in the gallery, turning the viewer’s attention to the illuminated artwork whether it be through the lighting of video, light installation/sculpture, or use of black light mediums.
MD craft show
Deadline: May 7. The Academy Art Museum Craft Show (Easton, MD) draws patrons from all over the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Mural Request for Proposals
Deadline: May 31. Akre Capital Management, located in the historic building formerly known as Mosby’s Tavern in Middleburg, has released a RFP to have an exterior mural painted on the side of their office building. They are seeking proposals from those who have the ability to design, manage and implement the project to completion.
Athenaeum Invitational
Deadline: July 13. Artists who live or work in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia may enter the 2018 Athenaeum Invitational (Alexandria, VA). The theme is “Cabinet of Curiosities.”
NYC volunteer opportunity
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org, contact us at http://awnyc.org/contact-us/ or find us on Facebook at artworksnyc.
Artists 50 and over
The Beacon is holding a regional competition for people over 50 who have picked up a new artistic endeavor: painting/drawing, 3D art, photography, or poetry. The competition opens in April 2018. For details, download the PDF flyer.
Superfine art fair
Deadline: rolling admission through September 2018. Applications are now open for Superfine!’s first fair in DC, coming this Halloween to Union Market. Galleries, artist collectives, and solo artists can apply for space.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Foundry Gallery
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
The Art League’s annual landscape show is here, which means it’s time to see artwork that gives a sense of place. The opening reception is tonight, March 8, at 6:30 pm!
Winter’s Grip, oil, by Kenneth Bachman
Of course, that can mean grand, sweeping vistas. It can also mean a single bird perched on a rock, or even an abstract image, as long as it takes you somewhere.
Bird on Rock, Antelope Island, photograph, by Ariane D’Souza.Razzle Dazzle Landscape II, mixed media, by Ann Barbieri.
These windows into other places are yours to enjoy through the end of March.
Niantic Bay, oil, by Stephanie ChangSummertime Cool, watercolor, by Karen Kumm MorrisMt. St. Helens, collage, by Donald CicconiAquinnah Cliffs, infrared photograph, by Tammy BelazisGreat Falls, mixed media, by Fay DengLakeside Villa, acrylic, by Kay Walsh. Winner of The Art League Best in Show award.
#1471 Meditation 5, 3 Circles by Aina Nergaard-Nammack
This column is to share news from Art League members about what they’re up to: exhibits, awards, residencies, and the like. We hope hearing from your peers is inspiring and motivating to you! To submit your own news for the next edition, contact us using this form.
Let’s hear it for …
Paula Stern
Paula’s sculptures will be exhibited at the Chevy Chase Design Center, with an opening reception this Thursday:
Aina Nergaard-Nammack
“My Countries, My Composers” by Aina Nergaard-Nammack is on view at the Biggs Museum of American Art (Dover, DE) through March 25! The artists’s large, abstract paintings interpret the music of composers from the three countries she has lived in: Spain, Norway, and the United States.
March 19–April 20 at Barnstable Town Hall, her oil Ready for Church will be part of “Artists and Muses,” an exhibit of artists who paint figures together at the studio of Paul Schulenberg.
April 7–May 29, she will have a solo exhibit of monotypes, “A Singular Vision of the Outer Cape,” at Wellfleet Preservation Hall. Nearly all of these were created at Discover Graphics Atelier at the Torpedo Factory.
Deadline: March 10. The Capitol Hill Art League (Washington, DC) invites you to express in art form what “Our World” means to you. This exhibit is open to 2-D and 3-D work, juried by curator and writer, Eric Hope.
Exhibit proposals: Maryland
Deadline: April 14. Brentwood Arts Exchange is seeking proposals from artists and curators to present exhibitions for available dates November 2018–November 2020. Solo and group exhibitions are welcome.
Glow in the dark
Deadline: April 29. Target Gallery (Alexandria, VA) invites national and international artists to apply for Illuminate, a special glow-in-the-dark exhibition that is focused on the relationship between art and light. The lights will be turned off in the gallery, turning the viewer’s attention to the illuminated artwork whether it be through the lighting of video, light installation/sculpture, or use of black light mediums.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
New Photography
Deadline: March 8. Photographic artists of all walks are invited to submit their latest works to a national juried show at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, MD. The exhibition aims to highlight the current state of photography across a broad spectrum. Artists may submit all types of photographic works including digital, analog, alternative processes, etc.
DC exhibit
Deadline: March 9. Art Impact International’s Third Annual Juried Art Exhibition, “Golden,” will be held at Pepco Edison Place Gallery in Washington, DC.
Roanoke fair
Deadline: March 9. The Sidewalk Art Show takes place annually in Roanoke, Virginia, on the downtown streets near the Taubman Museum of Art. The 2018 dates are June 2 and 3.
Fairfax festival
Deadline: March 15. The City of Fairfax (VA) Fall Festival returns on October 13, 2018. All work must be original, handcrafted art and craft items produced by the vendor (US based artists only).
NC internships
Deadline: March 15. Elsewhere is a museum and artist residency set in a 3-floor, former thrift store in Greensboro, NC. Internships at Elsewhere offer a professional, creative, hands-on opportunity to work and live within an alternative, non-profit organization run by a small, but an impactful team of staff, artists, and community partners.
VisArts fellowship
Deadline: March 20. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites applications and proposals from local, national, and international artists for a six month Studio Fellowship at VisArts at Rockville. The Studio Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for a dynamic individual artist or collaborative artist team to create a new body of work, evolve an existing body of work, or develop a project in a stimulating, supportive environment.
Bird art
Deadline: March 26. For “Of a Feather: Birds in Art” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center (Solomons, MD), all media are welcome. This includes small- to large-scale work intended for the indoors or outdoors.
Video art
Deadline: March 28. The PhotoPhore, proud partner of ADAF 2018, opens its call for artists TECH BREAK. We are searching for video-art works, short movies, digital and animation films, to include in our official selection for the 14th Athens Digital Arts Festival – ADAF 2018. The screening will be part of the festival programmed from May 2018 in Athens, Greece.
2019 solo exhibits
Deadline: March 30. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites artists working in all media to apply for 2019 Solo Exhibitions in the Gibbs Street Gallery and Common Ground Gallery.
Wanderlust
Deadline: April 5. artlessBastard in De Pere, Wisconsin is calling for 2D & 3D works of art, in all mediums – except performance art or film – for their May 2018 Wanderlust Show. Themes of work may include anything related to the journey of leaving home.
Virginia festival
Deadline: April 6. The Gloucester (Virginia) Arts Festival is pleased to announce it is accepting submissions for its 2018 Juried Show. This show is a unique opportunity for artists across the mid-Atlantic to curate their own exhibit and earn a share of more than $5,000 in prize money.
Annapolis festival
Deadline: April 7. Art @ the Park (Annapolis, MD) features original art work from exhibitors throughout the region and includes musical performances, other activities, eclectic food, wine and beer.
VA fair
Deadline: April 13. Calling exceptional artisans for the 74th Waterford Fair. Located in the Historic Landmark of Waterford, Virginia, our event draws 18,000+ visitors over 3 days, October 5–7, 2018.
MD craft show
Deadline: May 7. The Academy Art Museum Craft Show (Easton, MD) draws patrons from all over the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Mural Request for Proposals
Deadline: May 31. Akre Capital Management, located in the historic building formerly known as Mosby’s Tavern in Middleburg, has released a RFP to have an exterior mural painted on the side of their office building. They are seeking proposals from those who have the ability to design, manage and implement the project to completion.
Athenaeum Invitational
Deadline: July 13. Artists who live or work in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia may enter the 2018 Athenaeum Invitational (Alexandria, VA). The theme is “Cabinet of Curiosities.”
NYC volunteer opportunity
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org, contact us at http://awnyc.org/contact-us/ or find us on Facebook at artworksnyc.
Artists 50 and over
The Beacon is holding a regional competition for people over 50 who have picked up a new artistic endeavor: painting/drawing, 3D art, photography, or poetry. The competition opens in April 2018. For details, download the PDF flyer.
Superfine art fair
Deadline: rolling admission through September 2018. Applications are now open for Superfine!’s first fair in DC, coming this Halloween to Union Market. Galleries, artist collectives, and solo artists can apply for space.
Foundry Gallery
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
The Student/Faculty Show is The Art League’s annual celebration of all the amazing artwork that gets created in our classrooms.
Here’s how it works: Students who have taken a class in the past year can bring one piece of artwork to be in the exhibit. We also invite all of our artist instructors to share what they’ve been working on lately.
A red chalk drawing by instructor John Murray (right) and student work in the Student/Faculty Show
It’s a brief exhibit, lasting only a couple of weeks. So if you’re curious about taking a class at The Art League, or just want to see what your favorite instructor has made, you have just a few days left. The 2018 Student/Faculty Show closes on March 4.
Closing reception
If you want to say hi to the artists, we’re thrilled to say you can join us for the closing reception! It’s Sunday, March 4, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public.
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
DC exhibit
Deadline: March 9. Art Impact International’s Third Annual Juried Art Exhibition, “Golden,” will be held at Pepco Edison Place Gallery in Washington, DC.
Video art
Deadline: March 28. The PhotoPhore, proud partner of ADAF 2018, opens its call for artists TECH BREAK. We are searching for video-art works, short movies, digital and animation films, to include in our official selection for the 14th Athens Digital Arts Festival – ADAF 2018. The screening will be part of the festival programmed from May 2018 in Athens, Greece.
Mural Request for Proposals
Deadline: May 31. Akre Capital Management, located in the historic building formerly known as Mosby’s Tavern in Middleburg, has released a RFP to have an exterior mural painted on the side of their office building. They are seeking proposals from those who have the ability to design, manage and implement the project to completion.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Shop Local Project
Deadline: February 28. The Old Town (Alexandria, VA) Boutique District is seeking an artist designto use in shop windows and on branded items.
Torpedo Factory installations
Deadline: March 1. The Torpedo Factory Art Center invites artists and artist teams residing in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia to submit their qualifications and proposals for the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s common areas. Up to three artists/artist teams will be selected to install works of art in three designated public locations inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
Art Speaks on the Bay
Deadline: March 1. “Art Speaks on the Bay” in Mathews, VA will open April 28 and run through May 29. The juror is Joe Seipel, Professor Emeritus in sculpture and prior Dean, VCU’s School of the Arts.
New Photography
Deadline: March 8. Photographic artists of all walks are invited to submit their latest works to a national juried show at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, MD. The exhibition aims to highlight the current state of photography across a broad spectrum. Artists may submit all types of photographic works including digital, analog, alternative processes, etc.
Roanoke fair
Deadline: March 9. The Sidewalk Art Show takes place annually in Roanoke, Virginia, on the downtown streets near the Taubman Museum of Art. The 2018 dates are June 2 and 3.
Fairfax festival
Deadline: March 15. The City of Fairfax (VA) Fall Festival returns on October 13, 2018. All work must be original, handcrafted art and craft items produced by the vendor (US based artists only).
NC internships
Deadline: March 15. Elsewhere is a museum and artist residency set in a 3-floor, former thrift store in Greensboro, NC. Internships at Elsewhere offer a professional, creative, hands-on opportunity to work and live within an alternative, non-profit organization run by a small, but an impactful team of staff, artists, and community partners.
VisArts fellowship
Deadline: March 20. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites applications and proposals from local, national, and international artists for a six month Studio Fellowship at VisArts at Rockville. The Studio Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for a dynamic individual artist or collaborative artist team to create a new body of work, evolve an existing body of work, or develop a project in a stimulating, supportive environment.
Bird art
Deadline: March 26. For “Of a Feather: Birds in Art” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center (Solomons, MD), all media are welcome. This includes small- to large-scale work intended for the indoors or outdoors.
2019 solo exhibits
Deadline: March 30. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites artists working in all media to apply for 2019 Solo Exhibitions in the Gibbs Street Gallery and Common Ground Gallery.
Wanderlust
Deadline: April 5. artlessBastard in De Pere, Wisconsin is calling for 2D & 3D works of art, in all mediums – except performance art or film – for their May 2018 Wanderlust Show. Themes of work may include anything related to the journey of leaving home.
Virginia festival
Deadline: April 6. The Gloucester (Virginia) Arts Festival is pleased to announce it is accepting submissions for its 2018 Juried Show. This show is a unique opportunity for artists across the mid-Atlantic to curate their own exhibit and earn a share of more than $5,000 in prize money.
Annapolis festival
Deadline: April 7. Art @ the Park (Annapolis, MD) features original art work from exhibitors throughout the region and includes musical performances, other activities, eclectic food, wine and beer.
VA fair
Deadline: April 13. Calling exceptional artisans for the 74th Waterford Fair. Located in the Historic Landmark of Waterford, Virginia, our event draws 18,000+ visitors over 3 days, October 5–7, 2018.
MD craft show
Deadline: May 7. The Academy Art Museum Craft Show (Easton, MD) draws patrons from all over the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Athenaeum Invitational
Deadline: July 13. Artists who live or work in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia may enter the 2018 Athenaeum Invitational (Alexandria, VA). The theme is “Cabinet of Curiosities.”
NYC volunteer opportunity
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org, contact us at http://awnyc.org/contact-us/ or find us on Facebook at artworksnyc.
Artists 50 and over
The Beacon is holding a regional competition for people over 50 who have picked up a new artistic endeavor: painting/drawing, 3D art, photography, or poetry. The competition opens in April 2018. For details, download the PDF flyer.
Superfine art fair
Deadline: rolling admission through September 2018. Applications are now open for Superfine!’s first fair in DC, coming this Halloween to Union Market. Galleries, artist collectives, and solo artists can apply for space.
See the world through an artist’s eyes in the latest artist talk in The Art League’s Visiting Artist Series!
Susan Abbott will share the sketches, photos, paintings, and poems she created on her two-month, 550-mile solo walk on a pilgrimage in Northern Spain — the Camino de Santiago.
This artist talk is free to attend!
You’ll learn how she prepared, what she experienced, and what she created on the journey.
And while she’s in town, Abbott will be teaching the one-day workshop From Amateur to Professional, Saturday, March 24:
This intensive workshop demystifies the business side of being a professional artist. Students learn about building a resume, approaching galleries, organizing shows, coping with rejection, slides, publicity, marketing, taxes, and many other topic. Each participant receives a booklet of worksheets and information.
A travel sketch by Susan Abbott
About the artist
Susan Abbott was born and grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland. Because her father was an artist and graphic designer, there were many art books and supplies at home, and Abbott was drawing and painting from an early age. Her mother was a skilled seamstress, and taught Abbott how to sew, knit and embroider. Making things and playing in the creeks and woods in her neighborhood were favorite childhood pastimes.
After the Market, Provence by Susan Abbott
Abbott began her formal art studies at 14, studying life drawing under Richard D’Arista at American University. She dropped out of high school and began as a full time student at the Maryland Institute, College of Art, which she selected for its rigorous painting program, and where she focused on oil landscape and figure with Israel Hershberg.
Abbott graduated Summa Cum Laude, and two years later received a MFA degree from the Institute’s Hoffberger School of Painting, working with renowned abstract painter Grace Hartigan as her advisor. She went on to study intaglio printmaking in the graduate program at the University of Iowa under Professor Mauricio Lasansky.
Susan Abbott has been working as a professional artist since that time, exhibiting in galleries and museums around the country. Her still life and landscapes have been featured at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Museum of Technology, Hood College, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Her painting was included in the show “Objects of Personal Significance”, which toured museums around the United States. She has been a recipient of a Maryland Art Council “Individual Artist Award” and a Vermont Arts Council “Creation Grant.”
Town Fair, Midway by Susan Abbott
In 2009 she was one of ten artists selected from an international competition to receive funding to produce a series of paintings about the future of Vermont for the “Art of Action” project. In 2015 she helped to organize the “Eyes on the Land” project, and was one of the artists chosen for its Shelburne Museum exhibit. She is an active partner with non-profits in projects that connect art and conservation.
Susan Abbott’s paintings are in many private and corporate collections, including Mead Data Central, the Gund Company, the Federal Home Mortgage Administration, Peat Marwick, and Chittenden Bank. Her commission for Oprah Winfrey was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
In addition to her career as an exhibiting painter, Susan Abbott conducts popular art workshops in Italy, France, India, the Bahamas, and locations around the United States. She lives in northern Vermont.
What’s artist Beverly Ryan doing with that plasma cutter? And what, exactly, is this inflatable creation below?
https://www.instagram.com/p/Be_K_CKByFc/
They’re both artworks under construction for Ryan’s upcoming exhibit at The Art League, “Drone Zone.” The artist is posting works in progress and other goodies on her Instagram @bev_ryan — like this painting that’s not quite finished:
OIl painting in progress by Beverly Ryan for her exhibit “Drone Zone” at The Art League
Drones first started appearing in Ryan’s work a few years ago, and you may remember her Drone Free Zone installation from “Not a Box”:
Drone Free Zone by Beverly Ryan
The subject is as ripe for exploration as ever, with drones in use today for surveillance, warfare, delivery, photography, and more. Ryan’s recent work asks viewers to pause and reflect on what this could mean for themselves and others.
Mixed media paintings, metal and fiber sculptures, and even silk-screened T-shirts will be a part of this exhibit. For the artist, it’s an intuitive process:
“My work is about discovery. I begin with a small germ of an idea and it evolves as I progress. I figure out where I am going as I paint. I have learned to trust the process. Creating a new installation of paintings, drawings, and sculpture appeals to me and motivates me to move into new territory.”
Ryan likes working large and making “big moves” in her artwork. We’re excited to see what she does with a whole room in our gallery! Keep an eye on Instagram to follow the artist as she works.
“Drone Zone” is on view March 7–31, 2018. Opening reception: Thursday, March 8, 6:30–8:00 pm.
705
artworks went home
(103 were in the first Patrons’ Show in 1968)
25,190
views of the Flickr album
329
downloads of the iOS app in the last 90 days
Thank you for making our 50th anniversary Patrons’ Show Fundraiser the best yet!
This Sunday, patrons got together, had a good time, and took home hundreds of original artworks. See below for some photos from the amazing evening, and mark your calendars for next year’s event: Sunday, February 17, 2019.
Patrons getting prepped for the big event.Some last minute studying.The nerve center of the drawing.Surveying the scene and getting organized with the app.Did you stick around for the after-auction?Lucky patrons flocked to the gallery during breaks to claim their choices.
Deadline: February 25. Dick Blick Art Materials invites artists to enter their Pet Portrait Competition.
Art Speaks on the Bay
Deadline: March 1. “Art Speaks on the Bay” in Mathews, VA will open April 28 and run through May 29. The juror is Joe Seipel, Professor Emeritus in sculpture and prior Dean, VCU’s School of the Arts.
Annapolis festival
Deadline: April 7. Art @ the Park (Annapolis, MD) features original art work from exhibitors throughout the region and includes musical performances, other activities, eclectic food, wine and beer.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Painting awards
Deadline: February 23. The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District invites eligible artists to enter the Bethesda Painting Awards. Artists must be 18 years of age or older and permanent, full-time residents of Maryland, Virginia or Washington, DC.
Shop Local Project
Deadline: February 28. The Old Town (Alexandria, VA) Boutique District is seeking an artist designto use in shop windows and on branded items.
Torpedo Factory installations
Deadline: March 1. The Torpedo Factory Art Center invites artists and artist teams residing in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia to submit their qualifications and proposals for the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s common areas. Up to three artists/artist teams will be selected to install works of art in three designated public locations inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
New Photography
Deadline: March 8. Photographic artists of all walks are invited to submit their latest works to a national juried show at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, MD. The exhibition aims to highlight the current state of photography across a broad spectrum. Artists may submit all types of photographic works including digital, analog, alternative processes, etc.
Roanoke fair
Deadline: March 9. The Sidewalk Art Show takes place annually in Roanoke, Virginia, on the downtown streets near the Taubman Museum of Art. The 2018 dates are June 2 and 3.
Fairfax festival
Deadline: March 15. The City of Fairfax (VA) Fall Festival returns on October 13, 2018. All work must be original, handcrafted art and craft items produced by the vendor (US based artists only).
NC internships
Deadline: March 15. Elsewhere is a museum and artist residency set in a 3-floor, former thrift store in Greensboro, NC. Internships at Elsewhere offer a professional, creative, hands-on opportunity to work and live within an alternative, non-profit organization run by a small, but an impactful team of staff, artists, and community partners.
VisArts fellowship
Deadline: March 20. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites applications and proposals from local, national, and international artists for a six month Studio Fellowship at VisArts at Rockville. The Studio Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for a dynamic individual artist or collaborative artist team to create a new body of work, evolve an existing body of work, or develop a project in a stimulating, supportive environment.
Bird art
Deadline: March 26. For “Of a Feather: Birds in Art” at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center (Solomons, MD), all media are welcome. This includes small- to large-scale work intended for the indoors or outdoors.
2019 solo exhibits
Deadline: March 30. VisArts (Rockville, MD) invites artists working in all media to apply for 2019 Solo Exhibitions in the Gibbs Street Gallery and Common Ground Gallery.
Wanderlust
Deadline: April 5. artlessBastard in De Pere, Wisconsin is calling for 2D & 3D works of art, in all mediums – except performance art or film – for their May 2018 Wanderlust Show. Themes of work may include anything related to the journey of leaving home.
Virginia festival
Deadline: April 6. The Gloucester (Virginia) Arts Festival is pleased to announce it is accepting submissions for its 2018 Juried Show. This show is a unique opportunity for artists across the mid-Atlantic to curate their own exhibit and earn a share of more than $5,000 in prize money.
VA fair
Deadline: April 13. Calling exceptional artisans for the 74th Waterford Fair. Located in the Historic Landmark of Waterford, Virginia, our event draws 18,000+ visitors over 3 days, October 5–7, 2018.
MD craft show
Deadline: May 7. The Academy Art Museum Craft Show (Easton, MD) draws patrons from all over the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Athenaeum Invitational
Deadline: July 13. Artists who live or work in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia may enter the 2018 Athenaeum Invitational (Alexandria, VA). The theme is “Cabinet of Curiosities.”
NYC volunteer opportunity
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org, contact us at http://awnyc.org/contact-us/ or find us on Facebook at artworksnyc.
Artists 50 and over
The Beacon is holding a regional competition for people over 50 who have picked up a new artistic endeavor: painting/drawing, 3D art, photography, or poetry. The competition opens in April 2018. For details, download the PDF flyer.
Superfine art fair
Deadline: rolling admission through September 2018. Applications are now open for Superfine!’s first fair in DC, coming this Halloween to Union Market. Galleries, artist collectives, and solo artists can apply for space.
This Sunday, Oscar Santana and Robb Spewak will be at the mic leading hundreds of people through the adventure known as the Patrons’ Show Fundraiser. That’s right — they’ll be calling your name as this year’s Patrons’ Show MCs!
You might recognize Robb and Oscar from the Mike O’Meara Show, where they entertain listeners daily with discussions of their lives, pop culture, and the news.
Since they’re both Patron’s Show pros at this point, we asked them to help us get everyone pumped up for this Sunday’s event by sharing their tips and stories. (This will be the second time hosting for each of them, and their first time teaming up!)
Oscar Santana
Tip #1: Get involved
How’d we snag these two, anyway?
“A handful of my friends have been going to the show for about 6 or 7 years,” Oscar told us. He’d see beautiful pieces of art in their home, and eventually he asked them about it:
“That must have cost a fortune.”
“No, see, they have this event every year…”
Once Oscar started attending as well, a volunteer recognized him and we heard him talk about the show on the air. It didn’t take long for us to invite him to be the host.
“Of course I said yes, because the event rules.”
Tip #2: Go digital
As a 5th year attendee, Oscar’s favorite moment has been watching the evolution in people’s list-making methodologies: from clipboards, to posters, to spreadsheets, to the public debut of the Art Thief app three years ago.
“That’s the geek in me,” he said.
A bonus side effect of so many people using the app: everything goes more smoothly and quickly.
Tip #3: Everyone wins
Oscar’s stage name is Oscar Santana, but his given family name is Zeballos, so he’s used to getting called last. That said, he’s hoping to get one of his top 10 picks.
Still, he’s not stressing out. Every piece from past shows is hanging is his home, even if it wasn’t a number one pick. “Whether you pick first or last … I tell everyone, you win. You’ll actually get a piece of art.”
Tip #4: Be patient, be informed, be entertained
Oscar’s number one tip? Listen for your name and don’t worry so much how it’s pronounced.
If you pay attention, you’ll have an easier time picking your piece when your name is called — and you’ll have more fun.
