Quote of the Week

"Art does not lie down on the bed that is made for it;
it runs away as soon as one says its name; it loves to
be incognito. Its best moments are when it forgets
what it is called."

-Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985)

Thank you to artist, Phoebe Esmon for sending me this one!

1460 Wall Mountables Review

Read the review on the DCAC's 1460 Wall Mountables in DC Art News here!

And..check out the pics from the opening, which drew a huge crowd:

Traces of Nature

Wohlfarth Galleries presents:
Traces of Nature
by PERX
Mixed media on wood paintings
July 27-Aug 20, 2005

Hrs: Wed, Fri, Sat, 12-4, thurs 4-8 and by appt.
3418 9th street, NE
Washington, DC 20017
1/2 block from CUA/Brookland red line metro
202-526-8022

Quote of the Week

"The force of art lies in its immediate influence on human psychology and in its active contagiousness. Being a creation of Man it re-creates Man. Arthas no need of philosophical arguments, it does not follow the signposts of philosophical systems; Art like life, dictates systems to philosophy. It is not concerned with the meditation about what it is and how it can be. That is a task for knowledge. Knowledge is born of the desire to know, art derives from the necessity to communicate and to announce."
- Naum Gabo (1890-1977)

Happenings at MOCA DC

Closing Reception

A Belly Dancing Troupe will perform at the Closing Party for A Celebration of the Figure II, slated for Friday, July 29th from 6 to 9 pm. That's 6 belly dancers shaking it up this coming Friday!

Call for Submissions - the August show will be a combined Member Show/Membership Drive. It is non-juried and is open to all subjects and all media. Special reduced fees for membership and for hanging apply, so check out the application at www.MOCADC.ORG. Deadline is August 3rd. Show runs from August 5 to August 28 - Opening Reception Friday, August 5 from 6 to 9 pm.

1460 Wall Mountables

DCAC's open exhibition 1460 Wall Mountables opens this Friday, July 29, from 7-9pm @ 2438 18th street, NW (in the heart of Adams Morgan). Call 202-462-7833 for details or visit their websit: www.dcartscenter.org.

Come on out and show your support for DCAC!

The plague of Self -Doubt

A child said What is grass? fetching it to me with full hands;
How could I answer the child? I do not know what it is any more than he...

-Walt whitman

"Angst for the Mammaries" Pics

Here are some pics from the Angst for the Mammaries exhibition and our artist's discussion which took place last eve (Fri, July 15) at Touchstone Gallery (Annex)







It turned out to be well-attended and we had a great discussion. Thanks to all those who came and who participated! If you haven't seen the show yet..check it out!
Info at www.touchstonegallery.com

Cool New Book

Ok, it is not entirely art-related, but last eve I met the author of a new book entitled, "Mondo DC (An Insider's Guide to Washington DC's Most Unusual Tourist Attractions)".
The book takes the reader on an adventure through some of DC's most quirky and bizarre places. (I love stuff like this!) Featuring over 70 little-known destinations, you'll discover a giant mermaid, the tunnels of naked mole rats, sites for outsider and erotic art, squished pennies, mummies and many others.
Check it out at www.mondoDC.com!

Mondo DC
by Jeff Bagato
Jeff has written for the Post, the City Paper and Pulse Mag

Quote of the Week

It is through..art
And art only
That we can shield ourselves
From the sordid perils
of actual existence.
-Oscar Wilde

Art Walk in silver spring, MD

When: Tuesday, July 12^th 6 – 9pm : Drum Circle at Alchemy, 6:15pm

Where: Gateway’s Heliport Gallery, 8001 Kennett St. Suite 3 ; Los Arrieros, 7926 Georgia Ave ; Alchemy, 8025 Georgia Ave ; Pyramid Atlantic and Kari Minnick’s Glass Studio, 8230 Georgia Ave.; Kefa Café 963 Bonifant St.

10% off dinner at Los Arrieros for ArtWalk patrons!

What: Gateway’s Heliport Gallery : Reflections In Stone : 8001 Kennett St., Suite 3
Gateway’s Heliport Gallery, the newest edition of Silver Spring’s Arts and Entertainment District is currently showing Reflections In Stone : an exhibition of Shona sculptures. The exhibit features approximately 20 artists from one of Zimbabwe’s most established artist communities, “The Gateway to the Stones at Tengenege.” The artists’ work both honors links to ancient Zimbabwean civilization and explores universal themes of love, work, family and worship.

Los Arrieros : featuring ArtDC.org : 7926 Georgia Ave.
ArtDC.org is an artist lead organization that seeks to bridge the communication between artists of all mediums, galleries, and collectors. Their recent show in the Art In Transition series was a resounding success, with over 300 attendees during the course of the month long exhibit and 4 different events.

Alchemy : Drum Circle! : 8025 Georgia Avenue (East West Highway and Georgia - free parking at store)
Experience Good Vibrations as we drum our way into July's ArtsWalk. Local drum circle facilitator Mark Schlanger will guide you through an exhilarating one-hour community-building experiential drum circle. Please bring a drum and other percussive instruments. Extra drums and assorted percussion instruments will be available for loan. No prior musical experience necessary. RSVP by 7/10/05 to Brenda at Alchemy by phone or email: zengardens555@yahoo.com. Maximum of 15 people for this intro class so please sign up immediately if you want to participate. No fee - arrive at Alchemy no later than 6pm - drumming begins promptly at 6:15 pm!. Mark will be leading a 2 hour drum circle class at Alchemy on Sunday July 17th from 4-6PM. Register today! Alchemy: 301-565-2262.

For more information: www.artandalchemy.com

Pyramid Atlantic : Expressing Our Identity and Contemporary Codex : 8230 Georgia Ave.

Expressing Our Identity grew out of a special art program for area youths, called ARTvantage. Hosted by Pyramid Atlantic, the program provides full scholarships to the participants and focuses on building visual literacy and communication skills through weekend and after-school programs. A group of talented artists, in collaboration with Pyramid Atlantic staff, work with the student participants who have the opportunity to develop hands-on experience in papermaking, printmaking, and digital processes. They have also explored cultural identity through individual and collaborative projects that are guided by the use and meaning of language linked to visual art.

Contemporary Codex: Ceramics and The Book is a traveling exhibit by eight national and international artists celebrating the confluence of ceramics and the book in contemporary art. The work consists of one-of-a-kind conceptual sculptural book objects, and installations that interpret these two forms (ceramics and the books) with integrity and a variety of aesthetic viewpoints. Ceramics and the books share a common history. The earliest book forms were cuneiforms, small terra cotta tablets with orderly symbols easily tucked into a side sleeve and carried around. Not unlike the small medieval girdle book, which was worn at the waist, these early book objects were imbued with power and intimacy. These feelings of intimacy, combined with the power of storytelling draw artists in to explore the book form in their artwork. Ceramic books range from those of traditional book form to those deconstructed to the point of being unrecognizable. Yet, all of the work in Contemporary Codex explores the tactile intimacy of the book as an interactive object.

For more information: www.pyramidatlanticartcenter.org

Kari Minnick’s Glass Studio : 8230 Georgia Ave.
Patrons can expect to see a working kiln formed glass studio where many things are made from
jewelry, functional and fine art glass, to large site specific works. They will have a chance to learn about courses in glass arts that are offered by the studio.

Space 7:10, Kefa Café : Tom Block : 963 Bonifant St.
These are the original works upon which a temporary public art project in Tempe, Arizona (which will run from July 30, 2005 – January 30, 2006) is based. Fusing words representing the highest aspirations of mankind (taken from great humanists such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Lao Tzu, etc.) with specially created paintings, Cousins places art and text works in transit stops that will be available to every one of Tempe’s citizens everyday. The panels provide quiet, surprising moments to be discovered by people from all cultures and economic classes while going through the motions of their normal day.

A Celebration of the Figure II at MOCA DC

Stop by MOCA DC! A Celebration of the Figure II includes work by local and international artists honoring the human form using a plethora of different translations. Read about it in the Washington City Paper here.

MOCA DC
1054 31st street, NW
Washington, DC
202-342-6230

More on "Angst for the Mammaries" at Touchstone

Touchstone Gallery
406 7th Street, NW, 2nd floor; 202-347-2787
Gallery hours: Wednesday - Saturday 11-5, Sunday 12-5 and by
appointment

July 6-August 7, 2005
Angst for the Mammaries (Annex room 1)
Touchstone Member's Show-Self Portrait (Main Gallery)
Copper on Canvas Portraits (Annex room 2)
Opening Reception-July 8, 2005, 6-8pm

Angst for the Mammaries gallery talk moderated by Judy Jashinsky:
July 15, 7 pm. 3rd Thursday Gallery Walk-July 21, 2005, 6-8pm


Read about it in the Washington City Paper here.