Collection of Washington DC area Artists. Wildly Subjective Post.

I wanted to share something very personal to me. our art collection. not pictures or anything, but the artists that we collect. My wife Rania and I have, over the last few years, been trying to collect works of DC area artists. We're pretty committed to promoting and supporting local art and we have a lot of great friends that happen to be great artists. Place and community are important to us. We also want to shape our collection into something very personal and a narrative of sorts or our life, people and things that we want to be close to.  Our collection is one venue and outlet for our creativity. I've talked to a number of people recently that want to collect DC art but were uncertain where to begin. I hope this helps those people... as well as just serving as a list for me to remind myself to buy art. Plus, you know.. if any of you want to buy us gifts (our birthdays are both in february). And yes, its 100% subjective. And no, I mean no offense if you are not on this list. 


So far, we've managed to get works by these wonderful artists:
Novie Trump-
 I knew Novie a looong loong time ago, well before either of us knew of one another as artists. I was taking a year off of college, she was working at a punk rock pizza joint where a roommate of mine worked. We were acquaintances, but not really friends.  I re-met her at a lecture at the Arlington Art Center and she showed me some of her work. I fell in love with it. Plus Novie is a great woman. I got to know Novie better as we were both on the board of the Washington Sculptors Group for a spell and we are now studio neighbors out in Mount Rainier. I can't get enough of her work and if rich enough would get her to design an entire room. I deeply hope that I can actually work with her on projects in the future.
Andrea Haffner-
 I first saw Andrea's work at Artomatic back in 2002. Stunning pieces and I've been buying jewelry from her for years. Her studio was nearby our house and before she took a sabatical from DC we bought a small piece of hers. we need a larger piece i'm afraid. it's unique and beautiful. natural and synthetic. delicate and indestructible.  I dont know a soul that doesn't love her work.
Michael Janis-
Once michael started working in his now renowned scraffito technique i really wanted a piece of his. I've managed to pick up a few of his pieces at the Washington Glass School open studios. I'd really love to buy a large panel of his works, especially his more architecturally oriented pieces. he should be an art megastar. His work is that compelling.
Tim Tate-
I met and became good friends with Tim at the 2002 Artomatic. I had gone a bit over the top with a painting installation at that artomatic and was fortunate to have tim fall in love with my work. I was able to barter with tim to get some cool pieces of his.  nothing like his newer pieces... which i covet. Even though he is mostly known, these days anyway, for his self contained video installations, my favorite pieces of his are complicated and narrative arrays of found objects with cast and blown glass. series such as the 7 deadly sins. But then again, maybe if ya'll would stop buying his work, his prices would go down and i could afford it. ; ) Tim is one of the founders of the Washington Glass School, a MUST SEE studio for every art lover and collector in the dc area.
Kirk Waldroff -
I met Kirk in 2003 through the Mather Studios, a subsidized housing project for artists. we became friends, but also, along with Kristina Bilonick and rania hassan, worked together on a secret project called Art Monday. We've even exhibited together under the pseudonym Arthur Monday. Kirk is a printmaker and carpenter, but sometimes casts his wood blocks in glass. or concrete. ( he and i made a concrete countertop for his place once) 
Jaime Zollars-
I set up across from Jaime at a Crafty Bastards and few years ago and fell in love with her and her work. I bought a piece of hers as a present for Rania for Christmas last year.  I guess really all i have is a print. I want originals, so I'll have to keep checking her work out.
Kerri Sheehan-
Kerri and I became friends through the Washington Glass School where she used to teach. She was doing some interesting work with Venus figures and drawings on cast plate glass. recently I plastered the walls of her new house. 
Elizabeth Baldwin-
Beth and i worked together at the Shakespeare Theatre. I've known her for, i guess around 12 years or so. i have a few small pieces of hers from original pastel to prints to her current series of plush figures.
Scott Brooks
I've absolutely loved Scott's work since I first saw it... prolly at Artomatic 2000?.. I became friends with Scott at some point... don't really know how... but I was fortunate to go to his moving sale and score a really cool piece. The pieces of his that I love are, like a few artists that i know, a bit beyond our budget.
Kelly Towles-
I don't remember when I met Kelly, but the first time I saw his work was at the warehouse cafe and he had done a large painting, possibly on the wall. super cool.  i first got to hang out with kelly while doing the Pool Tradeshow in Vegas a few years ago. i've gotten two pieces as gifts. but I hope I can buy a large piece of his someday. 
Erin Antognoli-
Erin creates really cool holga photos. but she has a certain and unique style that I really like. I first met Erin through Artdc.org and some gallery hopping. recently she's been seduced by the dark side of art: sculpture. I'm excited to see where that might go.
Sean Welker ( Sadly, he's moved on to Chicago. Rat bastard)
If sean had stayed in dc we'd be best friends by now. I love him, and his work. I picked up only a very tiny piece of his at his going away studio sale. i got to visit with him once in Chicago and would love to go back.
Carlos Beltran Baldiviezo-
I set up next to and met Carlos a few years ago at the Downtown Holiday Market just outside the National Portrait Gallery in DC. His figurative clay sculptures are beautiful and we traded pieces. I really like his work, though I have only seen him a few times since. he works out of the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia.
Jessica Wade Howard
Jessica made a painting for us when we got married. I met jessica and her husband Lee, another sculptor, during my time at the Shakespeare Theatre. Jessica was once one of the set painters, then went on to work for Stanislavsky theatre, and then onto motherhood and a non art job. I hope she someday finds her artwork again. she's very talented.


I would wholeheartedly recommend adding these artists to your collection. We, of course, have some fine examples of our OWN WORKS. all over our house. too many. want some?  Clearly you should have our works too.


There are still a ton of artists that we still want pieces from and I would encourage everyone to seek them out. That list includes, but is not limited to:
Margaret Boozer-
I have been in love and a hero-worshiper of margaret forever. she's awesome and her work kicks ass. I really want a piece of hers but I know that I will need to be very careful in picking which one. Also, once margaret co curated a show at DCAC with a curatorial statement that still haunts me. Her studio is a MUST SEE for every collector and art lover in the DC area.
Sondra Arkin
I first met Sondra through her curation of the DC City Hall's Art Collection ( which you should go through... for free, any weekday) . She's a masterful curator, but a subtly amazing encaustic aritist. I say sublte, because the impression that her work has made on me has been slow. Perhaps I have grown to appreciate it, but I think that the non objective nature calls for a contemplation that takes time. In any case, all of the sudden her work became fresh in my eyes. It's funny how that works. 
Erwin Timmers
Now, I could kick myself for not buying one of Erwin's Snake Lights when I first saw it and I could actually afford it. Someday. Someday I will get a piece of his. Erwin is a director and studio mate of mine at the Glass School, so I've gotten to talk to him quite a bit about his work. His news stuff is going to skyrocket him. Buy it if you can.
Chris Shea
Chris is a master of iron and metal working. A MASTER. If you appreciate quality functional metal pieces, check his stuff out. I'd kill for him to make me a dinning room table. Or just about anything. 
Michael Sirvet
Mike is a friend also through the Mather artists. His metal sculpture is a bit mind numbing when you contemplate his exactness and labor. Now, of course, he's gigantic and his greatness means i never see him anymore. Someday i'll get one of his pieces though. 
Syl Mathis
A glass artist that makes exquisitely cast glass "boats" with wonderful metal stands. The simplicity and elegance of his work is very nice, and really its only that its cast glass and steel that it would fit in our collection, as i think "exquisite" doesn't describe what we usually like. I guess you start to learn a lot about yourself as you collect art.....
I met Syl through the Washington Glass School.
Allegra Marquart
Allegra's work is playful, and colorful, yet highly industrial and rugged. no one is doing work like her.
Another Washington Glass School artist.
David D'Orio
I first saw Dave's work at an artomatic, though i'd heard of him earlier since he owns and operates one of DC's only hot shops. I met Dave mainly through taking a metal casting class at his DC glassworks, and i keep stopping by to say hi. we've been in some shows together. anyway, his work is fantastic. narrative, symbolic, rugged, unusual, a bit crazy. everything i like in sculpture, Dave represents.
Megan Van Wagoner
Another DC Glassworks artist. I first saw Megan's work at Artomatic 2009. She had these cast glass potatoes on ceramic pillows with a kind of decorative element, all held up by steel. Delicate, rugged, 3 great materials. subtly strange, yet poignant. Totally engaging work. I've only managed to buy some of her functional pieces.. 2 coffee mugs.. but we'll get some sculpture sometime.
Jeanette Herrera
I first learned of Jeanette through Artdc.org. Loved her work, but it really doesn't translate to a jpeg well. Seeing her work in person you can really see how detailed and rich it is. I like works that just dominate and force you to believe in another world entirely. Her work does that. I don't ever see Jeanette, so i don't know her as much as other people on this list, but i've met her once and know her to be rock solid.
Leila Holtsman
I first saw and met leila through Artomatic..  2008?  A great combination of silk screening on steel and ceramic. Once part of the Boozer Kingdom of Red Dirt Studios, I saw leila fairly regularly, and i think we both learned to MIG weld at the same workshop at Sam Notos studio in Greenbelt.  Plus Leila is super nice.
Andrew Wodzianski
Andrew is a bad ass, plain and simple. Once i went to a show of andrews where his girlfriend was dressed up as a nurse and he stayed in a closed coffin the entire time. How hot is that? to me, HOT. I love andrew to death and hope I get to spend more time with him. And I want one of his paintings.. but may have to settle for a less expensive series. 
Cory Oberndorfer
I first saw Cory's work as spray paint work on a column at Artomatic 2007 (nearly all of my friends are through artomatic....). He had these roller derby girls and penguins. totally fresh. totally cool. i didnt actually met him for a few years... maybe 2009? Not sure. He's become a friend now though and I really look forward to seeing his new work. 
Jenny Walton
I met jenny through my half assed attempt to become part of Sparkplug, the artist collective formed by DCAC. Sadly it conflicted with Sunday dinners with the Mather artists and I had to bail on it. No regrets and now I see Jenny fairly often. Her work in mono type has a haunting quality and an imagery that lingers with you. I've not yet decided on which vein of her work i like the most.
Cheryl Derricotte
I met cheryl through the Washington Glass School. She's been on a hiatus from making work, but when she gets back to it in 2011 i'm sure we'll see really great work come out of her.  
Sherill Gross
I first met sherill at artomatic 2000 and admired her work from the get go. ( another example of why you should snap at work you like right away!.. hard lesson learned thank you erwin timmers) i didnt really become friends with Sherill till the last few years. I even have an upcoming show with her, thanks to her for arranging it and inviting me to participate.
Kristina Bilonick 
I met Kristina through the Washington Glass School. I used to go to her open studios in MidCity. and see her around at shows. Once rania and i started doing street festivals, i became friends with Kristina and she was part of our Art Monday thing. Kristina keeps going on to greater and greater things all the time. Her work is really cool. I had a framed silk screen at my house for a long time ( not a print.. the actual screen) but was just holding it and friend of mine bought it. I own a shirt she silk screeend but no real artwork. Someday that will be remedied.
Matt Sesow
I first saw matts work at artomatic 2000 but didn't really meet him until 2005. Matt is simply the most prolific painter in the world. no dc collection can be complete without a sesow. matt is also one of the most dedicated people i've ever met. he is also Dana Ellyns husband. someday he'll take me up on the going out for drinks offer i always make. ; )
Dana Ellyn
Maybe the second most prolific painter in the world. She's matt sesows wife, making them the most awesome art couple. Dana's work is very obviously akin to matts work, but she has more emphasis on the drawing and coherency of brush work. Her style has noticeably gotten tighter since i first saw it, and i really like the direction it's gone. 
Emily Greene Liddle
Another artist i first saw at Artomatic. And there was a time i saw her work EVERYWHERE. all kinds of shows. I didnt meet emily until the past 2 years I think. she's an amazing painter with a very minimal classy approach, though her content is a bit dark. All the better. She's a super cool woman and she and her husband are two of the nicest people you'll meet. I wish I knew them better. And had a painting.
Billy Colbert
I don't personally know Billy, but his work is absolutely fantastic. I want a piece if his. we have many many mutual friends, so i know he's a great guy. And that's important to me in buying peoples work.
CeCi Cole McInturff
Ceci's studio. gallery is right around the corner from my house. i don't know her well, but i love Ceci and her work just keeps getting better and better. It's probably time to get some before her prices go up.
Brendan Smith
Brendan is a neighbor of mine and really genuine guy. His work is irreverent with really cool found objects. He has a smart biting satire in his work. We'll have to get one of his pieces soon.
Decoy
I've only met Decoy a handful of times, but if you've been in DC for a bit, you've seen her work. One of the most prolific DC street artists in the 2000's. She's got her own style and a multitude of series. Hopefully DC will have her around for a long time.
Bridget Sue Lambert
Another person i've only met a few times but Bridget is really nice and has a very cool aesthetic. I like miniatures and dollhouse/ diorama/ model kinds of things and she's got that is spades. Cool work, and though photography doesn't tend to draw me, hers does.
Henrik Sundqvist
Cool cool guy. And very dynamic. Henrik founded Art Outlet which has produced some of the most fun art shows in the dc area. His prints are graphic and punk rock and i love that. 
Christian Tribastone
i've never met Chrisitan, though I've tried. I first saw his work at....yup.... Artomatic and absolutely love it. 
Mark Behme
Mark's work is wickedly cool. So complicated and skillful. Plus mark is a great guy and was extremely vital in the work of the washington sculptors group.
Sergio Olivas
I first met Sergio and his awesome artist wife Claudia at Artomatic 2007. I've been to their beautiful studio, which i recommend visiting. i don't see them much and i don't think they are particularly active in the DC gallery world, but i do love them.  A very kind couple, and extremely dedicated to art making.
Sergio's work hits me in a way that jives right. its visceral work that forms a visceral reaction.
Matt Hollis
Matt is a super great guy who creates a wonderful world of soft sculpture. he does photography and prints and drawings, but his sculpture is what i absolutely am drawn toward.


This list will be amended as my brain works through it. 


Then there are far too many people whose work doesn't really fit our collection or house or budget but I admire greatly nonetheless.  Even people who are good friends. I'm not even going to list them, but most are on the WPA Artfile or the WSG Gallery, which i would encourage all DC area collectors to check out.  As i said, a collection of art becomes your voice, you should shape it in a way that jives with you. Buy a piece of art because you love it. 


Los Links:


Mather Studios
Artomatic
Red Dirt Studios
DC Glassworks
Washington Sculptors Group
Washington Glass School
WPA 


We do have some non-dc artist's pieces too, but that's a different post for a different time.


in short, here are my tips:
1. If you love it buy it now.
2. Buy what you love. buy what speaks to you.
3. It means more if you get to know the artist. Go to open studios. Meet an artist for coffee. Go to openings, but get there early.
4. Take art workshops. you'll make something, learn about the process, and meet tons of artists.

Artomatic Opens Tonight!

Artomatic 2009
55 M Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003

Opens May 29, 2009

Fri-Sat: Noon-1 am
Sun, Wed, Thu: Noon-10 pm

Take Metro! Located directly above the Green Line Navy Yard Metro Stop, West Entrance
website



Come to the 9th floor to see my new creations in Glass, Concrete and Steel.
In creating my pieces i use common and slightly nostalgic items to tell a story of transformation and growth based on my interpretations of religions, spirituality, and myths.The ethereal quality of glass set within the earthly and corporeal concrete is the metaphor our our yearning and questing souls confined in these earthly bodies.

Plus, they're like wicked cool and i'm really happy with them!
more of my work can be seen here

Artomatic 2008 is ending soon!

Go Check out Artomatic this weekend.

I'll be giving a tour of Washington Glass School Artists exhibiting at Artomatic on Sunday.
if you're interested, please meet me in the lobby at 1:45. We will start the tour at 2 PM.


There will be bands and performances and workshops all weekend. this is the biggest art event dc has to offer, you'll find something you dig.

i've been toying with some video pieces to introduce my work. i'd like to start doing some techniques oriented ones. i'm actually rather camera shy but i'm trying to get over that.
anyway, heres an intro to my pieces at Artomatic 2008:






my etsy shop is HERE

Artomatic 2008 Opens tomorrow Friday May 9th

Artomatic is dc's biggest art event. dont miss it!

its free!
its metro accessible!
there will be a bar and a cafe!

1200 First Street NE
Corner of First and M streets NE, next to the South entrance of the new york avenue metro station.

Come see my installation of concrete lightbulbs, and three new glass panels.

Artomatic opens Friday, May 9th, 12 noon

• Wednesdays and Thursdays: 5 pm – 10 pm
• Fridays and Saturdays: 12noon – 2 am
• Sundays: 12noon – 10pm
• Mondays and Tuesdays: Closed

Sneak Preview: the first stage of making glass art

I use kilns at the Washington Glass School to fire Float Glass to create my sculptures



I'm partial to Float Glass because of the industrial nature of the material and the process of turning it into sculpture. It creates a rugged, yet always elegant material when fired. Glass also is a wonderful ethereal-feeling counterpart to the concrete that i use in my sculptures.

I start with a collection of objects, ( and my kiln firing schedule!). I always bring more things that i'll use when i'm working at the glass school, just in case. there's an element to the process i use that is somewhat spontaneous and improvisational. Sometimes i change my mind at the last minute.

my box of stuff, some of which i made, some of which i found:


Usually i sketch out my compositions and prep my objects ahead of time. i think about the series that i'm creating and the end result i want. sometimes i want larger sculptures, smaller more easily shipped pieces to sell online, or pieces for commissioned jobs.
Then the hard part starts.

I create plaster molds inside the kiln:

You have to be very meticulous during this stage. i often breathe out very loudly after each detail is complete. an exhale of relief. You create the mold in steps with the shallowest detail first, to the deepest part of the relief last. but any shimmying can ruin all your detail. heaven forbid you knock one of your objects into the plaster.. not that i've ever done that..... nope. not me.

working with all that plaster gets messy.

once the imagery and texture are finished and the molds are all set,
i cut all my glass, and place it over the forms.

Because the plaster acts as insulation and the castings are made of a solid 1/2 thick piece of glass, it takes a really long time for the complete firing. In addition to the insulation and thickness factor, glass must change temperature slowly in order to retain its integrity. As we heat up the kiln , we must do so gradually. once the final temperature, around 1600 degrees ( note: i may bit a bit off on that) is reached and held for a ( secret amount of) time, the glass must be annealed, or cooled off VERY slowly. I wont be able to open the lid of the kiln for almost two days.

I cant really foresee exactly how it will turn out. will the glass devitrify? will the glass fill all the detail of the molds? will there be air bubbles? will it crack in half? so many unanswered questions!


Once i pull the pieces out i will clean them off and clean out the kiln for another artist to use.
I will bring the pieces back to my studio and add concrete elements to each. i will also get them ready for hanging.

check back for photos of these steps soon.

and come see the finished pieces in person at Artomatic 2008

artomatic 2008

For immediate release

NoMa BID media contact: Artomatic media contact:

Leslie Braunstein Marina Reiter

703-234-7762 202-271-4748

info@lhbcommunications.com reiter.marina@gmail.com

Artomatic Comes to NoMa May 9–June 15, 2008

Up to 800 artists and 50,000 visitors expected in
D.C.’s most exciting new neighborhood

The NoMa (north of Massachusetts Avenue) Business Improvement District (BID) will host this year’s Artomatic, the Washington, D.C. area’s homegrown art extravaganza. From May 9 through June 15, 2008, up to 800 local and regional artists will exhibit their works on eight floors of the Capitol Plaza 1 building, located at 1st and M Streets, N.E., just one block from the New York Avenue Metro station.

Held regularly since 1999, Artomatic transforms an unfinished indoor space into an exciting and incredibly diverse arts event that is free and open to the public. In addition to displays and sales by hundreds of artists, the event features free musical, dance, and theater performances; holiday celebrations; films; educational presentations; and much more.

This year’s Artomatic, occupying 200,000 square feet at Capitol Plaza 1, will be the largest to date. Designed by renowned architect Shalom Baranes and owned by an affiliate of The Polinger Company, Capitol Plaza 1 offers 293,000 rentable square feet of Class A office space, with dramatic Capitol and city views from the upper floors.

“We are thrilled to partner with Artomatic in an event that will bring tens of thousands of people to NoMa,” said Elizabeth Price, president of the NoMa BID. “It is a great opportunity to showcase the transformation that is underway in NoMa and infuse it with the energy and creativity of the artistic community.”

"Artomatic has come back to its roots in D.C. with our largest event ever,” said George Koch, Chair of Artomatic. “We are excited about our partnership with the NoMa BID and their help in bringing this new space to our attention. Artomatic 2008 will have an abundance of exhibit and performance space that will be open to all — from recognized artists to undiscovered talents.”

Registration for artists and performers who wish to participate in Artomatic will be open soon. To stay up to date on the event details and schedule, visit www.artomatic.org and sign up to receive the Artomatic newsletter.

###

About the NoMa BID:

NoMa is an emerging mixed-use neighborhood north of the U.S. Capitol and Union Station in Washington, D.C. Private developers have invested almost
$2 billion in 2007–2008 alone, with plans to develop more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space in the 35-block area covered by the NoMa BID over the next 10 years. For more information about the BID, including an interactive development map, see the BID Web site at www.nomabid.org.

About Artomatic:

Artomatic is a creative community that collaborates to produce and present a free arts spectacular. Participation is open to all, from recognized artists to undiscovered talents, who work in a variety of arts forms. In partnership with the development community, Artomatic transforms unused building space into a playground for expression, serves as a catalyst for community growth in up-and-coming neighborhoods, and helps to grow our creative economy. The nonprofit Artomatic organization is headed by a volunteer Board of Directors and is funded in part by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.artomatic.org.

some pictures of the space and views













here are some photos from Artomatic 2007

this is the center of the universe

IMG_4908
Originally uploaded by Scenic Artisan

this is one of the many creations of Roger Cutler.

( rogers website is, unfortunately, not one of his foremost creations)

Over the past number of years Mr. Cutler has taken to collecting metal detritus from the floors of Artomatic, as well as any metal remains artists leave behind after the show has come down.

he then melts down all his findings and casts various shapes and forms. this one, "center is the universe", is my favorite to date.

often roger includes a "mystery box" in his offerings. an unknown object only to be revealed at an unknown date. At the end of Artomatic 2007, roger revealed the contents of his box during an event i was fortunate enough to witness. roger only showed the object to the curious masses one person at a time. the contents were so unusual, no one described the object in the same way. some saw archaic symbols, some toys, others saw what appeared to be a collection of socks. this mystery is but one of the oddities one will find at artomatic.

roger has been pretty busy during the last year melting and casting in furnaces he makes himself. I cant wait to see what he has in store for the next artomatic. (coming soon to a neighborhood near me.)



If someone with money and clout ever realizes how cool Cutler's work and process really is, he may be whisked away to some far off exotic land where artists can be rich and successful.

until then, watch out for the man with a magnet on a stick.

Artomatic 2008

Artomatic Happy Hour


Wednesday, March 5th, 6-8 pm at The Science Club, 1136 19th Street NW, Washington DC 20036.

We are up on the 3rd Floor = it is quieter, easy to find us, has more room, and easy access to the bathrooms! Come on out!

Artomatic Happy Hour happens the 1st Wednesday of every month - the next meet up will be Wednesday, March 5.

ARTOMATIC HAPPY HOUR

ARTOMATIC HAPPY HOUR

Happy New Year and Happy Hour!
Wednesday, January 2, 6-8 pm at The Science Club, 1136 19th Street NW, Washington DC 20036.

We are up on the 3rd Floor = it is quieter, easy to find us, has more room, and easy access to the bathrooms! Come on out!

Artomatic Happy Hour happens the 1st Wednesday of every month - the next meet up will be Wednesday, February 6.

Whats been going on?

I havent posted that much lately, but i don't really have a good excuse as to why.

-Artomatic is now over and was a fairly busy event for me. In addition to exhibiting and being there for as many events as i could, i also organized an artists market to set up for three sundays. AOM is an extemely rewarding experience and i would encourage all artists to participate in it when it comes around again.

-I had two weekend workshops that i've recently taught and were quite succesful.


-Rania and i set up at a craft show in baltimore.

-We're doing the Ballston Arts and crafts Market this saturday in Ballston, VA.

-Pile of Craft in Baltimore at the end of the month.

-i've been posting a bunch of art on my etsy.com gallery. look at my amazing feedback!

- I've moved out of my studio in mount rainier and am currently working out of my house.

- I have a show at Black Rock arts center coming up.
August15- September 7th, with an artists reception on August 18th.


shoot me an email if you want anymore details, of if you are interested in some faux finishing



art@wheresmycoffee.com

Open Studios today! Artomatic Closes tomorrow!

two great art events in one weekend!


OPEN STUDIOS!
All of the Gateway District Artists will be hosting open studios this saturday from 12-5.


This will be my last open studio in this location, so please come by.


My Address is
3708 Wells Ave REAR, MT Rainier, MD 20712

Wells Avenue runs along the train tracks. I am on the other side of the building, on the first floor. You will see a sign that says SCENIC ARTISANS and a Washington Glass School banner.



From Rhode Island Avenue,
go SOUTH on 34th (at the traffic circle in Mount Ranier)
take a right on OTIS STREET
You will see a group a white warehouses. I am located between the two that are next to each other.



Artomatic
NOON - 10 PM on Sunday
2121 Crystal Drive
Arlington, Va.

Metro stop:
Crystal City
After 4PM there is free underground parking in the Crystal City Shops
across the street.

Hours
Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: Noon–10 p.m.
Thursday: Noon–11 p.m.
Friday, Saturday: Noon–1 a.m.
Closed Mondays

My Room, which I share with Rania Hassan and Kirk Waldroff, is on the
6th Floor. # 6A57.

Art Ransom

here is an article of the almost absurd abduction of a Tim Tate sculpture from Artomatic

Wanna heckle some artists?

come on down to Artomatic tonight. its meet the artist night.

there should be some free wine anyway.......

Meet the Artists!

Friday Night is Meet the Artists Night at Artomatic!

Free admission.
April 13–May 20, 2007
2121 Crystal Drive
Arlington, Va.

my update AOM list

Here is the list of art that i think you should check out at AOM

Big Art Show and The Marketplace at Artomatic

Two big events to see Art.

Saturday Night!

The Big Art Show
Saturday, April 28th
@ The Rock And Roll Hotel
1353 H Street, NE,
Washington, DC 20002
Doors @ 7 ~ all ages ~ $5





Sunday afternoon/evening
The Marketplace at Artomatic
This Sunday from 3-9!


Artists and artisans will set up an arts market from 3-9 PM this coming Sunday, April 29th at Artomatic in the Emerald Cafe on the 8th Floor.

Items ranging from sculpture to book arts, from prints to weird things with no accurate description will be on display and available for sale. T-shirts and other such items will be abundant. All things are made or designed by the Artist.


come out and see us!
Artomatic
2121 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA (Crystal City metro)
Artists Include:
Sean Hennessey
Rania Hassan
Beth Baldwin
Kristina Bilonic
Michael Stebbins

Jim tretick
Anita Knight
Roger cutler
eileen colton
jeanine valrie
Claudia Olivos
Sergio Olivos
jennifer beinhacker
Eileen Keefe
Moira McCauley
Pattie Lee
Anthony Dihle
Fort cloudy
Virginia Blanca Arrisueno
Jenny Isaacs

I've been mentioned.

Thanks to Tim Tate and Elizabeth Morisette for mentioning my work at Artomatic

Tims mention comes from Mid Atlantic Art News and can be found here

Elizabeth's mention comes from her blog HERE

My Artomatic Favorites ( top 8 and counting....)

so far, these are some of my favorites from Artomatic 2007.
I'll fine tune this list and add a few more to get an obligatory top 10.

1. Veronica Szalus- metal spikes,paper and plaster: perfect combination.



2. Novie trump- Novie's series of ceramic sculpture is beautiful. great textures, wonderful themes. skilled execution. i'm a big fan of Novie's work.


3. Rebecca Gordon- Ant-O-Matic. just because it's insane.



4. Laurel Lukaszewski - Laurel is a studio mate of mine and seeing her work everyday is inspiring. it has this wonderful ordered craziness to it. so structured but expelling radical ions. i really like Laurel's work and this installation is a smart use of her space.



5. Elizabeth Lundberg Morisette- This is a perfect installation. wrapping around the column in front of big windows. smells wonderfully of beeswax. powdercoated paper. Stunning to see and smell.



6. Sergio OlivosM- i like his use of wax and burnt objects. the organic quality of his work really appeals to me. I respond to these on a very visceral level.



7. Cory Oberndorfer:


because whoever can combine both these images in one presentation rocks. look at the egg!


8.Joanna Knox i'm especially excited that i'll be having an exhibit with this photographer later in the year. Her work has a clean but eerie feeling. shes seems to use white much like Andrew Wyeth.....and in a way that parallels my limited use of color, in my mind anyway. Nonetheless her imagery is intriguing.there is a quiet desolation i enjoy.



9.?
10?
though i'm not sure if they are my top ten favorites yet
I really like this piece:
Its a graphite drawing straight on the wall. I'm a big fan of installation painting.... so this is kinda up my alley. I don't know who did it. *Alexandra Silverthorne mentions that its John Adams*



This and other pieces by Michael Stebbins are pretty cool:


There are a bunch of encaustic artists too that i'm really digging on:

Sondra Arkin, who has an opening of MORE work at Nevin Kelly gallery on thursday.


and this artist, whose name i don't recall:



then there was the person that did this piece:

though i thought that only two of them had much bite.

There weren't too many straight up painters than were doing incredible work, but these paintings by Claudia Olivos were beautiful, especially displayed together. i'm afraid that if you buy her work, you'll have to buy 5 or six paintings to display next to each other



There are a number of other excellent artists, but are either good friends of mine, or my wife, so i can't really add them to my top ten, even though their work is new and exciting.
here are some pictures of their work:


Rania Hassan



Tim Tate:

Michael Janis

Kirk Waldroff:



Erwin Timmers




All in all i think that this years Artomatic has the most professional vibe to it, though perhaps at the expense of experimentalism. Its very well put together, the presentations are tight. There are some artists that have retained the energy from the original AOM at the Manhatten Laundry, but more have moved on and it seems that the energy of AOM has changed altogether.

I wager that Art Outlet will fill the experimental niche........

Artomatic, yep.

the registration for this years Artomatic has opened.
have at it

Dont know what Art-O-Matic is?
Look HERE

Event dates
April 13 – May 20, 2007
2121 Crystal Drive
Crystal City, VA
6th floor