Come see, and add to The Idea Tree at the Mt. Pleasant Temporium

For the Mount Pleasant Temporium event, wife and husband artist team Rania Hassan and Sean Hennessey created an installation in the window titled "The Idea Tree." The Idea Tree represents our neighborhoods, our City, and our homes. Constructed using recycled cardboard and wood, drawings, cutouts and small structural elements create a sense that the tree is made of buildings, towers, and houses. Our ideas, our hopes, our dreams are the things that help shape what our neighborhoods are, what our city is, and what it can be. Visitors to the Temporium are asked to contribute to this installation by answering the questions, "What do you want for Mount Pleasant?" and "What do you want for DC? Sharing thoughts and ideas on green slips of paper, and adding these "leaves" to the tree make our neighborhood tree blossom. Together we can watch our ideas grow.       

The Mount Pleasant Temporium

http://mtptemporium.com/

About

The Mt. Pleasant Temporium is a temporary, pop-up retailer coming to Mt. Pleasant St. NW from February 18 – March 13. (See retail hours and transportation). It is located in an under-utilized storefront at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. The space is on loan from Nana, which will open in March.

The Temporium features handmade goods for sale from 30 local, independent crafters and artists, as well as special events—autobiographical and theatrical storytelling, crafting, trunk shows, and live music.

This project was developed by Mount Pleasant Main Street, in partnership with SpeakeasyDC, Hello Craft, Radio CPR, Partners for Livable Communities, and the DC Office of Planning. The Temporium is supported by the DC Office of Planning’s Temporary Urbanism grant. Temporiums help meet several objectives established by the District of Columbia through the Creative DC Action Agenda, the Retail Action Roadmap and the Mount Pleasant Street Revitalization Strategy.

Schedule:

Schedule

The Mt. Pleasant Temporium is proud to present a full events rosters! We hope you will join us on Feb. 18 for our grand opening and return again to shop and enjoy one of our many storytelling, crafting or live music events, offered during regular retail hours and after hours on selected nights.

Feb. 18 – 20 / Feb. 21 – 27 / Feb. 26 – March 6 / March 7 – 13

• All events are free and open to the public.
• Events are located within the Mt. Pleasant Temporium at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. unless otherwise noted.*
• Attendees are encouraged to arrive at least 20 minutes early to seated events, which have a limited capacity of 30.**
• Events schedule is updated daily.

Feb. 18 – 20

• Fri. 2/18 (7-9 pm): Grand Opening Reception, featuring music by DJs Bent, Rat, Trash, and Mothersheister of Radio CPR

• Sat. 2/19 (7-8:30 pm): SpeakeasyDC** – Mini-class on the art of storytelling and story swap (interpretación simultánea del ingles al español)

• Sun. 2/20 (3 pm): Temporium Sunday Session featuring: Ice Cream (kid-friendly event)

Feb. 21 – 27

• Thurs. 2/24 (7 pm): Temporium Presents: I’m From Up Top**

• Fri. 2/25 (7 pm): Radio CPR – An evening of young, underground DC talent, featuring live performances by: the artists of Fallen Kings Records, ACME, and Hot Mess, plus a live sampling of DJs, hosts, and MC talent from Radio CPR 97.5′s dynamic weekly programming. Event is located at La Casa, 3166 Mount Pleasant Street NW, suggested donation $2-3*

• Sat. 2/26 (1-3 pm): Hello Craft’s Make Something Awesome Area – Learn how to make pin sets from books, magazines, your own drawings and more. (kid-friendly event)

• Sun. 2/27 (12:30 – 3 pm): Temporium Sunday Session featuring: (12:30) The Family Hammer and (2 pm) Washington City Paper’s News You Can Reuse (kid-friendly event)

• Sun. 2/27 (7 – 8:30 pm): SpeakeasyDC** – Group House night  – Hear and share stories about that good ol’ Mt. Pleasant tradition of group house living. May be screening of Amy Saidman’s pretty terrible, but amusing mockumentary Group House Gone Bad filmed in 4 different Mt. P houses over the course of 4 years.

Feb. 28 – March 6

• Wed. 3/2 (4-5:30pm): After School printmaking workshop with Bancroft Elementary School and print maker Anthony Dihle: How to Screen Print Monsters!Note – event participation is closed to the public, but Temporium patrons are encouraged to shop and observe!

• Thurs. 3/3 (6 pm): Local author Anna El-Eini reads from Beating Heart

• Sat. 3/5 (3-6 pm): Radio CPR –Documenting Mt. Pleasant’s Untold Stories, Part I – Go beneath the radar with Radio CPR and uncover some of the neighborhood’s secret histories and hidden gems with those that lived them. In this 3-hour workshop, you will learn the basics of audio recording and interviewing.  We will go out to collect voices and stories from the Mt. Pleasant corridor with the hope of adding another layer to the quilted narrative of Mt. Pleasant. Snacks and beverages will be provided.  No experience needed.

• Sun. 3/6 (1 pm): Temporium Sunday Session featuring: Readings from Gilded Lili: Lili St. Cyr and the Striptease Mystique, by Mt. Pleasant author Kelly DiNardo

March 7 – 13

• Thurs. 3/10 (6:30 – 8:30 pm): Radio CPR – Documenting Mt. Pleasant’s Untold Stories, Part II – Learn about some of the movements, projects and institutions that were born in Mount Pleasant. Speakers will tell stories about Escuela de Rumba, La Casa, Radio CPR, the Blue Sky Collective, Punk Rock, Neighbors Consejo and more. Event is located at Don Juan Restaurant, 1660 Lamont Street (Mt. Pleasant and Lamont Sts., NW)*

• Fri. 3/11 (7 – 8:30 pm): SpeakeasyDC** – Story Game Night

• Sat. 3/12 (7 – 10 pm): Folly Night @ the Temporium. Musical performances include Brazilian psychadelia by Alma Tropicalia and hazy whispercore from Cigarette, interspersed with stand-up comedy and readings by writers fromThe Folly, a new print-only literary magazine in DC.

• Sun. 3/13 (4-6 pm): Hello Craft’s Make Something Awesome Area + Handmade Gift Exchange (5-6 pm)  – Buy or bring a gift to the shop ($15 value and under) to take part in the handmade version of the white elephant gift exchange on the closing night of the Temporium. (kid-friendly event)

Elements opens this Saturday

The Elements: 

An exhibition featuring Sherill Anne Gross, Sean Hennessey,
Sean Lundgren and Alexandra Zealand

Herndon’s downtown art center, ArtSpace, is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibition, “The Elements,” featuring the imaginative work of four contemporary artists:
Sherill Anne Gross, Sean Hennessey, Sean Lundgren and Alexandra Zealand.

Anchored in the classic elements of Hellenic physics - Water, Fire, Earth and Air - these artists use the elements as a part of their medium, rather than as the subject of their works. 

Paper can not be created without water; ironically too much water can also destroy paper.  Early fire pits dug into the sand had the side effect of also causing the first forms of glass, when the extreme heat of the fire melted silica.  Dirt is the earth, the source of clay, and the root of life.  Air is the space that floats between suspended objects, allowing for movement, light and shadow. Air is also the catalyst for physical transformation.

Sherill Anne Gross is a dc based paper artist. A love of collage and printmaking led to experiments with different techniques while trying to incorporate both passions into her work. Eventually the experiments were made solely using paper, and the challenge of transforming a finite color palette of flat square papers into realistic final images remains an exciting challenge with each new piece. Sherill Anne Gross’ work has been seen in many venues across the country including: Gateway Arts Center (MD), Elroy ArtSpace (OR), Harold Golan Gallery (FL), Foundry Art Center (MO), Allenton Gallery (NC), Ratner Museum (MD), Artomatic (DC).. She is also the owner of the graphic design company sagworks, and a resident artist at the Greenbelt Community Center. sagworks.com

Sean Hennessey is a sculptor, painter, and glass artist. A graduate of Berea College, Sean worked in professional theatre for ten years and has bridged the theatre and fine arts community since moving to DC in 1997. His works have been seen in many contexts and venues including: The Shakespeare Theatre, The Kennedy Center, the Wooly Mammoth Theatre Company, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Arena Stage, Smithsonian Folk Life Festival, Signal 66, The National Institutes of Health, The Ratner Museum and Artomatic.  He’s the owner of Scenic Artisans LLC, a decorative paint and sculpture service, and a resident artist at the Washington Glass School and Creative Arts Center. dcsean.com

Sean Lundgren moved to the DC area in 2007, shortly after receiving his BFA from Alfred University with a concentration in ceramics.  A process driven artist, Lundgren has been a member of Red Dirt Studio for 3 years and works as an artist's assistant to DC based sculptor Margaret Boozer.  Lundgren's other mentors include a sculptural potter, an installation artist, a performance artist, a glass artist, and a blacksmith. He has exhibited his raw clay work in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, where his piece “Site Singularity” was reviewed by the Charlottesville News and Arts in September 2010: “Artists always struggle to make their material conform to their vision, but this DC sculptor takes an ingenious turn and allows the medium to prevail.” seanlundgren.com.

Alexandra Zealand is an installation sculptor. Originally trained in theatre design, she received an MFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute.  Since moving to Northern Virginia in 2006, her work has been seen at the Target Gallery, Evolve Urban Arts Project in DC, the artdc gallery and Artomatic.  Her installation “Flock” was named Best of Artomatic 2009 by Art Seen Blog, and her January 2010 exhibit at the Delaplaine was reviewed by the Frederick News-Post.  She was invited to install a coffee filter piece at the preview party for the new Arlington County Artisphere in Oct. 2009, and a film strip piece at the closing awards for the 4^th annual Alexandria VA Film Festival in Sept. 2010.  Fascinated by mummies, volcanoes, continental drift and zombies, she spends her days doing social media and reference work at the Arlington Public Library. alexzealand.blogspot.com

Elements
ArtSpace Herndon
Reception: Saturday, February 5, 6–8pm
Exhibition Dates: February 5–26, 2011
Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Thursday: 10am-2pm, Friday: 10am-8pm, Saturday–Sunday: 12pm-5pm, Closed Mondays
750 Center Street, Herndon, VA
Tel: 703-956-6590
Click here for more information.

What is Glass Secessionism?

I wanted to share the idea of Glass Secessionism, a movement in glass built on, but growing away from the traditions of the  Studio Art Glass movement that began in the 1950/60's.
The following is a post on the Glass Secessionist facebook page written by Glass Secessionist Artist, and founder of the Washington Glass School, Tim Tate on what glass secessionism is:

Tim Tate

a few questions I was recently asked about Glass Secessionism

1. What drew you to the term "glass secessionism"? You've written about the source, but did you consider any other names for the group?

I've struggled with a term for 21st century glass on numerous occasions, beginning with the 2005 show I curated called "Compelled By Content". There just didn't seem to be a phrase beside narrative driven mixed media sculpture....hardly a concise wording. I have seen the new phrase "Post-Glass" , (referencing the Post-Black show a few years ago ) I liked that phrase as well. The decision was made while looking up some information on Stieglitz and realizing the he was trying to take photography the same place many of the 21st century glass sculptors were trying to take glass. Glass Secessionism seems to define it best.

2. Do you think there has been a place for mixed media in the glass art world before now?

Of course there have always been notable exceptions. (Therman Statom's entire career for example). The first 30 years of the Studio Art Glass movement seemed to be primarily focused on technique and materiality. That may have been out of necessity to learn the limits of the materiality, it may have been collector driven.....its hard to say. Both those things have changed greatly.


3. What drove you to start raising the points you raise in your Facebook group and looking for other artists who feel the same way?

Three things :

A). I noticed at the last SOFA Chicago that the distressed economy had also brought back more conservative buying practices......going back to established names. It takes a healthy economy to have collectors support new directions.

B). At the same time I noted the popularity of the biggest names in blown glass were all beginning to call their pieces sculpture.....never vessels. I was worried that the progress that many 21st century glass sculptors might begin to erode.

C) Finally, I had attending 5 "Collector Talks" over the last year....where collectors would give a powerpoint presentation on the highlights of their collections. These were all the blue chip glass collectors who have been so pivotal in furthering the advancement of glass as a fine art form. Without exception, their collections (at least for the purposes of their PowerPoint presentation) stopped in the mid 1990's. It was as if they were unconsciously saying that nothing of note had been made in this century. I believe a new type of collector is emerging.....one which may be temporarily invisible to current glass galleries.

4. Where do you see "post glass" or "glass secessionism" going in the future?

I daresay that very few current glass MFA students are focusing primarily on technique or medium. Why become Dante-Lite? More and more you will see this narrative for of glass sculpture emerge. Few newer glass artists even want to show at glass galleries, as they fear being surrounded by types of glass that rely on materiality. That type of glass is easily understood by a collector. The new type is much more challenging to grasp the concepts, and at a large art fair gallery staff may shy away from it as it takes a bit of time to explain and comprehend.

The only piece missing towards this new direction is a gallery that specializes in it. The next great glass gallery will do just that. Look at the ranks of the folks in the Facebook page "Glass Secessionism". There is no dearth of incredible artwork and sculpture to choose from. The museum curators are ready for this change as well. Once the galleries and collectors begin to rise up.....the next 30 years will be dominated by these 21st century glass secessionist sculptors.

Another post on Glass Secessionism over at the Washington Glass School Blog

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.

December 11th Sculpture Market

WASHINGTON GLASS SCHOOL
December Sculpture Market & Holiday Open House
Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010

Time: 2:00 til 6:00 pm

Location: Washington Glass School

3700 Otis Street

Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Admission: Free

202.744.8222

The adjacent Flux Studios will also be open, featuring JRA Members Novie Trump, Jessica Beals and
Laurel Lukaszewski - make it a day of art!

(e)merge art fair in dc

Looks like theres another chance for a major art fair in DC.
Kriston Capps over at the Washington City Paper has the story on (e)merge a large art fair to be held at the Capitol Skyline Hotel in September of 2011.

Certainly good news for DC.

Any gallery owners out there want to represent me so I can participate?

Ways to get art this month

want to further you art collection? want to buy art for someone else? come to these three events this month:


1. The Bloomingdale Holiday Art Market
Art, Craft, and other stuff from DC area artisans. and one jeweler from Asheville.
Sunday December 5th 
4-9 PM
Big Bear Cafe
1700 First St NW
More Information here




2. ArtDC Gallery Fundraiser Auction
Come bid on available works form DC area artists.
Saturday December 4th
5-9PM
Art DC Gallery
5710 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, MD
More Infomation here


3. Washington Glass Studio Open House
A Joint Open Studio Between The Washington Glass School and Flux Studios
Rania Hassan, Novie Trump, Laural Lukaszewski, Tim Tate, Michael Janis, Erwin Timmers, Robert Kincheloe, Jessica Beels, Nancy Donnelly, Sean Hennessey, and many more will have their work on display. Open Studios are the best way to build your collection of works.
December 11th
2-6 PM
700 Otis Street Mount Rainier, MD 20712 
(202) 744-8222
Washington Glass School
Flux Studios


Also!


4. Online Gallery
Use the Coupon Code WHERESMYCOFFEE to get a 10% discount on any sculpture in my online shop