Mid City Artists Open Studios
November 11 - 12, 2006
12 - 5 pm
Washington, DC
www.midcityartists.com
Open Studios to Feature Diverse New Work
Mid City Artists, a prominent group of diverse artists in central Washington, will unveil exciting new work during its semi-annual Open Studios event, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 11-12.
During the last six months, many of the Mid City Artists have been creating exciting new art work that they plan to show during this Fall’s Open Studios. Such offerings have made Open Studios one of the most unique art events in the nation’s capital.
The two-day event, which comes as the holiday shopping season begins, will feature new and varied collections of sculpture, painting, photography and other media.
Mid City Artists is a diverse and talented group of more than 40 professional artists who work together to promote their work and to create an artists’ community in the central part of the nation’s capital. Their studios have added to the quality of life in the rapidly growing retail and commercial center of the city.
Participating artists are all located in the area loosely bounded by Logan, Dupont and Thomas Circles and U Street to the north. Visitors can hop from one studio to another in the dynamic mid-city area and see an expansive offering of art on display by the city’s most-talented and creative artists.
Most of the studios are within walking distance of each other, allowing visitors to design their own walking art festival. And with many great restaurants in the mid-city area, Open Studios is a great way to spend a Fall weekend day.
“Our artists have had an incredibly creative summer,” said Susan Cole, a spokeswoman for Mid City Artists. “This is a great time for collectors to check out new work by their favorite artists. And it is also a good opportunity to see work by artists they missed during the last Open Studios.”
Central Washington has become known for real estate development – soaring property values, new condos and plenty of new shops and restaurants. Mid City Artists has helped keep art and creative expression alive in the central Washington area. The group has grown from a core of artists who made a name for themselves over the last decade by offering great art in their local neighborhoods.
“It’s like gallery hopping in New York City, as you get to see top-quality talent..” said Robert Dodge, a photographer who focuses on landscape and male figure studies. Talented artists like Freya Grand and Angela White, produce landscape and new encaustic paintings in their townhouse studios.
Among the pioneers in the group are artists like Sondra Arkin, Nicolas Shi, Anne Marchand and Robert Cole, who located in the neighborhood before it became so popular. Other artists fled downtown after being evicted by real estate developers and helped revitalize the 14th Street and Logan Circle areas.
Some of those artists included Gary Fisher, Brian Petro and John Talkington. They were later followed by others like Colin Winterbottom and Mike Weber. Mid City Artists continues to grow with new artists like Charlie Gaynor and Lucinda Murphy.
Visiting the artists’ work places during Open Studios gives enthusiasts and collectors an opportunity to check out the studios of painters in various media, including oil, acrylic, pastels, collage and mixed media. There also are studios featuring sculpture, photography and jewelry. Some artists are well-known and have attained international recognition. Others are emerging artists and Open Studios provides an opportunity to connect with their new work.
“Our artists work in some incredibly interesting places,” said a painter who works with acrylic on canvas. “Their studios are in everything from retail spaces, old carriage houses, spare bedrooms, apartments and basements.”
More information and a map can be found at www.midcityartists.com.
CONTACT: Susan Cole
202-387-3126
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