Tug-of-War at WPA

Blurring the line between Art and Craft a panel discussion and interactive event
Wednesday, April 22nd 5:30 - 7:30pm

WPA headquarters
2023 Massachusetts Ave. NW
in conjunction with the James Renwick Alliance & Smithsonian's Craftweek DC

Washington Project for the Arts is excited to participate in the JRA & Smithsonian's first annual Craftweek DC by hosting a lively discussion on the subject of "Art vs. Craft". The event will take place on Wednesday, April 22nd from 5:30 - 7:30pm at the WPA headquarters in Dupont Circle.

Curator and art critic, Jeffry Cudlin, will moderate a panel discussion between members of both the art and craft communities in DC- revealing their thoughts on what differentiates the two 'sides'. The discussion provides a framework for understanding the concepts and breaking down the divide between what is considered fine art and craft.

When all is said and done, panelists and audience members will be invited to participate in our very first Art vs. Craft tug-of-war on a nearby grassy knoll (rain or shine). The tug, a metaphor for the discussion, is a fun way to illustrate the way some artists dance between both realms while others live on one side or the other.

Participants:
Moderator:
Jeffry Cudlin- artist, established art critic, and Director of Exhibitions at the Arlington Arts Center (www.jeffrycudlin.com / www.arlingtonartscenter.org)

Panelists:
Rebecca Cross- Artist and owner of Cross Mackenzie Ceramic Arts in Georgetown's Canal Square (www.crossmackenzie.com)

Steven Frost- WPA member artist working in textiles and mixed media. Steve also makes messenger bags from recycled materials and is Director of Admissions at Corcoran College of Art and Design. (www.stevenfrost.com)

Kelly Rand- arts contributor for DCist, lead writer for the blog, Crafting A Green World, crafter and craft event organizer. (www.kellyrand.com)

Anne Surak- independent curator and director of Project 4 gallery (www.project4gallery.com)

This event is free and open to the public but space is limited. Please rsvp to: kbilonick[at]wpadc[dot]org

For more information on Craftweek DC, visit: www.craftweekdc.com

The Washington Studio School / Open House

The Washington Studio School is in Dupont Circle with a roster of exciting classes for serious artists and students! They are having an Open House this Sunday where you can meet the WSS Faculty, register for classes, and participate in a free figure drawing class. You'll see firsthand, the construction progress on their beautiful new space. It's great to have them back in DC. Drop by on Sunday, June 6 from 10am-noon, say hello and sign up for a summer painting or drawing class or a special workshop. Class schedules are available on their website at http://www.washingtonstudioschool.com/

OPEN HOUSE
June 8, 2008: 10am - Noon

Meet the WSS Faculty, register for classes, and see the new building.

The Washington Studio school offers art classes in painting, drawing, and sculpture. Located near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., the Washington Studio School is a community of serious artists and art students dedicated to the practice of visual art. Classes emphasize working from life and are offered to adults and high school students.

Summer 2008 Session June 9 - August 3, 2008

Washington Studio School
2129 S Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 234-3030
admin@washingtonstudioschool .org

WPA Art Auction Online Open to Bidding this week

The Art Auction Gala was a huge success!
If you missed the WPA gala and didn't get to bid on your favorite piece of art, check back at the WPA website. Artwork is open for bidding for the rest of this week.

2008 WPA Art Auction
Online Bidding
NOW OPEN

WPA Auction Gala week events

WPA Auction Gala week has preliminary events for collectors and for those who would like to learn more about the curator selections. (All events are free of charge)

Preview reception this Thursday, February 28th from 6:00 - 8:30. This is an excellent opportunity to see the art before the crowds on auction night and to get a better understanding of the art selected by the curators...it is always a fun and interesting evening. The presentations will take place in the Katzen Auditorium - please be sure to RSVP to info@wpadc.org. Cocktails and appetizers will follow.

Sara and Marc Schiller, the founders of the Wooster Collective, will present,“From the Streets to the Gallery: How Contemporary Art is Being Influenced by the Urban Experience” – Wednesday, February 27th, from 6:30 - 8:00, at the Katzen Museum. Sara and Marc are have been pioneers in documenting and supporting contemporary street art at the fine art level. Read more about them at www.woostercollective.com

"Insider's Guide to the 2008 WPA Selected Artworks,"tour with WPA Board Member and noted Washington DC, collector Frederick P. Ognibene, M.D. on Saturday, March 1st at the Katzen Center for the Arts at American University. Fred will lead small group tours through the exhibition of more than 130 works, discussing his experience with collecting works of art, and sharing insights into the auction curator selections. Fred has built an impressive collection of contemporary art, of both regional and international artists, with many works acquired through the WPA auctions and exhibitions of the past. Free tours will be offered at 11am and at 2pm, and will last approximately 90 minutes.

Auction ONLINE. For the first time ever, WPA will accept electronic bids on artwork through their website, launching at 10:00 pm on February 28, for those of you who would like to start your bidding early. Preview the artwork featured in this year’s auction, read guidelines and register for online bidding at www.wpadc.org.

Contact
Larissa Leclair
WPA Auction Coordinator
Washington Project for the Arts | 2023 Massachusetts Ave, NW | Washington | DC | 20036

2008 WPA Art Auction Gala

Friday, March 7, 2008
Katzen Arts Center at American University


CURATORS & ARTISTS

HEATHER DARCY BHANDARI
Curator and Artist Manager
Mixed Greens, New York, NY

Zoe Charlton and Rick Delaney / Edward del Rosario / Ken Fandell / Rosemary Fiore / Susan Graham / Susan Hamburger / Don Porcella / Lisa Ruyter / Marie Sauvaitre / Alyson Shotz / Joseph Smolinski / Mary Temple

ANDREA DOUGLAS
Curator, Collections and Exhibitions
University of Virginia Art Museum, Charlottesville, VA

Lisa Beane / William Christenberry / Kevin Everson / Jennet Inglis / Juan Logan / Kendall Messick / Susan Harbage Page / Elizabeth Schoyer / Jon-Phillip Sheridan / Anne Slaughter / Jennifer Van Winkle / William Wylie

SARAH KENNEL
Assistant Curator, Department of Photographs
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Christopher Colville / Eric Finzi / Connie Imboden / Erika Larsen / An-My Le / Amy Lin / Maxwell MacKenzie / Lori Nix / Amy Stein / Zoe Strauss / Noelle Tan / Shen Wei

DENNIS O'NEIL
Director
Hand Print Workshop International, Alexandria, VA

Christine Carr / Steven Cushner / Andrey Chezhin / Alexander Djikia / Erick Jackson / Vera Khlebnikova / Vitaly Komar and Alexander Melamid / Pavel Makov / Joseph Mills / Renee Stout / Leonid Tishkov

SARA AND MARC SCHILLER
Co-Founders
Wooster Collective, New York, NY

Armsrock / Che Jen / ELBOW-TOE / Faile / Nick Georgiou / Koralie / Anthony Lister / Tomokazu Matsuyama / Judith Supine / Dan Witz / WK INTERACT / Davide Zucco

EMILY SMITH
Curatorial Fellow, Modern and Contemporary Art
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA

Andras J. Bality / Robin Braun / Calvin Burton / Warren Craghead III / Suzanna Fields / Travis Fullerton / Susan Jamison / Sean Samoheyl / Rob Tarbell / Heide Trepanier / Kazaan Viveiros / Bruce Wilhelm

JD TALASEK
Director, Exhibitions and Cultural Programs
National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC

Max Aguilera-Hellweg / Suzanne Anker / Barton Lidice Benes / Justine Cooper / Terry Falke / Joy Garnett / David Maisel / Duane Michals / Orlan / Tim Rollins and K.O.S. / Michael Schultheis / Katherine Sherwood / Arthur Tress

KATHRYN WAT
Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC

Rebecca Clark / Helen Glazer / Freya Grand / Truly Herbert / Maremi Hooff / Judy Jashinsky / Allegra Marquart / Amanda Sauer / Foon Sham / Mark T. Smith / Betsy Stewart / Robert Wiener

2008 CENTERPIECE SCULPTURE CURATOR:

ERIN CHASE MACKAY
Principal
Chase Contemporary Art LLC., Washington, DC

Pattie Porter Firestone / David Henderson / Scott Hutchison / Bridget Sue Lambert / Elaine Langerman / Laurel Lukaszewski / Akemi Maegawa / Sam Noto / Susanna Starr / Catherine White


Please contact Larissa Leclair at wpadcauction@gmail.com for more information on the WPA 2008 Art Auction Gala.