Thursday, October 20, 2016

Tickets on sale now for Transformer's 13th Annual Silent Auction & Benefit Party!



13th Annual Silent Auction & Benefit Party!

Advance purchase tickets at $175 available through November 9
Full price tickets at $200 begin November 10 while available
Advance ticket purchase is required.

Visit Transformer's Auction page at www.transformerdc.org for further
details.

Look for a profile of this year's Auction in the November issue of
DC Magazine, an exclusive Auction Media Sponsor.


Image credits (left to right): Nakeya Brown, Sealing Ends Pt. 2, 2016; Laurel Lukaszewski, Map of Night;
2013; Anne Marchand, Laps de Temps; 2016; Renato D'Agostin, Istanbul, 2013; Rodrigo Carazas,
Number 2 (from series If I'm right, I can't be wrong), 2015; Imen Ahmed, People of Christ, 2016.
__________

t r a n s f o r m e r is a Washington, DC based 501 (c) 3 artist-centered non-profit visual arts organization, providing
a consistent, supportive, and professional platform for emerging artists to explore and present experimental artistic
concepts, build audiences for their work, and advance their careers. A catalyst and advocate for contemporary artists
and emergent expression in the visual arts, Transformer connects and promotes emerging visual artists within
regional, national and international contexts through exhibition and programs partnerships with artists, curators,
commercial galleries, museums and other cultural institutions.

Transformer's 2016/17 Exhibition Series and programs are supported by: The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual
Arts, Altria, The Artery Group, The CrossCurrents Foundation, The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities/NEA,
Philip L. Graham Fund, The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts' Access to
Artistic Excellence Award, The Robert Lehman Foundation, SunTrust, and The Visionary Friends of Transformer.



Transformer, 1404 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005 | 202.483.1102 | transformerdc.org

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

19TH ANNUAL BETHESDA ROW ARTS FESTIVAL TRANSFORMS DOWNTOWN BETHESDA INTO OUTDOOR GALLERY

Original works by world-class artists showcased October 15-16, 2016

The 19th Annual Bethesda Row Arts Festival, recognized as one the leading fine art and crafts festivals in the United States, will bring together 190 world-class artists in an outdoor gallery that transforms the streets of Bethesda Row in Bethesda, Maryland for two days this fall. 

The highly anticipated Festival takes place, rain or shine, Saturday, October 15, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, October 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.  The Bethesda Row Arts Festival offers an art sale benefitting the NIH Children’s Charities, thanks to generous donations from participating artists. More information is available at http://www.bethesdarowarts.org or https://www.facebook.com/BethesdaArtsFestival/ or by calling 301-637-5684.

Participating in this year’s Festival are pioneering artists creating the highest calibre of art available in the United States today. The artisans, from the Washington, DC metro area and from every part of the country, work in media including ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, graphics/printmaking, jewelry, metalwork, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, wood, and mixed media.

All of the artists were selected by a professional jury based on the creativity, innovation, and execution of their original works. A complete list of artists, along with the event schedule, is available at http://www.bethesdarowarts.org.

According to Bethesda Row Arts Festival Director Robin Markowitz, the Festival has become a “must see” for area collectors. “We’ve created an exceptional show of stunning fine art for the serious patron and opportunities to purchase original and unique works of art at every price point for the new collector.” explains Markowitz.

ABOUT THE BETHESDA ROW ARTS FESTIVAL:
Now in its 19th year, the Bethesda Row Arts Festival is ranked as one of the elite fine art fairs by the Art Fair Sourcebook, and is considered one of the Washington, DC metro region’s premier arts and crafts festivals.

ABOUT BETHESDA ROW:
Bethesda Row is located on Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues, Elm Street and Bethesda Lane, east of Arlington Road, in Bethesda, Maryland 20814. It is within easy walking distance from the Bethesda Metro station. Free and paid parking garages are located around the site. With numerous restaurants and cafes, the popular area destination features more than 50 dining options during the Festival. More information is at http://www.bethesdarow.com.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Washington Sculptors Group at King Street Gallery

Landmarks: Washington Sculpture Group
October 24–November 22
Gallery talk October 27 from 5–6 p.m. 
Reception follows from 6–8 p.m.
@
Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center
930 King Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910


Dr. Claudia Rousseau, professor of art history at Montgomery College, curates the exhibition, Landmarks exploring the concept of a landmark in all its possible meanings: from political landmarks to totems to moments of historical change. Montgomery College invited members of the Washington Sculptors Group to submit works that expressed this concept in sculpture. Dr. Rousseau curated the exhibition, choosing works based on a variety of interpretations of landmark.


Exhibiting artists include: Jan Paul Acton, c.l. bigelow, Alan Binstock, Nizette Brennan, Jacqui Crocett, Alonzo Davis, Joel D’Orazio, Kate Doyle, Jeffery Cooper, Annie Farrar, Martin Feldman, Mary Annella Mimi Frank, Marilyn Geldzahler, Linda Hesh, Penny Jacoby, Craig Kraft, Ruth Lozner, Rosemary Luckett, Gordon Lyon, Joan Mayfield, Kass McGowan, Rob Muir, Iris Posne, Christopher Romer, Mike Shaffer, Diane Szczepaniak, L. S. Watson, Roy Ysla, and Julie Zirlin.

Visit http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/arts-tpss/exhibitions/.
Free and open to the public.

About The King Street Gallery:
The gallery is on the ground floor of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center on the west side of the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. The center is located off Georgia Avenue at 930 King Street. Parking is available in the West Campus Garage, located immediately behind the center.

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

The Athenaeum Invitational Exhibition runs through November 6, 2016


Athenaeum logo, hexadecimal
ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, OVER 125 PEOPLE GATHERED TO CELEBRATE:
TTR | Sotheby's International Realty
Underwriting the Athenaeum Invitational
and Providing $2,500 in Prizes for Artists
Megan Beyer Determining Prize Winners
David Carlson Being Awarded the Invited Artist Prize
Karen Fitzgerald Being Awarded the Open-Call Artist Prize



  The Invited Artist Prize Winner: David Carlson, The Other Side of Empty, oil and acrylic on canvas, 60 x 72", 2016

The Athenaeum Gallery is dedicated to the excellent art being created in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV). We strive to include the best of a broad array of styles and genres, the full complement of media, and to reflect the diverse ethnic and cultural fabric of this region. And then we try to add a layer of context, so viewers have more than a purely visual experience. Even if someone doesn't "like" what is on the walls - we hope they will find it compelling, relevant, and thought-provoking. If nothing else, we hope visitors will leave the Athenaeum Gallery with a greater appreciation for the creative forces at work around them - as we do.

  Left Photo: Jennifer Brewer Stone, Tori Cowles and Invited Artist, Sheep Jones. Right Photo: Invited Artist Winner Dave Carlson,
  Open Call Artist Prize Winner Karen Fitzgerald, Rob Carney, TTR | Sotheby's International Realty, Amy Heiden, President of the NVFAA
 Board of Trustees, Twig Murray, NVFAA Board Member and Gallery Director, and Megan Beyer, Executive Director for the President's
 Committee on the Arts and Humanities.


Theme: Oh! The Joy!
The theme invited artists to reflect on a moment of pure joy. It was inspired by  Lewis and Clark's expedition across the unchartered North American continent to reach the Pacific Ocean. After an arduous, two-year trek, William Clark crested a hill, saw the vast body of water and cried, "The Ocean in view. Oh! The joy!" It was suggested that artists might explore that singular burst of relief and satisfaction after enduring a difficult task, the magic of being struck by something unexpected and delightful, or the sudden transformation that is experienced in sheer ebullience. 

In fact, at the moment those words were uttered by Clark, the expedition was actually facing an estuary of the Columbia River, not the open ocean. This presented another aspect of the theme for artists to consider: whether a moment of joy is 'valid' when it is later learned that the reason or impetus for the emotion was wrong or undeserved.

  Left: Chris Brandel, Together, acrylic on canvas, 54 x 54", 2016,   Right: Robin Goree, Orange Garden, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36", 2014

The Athenaeum Invitational Process: 

After deciding on the theme, we selected a small number of artists who have exhibited with us before to create a work specially for the show. Then we posted an 'open call' for submissions to any artist living or working the the DMV. Artists included in the show were selected by Gallery Director Twig Murray. Megan Beyer, Executive Director of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, reviewed the exhibition and determined that the $1,500 Invited Artist Prize would go to David Carlson, and that the $1,000 Open-Call Artist Prize would go to Karen Fitzgerald. The checks were awarded by Rob Carney of TTR | Sotheby's International Realty.
  Left Photo: Invited artist Anne Marchand and Open Call artist Terry Sitz (image courtesy of Anne Marchand Studio), Open Call artist Michael
  Gessner sports his whimsical sculpture, Joy Helmet.

The Invited Artists are:David CarlsonMimi Frank, Sheep Jones, Hannale Lahti, Anne Marchand, Carol Reed, Suzanne Stryk
The Open-Call Artists are:
Kathlyn Avila-Reyes, Carol Barsha, Christine Bernstein, Dennis Bartsch, Chris Brandell, Stephen Estrada, Karen Fitzgerald, Michael Gessner, Robin Goree, Marty Guthrie, Patricia Howard, Joanne Kent, Francois Lampietti, Peter McClintock, Mike McConnell, Lorie McCown, Lilianne Milgrom, Leslie Nolan, Lynn Putney, Cherie Redlinger, Randi Reiss-McCormack, Terry Sitz, Eve Stockton,  David Terrar, Alex Tolstoy, Nanci Varipapa, Suzanne Vigil,  Richard Weiblinger

  The Open-Call Artist Prize Winner: Karen Fitzgerald, Obey All the Rules, Miss All the Fun (II), expired gallery cards and UV resin, 24 x 60", 2016

This exhibit will be on view through November 6, 2016.

NEXT IN THE ATHENAEUM GALLERY
 Katie Baines and Amy Chan | Color Disorder
 November 10 - January 8
  Left: Katie Baines, Ichthyology, acrylic on panel, 36 x 48", 2014
  Right: Amy Chan, Grass of Parnassus, gouache, acrylic, and screen print on paper mounted on panel, 22 x 30", 2014

Both artists use diverse painting materials such as acrylic, gouache, airbrush and screen print to build energized abstract paintings. The richly layered surfaces conjure the formal elements of color, shape, and line, while also taking cues from bizarre real life objects such as coral, bolts of lightning or diatoms. Baines and Chan share an interest in color palettes that evoke meaning and the use of meticulous brushstrokes to convey control in an otherwise uncertain process. With intensely jarring color that flirts with the viewer, their works combine moments of intense observation with a tangible sense of humor to form textured meditations on abstraction and the natural world.
Katie Baines and Amy Chan teach at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Athenaeum Gallery  | 201 Prince Street, Alexandria, Va 22314  |  703.548.0035 / nvfaa.org

The Athenaeum Gallery is open Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 12 to 4 pm, and Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm.  It is closed on holidays. Admission is free.

The NVFAA is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in all forms of art, and to establishing programs that will enrich the cultural life of Northern Virginia and the surrounding metropolitan area. The Athenaeum Gallery exhibits work created solely by artists living or working in the region and strives to present visitors with a wide variety of excellent art and unique experiences.

The NVFAA is partially supported by funding from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.The NVFAA is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or materials in an alternative format contact us at nvfaa@nvfaa.org or call 703.548.0035.
The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association, 201 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314