In The Realm of Buddha

Ben Tolman

Check out this talented artist!

Washington, DC artist Ben Tolman is one of the 50 finalists in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2009.  His drawing "Jana" will be up at the museum from October 23, 2009 to August 22, 2010. There will be an opportunity to vote for his piece as the "visitor's favorite" both in person as well as online. Ben is writing a blog as part of the exhibition at http://www.portraitcompetition.si.edu/artist/splash.html. 

http://www.bentolman.com/

Colbert's Bump at the National Portrait Gallery

Watch the video.

The Smithsonian knows how to take a joke, or at least it’s learning. When Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert lobbied on-air for his portrait to be included among the national treasures at the National Museum of American History, the museum’s director Brent Glass played straight man. But the National Portrait Gallery’s former director Marc Pachter, who was the second to hear Colbert’s plea, deserves some props.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Portrait Accepted - Brent Glass

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The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Portrait Accepted - Brent Glass

He played hacky sack with Colbert in a tight gallery space and temporarily hung his portrait in the entryway to the bathrooms just outside the hall of America’s Presidents. Glass redeemed himself when he reconsidered, as well. The portrait now hangs in the American History museum, next to Dumbo the flying elephant. Word on the street is that Colbert is pitting his portrait against Fairey’s Obama in a face off. He has asked the National Portrait Gallery to calculate whether Fairey’s is more popular than his, based on visitation numbers.

Source: Around the Mall

Unveiling Shepard Fairey’s Obama “Hope” @ Smithsonian: National Portrait Gallery

AM is online with Photos of Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery unveiling and inducting Shepard Fairey’s symbolic “Hope” image of Barack Obama.

Martin Irvine of the Irvine Contemporary was credited for dedicating the time and effort to make this possible.

Arrested Motion Blogpost

Green Light

Sept. 17, 2008 through Jan. 4, 2009

VSA arts and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., present “Green Light,” a juried exhibition by emerging artists with disabilities. The exhibition includes video, drawing, digital prints, sculpture, and painting. The theme “Green Light” challenged artists to consider the motivations behind their work and the infinite possibilities that creativity provides.

Alexander Appel
Katrina Cathcart
Lissa Corona
April Dill
Emily Eifler
Oddree Freitas
Franco Gassant
Ervin Gray
Michelle Herman
Michelle Jasmin
Danya Lang
Elise Mravunac
Sarah Muehlbauer
Daniel McFarlane
PJ Smalley

S. Dillon Ripley Center
1100 Jefferson Drive, S.W.
Washington, DC
202/628-28
http://www.vsarts.org

Ned Rifkin Resigns as Smithsonian's Under Secretary for Art

Ned Rifkin, the Under Secretary for Art at the Smithsonian Institution, announced today he will resign his position, effective April 11.

The Acting Secretary has announced that he will not replace Rifkin. Instead, the art museums and organizations that Rifkin oversaw will now report to the Smithsonian's Acting Under Secretary for History and Culture Richard Kurin.

Read more here.

Day of the Dead

CELEBRATION
Friday, November 2, at 7:00 pm

Mexican Cultural Institute | 2829 16th Street N.W. | Washington , D.C.

Tamales, pan de muerto and chocolate $ 10.00
(Children under 12 $ 5.00)
Limited space available
Pick up your ticket before 1:00 pm November 2nd at the Mexican Cultural Institute
or call (202) 728-1675 and pay at the door
Business casual

The Mexican Cultural Institute’s annual opening of the Altar de Muertos (Altar of the Dead) in celebration of the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is one of the most important events of the year. On this occasion the Altar will be dedicated to Frida Kahlo, celebrating the 100th anniversary of her birth. Frida Kahlo is undoubtedly one of the most influential Mexican women artists and was instrumental in introducing Mexico and its culture to the world. “Mexico at the Smithsonian” is proud to present a series of events commemorating the 100th anniversary of Frida Kahlo’s birth in 1907.

America's Art Museum - the Smithsonian

Holland Cotter wrote a piece about America's Museum on the Mall.

"WELCOME to the Smithsonian — America’s museum !” Lawrence M. Small, the Smithsonian’s recently ousted top executive, wrote in a peppy preface to the latest edition of the institution’s official guidebook. “Our goal,” he declared, “is nothing less” than to “set the standard of museum going excellence for the world.”

"Mr. Small was right about the Smithsonian being America’s museum. It is and has been since 1836, when the government accepted a gift from James Smithson, a British scientist who wanted to found “an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge” for a young nation. (Smithson, who never set foot in America, is buried near the Smithsonian Castle.)" ..."That national identity is the real reason to care about what shape the Smithsonian is in."

read article here.

The Smithsonian Challenge

"From the very beginning of his stewardship of the Smithsonian Institution, Lawrence Small proved that he was inept at the delicate art of raising private money for a public institution. Mr. Small, who resigned last weekend, was hired to operate the Smithsonian in a businesslike manner, in keeping with his nonscientific background as an executive at Citibank and Fannie Mae." Todays New York Times Editorial read here.