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artdc Gallery in Hyattsville
“Pinned.” Antoinette Wysocki, Stephen Mead, Ceci Cole McInturff, and Jesse Cohen
(art pinned, nailed, or screwed. No Traditional frames allowed.)
September 5th, 2009 to Oct 3rd
Reception: September 25th 6-9pm

artdc Gallery in Hyattsville
5710 Baltimore Ave
Hyattsville, MD 20781

Antoinette Wysocki
“Stowed Away Forever”

“Pinned.” is inspired by the time spent in our shared studio on NY where Stephen and Antoinette notriously work on surfaces pinned or nailed to the wall.

We developed this studio as a result of artdc.org which developed from a single post on craigslist in 2004. In March ’04, Antoinette posted about change she wanted in the DC area art scene. She wanted more social interaction between the public and the arts like her experiences in San Fransisco where the art scene is part of the social scene. One goes to a gallery, talks about art, then has dinner and drinks. In response to this CL ad, we all met at Teasim on D st. to talk about change. We mused about starting a co-op and bringing energy to rough neighborhoods. We thought about the changes that we could make. Then we looked in our wallets, and said the hell with that.

Roughly around midnight March 28, 2004, the night of the meeting, the start of artdc.org was born with the goal of developing a strong community of artists without large financial backers. Later that year, we had our first public exhibition in an alternative space with David Fogel’s help, where he coined the term, “Art in Transition” which we’ve happily continued for several exhibitions. “Pinned.” pays homage to that exhibition where the work of Jesse Cohen, Antoinette Wysocki, Stephen Mead, and Ceci Cole McInturff all met for the first time in a room off of Eastern Ave.

Since then, we’ve spent serious time and energy bringing community, exhibitions, and activities to the Greater Washington, DC area. Recently we opened our Gallery, 5 years after our initial meeting, and it only seemed apropriate to say thank you to these Founding artists with a show in the space. The art consists of a strong group of works from mixed media to paintings, sculpture, and palladium prints. “Pinned.” boasts of bright colors, deep contrast, dreams, and emotions.

There’s an effortless energy to the way that elements of Antoinette’s work blend together. There’s depth to the layers that she creates with objects moving in and out of the drips and blur. Steve’s art moves with the hard rock that he hears while he paints. In one work you can see sets of Angel’s wings develop out of his mathematical strokes on the canvas.

We look forward to your reactions to this work.

While some enjoyed the labor day weekend with relaxation and beverages by the pool, we spent it handling art.  We created a nightmare by planning the close of two shows on the same day.    All in all it worked out with excellent timing.  On Saturday the 5th we arrived at the Hyattsville space at 11 am to conduct one final tour of the Glass Show.  I’m so sad to see this exhibition end.  We received great attention and so much positive energy from the artists!

At 11:55am we were a little concerned with uninstall fears.  At 11:58am, the first group of artists showed, and they worked like magicians turning the gallery into a clean white walled space, once again.  We have to seriously thank the Washington Glass School, and DC Glass Works for their efforts, professional conduct and hard work.  By 12:45, the walls were clean and new.  We have thank EYA for providing us with the paint specs, so we found the proper white paint to blend in and fix any dings in the walls.

Steven Jones from DC Glass Works using a Hydraulic lift to remove his Memory of Straw bale.   I’m sad to see this work go.  I would love to see this work live in front of the gallery.  It’s a joy to work in a gallery as you can develop bonds with amazing work on a regular basis.  However, there’s the dark side where you have to give up the work once a month.

Megan Van Wagoner and Steven worked quickly and safely removed Joe Corcoran’s work.  While these two images are from DC Glass Works artists (I only had a second to snap a few images), I must say that everyone from both studios  worked hard to bring the space back to it’s original condition.  Many thanks to Erwin Timmers, Michael Janis, Dave D’orio, and all of the artists and patrons who support these two studios.

After letting the paint dry for a moment, Cheryl Edwards, Michael Winger, and I installed the next show, “Pinned.”  with work by Antoinette Wysocki, Ceci Cole McInturff, Stephen Mead, and Jesse Cohen.  Details to come on this show.  No traditional frames are allowed for this exhibition.  Raw canvas, paintings on paper, and photographs are hung bare on the wall while Ceci’s sculpture provides great contrast with the work.  With a great deal of experimentation in hanging Steve’s work, including an attempt at flying the canvas in the middle of the room with finshing line, we decide to pin it to the wall like Antoinette’s since we wanted all of the work to have an equal weight to it.  The reception for this show is on the 25th of September.  Details TBA.

We left the Hyattsville space by 4:30pm in order to rush to the Arlington pop-up gallery where we were holding the close of the ZIP Code Show in partnership with Artoutlet.  (We ended up returning to Hyattsville on the 7th to install Ceci’s work! )

For us, it was quite sad to know that this was the celebration marking the close of a phenomenal expereince in Arlington.  We successfully brought phenominal art by local artists in front of the eyes of many with the support of our sponsors.  We are so thankful.

Here’s an image of Steven Dobbin talking to Dan while uninstialling his work Saturday night at 10pm.  We learned about his obcessions with creating art, the fact that it goes beyond the joy of creating something beautyful, that for him, it’s a necessity that he can’t stop.  It’s something he has to do.  There’s a force pushing him forward to create art weather he likes it or not.  The process is important for him.  The rust is actually induced on the metal cans with acid, while he has some unique proccesses for developing actual rust on the plastic cans.

For the past week, it has been a joy to spend time in this Transitional art space, we were quite happy with the fact that people visited the location to view the art, and really expereince it.  On the week days, visitors came, and stood in front of each work, expereinced it, then they read the statements.  Durring the openings there was a mass of attendancee which even included members of the Arlington County board!  This is exactly what we wanted.  We look forward to great things in the future.  Many thanks to our ZIP Code Show partner Artoutlet, and the ZIP Code exhibition sponsors The Halstead, and CPRO!

We’re 2 days past the opening of the ZIP Code show in Arlington.   The art is top notch by many notable artists including Michael Winger.  He’s a fine artist located in Silver Spring who shows in NY, and DC.  Winger is a master stone carver who now builds “altars to nature” from found objects along the Anacostia river.  Read more about his amazing story at the City Paper.  Winger assembled one of his altars in our South Arlington space.

Winger, next to Altar

Altar to Nature, Michael Winger

There was a lot riding on this exhibition, and we are so pleased with the out come.  We’ve had several collaborations in the past with Art Outlet and this is another positive expereince to add to the books.  The energy was reminicent of the  ’07 opening for the first itteration of the FLUX art show.  Our two rooms, over 2,600 square feet were packed  with artists, art lovers, creatives of all types, and Arlington residents who wanted to expereince the joy and fascination of a true art happening.  We can’t say enough about the art work it self, and the plesaure associated with assembling a thematic show in a transitional space.   The opening included performances which gelled with the art.  There were Dancers, Drummers, Vocalists, and more.  We were pleased to see the public view the exhibition and spend time with the Visual art and performances equally.  There’s a great future for art in South Arlington.

Here’s another preview image of a great work of art by Steven Dobbin.  He’s a phenominal local artist who shows primarily in New York.  We’re pleased to have his installation in this show.  This image depects the zipcode where he found all of these abandoned cans, and the work it self deals with his struggle with the increasing cost of materials required to produce art.  No fears, I hear any remaining paint was disposed of properly.

Artist:  Steven Dobbin
Materials:  Paint Cans

The ZIP Code exhibition is located at Halstead Arlington at 1028 South Walter Reed Drive in Arlington, VA 22204.

Opening Reception: August 29 from 5:30 pm – 12 am
Closing Reception: September 5 from 5 – 10 pm

On-site parking garage available ($1 per hour), NO COVER, Cash Bar

The ZIP Code show is a very special one time art exhibition created in collaboration between Artoutlet and Fine Art Ventures (a.k.a. artdc.org) in partnership with the Halstead, a luxury appartment building in Arlington.  The show is about artists and their relationships with their surroundings.  The work is strong, and we’re pleased to bring this opportunity to area artists to show in a Transitional space.  While the installation is not complete, here are a few sneak peek shoots of the space.

To learn more about this exhibition, please check out these links:

ZIP Code call for entry
Art Outlet Information
DC Art News Article

Here’s a semi panoramic view of the performance room which is located to the right of the Halstead entrance.   We’ve managed to develop a fairly clean gallery style lighting system in a very non-traditional space.  The lighting design comes from a pervious exhibition on U st in 2007.  It was BarryS’ idea, who now has a lot to do with artomatic’s lighting systems.  It’s a small world!

Here’s a close up of Joe Corcoran’s work.

Henrik and Kevin are installing a mural.  This is a sneak peek of the show.  We can’t give everything away!  Come back, we’ll post more images later.

The Low End String Quartet, and A Light Sleeper played at the gallery.  They were simply amazing.  We will be playing their CD’s at the next gallery opening.  You must check these groups out.  It’s just a shame that A Light Sleeper is Chicago based, so we won’t get to see them as often as we should.  This will be the beginning of a great thing.  It’s our intent to bring more music with a creative spirit and energy to the art space.    For a long time, it has been our intent to use artdc.org as an outlet for all sorts of creativity; from visual art to music and more.  Events like this will be an outlet for joining creative forces.  More details about the show to come.  For now, you can find some images and reactions here.

The Express Published an article about the Concert on Saturday.  Find it here.  Stop by, see the art, and stay for some amazing music.

Jonathan of The Low End String Quartet is planning an event at the artdc Gallery. The bands will include A Light Sleeper, The Low End String Quartet, and Pure Horsehair. These groups are creative and they take music to the next level.

Who: artdc Gallery, A Light Sleeper, The Low End String Quartet, Pure Horsehair
What: Concert @ the artdc gallery
When: 7:00pm August 22nd 2009.
Where: artdc Gallery
The Lustine Center
5710 Baltimore Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20781
Arts District Hyattsville by EYA

Read more about this event and the bands involved here.

The Common Element opening on the 15th was packed.  Tons of visitors happy to see the wide range of creativity in sculpture.  It’s personally exciting to say that this is our third sculpture show this year, and the response is quite positive.

Here’s a shot of the gallery, see the mass of people through the glare of the windows:

Find more images here on artdc.org .

We installed the Common Element show this past Sunday and it is simply amazing.  The work is alive.  The glass glows in the sun during the day and sparkles at night!  You must see this exhibit.  Here are a few snap shots from the install.

Memory of Straw bale by Steven Jones

The Path of the Boatman by Sean Hennessey

Give or Take by Joe Corcoran

Anne Plant

Hyattsville, MD – For the first time, Washington Glass School and DC Glass Works will join together for a one-of-a-kind exhibit of glass and sculpture, “The Common Element”.

At artdc Gallery in The Lustine Center of Arts District Hyattsville, 16 artists will display their work, consisting of hand-blown glass, molded and welded sculptures, poured aluminum and bronze, and other techniques.

“We created artdc as a forum to over 2,200 DC-area artists to bring talent together for the purpose of promoting the arts into people’s everyday lifestyles,” said Jesse Cohen, artdc.org founder.  “It’s a rare opportunity to create a collaboration of two of DC’s most renowned organizations – Washington Glass Sichool and DC Glass Works – which allow everyday people to create their own works of art, too.”

Discover glass and sculpture from the area’s leading artists.  Purchase a piece to display in your home or office – or mingle with instructors from both schools.

One of the nation’s leading warm glass studios, The Washington Glass School, has joined forces with the area’s largest hot glass studio DC GlassWorks.  This collaboration has delivered an outstanding sculptural exhibition of work by the member artists and instructors.

The Washington Glass School is known for narrative and content-driven glass work, and DC GlassWorks has become an area favorite for sculptural blown glass artwork. Together they integrate the common element.

WHAT: The Common Element: Glass and Sculpture Exhibit

WHERE: artdc Gallery
The Lustine Center
Arts District Hyattsville
5710 Baltimore Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20781

WHEN: Opening Saturday, August 15, 2009, 4 PM – 6 PM

Open through September 5, 2009

Common Element Artists:

Patrick Burke, David Cook, Joe Corcoran, Cheryl P. Derricotte, Nancy Donnelly, Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis, Steven Jones, Brendan Kager, Jennifer Lindstrom, David D’Orio, Anne Plant, Ragan Sheridan, Erwin Timmers, Megan Van Wagoner and Sue Weisenburger.

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