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A sneak preview of the amazing work to be seen at this show!

Ferama Wobken, Torso, Bronze

View or facebook event invite for a few more pics: here.

Alien Inside

A benefit Art exhibit for PINK JAMS!

Hyattsville, MD. — 20 international artists and breast cancer survivors are exhibiting their work at artdc to benefit PINK JAMS and the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer.

Alien Inside is showing during Breast Cancer Awareness month, running for five weeks from October 2nd to November 6^th, 2010.

OPENING RECEPTION:
SATURDAY OCTOBER 9th
6:00 – 9:00 PM
Live music by Mike Bowers

“This exhibition is filled with stunning, exquisite, and moving work from amazing artists covering multiple genres. Painting, Photography, Digital Collage, Fiber Art, and Sculpture are all represented. These are powerfully emotive pieces.” Curator Deidree Bennett said.

Artists showing (who are generously donating 20% of the proceeds from their works to PINK JAMS!), are:

Dana Ellyn
Dominique Fierro
Fabian Rios Rubino
Ferama Wöbken
Ishim
Joe Hale
Kay Layne
Kevin Mellema
Lisa Pantoja
Margaret Rose Caro
Marie Bergstedt
Miriam Rylands
Paige Coffey
Renee Woodward
Rochelle Rudo
Samara Kaufman
Soline Krug
Tatiana Von Tauber
Terry Peterson
Tom Hill

More info on PINK JAMS! here:
www.pinkjamsdc.com

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Take a look.  We took this video snapshot just before things started to get crowded at the opening.  We documented the show early in the opening reception in an attempt to show you the work sans-crowd.

(image credit: Tim Horjus)

The UMD student curated exhibition at the artdc Gallery

Curators: Owen Duffy and Sahar Somekhian
5710 Baltimore Ave.
Hyattsville, MD 20781
The show runs from September 11^th to October 1st
Opening Reception: Saturday September 18th 6-9 PM

“Square One” is an exhibition that showcases the University of Maryland’s talent through a
variety of media. Curated by two of UMD’s own, the exhibition will highlight the work of six University of Maryland undergraduates, alumni, and faculty. A percentage of each sale will be donated back to the University of Maryland Art Department.

Jay Chmilewski is a photographer from the University of Maryland. He uses photography to explore how our world works and its components. He also uses this media to create his own world, and consequently, make sense of our own.

Erica Federhen is a graphic design student at UMD and her work reflects her academic progress. Her paintings are simple and elegant, using bold color to make simple, but important truths. These works exhibit dynamism, energy, and visual vibrance.
www.vanillacakemix.carbonmade.com

Timothy Horjus received his MFA from the University of Maryland in 2010. He now teaches at UMD and lives in Baltimore. His recent work reinterprets traditional imagery of painted mountains into crisp, angular, geometric forms. Timothy also explores our society’s mass consumption of media, and how it is so integrated into our daily lives.
www.timothyhorjus.com

Christie Liberatore is a UMD undergrad in the department’s honors program. She was also the recipient of the prestigious CAPA scholarship for the fine arts. Her paintings are expressive and emotional, often exhibiting feelings of nostalgia. Her subject matter is chosen as a result of her family’s foray into the restaurant business.

Kunj Patel is a University of Maryland undergraduate in the honors program as well. He uses prints and collage to explore his artistic worldview, which is greatly influenced by his own interest in anthropology and the human body.
www.kunjpatel.carbonmade.com

Fawna Xiao is an undergraduate Studio Art major at the University of Maryland. Her work is based on a narrative, and she focuses strongly on storytelling.
www.fawna.carbonmade.com

Petroleum is risky, as the BP spill has reminded us yet again. It will be more risky, as most new U.S. drilling sites go offshore and drill deeper down and easier sites in foreign countries decline. The gulf spill has severely, perhaps permanently, damaged the Louisiana bayou and a substantial part of the regional economy.

Yet petroleum is also essential. In 2009, the U.S. consumed nearly 5.2 billion barrels of crude oil. Petroleum will remain essential to the economy for years to come.

We searched for works of art through a public call that reflect the environmental devastation from petroleum, or reflect the physical nature of the element, or reflect its essential role in our society. We are interested in conceptual, process, performance, and representational art on or about the subject of petroleum. We would like you to step outside the box to get the viewer to think about petroleum or it’s environmental effects.

Artists:
Heather Miller
D. B. Stovall
Dana Ellyn
Peter Gordon
Joseph Corcoran
Fritz Horstman
Tom Greaves
Eileen Wold
Barry Schmetter
Grayson Heck
Cheryl Edwards
Jennifer Cox
Owen Duffy
David D’Orio

We will donate 25% of sales from this show to support the National Wild Life Federation who’s efforts aid animal clean up from petroleum disasters.

This event is held in conjunction with the Design Studio Gallery’s 3:1 exhibition as a part of our gallery collaboration series. Find out details about their exhibition which will open the following day.
http://www.designstudioartgallery.com/

The reception for coverage was a flawless event.  Packed with art lovers and collectors, we were proud to bring the work of 3 amazing artists to the public.  Sam, a mad man, walked 6.2 miles through the sweltering heat pulling a self built cart the thursday before the reception collecting found objects creating a display of the environment connecting his home to the gallery.  A projection documenting the event connected the public to his performance experience.

Megan has installed an display of mixed media assemblages with grace and texture while Sabeth has produced a fine installation of linotypes.  Works are selling, and there was an air that the economy might be returning the DC area with a great increase of excitement and interest in art collecting.  View the walkthrough below which was shot at the beginning of the reception, and drop us a line if you’re interested in setting up an appointment to view the work.  Plan to come to the artist lecture on the 24th 6 to 8pm.

View more videos from the artdc Gallery at vimeo.com/artdc

[Show as slideshow]

artdc Gallery Presents:
Sabeth Jackson, Megan Mueller, &  Samuel Scharf
July 17, 2010 – August 14, 2010
Opening Reception: July 17, 2010 – 6pm – 8pm
Artist Lecture: July 24, 2010 – 6pm – 8pm

artdc Gallery presents a group exhibition of works that explore coverage with relationship to the body, geog raphy, and memory. Accumulating gestures and layers, while referencing the passage of time, these artists present works of sculpture, painting, printmaking and drawing. Sabeth Jackson’s work chronicles domestic themes and uses archetypal and culturally charged imagery to communicate emotions and stories. Megan Mueller finds inspiration in the architecture of tents and the lifestyles of the transient to investigate the idea of permission. Samuel Scharf explores the physicality of movement, collection and deconstruction.

Sabeth Jackson is a printmaker, painter and artisan. Sabeth studied art at Mesa State College in Colorado and at the University of Oregon. Her work has been exhibited nationally, most recently at the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Silver Spring and the Hillyer Art Space in Washington, D.C.

Megan Mueller holds a BA in Political Science from George Washington University and a BFA in Sculp ture from Virginia Commonwealth University. Mueller has exhibited her work nationally, most recently at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, and the Lexington Art League.

Samuel Scharf attended Rollins College, graduating with a BFA in studio arts. He has shown around the DC metro area at Artdc in Hyattesville Maryland, SU Downtown in Shenandoah Virginia, and the Axis Alley project of Baltimore Maryland. Sam will begin his MFA in Sculpture at American University in Washington D.C. this fall.

“Don’t Feed The Art…” opened well with solid attention and excitement for kinetic art.  This show allows patrons to interact with the work.  Entering the show, you are forced to walk through Zac Jackson’s work.  You’re surrounded by their questioning faces, your left not knowing what they are trying to say, like a slow silent scream.

As you walk in, you’re confronted by Grayson Heck’s tweaking bug that flashes with excitement.  The kinetic nature of Christian’s inflatable work along with the energy and size of Sarah Martin, and Peter Gordon’s works on paper and canvas create impact.    Every work in this show is a tremendous representation of these artist’s creativity and insight into the future of our art scene.  Come, support Maryland area artists.  Support UMD’s artists by increasing your collection with some wonderful works of art from Maryland artists.!

Checkout this snapshot of Peter Gordon’s installation “Smart Grid” 576 growing cups, plastic trays, soil, telephone and power cords and plugs.  He’s obsessed with the future of the over production of obsolescent technology.

Peter Gordon’s “Smart Grid”

Take a look at this walkthrough of “DFTA…” Check back for details on the closing reception on July 9th, 2010.

artdc Gallery
5710 Baltimore Ave.
Hyattsville, MD 20781
Dates: June 5^th to July 10^th 2010

Reception: Friday June 18^th 7:30 to 10pm

View the gallery preview below:

[Show as slideshow]

Don’t feed the art, because it may bite!  Don’t feed the art (DFTA) explores the boundaries of movement in art.  Motion in sculpture is often perceived without existing.  DFTA jumps out with energy and electricity while it sings to you with noise and calamity.  DFTA encompasses a wide range of techniques that are powered by motors and the viewer, creating motion, which ranges from random physical movements to very defined circles.

Christian Benefiel joins an artdc exhibition for the first time.  He’s developed a unique series of wind powered inflatable kinetic sculptures.   While many of his works are directly attached to hose or pump, this sculpture is free standing removed from the blower.  His work occupys space in such a uniuqe way.  You must see it!

Zac Jackson’s disembodied faces moved by servos taunt you with faces reminiscent to fear, pain, and orgasm which grab your attention as the grind, rattle, and shutter.

Peter Gordon, who you may know for the microwave project, the G-40 exhibition, and artdc’s Big,  knocks us out again with installations that make us ask questions, and 2d work that he’s completed with mastery.

Grayson Heck has built an assembly of parts which crank, buz, flap, blink and jitter with an intensity reminiscent of a few too many caps of Adderall.  While his bug taunts you with a winged seizure like activity,  you can play his found metal based art organ.   He’ll give you a demonstration.  It’s mechanized performance art in action.

In a room overflowing with tweaker like energy, Sarah Martin’s paintings jump out and grab your attention with calming power.  With the combination of the size, content, abstraction and technique  she’s managed to create several gigantic 6 foot x 6 foot works of art which convey her abstracted portraits and figures.

Come experience this show.  Come with your checkbook or Visa.  Buy work from all of these artists while we still can.  Collect their work before we can no longer afford it!  We say this often, but we mean it more and more with each show as they grow with quality and energy.

Artist Links:
Zac Jackson
www.zacjackson.com

Christian Benefiel
www.christianbenefiel.com

Grayson Heck
www.graysonheckart.weebly.com

Peter  Gordon
www.petergordonart.com

Sarah Martin

Yes!  It’s that time again!  Gallery cleanup.  We de-installed the ’10 12×12 show, several artists artists in the show helped take down the work and organize it for pickup.  Then Grayson and I started the process of bringing the gallery back to life.  We filled holes, sanded, cleaned up previous drips, stripped the wall plates, tapped what we couldn’t remove, and started to roll paint.  I must say this time around, it looks clean, the room itself is a great canvas for our next show!

Here’s Grayson Heck sitting at the desk we set up to sort the work that sold and make room for other artists to sign out work that didn’t sell.  Collectors purchased 2 of David’s glass rockets, we asked him to bring more, we sold a 3rd, the on on the desk was the only one left!  This show was quite successful and we look forward to doing it again next year.

We can see Zofie Lang, Kelly Perl, and a few other artists help us de-install the 2-d work on the walls.

To me, these perfectly clean walls are beauty.   See the moveable walls with fresh paint on all 4 surfaces!  A simple wonderful surface ready to display new work.  There’s something extremely pleasing to see these walls ready to go; most likely it’s the excitement about the exhibition to come.

Here’s a second image of the left side of the gallery.  Prepped, painted, and ready to hang!  The next show is going to be a knockout!  For a sneak preview, the title is, “Don’t feed the art…”