ECA News Briefs

Istrico Productions releases a new documentary to celebrate the anniversary of Torpedo Factory Art Center. Torpedo Factory Art Center celebrates two major milestones in 2019, the building turned 100 and the Art Center is 45.

The film is produced by Anthony Istrico and is written and directed by Nora Kubach. It explores the Art Center as an early example of placemaking in our country, a structure that went from making weapons of war and serving our nation, to now producing meaningful works of art by inspirational artists, and now serves its community in a different way.

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HEMPHILL Fine Arts has announced that after 15 years on 14th Street, they are moving the gallery to 434 K Street NW. HEMPHILL Fine Arts’ final day at 1515 14th Street NW was December 9, 2019. In January 2020, HEMPHILL Artworks LLC will begin operation at 434 K Street NW, branding as HEMPHILL.

During the remainder of December, they will fine tune systems, put the finishing touches on interior design, and welcome visitors by appointment to see the new gallery space. In early 2020, they open to the public with an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Linling Lu. The Lu show follows her move into an expanded studio space in a historic Baltimore factory and a year of producing large-scale commissions. Lu has created an exhibition tailored to the new gallery space.

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In Situ Conservation of Six 18th-Century French Marble Sculptures
The 15-month in situ conservation treatment of six 17th- and 18th-century French marble sculptures in the East Sculpture Hall of the West Building will begin on December 12 and continue through early 2021. A live video feed will provide a close-up view of the conservation work, and gallery talks, including discussions with conservator Robert Price, will bring the conservation to life. Conservation of the sculptures is funded by a grant from the Bank of America Art Conservation Project.

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“We spent an amazing few days in Charles Town, West Virginia — less than two hours away from home, but a place neither of us had ever been before. In Charles Town we met Bob Shefner, the director of Jefferson County Community Ministries (JCCM) — an incredible organization that provides services to help folks without homes get back on their feet. Bob understood our project immediately and set up an entire day of meetings for us. We talked with everyone from JCCM staff, to the police chief, to the founder of the community gardens. It was a long and intense but incredibly rewarding day. We walked away so impressed by the way Charles Town’s community leaders have learned to disagree amicably and respectfully, and also by the city’s incredible history. Thank you Bob!!!

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DC’s No Kings Collective (Peter Chang and Brandon Hill), have curated a special team of internationally renowned artists to brighten Downtown Silver Spring’s new $10 million revitalization and upgrade.

The new mural project titled Silver Spring Walls features the work the following artists:

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The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati announced the recent acquisition of Samuel F. B. Morse’s ca. 1818 portrait of Major General Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina (1750-1828).

The portrait, depicting Pinckney in military uniform wearing the insignia of the Society of the Cincinnati, had been owned by the Pinckney family since its creation. The Institute bought the portrait at auction at Freeman’s in Philadelphia last month.

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Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) has received a project grant from ARTSFAIRFAX for its upcoming exhibition Moira Dryer: Yours for the Taking, on view January 18–April 18, 2020 at the gallery located at the Reston Town Center. The exhibition is curated by GRACE Executive Director and Curator Lily Siegel, and presented in conjunction with the major exhibition of Dryer’s early work at the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, entitled Moira Dryer: Back in Business, also curated by Lily Siegel.

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Smith Center for Healing and the Arts board has announced the selection of Lisa Simms Booth as the next Executive Director of the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts.

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This year, DC-based visual artist and illustrator Tenbeete Solomon, also known as Trap Bob,  was selected as Pabst Blue Ribbon’s official Art Can winners allowing her out-of-this-world illustration to be featured on over 5 millions, 24oz beer cans that began distributing nationally on October 1.

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International Arts & Artists (IA&A) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the American Folk Art Museum, New York, in celebration of the museum’s upcoming 60^th Anniversary year in 2021. Drawing from the museum’s extensive collection, three exhibitions will be on tour throughout North America from 2021 to 2024.

“We are pleased to partner with International Arts & Artists,” says Director of American Folk Art Museum, Jason T. Busch. “As we celebrate our 30th anniversary at Lincoln Square in Manhattan and approach our 60^th Anniversary as a museum, we want to create opportunities for new audiences to experience the impact of self-taught art across time and place. Through this new partnership with IA&A, the American Folk Art Museum will expand awareness of the museum and our outstanding collection.”

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The James Renwick Alliance announces Texas-based artist Richard W. James as the 2019 winner of its Chrysalis Award for his work in mixed media. The prize constitutes an unrestricted $5,000 award.

The Chrysalis Award was established in 2016 to encourage and support an emerging American craft artist who demonstrates excellence and a commitment to artistic innovation but who does not have major gallery representation.

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Mayor Muriel Bowser presented the 34th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards to honor artists and organizations and celebrate the District’s arts, humanities, and creative communities. The event was produced by DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) and the newly created DC Creative Affairs Office.

“The Mayor’s Arts Awards allows us to showcase and celebrate the artists and makers who shape our hometown flavor and dedicate themselves to sharing their gifts with our community,” said Mayor Bowser. “I am particularly delighted to award this year’s Award for Distinguished Honor to Andy Shallal, who has built Busboys and Poets into hubs of creativity across the region that uplift and empower our artists and performers.”

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The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) is pleased to announce Carol Antezana as the recipient of the 2019-2020 Darkroom Artist Residency, a three month paid residency in CHAW’s darkroom and digital photographic facilities. Her time in residence will culminate in a solo exhibition in the gallery at CHAW in March 2020.

Antezana plans to use her time in residence to explore the relationship between Bolivian mothers and their first generation American daughter(s) through portraiture, self-portraiture, and the incorporation of the traditional Bolivian Aguayo. The Aguayo is a hand woven cloth that Bolivian women traditionally use to carry products or small children their backs for extended periods of time.

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The lead artists of The 50 States Project, a national artistic research project, announced today that they would embark on November 4, 2019 for their year-long trip to make art in communities in all 50 states. The project takes as its starting point the tradition of the American road trip, as seen through the eyes of two local artists, Kate Fleming (painter) and Tom Woodruff (documentary photographer), both natives and residents of Arlington, VA.  The artists have purchased a camper van and will be driving across the country in a year, visiting all 50 states to engage in artistic inquiry about who we are as Americans–as explored through the lens of research, education, and community engagement.

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