ECA News Briefs

The Smithsonian American Art Museum announced that artists Lauren Fensterstock, Timothy Horn, Debora Moore and Rowland Ricketts will be featured in the biennial craft invitational at its Renwick Gallery in 2020. All four artists look to nature for inspiration to help explain what it means to be human in a world that is increasingly chaotic and divorced from the physical landscape. Working in a wide range of materials—including fiber, metal and glass—these artists bring new and unique approaches to the long history of art’s engagement with the natural world.

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September 23, 2019 (Reston, VA): The Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) announced today that its Board Chair, Robert Goudie, has been appointed by Governor Ralph Northam to the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA), the state agency that supports the arts through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Governor’s press release announcing the appointment can be found here.

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The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) Board of Commissioners announces the appointment of Heran Sereke-Brhan as Interim Director for CAH. The agency’s previous Executive Director, Terrie Rouse-Rosario, officially ended her incumbency on September 30, 2019.

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In partnership with the Revenue Authority of Prince George’s County, Joe’s Movement Emporium (Joe’s) is launching “Creative Suitland”, a creative placemaking project in partnership with the community of the greater Suitland, MD area. Joe’s was approached by the Revenue Authority to enhance arts and cultural activities as a means to boost the local creative community.  Joe’s is a leader in the creation of the Gateway Arts District and the Art Lives Here initiative that informed the organization’s expertise in the field of creative placemaking.  A vacant strip mall space, formerly occupied by Hunter Memorial AME Church, is currently in renovation to become the Creative Suitland Arts Center, located at 4719 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD.  The venue is across the street from the Census Bureau offices and walking distance to the Suitland Metro Station.  An opening is planned for January 2020 that will allow all to tour the planned theater, studios, arts education classrooms, offices and meet artist partners.  This project will be the second arts center in Prince George’s County for Joe’s.

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The Government of the District of Columbia Department of General Services (DCDGS) announced the acquisition and permanent installation of “Hope and Dream Under Glory” by celebrated Washington DC contemporary artist Victor Ekpuk. “Hope and Dream Under Glory” made its debut this week and was installed in front of Boone Elementary School. The artwork was created to stimulate the minds of young students and reflect the cultural and historical impact of the community. The 20-feet statue is the first artwork installed permanently outside the school. It is also the largest public art in South East Washington DC.

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The Kreeger Museum announces the establishment of the Marilyn Lichtman Distinguished Speaker Series. This series will bring leaders in art communities and institutions across the United States to the Museum to engage with audiences on a multitude of issues relating to art and contemporary culture.

The Marilyn Lichtman Distinguished Speaker series is supported by The Lichtman Fund, established in Marilyn’s honor by her son and daughter-in-law, David Lichtman and Margaret Mak.

Marilyn Lichtman, retired professor of educational research and evaluation from Virginia Tech, attended The University of Chicago as an undergraduate and received a doctorate in Educational Research from The George Washington University. She is currently on the editorial boards of The Qualitative Report and Forum: Qualitative Social Research (FQS), both online journals devoted to qualitative issues. She has served as a consultant to many school systems, private companies, and government agencies.

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DC GlassWorks – one of the glass studios integral to Washington DC’s contemporary art scene – has announced its closing soon.

David D’Orio, the artist-entrepreneur who founded the hotshop with four other artists (Graham Caldwell, Jesse Caldwell, Alger Dole, Wyndell Williams, David D’Orio) in 2001 said that the changes in the studio’s surrounding area made it impossible to continue.

We know what an important part DC GlassWorks has been to our art community. Its closing will leave a space in our hearts and our cultural melting pot.

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A new state-of-the-art Fire Station 10 is coming to Rosslyn as part of The Highlands, a mixed-use development project by Penzance. As part of the project, artists David and Eli Hess were commissioned to develop a site-specific work of public art for the façade of the station.

Inspired by the history and function of the station, the design consists of a larger-than-life bronze fire hose nozzle with twisting spirals of stainless steel representing a powerful spray of water that will be illuminated at night. The sculpture is designed to be a beacon honoring the fire department and reflecting its long-standing work in the surrounding community while enhancing the public space within The Highlands.

For more information, visit publicart.arlingtonva.

(via Arlington Cultural Affairs. Photo courtesy of Arlington Cultural Affairs.)

ARTSFAIRFAX announces the presentation of the 2019 Emerging Arts Award to NextStop Theatre, the Arts Achievement Award to Foon Sham and the Arts Philanthropy Award to Stephen Roberts.  Honorees will join 2019 Jinx Hazel Award honorees, Fairfax County Board of Supervisor Chairman Sharon Bulova and Shashi and Margaret Gupta at the 2019 Arts Awards on Friday, October 18 at the Fairview Park Marriott Hotel from 12 -2 p.m.

Each year ARTSFAIRFAX celebrates the arts with the Arts Awards, recognizing individuals and arts organizations who have made significant contributions to the arts in Fairfax County.

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Peterson Company has notified Craig Kraft that his monumental neon sculpture “Lightweb” will be removed after the first of the year. It is located in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland on Ellsworth Ave. Commissioned by Montgomery County and Peterson Co. , the 38′ x 10′ x 10′ rolled aluminum and neon sculpture was created in 2004.

Here is a link to a review of “Lightweb,” done by Sculpture Magazine: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/1b1c0a_d02ce996cc714e47ae98d34749c8e0ae.pdf

Whoever claims the piece will be responsible for all costs associated with the deinstallation, transport, and re-installation of the sculpture.

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“September 16, 2019 – Pretty soon, you won’t recognize the place. Promise.” Those were the words, inscribed on a developer’s billboard on the corner of 4th & Florida Avenue, NE, in DC, circa 2011, that prompted photographer and native Washingtonian Carolyn Toye to publish her images of the city in a new photobook: The DC I See—Art of a Vanishing City with a foreword by Phil Hutinet, publisher of East City Art.

Since 2004, Toye had quietly pursued her passion to photograph the city, rarely sharing her work publicly. But, after seeing the developer’s words, announcing their plans to develop near the historic DC Farmers Market, she felt it was time to share her images of DC—many of which had already vanished from the landscape, having succumbed to the city’s sweeping gentrification and redevelopment.

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11:ELEVEN GALLERY is a new and cutting edge, commercial art gallery coming to Washington DC, specializing in UK contemporary and urban art to suit all budgets.  The gallery is already set to change the local aesthetic and the Districts approach to collecting art, by launching an online store along with an innovative and exciting ‘Art A La Carte’ service for local businesses.

11:ELEVEN GALLERY offers some of the UK’s most prolific and exciting contemporary and urban artists, to buy and rent, including original and limited edition works by artists including but not limited to Banksy, Ben Eine, Harland Miller, Tracy Emin, and Pure Evil. The gallery will also feature pieces by talented emerging artists including Ally McIntryre, Ben Slow, Charming Baker, Delphine Lebourgeois, Lakwena, Matt Small, and Sara Pope.

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ARTSFAIRFAX, Fairfax County’s designated local arts agency, announces $396,703 in Operating Support Grants to 37 arts organizations in the County and Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church for the fiscal year 2020. These grants annually support more than 14,000 performances, exhibitions, events, classes, and other activities, and engage audiences of more than 400,000 Fairfax County residents and visitors.

ARTSFAIRFAX’s Operating Support Grant awards range from $500 to $50,000 for arts and cultural organizations based within Fairfax County and the Cities of Falls Church and Fairfax. Grants were determined through a panel review process that ensures that the recipients meet the highest artistic and management standards as well as diverse public engagement that strengthens communities through the arts.

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Alicia Cosnahan recently completed the new mural at 8120 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD. The third installment of Bethesda’s “Paint the Town,” an initiative to promote public art murals in downtown Bethesda, resulted in a vibrant new sunflower and hummingbird that now welcomes visitors to and enhances the landscape of downtown Bethesda.

“We are thrilled that a new “Paint the Town” mural has been completed,” said Cathy Bernard, President of the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, “Because of the partnership and generosity of The Bernstein Companies as well as Alicia’s vision for creative and colorful street art, this part of Wisconsin Avenue is now adorned and beautified with a vivid new mural.”

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