A Great Night for Art - This Friday

This Friday will be a fantastic night to see some art in the DC area. Specifically, two of my good friends, Warren Craghead and John M. Adams, will be opening solo shows on Friday night. I wanted to highlight their work and encourage everyone to visit their receptions if possible but their shows at a minimum.

At Gallery Neptune in Bethesda, Craghead is presenting "How to be Everywhere," a show of drawings, collages and a book based on the poetry of Guillaume Apollinaire. To steal directly from Warren's blog, here are a couple of quick hit blurbs about Apollinaire's influence on this show:

One of the things about Apollinaires poetry I like is his sense of he future. He has an oversized sense of himself and poet/artists in general as seers and prophets - he calls them hills that see farther; he likens them to airplanes (exotic things in the pre WWI 1900s). His work embodies the spirit of that pre-war time, with his eyes fully focussed on the future and how to make it come alive.

and:

Apollinaire was coming from the Symbolist tradition in poetry, a romantic and at times mystical way of writing. His early work is certainly a part of this, but in his first collection, Alcools, one can see him stepping away from all that moonlight and drowsiness and towards the Paris he was living in - one of automobiles, airplanes and what he later called "simultaneity". Think cubism in words.

Here are some sample images from the show:

At last you're tired of this elderly world
mixed media on board
12" x 12"

Wonder of War
mixed media on board
12" x 12"

The cover of the book published by Warren:

And a sample page:

Warren is clearly pushing his work in exciting new directions and I encourage everyone to visit Gallery Neptune to see the show.

HOW TO BE EVERYWHERE
Gallery Neptune , Bethesda, Maryland.
April 6 - 28. 2007, reception Friday April 13, 6 - 9 pm

On the other side of DC, John M. Adams has a busy night with his solo show, "Here and There," opening at the Arlington Arts Center and an installation at Art-o-Matic opening to the public. About his solo show, John writes:

My current body of work activates the perceptual connection between artist, object (or environment), and viewer. The paintings reflect my meditative process of repetitive mark-making through the transparent layers of subtle atmospheric and textured surfaces. These chaotic marks are juxtaposed with the structure of regulated rhythm of horizontal lines. The paintings exude a certain amount of tension created through disparate delineations of space and form. The combination resonates with a quiet vibration that propels the viewer into a composition that facilitates contemplation.

Here's a sample image from the show:

Obscured Vantage
Oil and Acrylic on Birch
48" x 37"

Adams' large oil paintings always impress me and I look forward to seeing his installation at the AAC. There are several other solo shows opening there on Friday night so it will be a greaqt night to visit.

Adams also has work at Art-o-Matic this year. He describes it thusly:

Simultaneously, John M. Adams will be exhibiting a site-specific wall drawing at Artomatic 2007. This drawing is being created directly on the wall using graphite and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. The drawing "Relentless Continuity (part 2)" is a continuation of the drawing presented as part of Adams installation of paintings and a wall drawing at Artomatic 2002. Adams' drawing will be located on the 6th floor, in space Red 6B06. Artomatic 2007 is located at 2121 Crystal Drive, on the 6th and 8th floors. Artomatic will run April 13-May 20, 2007.

I have no clue what to expect with this wall drawing but I am eager to see it.

So, is my Friday night art viewing schedule anything like yours?

5pm - Finish work in Reston, VA and go home to change
5:30 - Drive from Reston to Bethesda
7:00 - Leave Bethesda for Arlington
9:00 - Dinner in Arlington (I'd tell you the name of the Mexican joint but I like the small-ish crowds too much)
10:30 - Art-o-Matic!!
Midnight - Back to Reston

Pretty busy, huh?

Because I seem to have started a once-a-week blog post schedule, I'll leave with one more thought about this years Art-o-Matic. Given the recent success of the event in terms of bringing to light new artistic talent, artists seem to be really pushing their participation in the show. What I mean is, I have received about a dozen email announcements or press releases about an artist's participation in AOM. Honestly, I don't get it. Anyone can participate in AOM so what's the big deal? I can see the other side though. There's a chance that by announcing the show, an artist may increase their chances of landing on a Top 10 list. But I think if the work is good enough, people will find it. It'll make the Top 10 list if it should. So please, artists, no more AOM press releases. Thanks!

Comments

[Tracy]

"So please, artists, no more AOM press releases."

Well, how about it has nothing to do with anyone being able to participate. How about maybe you don't know that this particular artist is showing there and they want you to know!

I'm sending postcards to people with info about the event and my location so that if they go to the show they 1) know that I've got a space there and 2) will know where it is if they care to check it out.

There are over 400 artists - this thing is huge and it's pretty much a maze/rabbit warren. artdc.org is putting together an interactive map so that people can find where the artists are located. you could walk around all day and not see everyone.

[J.T. Kirkland]

I hear you Tracy. But I seriously doubt anyone is going to go to see one artist. Everyone will go see this thing. The viewers will be there. I'll be there.

As for not seeing everything... I'll be curious to see if I can find a particular artist with a location of Blue658345BAG32. We'll see.

I still think the press releases are a bit silly... but I understand why they are being sent. I look forward to seeing it though... the first photos I've seen have been promising.

[wwc]

Thanks for the mention J.T., and all AOMers - you can come see us on Bethesda before the big AOM party starts.

[Laura]

Hey, I love your blog, you sure have gotten to see alot of interesting, and amazing art. I was wondering more about your own art though. When I clicked on the link below the book, it said you were an artist. After seeing all these other artist's amazing work, I'm sure you're probably filled with inspiration. Have you posted pictures of any of your work on here? I'm curious to see :)

[Laura]

Okay. Wow. Disregard my last post, I just saw the link to your art *smacks own head* :P

[J.T. Kirkland]

Ha ha ha... I was just about to point you there.

Thanks!