Category: Art

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Art Let's talk about People

Neighbor, make it happen!

It’s nice when someone famous or powerful assists in making things better locally.

It’s also nice when others get involved and not wait.

I volunteered at the recent (e)merge Art Fair in Washington DC. As an artist I wanted to experience meeting other artists in exhibition mode. How artists come across to the average buyer or browser and maybe learn something more about the dynamics of social interaction.

Since I was a volunteer, I got to know as many artists as I could and got them to explain their work. I did this in order to point people to their respective booths when asked.

One of the booths I went to was occupied by Beth Hansen and Ann-Marie VanTassell, together with other members of Pleasant Plains Workshop.

Their enthusiasm was indeed infectious as they invited a number of people to take part in their screen printing demos. I did a demo and got to keep the screen printed scarf they helped me make.

It became a nice gift for my wife.

After the Art Fair, we kept in touch by email and I found out that we also have the same interest: children.

I teach children in church the Bible and they teach children and others in their neighborhood art program.

I also found out that the two ladies had met at the Corcoran College of Art + Design in 2007.  Beth had studied printmaking and Ann-Marie photojournalism.

After working for a few years and trying to make art in the city, Beth and Ann-Marie both began to feel the struggles that many young artists face.

Ann-Marie said: “We needed studio space, but we could barely afford rent.  We also missed the sense of an artistic community that we felt while in school.  One day we just decided to band together and make things happen!”

She continued: “We started The Arcade, which is a non-profit dedicated to keeping the arts accessible in our neighborhood.  We do a lot of pop-up workshops with different after school programs focusing mainly on print mediums, but some painting and sculpture gets mixed in there, too.  We are most proud of our after school art program we started with DASH (District Alliance for Safe Housing)” http://www.dashdc.org/2013/10/08/art-group-from-the-childrens-perspective/

Beth reminded me we also feel passionately about preventing domestic violence.

On the platform of life we all find ourselves, it’s good to meet like-minded people.

Check out these game-changers, Beth and Ann-Marie here: http://www.thearcadedc.blogspot.com/

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Arts Barn Exhibition

WITKTV was at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg, MD U.S.A. for the reception of an art exhibition on Tuesday, August 13. It was a pleasant evening, cooler than usual and a relief from the humid summer heat. There are four artists in this exceptional display. Dennis Crayon is a contemporary realist painter, who uses modern composition aesthetics. Mary Exline enjoys the interplay of abstracted forms with natural elements, such as trees and blades of grass. Mary Jo Torrey has a expert hand in using the Encaustic paintng technique. This is a must see exhibition.
WITKTV was at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg, MD U.S.A. for the reception of an art exhibition on Tuesday, August 13 2013.
It was a pleasant evening, cooler than usual and a relief from the humid summer heat. There are four artists in this exceptional display. Dennis Crayon is a contemporary realist painter, who uses modern composition aesthetics. Mary Exline enjoys the interplay of abstracted forms with natural elements, such as trees and blades of grass. Mary Jo Torrey has an expert hand in using the Encaustic paintng technique. Woodwork is by Ken Gwira who keeps to his longstanding theme of: “Women is the key”, amongst other ideas. This is a must see exhibition which continues till September 29, 2013.
barnartists
From left to right: Artists Ken Gwira, Mary Exline, Mary Jo Torrey and Dennis Crayon.

Guests at the Arts Barn Exhibition:

Guests interacting over "Conversation Seat". Artwork in Mahogany wood.
Louise and Betsy interacting over “Conversation Seat” by Ken Gwira in Mahogany wood. A Dennis Crayon painting is in the corner.
Nathalie standing by "Bejewelled" made of a single piece of Wenge wood.
Nathalie standing by “Bejewelled” made of a single piece of Wenge wood.
artsbarnguest3
Dr. Jane Baumblatt and Freshman Becca Gwira enjoying art.