A profusion of interesting, significant and just plain wacky upcoming shows and artist opportunities dictates we run listings this week.
Pearson Square Opens
Illumination, a Falls Church Arts (FCA) show and sale at Don Beyer Volvo (1231 W. Broad St., Falls Church), this Friday evening, Feb. 27, from 7 – 9 p.m.
Traditionally speaking, this is FCA’s biggest and best show of the year. This event marks the long awaited opening of the Pearson Square facility at 410 South Maple Ave. in the City of Falls Church. The opening evening takes place at Don Beyer Volvo, then moves to Pearson Square for the rest of the run beginning Sunday, March 1. Hours on First Friday in Falls Church, March 6, are from 6 – 8 p.m., and likewise the two following weekends March 7-8, and 14-15. Saturday and Sunday hours will be 1 – 4 p.m.
Traveling Sketches
Sketchbook Project Tour Volume 3, at MOCA DC (1054 31 St. NW, Canal Square in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. This is an off-street address in the courtyard across from Sea Catch Restaurant). The event will happen Tuesday evening, March 3, from 7 – 10 p.m. For further information, call 202-342-6230 or visit www.mocadc.org.
This is a one-day show. We must say the folks in Atlanta know how to have a good time in a big, big way. The Art House Gallery in Atlanta runs a profusion of community art projects. The one about to be on view at MOCA DC is a traveling show of artist sketchbooks on a seven city tour, including Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis and Brooklyn, N.Y.
Looks like some 309 artists returned their sketchbooks and are on the bus. All sketchbooks are promised to be available for viewer pawing and perusing. This is a non-juried show, and from the examples seen here, we can safely say the quality runs from A to Z. Think of this one as a traveling Artomatic, and you’ve got the general gist of it all. Sketchbooks will be available for purchase should you be so moved.
We would be gravely remiss if we failed to mention the fact that these folks currently have three open projects you can participate in. The 10,000 word project seeks 10,000 artists to illustrate/interpret one particular word. The Canvas Project 2 asks you to illustrate/interpret five community generated words on five 3×3″ canvases, with the resulting works displayed in the atrium of the Atlanta airport. Finally, the Great Art House Print Exchange 2 asks for 22 prints: one to be shown, one to be kept in the collection and 20 to be sent to other artists around the world – which means you’ll receive 20 prints from assorted participating artists.
Wild stuff, very creative and just plain fun. We have to applaud this whole crazy mess. Art for art’s sake. Bravo! For complete details, see www.arthousecoop.com.
Tamed Debauchery
Spring is in the air – must mean it’s time for the annual erotic art show at MOCA DC.
Erotica 2009 opens next Friday, March 6, from 6 – 9 p.m., or until the craziness runs out of steam, whichever comes later. The show runs through April 4, and typically, has special weekend events scheduled throughout the run. Having said that, opening night is the wildest of all. Past shows have had live figure painting demos, belly dancers and body painting. This year it’s a live photo shoot with a Playboy model (model, not ‘mate) and body painting. As far as real debauchery goes, this is all tame stuff. Then again, as far as art shows go, this one is off the charts. What’s the point of surviving childhood if you can’t enjoy being an adult? For artists wishing to exhibit work, the gallery will be accepting art work at least through next Wednesday.
Free-4-All(-4-A-Day)
Turning a complete 180 degrees: The Washington Project for the Arts holds its 28th Annual Art Auction Gala Saturday, March 7, from 6 p.m. – midnight. Tickets for that event are $300 each. However, the Preview Night is free and open to the public this Thursday night, Feb. 26, from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Curators of the auction selections will talk about their choices culled from some of the best artists in the greater D.C. area.
Mind you, the works will be on display and open to the public during normal museum hours as well, up until the evening of the auction itself, as well as four other art shows also on view at the moment. The night takes place at the Katzen Arts Center Museum at American University (4400 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, D.C.). Museum hours are 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday. Free underground parking is available on weekends and after 5 p.m. weekdays. For complete information, call 202-885-1300 or visit www.american.edu/cas/katzen/museum.
Recycled Esthetics
Two Recycled theme shows are on the horizon. The Arlington Central Library is accepting entries until March 20. For full details and entry forms, call 703-228-5996 or visit www.arlingtonva.us/library.
The Art League Gallery in the Torpedo Factory Art Center will be hosting a recycled members show in April. For more information, call 703-683-1780 or visit www.theartleague.org.
Vienna Arts Society (VAS) Fourth Annual Art Raffle. Tickets are $125 and every ticket takes home a work of art. The art pool will be on view in the VAS building (115 Pleasant St., Vienna) from March 8 until the raffle takes place on March 28. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m ., Tuesday – Saturday. For further information, call 703-319-3971 or visit www.viennaartssociety.org.
Fresh; an exhibition of urban contemporary art at the Target Gallery in the Torpedo Factory, with an open-call deadline for submissions on March 16. For details and forms, call 703-838-4565, ext. 4 or visit www.torpedofactory.org/galleries/targetcallforentry.htm.
Pop Stimulation
The Art of Can 2009, Red Bull can that is. This year’s design/art competition is based here in Washington. Make art out of the body of the Red Bull can (leave your pop-top vest hanging next to your macrame plant hanger) and submit your entry by May 15. Works will be on display downtown at Union Station, Oct. 1 – 12, where they will be judged, with the top three works going on to find fame and honor… whatever that means. We trust caffeine junkies will be burning the midnight oil working on this project. For details, visit www.redbullartofcan.com
