Art Work Hijacked in Serbia

As the Washington Post has reported*, the art work of five Alex Gallery/Gallery A artists was confiscated, unreasonably, in a remote Serbian border village by intoxicated customs officials.
One week later, the art work is still held hostage.

Paintings by Rosana Azar, Marian Bingham, David Goslin, Judith Judy, and David Suter are included in the hijacked shipment, destined for an exhibit in Bucharest, Romania opening 11/29 at 1800. Please direct outrage at the Serbian Embassy (2134 Kalorama Rd 20008. 202/332-0333. info@serbiaembusa.org).
* http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/serbian-authorities-detain-dc-artist-gallery-owner-seize-dozens-of-artworks/2011/11/21/gIQAULaXjN_story.html

Foundry Gallery: "Lens. Paper? Canvas!" by Sarah Alexander

LENS. PAPER? CANVAS!

Photography by Sarah Alexander

Exhibit Dates: Wednesday, November 30 - Friday, December 30, 2011

Reception Date: Friday, December 2, 2011, 6 - 8 pm

About the Exhibit

Photography is an interesting medium. From its inception, the world was captivated. But the photograph was viewed as a functional item--a record of people and the surrounding world. While the skills and talent involved in producing a sculpture or painting were revered by the public, few saw any artistic value in the photographically recorded image. For years photographers fought for the photographic image to be accepted as a true fine art form. Eventually it was. Composition and technique were considered the cornerstones of the medium and the unique aesthetic formed by mastering those concepts sent apart the artist from the amateur.

Today, the photograph has become probably one of the most ubiquitous items in the world. Unfortunately, it is exactly that pervasiveness that may lead to the end of the photographic art form as we know it today.

With the advent of the digital camera, its reasonable cost, and its amazing ability to almost all of the work for the photographer, it seems that, once again, fewer and fewer people appreciate the artistry and skill involved in taking a beautiful or compelling photograph. Sculpture and painting are still held in awe, with the audience readily acknowledging the existence of a special talent to produce such works. But these days, according to the digital camera manufacturers, if you let the camera do the work for you, anyone can produce something worthy of the wall space.

So what does that means for the future of the photograph? That remains to be seen. Perhaps, like the societies that are documented, the future of the photograph is to constantly morph; to find more mediums on which to present itself until those, too, become mainstream and the medium is forced to evolve again.

This show strikes out on that trail and examines what happens when the photograph is presented in a different format - when it is combined with one of the staples of the fine art world-the canvas. What happens when the photograph meets the canvas? Does it look like a photograph or does it more resemble painting? Is it more interesting than the traditional image on paper? Is it more valued as an art form? Come and see.

NOVEMBER MEMBER’S EXHIBIT

Gallery II and III at the Foundry features member artists’ work that has not been shown before at the Gallery. For an exciting array of work that changes monthly exhibited by a group of talented artists, please be sure to visit Foundry Gallery regularly. All work is for sale. For more information about the Foundry artists, please visit www.foundrygallery.org and click on “Artists”.

FOUNDRY GALLERY

1314 18^TH Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036

New Winter Hours: Wed through Sun 12 – 6 pm

www.foundrygallery.org/202.463.0203

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David Suter at Gallery A

Exhibit extended thru December 31!


David Suter is a beloved local painter and sculptor who made his name as a graphic illustrator for The Washington Post, New York Times, and Time magazine. He was born in DC, and recently returned home after making his name in New York City.

In the works currently on display, Suter seeks forms that we all carry within our collective memory, from cozy fireplaces and ducks on ponds to Grim Reapers and an Every Man being chased, David Suter's work is representational and highly symbolic. Art critic Florie Gilbard explains, “He digs intently into his own psyche to unearth forms that have profound familiarity and meaning – shapes and structures derived from nature, our own bodies, and those of other beings.” Suter paints with acrylic, often composing frames out of found pieces of wood. His sculptures are made of wood, aluminum, glass, and steel. Approximately 35 of works are on display.

More examples of his current work are here: www.alexgalleries.com/David_Suter.php

- Eunice Um

Gallery A
2106 R Street NW
(202) 667-2599
www.alexgalleries.com

Intern Review: Langley Spurlock's Secrets of the Elements 3

Denise Valdez, one of Studio Gallery's interns, wrote this review of Langley Spurlock's newest exhibition at Studio Gallery. The show comes down November 19th! Be sure to come by and see it. We have two receptions left; one this Saturday at 4 and a closing reception on the 19th at 4.


Langley Spurlock's "Californium 98"

Secrets of elements 3: Dark Matters by chemist-turned-artist, Langley Spurlock, is an exhibition of the periodic table turned to art with history behind each piece. This show is an exhibition made for everyone to enjoy and learn something as they see the piece. Pieces such as Tungsten 74 is a light bulb piece that is lit with the lines written by poet and partner John Martin Tarrat, "That's it last flicker end of light as we know it hanging from a thread you gave such a lovely glow nightly night Tungsten sweet dreams". This piece with its beautiful lines flowing down gives the viewer a sense of why we needed this element; without it we would not have incandescent light bulbs. What better way to show off this element with a lit piece such as this.

On the other side of the spectrum we have the Thallium 81 piece in which gives the back story of how Thallium is a toxic element that caused death. This element is tasteless and odorless which made killers favorite it as a form to kill people. Spurlock uses this story and incorporates it in his piece by using the color blue in his piece because the only antidote to this deadly element was Prussian Blue (a type of blue) and writes on top of the pieces that it was poison. Pieces like Californium 98 and Xenon 54 are both pieces that are fun to look at. The Californium piece made with a skateboard and the Californian flag makes it an interesting piece to look at. The Xenon piece made to look like a rocket in purple lighted form is another fun piece to look at because of its unique forms. This gives the viewer a way to automatically know that this element is used in rockets that propel through deep space.

The exhibition is a fun way of learning what each element does and can do while looking at it through Spurlock's perspective. These pieces are educational, bright, fun and well thought out. For all age groups this is also a fun way to teach the younger audience about the periodic table without being in chemistry, or just remind yourself a little about science.