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Congrats!

On Thursday, February 9, the Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center named my good friend Susan Makara, their 2012 Artist of the Year. Laurie Fields was named runner-up.

In selecting Ms. Makara, Juror William Schran, Assistant Dean of Fine Arts at Northern Virginia Community College, said, “Susan demonstrates a command of the medium with powerful imagery that speaks to the viewer, yet presents a sense of mystery. There is a haunting dream-like quality with the figures, all hidden behind masks. Behind the mask, who is looking at whom?”

Ms. Makara’s entry is entitled “Masks.” The series includes 15 works, ten paintings and five sketches. In Ms. Makara’s words, “Masks showcases my strongest and most fantastical work to date. The ideas for the series come from my imagination, visible only in my minds’ eye until I paint them. We all wear masks. Our true feelings and thoughts are not always revealed for others to see. Sometimes we hide the person within.

Susan Makara holds a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. She served as assistant art director at a Model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington, DC and as art director for the PBS series “Powerhouse.” Her work can be found in the School of Art Museum in Buenos Aires, at the U.S. State Department, in the homes of James Brady and Barbara Bush, and at the Garden Court in Jordan’s Royal Palace.

Ms. Makara’s winning works will be exhibited in the Target Gallery from July 1 to July 29, 2012. A reception will be held in her honor on July 12 in the Target Gallery, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The event will be open to the public.

By: Craig Sorensen

As the end of 2011 approached, I had lived over sixteen years at the same address. The longest I had ever lived at any one address in my life. I had been working for the same company, and for thirteen years been in the same job. For a man who had lived through a lot of changes in his life before that, it was an unprecedented trend of consistency. It gave me time to really pour myself into my passion for writing.

I got nice and comfy.

Along came an offer to move on to a new company, new city, new business. It was an excellent offer, and yet I hesitated. I was in a good place, despite some concerns about the future in that current job.

Yes, I hesitated at an offer that was beyond tempting.

Sometimes we find we don’t want change. Sometimes, it seems, change wants us.

Don’t Change a Thing

I said not to change. I wanted you, loved you, married you, just as you are. Don’t change, I said.

Not one of the long blonde hairs on your head, perfectly coiffed. Not your clear face, totally unadorned by makeup. Don’t change those bright dresses that light up a room when you enter, bare legs extending from your short dresses to ever-present sandals. That big smile that warms me when I’m feeling down. Your round glasses, so out of the step with the current fashion, magnifying your brown eyes like precious gems, begging me to take you, but first a nice dinner you made. You rise, knees close together, hands cross at your lower back, nipples that could cut glass. I reach up your dress, your thighs widen. “I’m yours,” you whisper.

“Yes you are,” and I lift you over my shoulder and haul you down the hall, toss you on the bed, your playful laugh at the urgency you so easily seduce.

But tonight, you suggested a restaurant where I’ve never been.

I wait.

I wait.

You have never been late. Someone turns my head as she walks into the room. Hair bobbed short, jet black and tousled. Meticulous makeup on her face. A conservative, dark dark dress with silk stockings extending from the low hem line. High heels clack slowly, and I can tell, despite competent grace, how unpracticed she is in them. I feel my brow lift higher and higher.

Your eyes suddenly a deep emerald green as you take the seat across from me, and act aloof. You don’t grab my hand the way you usually do.

How dare you.
How dare you!
Words fail me and my jaw falls slack.
I reach in my pants and turned the uninvited, uncomfortable thing to twelve o’clock.

Hardly a word spoken, we nibble on the appetizer you order. You suddenly hold up a key to a room in the hotel upstairs. I want to hesitate. You take my hand under the table and place it on your silk clad knee. I slide up and feel where the garter binds. You shove my hand away as if you didn’t invite me.

You pay for the half consumed appetizer. “No, there’s nothing wrong,” you say to the waiter, who can’t take his eyes off you. “My appetite just changed. A woman’s prerogative.” You nod my way and almost smile for the first time tonight. You stand up and wait.

Slowly, I rise.

On the elevator ride, I want to ask who you are, but I have some idea. I know there is a part of you that craves control, but rarely admits itself. I follow you. I worry. I am so hard as you unlock the door. I wonder what waits inside. You walk into the room and don’t turn on the light. “Come in. Get naked,” you command.

I hesitate. Briefly. “Yes, ma’am.”

Art for Humanity Auction

I am honored to be one of the invited artists to participate in the first ever Art for Humanity Auction & Cocktail Reception 2012, which is the first annual fundraiser to support the work of Habitat for Humanity in Washington, D.C. It will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2012.

DC Habitat will be honoring Peggy Cooper Caftritz for “the significant role she has played in advancing the arts and education in Washington, D.C.”

Produced in collaboration with artnet Auctions, the Art for Humanity Auction features a collection of work by prominent contemporary artists from the local, national and international communities, including yours truly.

The event will take place at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, a “spectacularly modern space designed by award-winning architect Mark McInturff and Theatre Projects Consultants. Located in the heart of Washington’s Penn Quarter, at the corner of 7th and D Streets, NW, the theatre is easily accessible to parking garages.”

Music by The Washington Jazz Arts Institute Ensemble.

Details here.

Magic Words: Using Erotic Writing To Explore Your Hidden Sexuality And Spirituality

Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 07:30pm
$15-30 sliding scale
Center For Sex And Culture
1349 Mission Street (at Grace Street between 9th and 10th streets) in San Francisco

There are many ways to reach your inner sexual and spiritual self — but one of the most surprisingly powerful paths is through the written word. In this lecture/workshop, participants will hear how erotic writing (fiction as well non-fiction) can reach hidden places that often lay unexposed, help make personal discoveries and to assist in a personal journey of self and sensuality. Participants will learn how to free their erotic writing voices, how to develop their writing towards discovering their erotic spirits within, and when to silence — and when to listen — to the inner critic.

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Sex Sells: How To Write & Sell Erotica
Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 07:30pm
$15-30 sliding scale
Center For Sex And Culture
1349 Mission Street (at Grace Street between 9th and 10th streets) in San Francisco

The market for erotic fiction and nonfiction is booming! There actually is a secret to writing great erotica – and you’ll discover just what that is in this fun, hands-on workshop with well-known erotica writer and teacher M. Christian.

For the beginning writer, erotica can be the ideal place to begin writing, getting published, and — best of all — earning money. And for the experienced writer, erotica can be an excellent way to beef up your resume and hone your writing skills. M. Christian will review the varieties of personal and literary expression possible in this exciting and expanding field. He’ll also teach you techniques for creating love and sex scenes that sizzle.

Plus: current pay rates, how to write for a wide variety of erotic genres, where and how to submit your erotic writing, and more.

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Sex Magic: Manifesting Positive Life Energy Through Erotic Play

Thursday, April 26, 2012 · 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
$20 Non-Members, $15 Members (smOdyssey, Inc.)
Private Location in San Jose

Eve sees her face for the first time

And here’s a second version of the collaborative piece that I am now doing with about 60 women from around the planet (and I need more! Up to 200 faces needed!) in which our Biblical Mom sees her face for the first time.

I need faces from women of all four races, all ethnicities and all ages. All that you need to do is send me an image to lenny@lennycampello.com – all participants gets a free print or some form of artwork from me as a thank you!

Opportunity for Artists

Deadline: March 19, 12

Forged: Torpedo Factory Art Center/Target Gallery. Exhibition Dates: May 19th – June 24th, 2012.

Description: This is a media specific sculptural exhibition that explores the contemporary approaches to forged metal work. The work can range in size with the stipulation that it incorporates forged metal elements. This is open to all artists nationally and internationally.

Juror: Twylene Moyer: Twylene Moyer, managing editor of Sculpture magazine, has published numerous articles and catalogue essays on contemporary art. She has been a featured speaker at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and at SOFA Chicago and has juried and curated several exhibitions, including “Insight Out” and “Disintegration” at the Arlington Arts Center. She is the co-editor of The New Earthwork: Art, Action, Agency, A Sculpture Reader, Conversations on Sculpture, and Landscapes for Art, all distributed by the University of Washington Press.

Website here.

Opportunity for artists

Deadline: This Friday!

The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is looking for local and regional artists to display and sell their fine art and fine craft during the Bethesda Artist Market. This year’s Market will take place on three Saturdays this summer: June 9, July 14 and August 11.

· Each artist must submit five images of their work and one image of their booth.

· The images must be representative of the work the artist plans to exhibit at the Bethesda Artist Market.

· A non-refundable entry fee of $15 must accompany the application.

· A $50 booth fee will be required for each Market the artist attends, due after artist is accepted into the show.

Apply online here. If you would like a mail-in application, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

Bethesda Urban Partnership
c/o Valerie Hillman
7700 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814

Artists’ Websites: Richard Paul Weiblinger

Richard Paul Weiblinger writes that “Through my photographs I strive to reveal a passion for exploring nature and our world. I prefer subjects that lead to images with chromatic strength and use creative lighting to not only illuminate my subjects but also to give them a dream-like, surreal quality. The process of photography allows me to pursue the art of transforming everyday objects into images that progress from “everyday” to art.”

Check him out here.

Another DC gallery bites the dust

(Via) The Lamont Bishop Gallery, which just opened last year, is already closing its doors.

Furthermore, according to their landlord “They are 6 months in arrears in rent etc. and an eviction is forthcoming.”

“H@ndymen” – Balancing Work, Art, and Cultural Themes

Takoma Park Community Center Atrium Gallery will have a series of paintings by Silver Spring artist Harry Stone.

Harry Stone is a contractor/business owner/family-man by day, and an artist by night.

A self-taught painter in acrylics and oil who works from a studio in his suburban Silver Spring home, Harry spends free hours pouring over books on art, history, science, philosophy, and technology. He is interested in the way public figures become purveyors of pop culture, accepted theory, mass marketing, and popular opinion.

Harry’s paintings portray the tension of balancing contracting work, creative output, personal introspection, and social commentary. In his dozens of joyfully textured, patterned, and stylized portraits, Harry depicts one particular type of bearded male subject again and again. The hands depict the mood of the subject. His abstracted figures are often shown with tools of the construction trade alongside reference to art and mainstream culture. Harry’s purely intuitive approach is original, layered, and fresh; derivative of graffiti, primitively rendered.

Often using text in his paintings, Harry forges intellectual connections with the viewer by quoting and purposely misquoting accepted genius, referencing the ubiquitous presence of a Hollywood icon, or turning a familiar quote on its head. The text functions as both art and sub-caption. With a nod and a wink, Harry Stone acknowledges the prominence of original ideas, puts them into a new context, and challenges their permanence in today’s world.

Acrylic Paintings by Harry Stone will be featured in an exhibition at the Takoma Park Community Center Atrium Gallery, located at 7500 Maple Avenue in Takoma Park, MD, from March 16- May 10, 2012.

An artist’s reception will be held on Friday, March 23, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM in the Atrium Gallery. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information contact:

Harry Stone, harrystonestudio@gmail.com 240.476.7007
Alison Carr, ExhibitsDirector@takomagov.org 240.938.0457

C’mon women!

Yesterday I discussed my new digital drawing titled “Eve sees herself for the first time” and I told you that I need help with it!

Wanna be in this piece?

In the pond in front of our Biblical mother, I will insert a digital device which will play 200 portraits of women of all ages, all four races and multiple ethnic backgrounds… if you’re a woman interested in being in the piece, send me an email to lenny@lennycampello.com with your picture… free signed print to all participants!

I’ve received about 30 submissions so far, but I can load up to 200, so the more the merrier!

Below are some early tests with some of the images received so far (and guys, don’t feel bad – the call for assistance for Adam is coming soon):

Smut by the Sea
Editor: Victoria Blisse & Lucy Felthouse
Publisher: House of Erotica 
Deadline: June 1, 2012
Payment & Rights: Royalties will be split 50% of the net profits with contributing authors. £5 minimum payment per poem 300 words and shorter. All rights for 6 years.

The Smut By The Sea anthology will feature stories from a variety of genres, but they must have that overall “Seaside” feel, either in location or style.

Length: 4,000 to 6,000 words
Genres: Any
Heat Levels: Any
Ending: Any
Orientation: Any
Submissions Due: June 1st, 2012

Royalties will be split 50% of the net profits with contributing authors, exact values will be given once we know how many stories will be in the final anthology.

We’ll also be accepting Poetry submissions for in between the stories.

Length: up to 1,000 words
Types: Haiku, Limericks, Free Verse & Rhyming
Heat Levels: Any
Submissions Due: June 1st, 2012

Contributing Poets will receive a one time payment per Poem based on length and quality.

Submit your story/poem by emailing it as an .doc, .txt or .pdf attachment to victoria[at]victoriablisse.co.uk. (Please include Pen Name, Author Bio, Website URL, Genre, Wordcount)

Wanna be in my next digital drawing?

This is “Eve sees herself for the first time” and I need help with it!

Wanna be in this piece?

In the pond in front of our Biblical mother, I will insert a digital device which will play 200 portraits of women of all ages, all four races and multiple ethnic backgrounds… if you’re a woman interested in being in the piece, send me an email to lenny@lennycampello.com… free signed print to all participants!

New Gallery in town

La Luna Gallery is new to me and they wanted me to invite all of you to the exhibition and opening receptions of leading contemporary Irish artist, Roisin Fitzpatrick. This is a wonderful opportunity to see Ms Fitzpatrick’s art in Washington D.C.

Roisin’s original artworks, created with the finest quality crystals and silk on canvas, with themes inspired by her Celtic heritage and the cosmos have been described as:

“Inspiring!” Deepak Chopra

“A great example of contemporary Irish art.” H.E. Michael Collins, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States

“Inspires us to connect with the light within, creating more peace and joy in our lives.” Mark Burnett, TV producer of Emmy Awards and The Voice and Roma Downey actress from Touched by an Angel

“Brings beauty and nature together, expressing intricate patterns with simple elegance.” Forbes

“Fitzpatrick’s rise in the art world in New York has been nothing short of meteoric.” Arts Editor of the Irish Central and Irish Voice.

Exhibition Dates: March 1 to April 30, 2012.
Opening Reception: with Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley on Thursday March 22nd, from 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.
Party: with the Artist on Saturday March 24, from 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

RSVP: as early as possible to info@lalunagallerydc.com or 202 316 4481, as spaces are limited.

Tour of exhibition with the artist: Call Roisin on 347 549 0551 or visit during gallery hours, Mon- Sat, 11 am-6 pm & Thurs 7pm.

La Luna Gallery, Palisades, D.C.
5171 MacArthur Blvd, NW
Washington, DC 20016

Woody quotes

I’ve never been an intellectual but I have this look.
— Woody Allen

Opportunity for DC area artists

Deadline: April 19, 2012

The Capitol Hill ART League presents its Third Annual Metro DC open juried exhibition: It’s a Wonderful World?

All artists, 18 years of age or older residing in the Washington, DC metropolitan area are eligible to enter.

Deadline for submissions is Thursday April 19, 2012.

The Capitol Hill ART League (CHAL) is a program of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. Located in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington, DC, CHAL is composed of approximately 100 artists. Each season CHAL mounts a series of seven juried exhibitions and conducts gallery talks at the openings; CHAL hosts lectures on a variety of art related topics, offers workshops, and strives to develop a supportive artistic community. The greater Washington community is encouraged to participate in all of these events.

JUROR: I am honored to return as this year’s juror.

ENTRY: Selections for the show will be made by the judge from JPEG images submitted by the artists. All work must be original and signed by the artist. Any work previously shown at a Capitol Hill ART League juried show is ineligible. All work must have been created within the last three years.

ENTRY FEES: Up to 3 entries may be submitted for a non-refundable fee of $15 for current Capitol Hill Art League members or $30 for the community at large (non members). Up to two additional entries may be submitted at $5 each. Artists submitting 3-dimensional work may provide two images of each piece.

AWARDS: Awards will be decided by the judge and will include cash awards for ‘Best in Show’, and ‘Merit’ awards. Two Honorable mentions will be awarded. All awards will be presented at the opening reception with the judge’s talk on Saturday, May 12, 2011 from 5:00-7:00 PM.

SALES: A 30% commission will be deducted from CHAL members’ exhibition sales and 35% commission on all non-member exhibition sales. All work must be for sale and the price submitted on the registration form will be the price presented at the time of the show for accepted work.

Exhibition Calendar:
April 19, 2012 – deadline for entries
April 30, 2012 – Notification sent to accepted Artists
May 4-9, 2012 – Art delivery dates
May 12, 2012 – Artists’ Reception and Awards, Presentation (5:00 – 7:00 pm)
June 1, 2012 – Exhibition closes
June 2-6, 2012 – Pick up artwork

Contact info: caphillartleague@yahoo.com Prospectus at: www.caphillartleague.org

Monster

There’s a really cool group show coming together at Marlboro Gallery at Prince Georges Community College. Each artist was asked to create new work and a statement in two months based on the theme “Monster.”

Curated by Adam Bradley, I can see that this is a really great group of artists and I bet there will be some fantastic work in the show.

It opened Monday, there is a reception on Thursday the 8th from 6-8:30PM. Here is a list of artists:

Thomas Berault
Adam Bradley
Scott G. Brooks
Lisa Montag Brotman
Patrick Burke
David D’Orio
Margarida Kendall-Hull
Steven Jones
David Lee Page
Suzanne Pender
Erik Thor Sandberg
Rachel Schmidt
Megan Von Wagner
Sean Watkins
Sarah Wegner
William Whitaker