On The Walls: Mary Chiaramonte

I'm really relating to the following Mary Chiaramonte paintings currently up in the gallery. All mixed media (including bits of paper and oil paint) on luan.Thanks A Lot, 24"x18"

The Cheat, 35"x21"

Broken Nose, 18"x18"

Congratulations to Jenny Davis

Congratulations to Jenny Davis, whose works are included in the Women's Work exhibition currently at the gallery. Jenny had four works accepted for the National Society of Arts and Letters, Washington Chapter, 2007 Art Competition. The competition focuses solely on water media on paper. Jenny's work was part of a 24 work exhibition of works by 6 artists. Jenny's work was selected for the first (and only) prize. Jenny is eligible to compete in the NSAL's national competition in Tempe, AZ in May. The first place national award is $10,000. Good luck Jenny! And nice goin'.

Women's Work Opening: Awesome.

In spite of the rain the gallery was packed and the response to the work of all five of these young women was phenomenal. Unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures until the very end of the night. But I promised to make rockstar art collectors Stefan and Brenda Jacobsen famous on the internet, so here's the one picture I took of them with Ashton in his softest sweater and two friends (excuse my terrible memory for names, I talked to so many fantastic people last night and I remember each of their faces, but cannot recall anyone's name). I promise to post some images of the show itself later this weekend when my opening night hangover wears off.

Women's Work Opens Tonight!

The Women's Work show is looking fantastic! I haven't had a chance to take pictures yet because we've been so busy hanging and cleaning and painting and making sure every painting is straight. Here's the info:

Women's Work: Five Distinct Points of View from Young Female Artists
featuring the work of Molly Brose, Mary Chiaramonte, Jenny Davis, Laurel Hausler, and Abbe McGray
March 14 - April 8, 2007
Opening Reception Thursday, March 14, 6-9 pm (TONIGHT!)

One More Day to See Double Vision

Sunday is the last day to see Double Vision: The Photographic Work of Yanina Manolova and Mark Parascandola. We're here 12-6. Pictured: "Childhood's End" by Yanina Manolova.

Women's Work Opens Thursday

Here's the release:

NEVIN KELLY GALLERY TO HOST WOMEN’S WORK: FIVE DISTINCT POINTS OF VIEW FROM YOUNG FEMALE ARTISTS

Exhibit features the work of local painters Molly Brose, Mary Chiaramonte, Jenny Davis, Abbe McGray, and Laurel Hausler

Show runs Mar. 14 – Apr. 8, 2007. Opening Reception Thursday, Mar. 15 from 6 – 9 pm

The Nevin Kelly Gallery, located at 1517 U Street, NW, Washington, DC, will host a five-artist exhibition of works by Washington, DC area painters Molly Brose, Mary Chiaramonte, Jenny Davis, Abbe McGray, and Laurel Hausler from March 14 until April 8, 2007. The exhibition, titled Woman’s Work, presents the five distinct artistic viewpoints of these emerging female artists. The gallery will host an opening reception with the artists on Thursday, March 15, from 6 until 9 o’clock p.m.

All of the artists in the show are under 30 years old. Though stylistically different, each artist’s work expresses an artistic point-of-view that is uniquely that of a young woman. Julia Morelli, Deputy Director of the Nevin Kelly Gallery (and the show’s curator), states “Much of the most striking and engaging artwork I see day-to-day is done by women in my own age group (I’m 25). We wanted to highlight the skill and range of artistic vision of a group of artists – young women – that is historically under-represented. Each artist depicts images, events, and emotions unique to herself, but does so in a way that makes them accessible to others.”

Molly Brose sets clear, precise drawings against churning abstract watercolor backgrounds, giving her work a sense of history - a feeling of memories, thoughts and ideas emerging from the swirl of the past. Mary Chiaramonte wears her heart on her sleeve, exposing her vulnerability in both joy and heartbreak through dark outlines and cut paper in her figural mixed media paintings. Eighteen-year-old Jenny Davis, the youngest artist in the exhibition, paints intricately detailed, close-up watercolor portraits of other young women – usually her friends. Davis aims to capture the subtle nuances of her sitters’ expressions in order to establish a connection between viewer and subject. Abbe McGray began painting portraiture in order to stop time; to slow the pace of everyday life that causes one to stop seeing others; to begin to see and recognize the unique beauty and tragedy in each human being. In her mixed media paintings, Laurel Hausler creates haunting, mysterious tableaux that give voice to her own emotions helping her to understand and make beautiful that which is frightening and unknown.

Women’s Work runs from March 14 until April 8, 2007. The opening reception is on Thursday, March 15, from 6 until 9 o’clock p.m.

For additional information contact:

Julia Morelli julia@nevinkellygallery.com
Nevin Kelly Gallery
1517 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Tel: 202-232-3464
www.nevinkellygallery.com and http://nevinkellygallery.blogspot.com/

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Jenny Davis Paintings for Women's Work

A couple weekends ago I had planned on going out to the Torpedo Factory to visit Jenny Davis, who is a member there (she doesn't have a space yet, but she shares one with her mother on weekends), but it snowed. So Jenny sent me images of all the works to be included in the Women's Work show instead. Here's a sample:
At 18 years old, Jenny is the youngest of the five artists in this exhibition. She paints intricately detailed, close-up portraits of young women - usually her friends. Her aim is to capture the subtle nuances of her sitters' expressions in order to forge a connection between these subjects and the viewer.

Jenny's work will be included in the show "Women's Work: Five Distinct Points of View from Young Female Artists" at the Nevin Kelly Gallery March 14 - April 8. The opening reception will be Thursday, March 15 from 6-9 pm.

UPDATE: Jenny brought the paintings in today and they're a lot bigger than I imagined... and very affordable

4Traits in the Gallery Today

The 4Traits are in the gallery this afternoon from 1-5 practicing their unique brand of assembly line portraiture. The waiting list is filling up quick, but there are still some spots left to come in and sign up for. Above pictured: Yen (standing in for Ming), Brandon, and Rob - three of the 4Traits.

Sunday (Tomorrow!) in the Gallery: Have Your 4Trait Done!

The 4Traits, a group of four artists doing assembly line portraiture, will be in the Nevin Kelly Gallery THIS SUNDAY, 1-5pm. Stop by 1517 U St NW to have your portrait drawn for free.

If you saw the gallery and the 4Traits on Fox5 Morning News Thursday morning, you understand, if not here's a description of what will go on:

The Process
Traditionally, portrait art has always been an intimate process. One artist working with one model. Not any more. 4traits take the idea of portraiture to a totally different place. They are a team of artists working together on a group of portraits, blending their separate styles, talents, and insights into a cohesive whole.

Four people sit across a table from four artists. The artists work on the portrait of the person seated across from them for about 5 minutes. When the 5 minutes are up, the person and their portrait move on to the next artist, like an artistic assembly line. The next artist picks up where the last artist left off, continuing to build on the previous artist's work, adding lines, shapes, shadows, texture, color...until all four artists have worked on all four portraits.

For more info see: http://www.4traits.com/

To see the process on Thursday morning's news, click here.

Studio Visit with Laurel Hausler

On Tuesday I visited with Laurel Hausler in her studio in Old Town Alexandria. Laurel is working on a series of five mixed media paintings to be included in the upcoming "Women's Work" exhibition, which opens March 15. I didn't take a lot of pictures and the ones I did take are a bit dark. Above is Laurel in her very hot aviator goggles.
The pieces Laurel is working on for the show combine whimsical, slightly scary images of young girls with beeswax and collaged natural elements.
Laurel creates haunting, mysterious tableaux that give voice to her own emotions, helping her to understand and make beautiful the frightening and unknown.

Laurel's work will be included in the show "Women's Work: Five Distinct Points of View from Young Female Artists" at the Nevin Kelly Gallery March 14 - April 8. The opening reception will be Thursday, March 15 from 6-9 pm.

And Here's the Video

Check us out on TV here. Above is a shot of the 4Traits - Ming Yi Sung Zaleski, Brandon Bloch, Alex Slater, and Rob Stelboum - with Fox 5's Holly Morris, Nevin Kelly and artist Sondra Arkin.