People were curious to find out What's Important Now

On Thursday, What's Important Now? opened to a big crowd eager to learn all about what sixteen local artists had to say about the world's current situation.

This is how it started...

The artists were present and happy to engage with their audience and each other.

Artist Ellyn Weiss and poet BRASH, who recently wrote a couple of poems inspired by Ellyn's previous works, exchange words. Behind Ellyn, you can also see artist Groover Cleveland (unless I'm mistaken) and poet Carol Beane.

Two of the artists catching up: Aziza Claudia Gibson-Hunter and Michael B. Platt

Sondra Arkin and Judy Byron's online project, What's Important to You?, went live! TV monitors set up in the gallery and in an adjacent "party room" displayed the responses submitted by visitors to the website over the past month, as well as those being submitted by guests during the opening. One of my favorite responses comes from Gretchen from South Dakota: The intangible ring of laughter, the warmth of real love, and hope for tomorrow.

Guests submitting answers to "What's Important to You?" website

Thanks to everyone for coming out despite the stormy weather and making the night such a success. And a special thanks to the friends that helped make our guests feel taken care of: Beth, Cheryl, Anya and Alaina.



The show runs through December 12...plenty of time for you to stop by.

Upcoming Show: "Zeitgeist II: What's Important Now?"

In October 2008, the Nevin Kelly Gallery hosted the first "zeitgeist" show, titled Under Surveillance. Curated by Ellyn Weiss and Sondra N. Arkin, it presented the responses of twelve artists to what Weiss and Arkin saw as one of the most important elements of the then-prevailing ethos: "the increasingly diminishing zone of personal privacy available to any of us as we are constantly under surveillance by a growing array of government, corporate and media technologies." As a follow up, Weiss and Arkin are asking a group of local artists to reflect upon an uncertain future and respond to the question: "What's important now?"

Participating artists include Sondra N. Arkin, Carol Beane, Scott G. Brooks, Judy Byron, Groover Cleveland, Richard Dana, Anna U. Davis, Thomas Drymon, Aziza Claudia Gibson-Hunter, Deb Jansen, Rosina Memolo, Michael Platt, Renée Stout, Tim Tate, Ruth Trevarrow, and Ellyn Weiss.


Show runs from November 19 till December 12. Opening Reception to be held on Thursday, November 19 from 6-9pm. You can RSVP on Facebook.

Also, remember that you can still help participating artists Sondra Arkin and Judy Byron complete their collaborative project for the show. Simply go to www.important2you.com and let them know what is important to you at this point in time.

Upcoming shows around town

Try to stop by these shows early in October to support gallery artists Sondra N. Arkin and Joan Belmar.


FORM & FREEDOM: paintings by Sondra N. Arkin, John Blee, Carlotta Hester and Linda St. Clair

October 2- October 13, 2009
Reception / Friday, October 2, 6-8pm

Aaron Gallery
1717 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
contact the gallery for more information
www.aarongallerydc.com
T: 202.234.3311
[ Parking: 2001 S Street, Location No. 531, 202.667.3030]

Click on thumbnail for larger image

Observatory 48" x 48" encaustic on canvas on dibond

Plumbing My Inner Pink 32 " x 32" encaustic on canvas on dibond

***

The Chilean Embassy presents: MIGRATIONS by Chilean painter Joan Belmar

October 13-November 27, 2009
Opening Reception: October 13, 2009, 6-8pm

Embassy of Chile
1732 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202.785.1746

If you plan to attend the opening reception for Joan Belmar's exhibition, you need to RSVP today!

"Dark Matter" shines brightly

The show's opening was a success! I wish I could say the same about the pictures that were taken that night. Let's just say that this will be the last time I mess around with the camera's shutter speed days before an event. Here are some of the better pictures:

Guests downstairs

Downstairs

Ellyn Weiss and two attendees (pardon the blurriness)

Ellyn engaged in conversation

In case you were not able to attend the opening, here are a few more pictures of the art. Make sure you stop by before October 17. These works need to be seen in person to fully appreciate the richness of tones and textures that can be found within them.

Flagellates, 30 x 30, asphalt and shellac on board, 2009

Pseudopodia| Serpentes| Turbellaria

Lost Continent| Cladocera

“Stimulus” Opens with a Boom

We had a full house on Tuesday for the opening of “Stimulus”. A good time was had by all! Here are some photos* from the night.

Upstairs

Downstairs

Upstairs from downstairs (guest starring “Giant Head” by Ming Yi Sung Zaleski)

Downstairs from upstairs

Candace of Radiance Medspa performing digital skin analysis

Ron, exhibiting artist Sondra Arkin, and Nevin

Exhibiting artist J. Ford Huffman and Tony

Exhibiting photographers Stirling Elmendorf and Mark Parascandola

Cheers to art

Thank you to local businesses Radiance Medspa, Commonwealth Gastropub, Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza, and Rumberos for offering specials for the evening.

Stop by and see “Stimulus” between now and July 11th. Did I mention that everything in the exhibition is $500 or less and all works are priced at least 15% below their normal cost just for the show.

*Thanks to Amy Lestition for helping with the photographs

“Atmospheric Conditions” Opens with Clear Skies

Thank you to everyone who came out to the opening of H. Wesley Wheeler’s solo exhibition “Atmospheric Conditions” on Thursday night. The rain cleared just in time for a wonderful evening with a great crowd, a beaming artist, and the stars of the show shining like jewels on the walls of the gallery.

H. Wesley Wheeler and friend Tesia Gallinari in front of “Sea and Sky”


Wes and Nevin in front of “Restless in New York”


The scene on the first floor from above*


The scene on the second floor*


The second floor looking vibrant*

*Photos by Amy Lestition (thanks Amy!)

Stop by the gallery between now and April 11th to experience “Atmospheric Conditions”.

On Edge

I know you can hardly wait to see photos from last night’s Opening Reception for H. Wesley Wheeler’s “Atmospheric Conditions”. I will share them tomorrow, so check back. It was a great evening! Congratulations to Wes!!

H. Wesley Wheeler touching up the edges of “Restless in New York” before the opening

“Atmospheric Conditions” featuring new paintings by H. Wesley Wheeler will be on view through April 11th.

“A History of Dogs and Witches” Charms at the Opening Reception

Last week we celebrated the opening of Laurel Hausler’s solo exhibition “A History of Dogs and Witches” and wanted to share some pictures from the party.

Laurel Hausler, Alice Poole and Adam Jaroszynski with "The Moors"

Guests taking a peak inside "The Phelps House" (more on this later)

The scene from above

The scene from outside

Congratulations to Laurel on this mysterious, haunting and charming new series. “A History of Dogs and Witches” will be on view in the gallery through November 9th.

Photos courtesy of Laura Kuah (I hope to put all of our reception pictures on Flickr in the near future)

"stitches in time, etc." opens with much fanfare

Thanks to all of you who came out for the opening of Gretchen Feldman's "stitches in time, etc." last Saturday night! We had a full house and were very pleased with the turnout. If you haven't had the chance to see the exhibition, please stop by before June 1st.

To view candid photographs of the opening, please click here.

Have a great weekend!

Opening Thursday: "stitches in time, etc."

New abstract watercolors by Gretchen Feldman.

Please join us for the opening reception of “stitches in time, etc.” on Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 5:30 – 8:30pm. The artist will be present. Public parking is available in the garage at 14^th and U Streets.

Chinese Checkers / 2007 / Watercolor on Paper / 30’’ x 22’’

We are honored to have Gretchen Feldman show her new works at our gallery beginning this week. The paintings, which combine transparent watercolor with thick, multi-layered opaque colors, mark both a forward progression as an abstract watercolorist and a return to the artist’s prior career as a textile conservator. Many of the works in “stitches in time, etc.” are influenced by the common titles of traditional American quilts, such as Baby Blocks, Queen’s Puzzle and Chinese Checkers (pictured above). Others (the “etc.” part of the exhibition title) are inspired by microscopic imagery. In a sense, “stitches in time, etc.” contrasts the biotechnological explosion of the 21^st century with the more functional creations (quilts) of 19^th-century rural America.

As an abstract artist, Feldman balances shape, form and powerful color to capture a sense of the intangible. She draws on the past for inspiration, acknowledges the present and looks to the future. Her pieces serve both as a form of her own creative expression and as a catalyst for inquiry, inviting us to ask questions, seek answers and create a bridge between viewer and artist.

Water Media on Paper Opening Review

Thank you to all of you who came out last night to celebrate the opening of the National Society of Arts and Letters Water Media on Paper (2007 Finalists) exhibition with us! We are the second to last stop on this national tour. This exhibit is a wonderful opportunity for young artists to explore more imaginative realms, while using a very difficult medium. Local artist Jenny Davis (first prize winner of the NSAL Competition), along with her mother and friend, were also present at the opening.

If you missed the festivities (or simply want to re-live them), visual documentation can be found here. Hope you enjoy the photos and slideshow!

Water Media on Paper will be on view until March 23, 2008.

Polish Art Talk Re-cap

A big, heart-felt thank you to those who came out for the Polish Art Talk and reception supporting “An Ideal Mix-Up” last Saturday. Highlights from the afternoon included the unveiling of Sondra Arkin’s newest pieces (see entry above) and Nevin’s talk on the history of the gallery and the Polish art that inspired it. As indicated on the press release, we will be switching paintings around during the course of the show so please stop by and see us this winter – you’re bound to see something new.

[ Links ]
Video: Polish Art Talk
Photos: Talk and Reception

and...

Photos from the 40x26.667 show featuring Mark Parascandola and Stirling Elmendorf:

An IDEAL Mix-Up: Event this Saturday!

An Ideal Mix-Up: A Winter Group Exhibition at the NKG
January 16 - February 24, 2008

Please join us THIS Saturday, 26 January 2008 at 4pm for a lecture on Polish art by gallery director Nevin Kelly. Refreshments will follow the talk...

A group exhibition that includes works by the contemporary Polish artists that helped launch the gallery in May 2003 and the many local artists who have joined the gallery along the way. The exhibition celebrates both the gallery's origins and its development as a platform for showcasing emerging trends in local art. Unlike most group shows, which remain static during their entire run, works in this show will be hung and re-hung in stages as works are sold or anchor pieces are moved to share the spotlight. The exhibition will feature works by local artists Sondra Arkin, Joan Belmar, Ellyn Weiss, Mary Chiaramonte and Laurel Hausler and by Polish artists Edward Dwurnik, Darek Pala, Krzysztof Kokoryn, Pawel Król, Lukasz Huculak and Michal Zaborowski.

Nevin J. Kelly, Director
Nevin Kelly Gallery
1517 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Tel.: 202-232-3464
Fax: 202-232-3465
E-mail: info@nevinkellygallery.com
Web: www.nevinkellygallery.com
and http://nevinkellygallery.blogspot.com