AAF Recap

We are back from the Affordable Art Fair NYC! Thank you to everyone, NYC and DC friends, who stopped by booth A-300. I thought I’d share some pictures of our little corner. Do you know how challenging it is to hang a 120 square foot space with the work of seven artists?

Left side of the booth showing the work of Laurel Hausler, Ellyn Weiss, H. Wesley Wheeler, Anna U. Davis, and Mary Chiaramonte

Right side of the booth showing the work of Sondra N. Arkin and Molly Brose

The scene at the Preview Night Party

Anna. U. Davis with her work

Molly Brose and her mother with her work

Laura looking lovely with Sondra Arkin’s “Plumbing My Inner Pink”

The big excitement for the weekend was a visit by a certain celeb who tells people what not to wear. She walked away with a Mary Chiaramonte painting under her arm. We still have quite a bit of work that we exhibited at AAF, so if something catches your eye, don’t hesitate to contact us.

A special thanks to Nora Weiss, daughter of the talented Ellyn Weiss, for helping us out for the weekend while yours truly was in FL.

NYC Bound

We are loading up the truck (minivan) and heading to NYC for the Affordable Art Fair next week. Here is a sneak peak of what you can see at booth A-300 by the seven talented artists that we will be exhibiting.

Sondra Arkin, “Dialogue”, 2009, encaustic on dibond, 12” x 16”

Molly Brose, “Quiet Evening”, 2009, watercolor and acrylic on paper, 10” x 10”


Mary Chiaramonte, “Statuette”, 2008, mixed media on panel, 21” x 14”


Anna U. Davis, “Russian Deli”, 2009, paper and acrylic on canvas, 20” x 20”

Laurel Hausler, “Temporary”, 2009, digital print

Ellyn Weiss, “Pure Nerves”, 2008, monoprint, 15” x 11” (paper)

H. Wesley Wheeler, “Four Play”, 2008, oil on canvas, 48” x 36”

The fair will host more than 60 galleries from the US, Europe, Asia, Canada and South America. Come see Nevin Kelly Gallery at booth A-300 and then stop next door at Bethesda’s Fraser Gallery. For more information on fair location and hours, please visit the AAF Web site.

Field Trip

Recently I took a little trip to Mt. Rainier, MD to visit the studio of Ellyn Weiss. I had never been out to that neck of the woods and was impressed by the number of artist studios clustered in the area. Ellyn shares a great space with Ellen Sinel and Betsy Stewart. I thought I would share some pictures of her lovely studio and some works in progress.

Where the creativity happens


Check out the beauty on the left (“Asylum Seeker”, 2006, oil bar and dry pigment on masonite, 48” x 48”)


Recently-completed 18 panel grid of encaustic and oil paintings from the “Gene Pool” series, each panel measures 12” x 12”

Six little oil bars all in a row, each panel 12” x 12”


After being visually delighted at Ellyn’s studio, she took me over to the Washington Glass School where I was given a tour by one of school’s directors Michael Janis. I got to see Michael’s work as well as the work of the other two directors, Tim Tate and Erwin Timmers. Check out the Washington Glass School’s Web site for a list of classes offered.

Ellyn Weiss, studio mates, and other artist studios in the area (including the Washington Glass School, Flux Studios, and Red Dirt Studio) are having an Open Studios on Saturday, May 16 from noon to 5 pm.

Fresh Air

Good news for those of you who are still checking off your “to see” lists. We are extending H. Wesley Wheeler’s “Atmospheric Conditions” for another week through April 18th.

H. Wesley Wheeler, “Atmospheric Conditions” Installation

The sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky (last time I checked), so get out in the fresh air and make a stop at Nevin Kelly Gallery for some fresh art.

Adventures in Doll Land

Laurel Hausler has been busy conducting photo shoots. Her model has a head of flaming red curls and porcelain skin.

Laurel Hausler, “Baroque Doll”, digital print, 2009

Laurel assembles tableaux with objects acquired from various dollhouse stores, ebay, and her own collections and brings them to life with the lens. Her heroine has braved the elements trekking through rain-soaked forests and treacherous weed fields. When discussing her venture in to photography, Laurel says, “I think I look at my use of this medium as painting with photographs. This allows me to look at the color and blur of the final image as more of a fantastic scene instead of a snapshot.”

Laurel Hausler, “Treacherous Weed Field”, digital print, 2009

The series of photographs will debut at the Affordable Art Fair in New York where the gallery will have a booth May 7th - 10th, 2009. Stay tuned for more doll adventures.

“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.

Akzidenz-Grotesk

Extra, extra! Nevin Kelly Gallery is currently the featured gallery on a new Web site dedicated to promoting local art. Chris Davis, the founder of the recently launched The Fifteen Before Fifteen, came by the gallery a few weekends ago to interview Nevin while photographer Chris Flynn took some great photographs of the space. To see the article and photos, click HERE.

© 2009 Chris Flynn (to learn more about Chris's work, visit his Web site.)

The Fifteen Before Fifteen is free for artists to join and showcase their work and a great resource for patrons of the visual arts. New artist and gallery features are posted weekly.

Why Akzidenz-Grotesk? Read the article to find out!

The Forecast

We finally finished unpacking all six boxes of paintings Wesley Wheeler shipped to us from Upstate New York for his solo exhibition “Atmospheric Conditions” which opens March 17th. I thought I would share some images of Wheeler’s new mood-provoking canvases.

H. Wesley Wheeler, “Sea and Sky”, 2008, oil on canvas, 48” x 36”

H. Wesley Wheeler, “Window”, 2008, oil on canvas, 40” x 30”

Wheeler’s paintings are best enjoyed in person to appreciate the rich impasto, vibrant colors and subtle nuances, such as tinges of orange and red peaking through layers of blue.

H. Wesley Wheeler, “Restless in New York”, 2008, oil on canvas, 60” x 48”

H. Wesley Wheeler, “Ice Lake”, 2008, oil on canvas, 36” x 24”

H. Wesley Wheeler’s “Atmospheric Conditions” runs from March 17th through April 11th. Please join us at the Opening Reception and meet the artist on Thursday, March 19th from 6 to 9 pm.

Ephemeral Art

This morning when I opened the blinds covering the sliding glass door that leads out onto the strip of yard behind the gallery, I was greeted by a broccoli-topped friend staring at me with red radish eyes.

Looks like a snow ghost to me—Laurel Hausler did you sneak into our backyard? Well, whoever created our snow friend/ghost/creature, thank you for putting a smile on my face this morning!