Art World News, Events, Competitions, Exhibitions and more.
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UPDATED  for February 2012

Art World News 

Endowment Established – The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, have announced that Dame Jillian Sackler has donated $5 million to establish an endowment to fund the director’s post and programs at the galleries that are named, in part, after her husband.  The gift comes on the 25^th anniversary of the Sackler, which, together with the Freer, holds the Smithsonian’s collection of Asian art.

Grants Announced – Creative Capital has announced its 2012 grants in Film/Video and Visual Arts, awarded to 46 adventurous and risk-taking projects representing 56 artists.  The grantees will be provided with up to $50,000 in direct project funding, plus advisory services valued at more than $40,000.  www.creative-capital.org.

Museum Wing Opens – The Metropolitan Museum’s (NYC) superb collection of American paintings and sculpture has returned to view in 26 expanded, reconceived and dramatic new galleries.  This is the final phase in the overall renovation of the American Wing, which encompasses 30,000 sq. ft. and includes one of the best-known works in all of American art, Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze’s 1851 painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware.

Auction News – Recent auctions have seen strong sales for Tiffany pieces.  At Sotheby’s sale of Important Tiffany, a superb “Wisteria” Table Lamp (c. 1905-1910) highlighted the auction at $842,500, well in excess of its high estimate; and at Bonhams, a Tiffany Dragonfly lamp brought $86,500 and a Daffodil lamp brought $50,000.

Art Equals Impact – An economic impact study released by Experience Grand Rapids, a Michigan convention and visitors’ bureau, has revealed that the 2011 ArtPrize event added $15.4 million to the local economy, attracted more than 320,000 visitors and created more than 200 new jobs during its 19 days. 

National Galleries Reopened – Following a two-year renovation, the National Gallery of Art galleries devoted to impressionism and post-impressionism in the West Building have reopened.  New arrangements, text panels and audio tour stops now illuminate the collection to visitors.  Among the greatest collections in the world, the Gallery’s 19^th-century French paintings (numbering nearly 400) have returned to public view in a freshly conceived installation design.

Love Stamp Issue – Evoking images of romance and elegance, the U. S. Postal Service will issue Love Ribbons on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.  This new stamp features a graphic design of satin ribbons that spell out the word “Love” in a graceful, cursive script.   Issued as a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.

A Gift of Sculpture – The Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, NY, and the Whitney Museum of American Art have announced the acquisition of Cubi XXI, a 1964 sculpture by preeminent American artist David Smith (1906-1965).  A key work from the artist’s celebrated Cubi series, the large-scale, burnished stainless steel sculpture is a gift to the two institutions from the Lipman Family Foundation.  Also, Storm King has launched a new project in partnership with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy to install a large-scale sculpture by Mark di Suvero, Yoga, at Pier One in Brooklyn Bridge Park—on view through 2012.

Artists Named for Biennial – The Whitney Museum of American Art has announced the list of 51artists participating in the upcoming 2012 Whitney Biennial, scheduled for March 1- May 27. This is the 76^th in the ongoing series of Biennials and Annuals presented by the museum since 1932.  The Biennial is an exhibition held every two years in which the Museum gauges the current state of contemporary art in America. http://whitney.org/file_columns/0002/8681/biennial_2012_media_alert_final_12_21_11.pdf

Major Initiative Planned – The Denver Art Museum, CO, has announced a $3 million gift from the Avenir Foundation that will transform the institution’s textile art program.  This gift will allow for the expansion of the current textile art gallery space to more than six times its current square footage, the development of scientific and educational spaces, a staging area for exhibition preparation and conservation and storage of the more than 5,000 textile objects in the DAM’s collection.

2012 Scholastic Art Awards The Milwaukee Art Museum, WI, has hosted the Scholastic Art Awards exhibition for more than 35 years for students in grades 7-12.  This year’s exhibition (Feb. 4 – March 4) features over 325 artworks in the categories of architecture, ceramics and glass, comic art, design, digital art, drawing, fashion, film and animation, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.  The works were selected from more than 1300 entries based on the students’ handling of the materials and the expressive execution of the work.  Artworks that receive a Gold Key Award go on to compete with entries from more than 75 other competitions throughout the U.S for Silver and Gold Medals.  For info on the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards go to http://www.artandwriting.org/Help/FAQ#question-5.

Art Opportunities & Events

Schedules sometimes change, so call ahead

Mardi Gras Celebration
Feb. 4, 8-11 p.m.
Cincinnati Art Museum
Cincinnati, OH   The Great Hall will be completely transformed to recreate one of the world’s favorite parties, with Cajun and zydeco music, a palm reader, magician, stilt-walking jester and living statue, as well as a caricature artist to create a New Orleans-style vignette portrait and more.  Your ticket includes refreshments, Mardi Gras beads and a mask.  Reservations not required, must be 21 or over.  Tickets:  513.721.ARTS; www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org. Let the good times roll!

Creative Art-Making:  A Valentine’s Crafternoon
Feb. 11, 2 p.m.
Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn, NY  Maura Madden will lead a workshop on how to make creative collage pieces inspired by love and Valentine’s Day.  There is a materials fee and registration is required:  www.museumtix.com or at the Museum’s Visitor Center.  Members should call 718.501.6326 for tickets.  A tour making connections between art in the Museum and the Crafternoon will precede the program at 1 p.m.  www.brooklynmuseum.org.

Valentine’s Day at the High
Feb. 14, 6-10 p.m.
High Museum of Art
Atlanta, GA  Enjoy an artfully romantic night at the Museum!  Visit Picasso to Warhol:  Fourteen Modern Masters, sip champagne, sample tasty treats, enjoy music and dancing and much more.  www.high.org.

Museum After Dark:  Mardi Gras
Feb. 17, 8-11:30 p.m.
New Britain Museum of American Art
New Britain, CT  Can’t make it to New Orleans for Fat Tuesday? No problem.  Celebrate with exhibits, light food/beverages, music and dancing; fee also includes Museum admission.  Creativity Project:  Don’t have Mardi Gras gear?  Decorate a mask with sequins and feathers for a festive addition to your getup, while supplies last. (860) 229-0257, www.nbmaa.org.

Bouquets to Art
March 13-17
De Young Museum
San Francisco, CA Celebrate spring with this glorious annual floral exhibition and fundraiser, featuring designs by 150 innovative floral designers, who create displays that pay tribute to and draw inspiration from the Museum’s permanent art collection.  Further info:  http://bouquetstoart.famsf.org/.

Contemporary Journeys Art Lab
Walker Art Center
Minneapolis, MN
Last Wed. of each month, 10 – 11:30 a.m. Contemporary art becomes the catalyst for community building, self-expression and appreciating the present in this program designed for individuals with early- to middle-stage Alzheimers and other dementias, their care partners, family and friends. Each lab is designed specifically for participants and uses a variety of materials and approaches to art-making. No experience is necessary! Pre-registration, at least one week in advance of the date, is required. $5/seniors and adults. Care partners and additional family and friends are free. E-mail education.resources@walkerart.org or call 612.375.7609.

Museum of Fine Arts-Houston, TX – This summer kids and families can become art detectives, investigating a new work of art each week in the galleries—looking carefully, uncovering details and thinking about the cool stuff you discover. Each time you complete a case, you’ll earn a cue for your “Clue Book,” which you will use to guess the mystery work of art to be unveiled at the end of the summer—when all art detectives are eligible for a special prize drawing. www.mfah.org.

Exhibitions

Print by Print: Series from Dürer to Lichtenstein features works that span 500 years of printmaking, with more than 350 prints by Canaletto, Picasso, Ruscha and other artists who created series covering a wide range of topics. Also represented are two voices for a new generation of printmakers, Daniel Heyman and Andrew Raftery. Baltimore Museum of Art, MD, through March 25.

Because events are subject to change, please call ahead or confirm whenever possible.

Art Competitions/Call for Entries

Call for Artwork - High School Photographers The National Art Honor Society of the Art Institute of Mill Street Loft is presenting its 8^th annual national juried high school photography exhibition.  EXPOSURE is open to all high school students in grades 9-12 at the Loft’s Gallery 45 in Poughkeepsie, NY, from March 31 – May 5.  Artists may submit up to five photos.  A number of cash awards and other prizes will be given to accepted entrants who demonstrate exceptional ability, originality, mastery of the medium and/or creativity as determined by the jurors.  845.471.7477. http://millstreetloft.org/the-art-institute/art-competitions/exposure/.  Deadline:  March 8.

8^th Annual Northeast National Pastel Exhibition
View, Old Forge, NY
May 12 – June 30
Deadline:  Feb. 13 This exhibition is competitive and open to all living artists. Eighty percent of the final painting surface must be in soft pastel.  No oil pastel entries are allowed.  Monetary awards.  www.ViewArts.org.

2^nd National Exhibition of Intaglio Prints
New York Society of Etchers
National Arts Club, NYC
April 22-27
Deadline:  Feb. 28

Eligible are individual artists currently working and residing in the U.S. and its territories. Works eligible (on paper) are original 2-D intaglio prints including etchings, engravings, aquatints, mezzotints, and photo etchings not previously exhibited with the NYSE.  Mixed media prints where one or more of these processes dominates may also be submitted.  Awards.  https://nysetchers.org/.

Creative Capital
Professional Development Program
Online Learning Creative Capital has launched their new Online Learning Program and is offering an ongoing series of seven new webinars for artists working in all disciplines nationwide.  All that’s required is access to a computer with speakers and an internet connection (hard-wired preferred).  “Seating” is limited.  Visit http://creative-capital.org/events/calendar.

Material Lab
MoMA¸ New York City From Feb. 19 through June 30, MoMA welcomes visitors to Material Lab.  This new interactive space invites visitors of all ages to explore the process of art making by learning how materials commonly used by artists can be transformed through tactile, interactive, creative and exploratory experiences.  Featured are a Microsoft Digital Art Technology Preview and stations that include Discovery Boxes inspired by works of artists and designers in the Museum’s collection, a collage and assemblage table and a found objects activity inspired by the work of artist Joseph Cornell.  Free with Museum admission.  www.moma.org.

Sculpt EVV
Juried Outdoor Sculpture Show
Arts District Outdoor Gallery/Sculpture Park
Evansville, IN
June 9, 2012 – April 21, 2013
DEADLINE: March 1 The City of Evansville and University of Southern Indiana partnership for better living through art invites sculptors and sculpture collaborations to submit proposals to Sculpt EVV. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a U.S. tax ID number or Social Security number. Artists whose artwork is accepted will receive $500 installation stipends. Works must be original and by the applicant/collaborators submitting the entry and must be suitable for outdoor installation in weather that might range from approximately -5 to 100º F. Awards total $36,000 and award winners will be congratulated in a full-page ad in Sculpture magazine. http://www.sculptevv.org.

2012 Our Town Grants
National Endowment for the Arts
DEADLINE: March 1 The FY 2012 Our Town application guidelines are now available online. These grants, ranging from $25,000 to $150,000, support creative placemaking projects that contribute to the livability of communities and place the arts at their core. Organizations in all disciplines are encouraged to apply. http://www.nea.gov/grants/apply/OurTown/index.html.

The Beauty of Ice Sculpting Competition
Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park
Beacon, NY
Feb. 11, 12-4 p.m.
DEADLINE: Jan. 20 Scenic Hudson and Mill Street Loft have partnered to bring some of the region’s best sculptors to Long Dock Park. Watch as they turn river ice, driftwood and other objects found along the Hudson River shoreline into intriguing works of art. Sculpting will begin at Noon and works will remain on display until they melt. This event is open to all artists, but space is limited to the first 30 registered: lclark@millstreetloft.org, 845.471.7477. Prizes will be awarded by a public vote to first, second and third place. No registration fee. http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2156/t/10452/p/salsa/event/common/public/index.sjs?event_KEY=72275.

21^st Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
Oil Painters of America
Evergreen Fine Art Gallery
Evergreen, CO
June 22 – July 21
DEADLINE for Mailed Entries: Feb. 10;
for Online Submissions: Feb. 24  Artists who reside in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and are 2012 OPA members or have submitted an application for membership or renewal for 2012 ($60 membership fee) may apply for this exhibition. Representational oil paintings of original concept and design only are eligible and must have been painted in the last three years. Paintings created in an instructional setting are not considered original artwork. Awards total in excess of $75,000, including a $25,000 Best in Show. http://www.oilpaintersofamerica.com/events/exhibitions.cfm.

Louisiana Watercolor Society
42^nd Annual International Exhibition
May 5-25
Place St. Charles, New Orleans, LA
Deadline: Postmarked Jan. 17; hand delivered Jan. 19  The juried exhibition of original, water-based media on paper is open to all artists 18 years or older. Paintings must be unvarnished and executed in the past three years without instructor supervision. First Prize: $2,000; Second Prize: $1,000. http://www.lwsart.org/pdfs/42nd%20prospectus%20easy%20print.pdf

Call for Artists
Sugarloaf Craft Festivals
Spring 2012 Shows  Artists interested in showing works at juried art festivals in VA, NJ, PA and MD in the spring may apply. Work must be original design and artists must be present in person to sell their work. Details at http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/become-exhibitor/apply_now.html.

Society of Illustrators
New York, NY
EPIC  Attention all illustration students! Join EPIC—Empowered People of the Illustration Community. Now’s the time when you are in school to meet peeps from other schools who are illustrators, too. Meetings are held at the Society, 128 East 63^rd St., NYC, on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m.: Oct. 15, Nov. 19, Dec. 17, Feb. 4, Mar. 10, Apr. 14 and May 19. RSVP to kb@societyillustrators.org .

 Chicago Airbrush Workshops
with Robert Paschal
Saturday, April 14th, and Sunday, April 15th
Hosted by:
Genesis Art Supply
Chicago Airbrush Supply
2417 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL, 60647
at:
Fulton Street Collective
2000 W Fulton Ave
Chicago IL 60612
For more info CLICK HERE