Installation artist and architect Ira Tattelman is showing an Artomatic piece that is all about observation. Titled “Accessible Route to an Old Man’s Fortune,” it’s in the vein of The Truman Show as the man the installation is about has no idea he is being observed.
Artomatic Manual has just learned that the hours for Artomatic have changed for today, Wednesday June 3 and Thursday June 4 in an email from Chairman George Koch. Artomatic will only be open until 8 p.m. on both nights due to a routine building inspection.
For Jennifer Beinhacker‘s third Artomatic she is showing an entirely new body of work. She usually works in acrylic/collage/box art assemblage/shrines/altars and this year she will be showing her new series in water soluble pastels on cardboard framed on wood.
Beinhacker has never worked in pastel prior to this and says the pastel work was a reflection of a trip she took to West Africa in 2008.
Beinhacker says: “I am quite pleased with how the pastel art pieces have turned out. Although the people that are represented in these pieces are ones I’ve used before they have never been used in quite this way. By that i mean, so ‘cheerful!’ Normally my art is rather dark, has lots of grim figures, blood, etc., but these pieces practically sparkle with intense colors…I am now quite addicted to working in pastels and work in my studio every day. In a way I have Artomatic to thank for my ‘new’ art.”
If you’re on Twitter make sure to follow us to get all the latest news on this year’s Artomatic artists and events. Follow Artomatic Manual on Twitter.
We will be posting all throughout Artomatic. You can join in with your own Twitter updates by adding @artomaticmanual to your posts. Tell us all the can’t miss artists you are seeing, live from Artomatic!
Sean Welker is a mixed media/digital/artist/illustrator who is showing 49 illustrations at this year’s Artomatic. Not only do the illustrations feature three of his favorite things (matryoshkas, sugar skulls and daruma dolls), they were finished in less than 45 days.
Welker says: “The first and largest group I’m showing are matryoshkas–what are commonly called Russian nesting dolls. They remind me of my grandmother, who passed away last year. The world is a little less awesome without her in it. This series explores the many facets of womanhood and beauty.
The second series are sugar skulls that are prominent in the Day of the Dead and classic biker tattoo art. I spent a year living in Mexico, and the folk art there helped shape how I look at color and flaws. These pieces are symbols of reverence, but with a rock n’ roll twist.
The last group are darumas–Zen wish dolls. A friend turned me on to them a couple years ago, and I’m attracted to their simple shape as much as the unflagging optimism represent. Part of the deal with darumas is that it’s not good enough to just wish–you have to be an active part in making that dream come true. With words like “hope” being thrown about so lightly as to lose their meaning, the daruma represents a more realistic way of making wishes…and making them come true.
As a cohesive whole, my work touches upon the themes of gratitude, optimism, the need for consolation and empathy. I use a distinctive graphic style, involving elements of graffiti, comic art and classic illustration. The pieces are small and a very affordable way to begin or expand a collection.”
The 10th Anniversary of Artomatic is now officially upon us. The opening night celebrations will last until 1 a.m. You can see all the performance line-ups at the right, on our Artomatic Manual Calendar. If you can’t make it this weekend don’t fret, it will be open until July 5.
Let us know what you’re looking forward to seeing this year in our comments.
And make sure to check back here next week to see pictures and news from opening night.
For Jack Whitsitt‘s third year at Artomatic, he will be doing a large, moving, interactive mixed media installation. It combines a projector, a webcam, music, drawings and photography all in one piece. Whitsitt explains the projection is of a visualizer program he wrote himself which incorporates images of Artomatic viewers on a custom made screen that covers most of his wall.
The Artomatic Artist Catalog is now up and running. You can use it to find Artomatic participants by floor or by art form including: 2-D Visual, 3-D Standalone, Installation, Music, Film, Spoken Word, Dance, Fire, Theater or Performance.
With the opening night on Friday, the catalog is here just in time for you to make your schedule. Stay tuned to the Artomatic Manual for special Washington City Paper Tours which will be posted regularly — giving you different ways to experience this year’s 10th anniversary.
Marcie Wolf-Hubbard upcycled approximately 15 kitchen cabinet doors as a base for her mixed media paintings she will be showing at this year’s Artomatic. Revolving around a so-called “mouse saga” (Hubbard describes it as a desperate woman going to great lengths to rid her house of mice), the series ends with her flashback to 1983 from her journal documenting her first unintentional mousetrap. This is Hubbard’s fourth year as an Artomatic artist and she is also a teaching artist, conducting artist residencies in schools where she used cabinet doors with her students as well.
How do you feel about taking part in the 10th Anniversary of Artomatic? “I’m excited to be participating in Artomatic 2009. My first year in Artomatic was 2004 and it was easy to see how being a participant would help me stay current with local artists, as we frequently are ‘operating’ alone. I work out of my home studio and have to venture out to meet with other artists (with the exception of my husband, David Hubbard, who is a sculptor).
Washington City Paper is proud to announce we are working with Artomatic to promote their 10th anniversary. The “Artomatic Manual” will be your place to turn for Artomatic news and artist features.
Plus we’ll give you the scoop on different ways to experience the 10th anniversary with our special “Artomatic Tours” as we all know it takes multiple trips to really take in everything Artomatic has to offer.
We’ll see you at this year’s event and enjoy the blog!
