artomatic nerds, unite.

The rumors are true and it’s finally official. There will indeed be an Artomatic in 2008.

May 9–June 15, 2008, right in the middle of DC, steps away from the New York Avenue metro, and in a brand new building. With 800 artists on eight floors of the Capitol Plaza 1 building at 1st and M Streets, NE, this year’s event promises to be bigger than ever before.

So, what is Artomatic? Artomatic is a five week non-juried event that brings together artists, musicians, performers, and an audience of over 50,000 people. From the artomatic web site: Artomatic provides a forum for all of our area’s artists to convene, perform and exhibit, strengthening the visibility, cohesion, and marketplace of Washington’s arts community.

The event opens in just seven weeks! And registration is moments away. But what do you do now?

1. Visit artomatic.org and sign up for email updates!
2. Start making stuff!
3. Want to help organize the event? Join a committee!

And of course, watch the Artomatic web site for details on registration.

Like any unjuried event, there’s good, there’s bad, and there’s downright creepy. But I’m not here to judge. Here are some pics from the last event in 2007, I hope you’ll decide to participate this year!

Photos by Sean Hennessey. See more at his Artomatic 2007 set on flickr.

Rania Hassan once coated herself in baby oil and rolled in cheeto dust. Imagine if she’d lost the bet! See the results at goshdarnknit.com.