spring in the studios

calendar and events say spring, but damn the cold and rain don’t believe it. events like, yes, mother’s day (my bed feels extra warm with food served there!) and open studios around what seems like most of DC. hit a few yesterday before i tired out with many left to visit. cool stuff.

first stop: off the beaten track studios and the district clay open house.

exhibition of samantha briegel’s work, included these ceramics topped with lace.

elizabeth lockett’s plates look into the back of your eyes.

from nelson artisan crafts. pretty glaze. while i looked, he explained his water pipes to a 80+ year old lady.

spent a while in deborah grayson’s studio, left with a small piece. so many layers and interesting items.

spent even more time in jessica beels’s studio, hanging out and discussing political/guerilla art. here’s one of her viruses, hpv. this may find its way into my home.

over to the beautiful miasma of art spread around the otis street warehouses. visited more friends who’s work inspires me. weird not seeing sean hennessey there, but his large-format portrait hangs above all. couple of things especially caught my eye.

mixed media by Ceci Cole McInturff. much more impressive in person.

more mixed media by Ceci Cole McInturff

new and fabulous directions for liz lescault. hard to see in this photo, but the ABS plastic around “dentition” gives her ceramics a whole new dimension.

more ABS plastic (using one of those little pens) work by liz lescault. reminds me of a dendrite!

although we didn’t discuss this piece, gloria chapa and i did get into the tendency for some latin american countries to prefer classically european art to indigenous, home-grown work. i find this piece, “What? Have. We. Done.” topical and arresting.

always find something fun and exciting at valerie theberge’s studio.

lots of neato art at red dirt studio, my first time there. these intrigued me.

almost bought this piece by louisa neill, but a couple returned to purchase it just as i was asking the price. movable tiles, representing time passing (seven days of the calendar).

so powerful. acrylic painting by rafael rodriguez.

another rafael rodriguez.

night before, ex hex played at 930. not as electric as when i saw them last year, although this was at the end of a five-week tour. still a fun time. but had never seen the damn good openers, messthetics. all instrumental, driving beats and almost intrepid bass. plus the guitarist followed his own experimental joy. discovered today that it’s the rhythm section from fugazi (duh, should have known) and that anthony pirog, guitar, is well-known around these parts. so much for me being on top of things…