art

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

County Spending Outpaces Revenue Gains — An improving economy will bring in more tax and fee revenue for the county next year, but those gains will be outpaced by projected increases in county spending. More from the Sun Gazette.

Plane Crash Survivor Back at Work in Arlington — Former NASA administrator Sean O’Keefe, who survived the Alaska plane crash that killed Sen. Ted Stevens, returned to work yesterday. O’Keefe is the CEO of Arlington-based EADS North America. More from Reuters.

Rosslyn Metro Escalator Makes Musical Noises — The Ode Street Tribune has a recording of a veritable chorus of mechanical noises emanating from an escalator at the Rosslyn Metro station.

Road Tattoo in Crystal City — Earlier, we reported that a road in Crystal City would be “tattooed” by artist Steed Taylor. Now, the deed is done. “Crystal City adds roadway tramp-stamp,” reads the headline on We Love DC.

Flickr pool photo by Ian Livingston

Artisphere Now Open After Raucous Opening Party

By ARLnow.com

On the eve of its VIP ribbon-cutting ceremony, hundreds of twenty-somethings packed into Artisphere, the county’s new $6.7 million cultural center, to drink, dance, party and enjoy some art.

Sponsored by the web site Brightest Young Things and Pink Line Project, an arts advocacy organization, Burst @ Artisphere was billed as the hipper, cheaper counterpart to Friday’s $250 per ticket opening gala. True to the billing, the evening attracted a hipster-heavy crowd that looked a bit out of place in stodgy, corporate Rosslyn. Organizers helped lure party-goers from their safe, comfortable DC environs with regular shuttle bus service from Dupont Circle and with the promise of free beer and wine (after the $20 cover).

Once inside, Artisphere’s two-floor Wi-Fi Cafe was filled to the brim with beautiful and/or interesting people, all conversing loudly. Pabst Blue Ribbon and Beringer flowed freely.

The artist Katie Laibstain (a.k.a. Katie Balloons) held court near the stairs on the second level, wearing an elaborate balloon costume that allowed her to occasionally pose as an inanimate object, only to pop up and scare unsuspecting hipsters. Ms. Balloons would later make her way to the ballroom, where a crowd energized by the beats of DJ Chris Burns proceeded to rip apart her costume, wearing Laibstain’s former balloon arms and balloon headgear as a primitive hunter might wear a slain animal’s pelt. The sounds of popping balloons were ever-present for the rest of the night, as parts of the costume were passed from person to person.

Aside from Lord of the Flies-esque balloon destruction, the ballroom was also the scene of at least one breakdancing competition, as well as numerous make-out sessions.

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New to Arlington, Artist Holding Exhibition in Rosslyn Tonight

By ARLnow.com

Much the way a homeowner may introduce themselves to neighbors after moving into a new house, artist Marcelo Novo is introducing himself to the local arts scene tonight with an exhibition in Rosslyn.

Novo was a fixture of the arts scene in Columbia, S.C. up until earlier this month, when he packed up and moved to Arlington. Novo, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, left Columbia after 18 years to allow his wife, a chemist, to take a new job in the Washington area. As newspapers mourned his departure, Novo prepared himself for his new life in D.C.

The first act in his D.C. story comes tonight, when a selection of his works entitled “Sueños de Insomnio” (Dreams of Insomnia) will go on display at Piola restaurant (1550 Wilson Blvd). Novo hopes the exhibition, which runs through November 27, will serve as an “informal introduction… to the local audience.”

An opening reception will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 tonight.

After the jump, we ask Novo about his plan for joining the local arts scene.

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ArtJamz Coming to Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

The art/nightclub mash-up known as ArtJamz will be coming to Crystal City later this year.

The event will take place from Dec. 2-5, in the lobby of the building on 23rd Street that housed the G-40 street art ‘summit’ earlier this year. It will feature the same mixture of music, drinks and art creation that has drawn crowds at ArtJamz events in DC. However, the Crystal City event will be double the scale of previous ArtJamz — with 50 easels available for painting simultaneously.

Would-be artists — who reserve an easel ahead of time — are supplied with a canvas and paint, and then have four hours to create a piece of original art that they can take home.

The event, created by local artist Michael Clements, will also feature a specially-designated day for kids to create their own art.

In related news, the dates and location for the returning Crystal Couture fashion festival were revealed today. Crystal Couture will take place from Feb. 1-5 in the space used by the Crystal City Shops food court.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Board Approves $250,000 in Art Grants — The county board voted unanimously last night to provide a quarter million dollars worth of grants to 19 Arlington-based arts organizations and three individual artists. The grants range from $44,600 to $1,240. See a list of recipients here.

Fisette Pens Green Jobs Op-Ed in Richmond Paper — In a column for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette compares Thomas Jefferson’s far-sighted and, at the time, controversial Louisiana Purchase to proposed federal spending on clean energy. Fisette argues that investing in green jobs now will pay off in a big way down the road.

Metrobus Involved in Rush Hour Accident — A Metrobus was involved in a relatively minor multi-vehicle accident that tied up traffic on southbound Route 110 around 5:30 yesterday evening. The accident happened on the ramp from Memorial Drive to Route 110, near Arlington National Cemetery. Two people on the bus were reported to have minor injuries. The accident and the emergency response blocked lanes on the busy thoroughfare, causing delays for traffic coming from Rosslyn. It’s not clear what caused the accident. The Metrobus continued on its way shortly after police arrived.

Flickr pool photo courtesy philliefan99.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Pentagon Reviewing Change to Security Checkpoints Near Metro Station — At the behest of local transportation officials, Pentagon brass will be reviewing proposed changes to the security checkpoints near the Pentagon Metro Station. The changes, which follow the March shooting that left two security guards wounded and the suspect dead, would move the checkpoints closer to the station. Local officials worry the move could create long security lines that would disrupt the flow of commuters in and out of the station.

Arlington Spy Suspects Transferred to New York — Say goodbye to the (accused) Russian spies who loved Arlington. A judge has ordered that Michael Zottoli, Patricia Mills and Mikhail Semenko be transferred to New York. Attorneys for the three tried to keep them in Virginia, but a federal court judge ordered the transfer yesterday. There’s word that the ten accused spies may be swapped with Russia for an imprisoned nuclear scientist convicted of spying for the United States.

Arlington Artist’s Creation Appears on Popular Blog — On Tuesday, the popular blog Boing Boing highlighted a “giant bike-friendly junk-cyborg” created by Arlington artist Luke Idziak. The pedal-powered kinetic sculpture, called Wheeled Victory, or The Cyborg of Interstellar Justice, was created in 2008 and funded by the Arlington Cultural Affairs Office.

Flickr pool photo by philliefan99.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

DHS Investigating DCA Bomb Sticker — The Department of Homeland Security is investigating a suspicious sticker found on a trash can at Reagan National Airport, reports Government Security News. The sticker appears to be a stencil-type illustration of a man with a bomb strapped to his chest. DHS and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency have emailed a photo of the sticker to various security companies and law enforcement agencies, GSN reports.

New ART Route To Pentagon City — A new ART bus line will connect Pentagon City with the Douglas Park and Nauck neighborhoods. The ART 84 line will run every 30 minutes during rush hour, starting June 21. More from the Arlington Transit Blog.

Meet the Artists Reception at Yorktown High Tonight — Yorktown High School (5201 N. 28th St.) is holding its annual art exhibit from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day this week. Tonight there will be a “meet the artists” opening reception and mural dedication from 6:00 to 8:00. All events are open to the public.

An Enviable Grand Opening for Covet on Wilson Blvd

By ARLnow.com

Dozens of people turned out for the grand opening of a new art, jewelry and home decor gallery near Ballston.

Covet, as it is called, is located at 5140 Wilson Blvd, just west of Ballston, in the top floor of a small house that was formerly the home of a State Farm insurance agency. The store is co-owned by Sabrina Cabada and Autumn Clayton.

Guests consumed catered wine and small appetizers while perusing Covet’s curated and sometimes quirky artisan offerings. Much of the art for sale is produced by local artists, although national artists are also showcased.

For those who couldn’t stand the shoulder-to-shoulder claustrophobia in the tiny showroom, the boutique’s parking lot provided a welcome refuge for conversation and mingling.

The DC Slices pizza truck provided fresh slices to people whose hunger went beyond finger food. It was the first publicly-announced trek into Virginia for the DC Slices crew, who are licensed to operate as a street vendor in the District but not in Arlington (private property is fair game, however).

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To Do Tonight: Meet the Artist at Northside Social

By ARLnow.com

Northside Social (3211 Wilson Blvd) will be holding a “Meet the Artist Opening Reception” tonight. It’s a chance to meet some of the photographers whose work is temporarily on display at the Clarendon hangout.

The reception is open to the public. It’s taking place between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.

Find more things to do around Arlington in our events calendar.

How George W. Bush Helped Make a Street Art Exhibit Possible

By ARLnow.com

As G-40: The Summit, Crystal City’s ambitious street art exhibit, comes to a close this weekend, it’s worthwhile to look back and see how it came about.

Much of the credit can be given to Art Whino and Shane Pomajambo, who curated the massive 75,000 square foot show, and to the Crystal City Business Improvement District, which came up with the initial concept and brought together Pomajambo, funding, and the space at 223 23rd Street South.

But there’s someone else who deserves some credit: former president George W. Bush. It was Bush who approved the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005. BRAC required many of the military agencies that inhabit office buildings in Crystal City to move to cheaper, more secure locations.

By BRAC law, about four million square feet of office space in Crystal City must be vacated by September 2011. Along with the offices will go thousands of jobs, a serious economic blow that the federal, state and county governments are trying to cushion.

Crystal City BID, formed in 2006, was essentially an off-shoot of BRAC. A business improvement district for Crystal City had been discussed prior to BRAC, but BRAC was the catalyst for the county to take action to reverse Crystal City’s stodgy, unfashionable image and to attract new residents and businesses.

Around the time of Crystal City BID’s founding, an Arlington BRAC Transition Task Force recommended the establishment of a marketing arm for Crystal City. That role was filled by the BID.

Ever since, the BID has been organizing events intended to make Crystal City a hipper, more livable place — a “destination” rather than a place that empties out after quittin’ time.

A perfect event to show off Crystal City’s new “edgy, provocative and engaging” side, to convince prospective residents and businesses that the neighborhood is no longer a drab stretch of nondescript government offices? A street art exhibit.

So celebrate the irony of a Republican president and a multi-billion dollar Department of Defense initiative helping to facilitate a decidedly R-rated art exhibition (there are some things you definitely don’t want the kids to see) by attending the G-40 closing party Saturday night. See our events calendar for more information. If you can’t make it Saturday, the exhibit will also be open Tuesday Wednesday night.

G-40 Artist Alexa Meade Blowing Up

By ARLnow.com

Three weeks ago, 23-year-old Alexa Meade was passing out business cards to reporters  gathered for the media preview night of G-40: The Summit in Crystal City. Now, she’s somewhat of an “it” girl in the art world. Her acrylic on flesh work, a fascinating study in the intersection of art and reality, is winning copious praise in the media and on the internet.

Between the Washington Post profile, the exhibit at the famous London art gallery, and the social networking hype, Meade has become an overnight sensation.

Did it happen thanks to the exposure from G-40? That would certainly make for a good story for organizers Art Whino and Crystal City BID.

Alas, Meade says G-40 — where she created this surreal scene — actually happened before she hit the blogosphere.

“It wasn’t relevant to the big spike,” she said in an email.

Oh, well. The well-received exhibit will have to rest on its own laurels.

G-40 is now in the home stretch before closing night. Check it out between 5:00 and 10:00 tonight, at 223 23rd Street South in Crystal City.

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