New to My Collection: Sondra Arkin and JT Kirkland

Being an artist has its perks, one of them being getting to know artists and their work very well. I love visiting artists' studios and having them visit mine. The best conversations about art happen there (although I won't ever forget late nights at the pub with my peers back in grad school after a 2 or 3 day studio binge).
I don't have a huge art collection (not counting my own work of course), mainly due to the fact that at some point I thought it was a great idea to become and artist and an art educator, neither of which afford the luxury of money required to buy artwork. Recently several studio visits have ended in my acquisition of two works of art for my collection.
A few weeks ago I went to Sondra Arkin's studio in DC, and we had a great conversation which I hope to pick up and continue soon. When I first walked in, she started talking about what she had been up to and immediately unwrapped and handed me this little painting. I had to have it. the piece was slated to go into a show at the Nevin Kelly Gallery two weeks later and Nevin reserved painting for me. I picked it up a week after the show, and by the way, if you haven't been to Nevin's new space in Columbia Heights, you should go very soon.

Sondra Arkin-"What I Love, 1"
Encaustic on paper on panel - 6"x6"

Just this last week I received a major piece from artist (and my neighbor) JT Kirkland. I already own two of JT's smaller peices (that were incidently also part of his solo show at GRACE a couple of years ago). I am excited to have one of his large wood peices and it was acquired after many studio visits that seem to be happening more frequently all of the time (he is practically across the street after all). The first is an installation shot from the GRACE show that allows you to get a sense of the dimension and the second is a straight on documentary shot.

JT Kirkland - "Oppose"
Wood - 46"x46"

JT has a very popular art blog and is currently applying to Grad school, I wish him luck, but at the same time I like having another artist across the street. Studio visits are the best thing about being an artist and of course I welcome them at any time, if you are up for a visit to my studio, just let me know!

Submitting to Exhibitions

As most artists will tell you, I spend and unseemly amount of time and energy preparing submissions and proposals for galleries, grants, fellowships, competitions, and lately artist residencies. Everyone has a different format and requirements, some of which (after having more than ten years of experience doing this) border on the ridiculous. I honestly believe I spend as much or more time working on these things than actually painting or drawing (something I am desperately trying to change).
I just completed the most painless and quick submission that I can remember. It was for the 20th Annual Drawing and Print Competition at Notre Dame of Maryland. It consisted of a short online form, uploading the digital images to their site and then paying the entry fee via PayPal in a seamless stream of events that took all of 15 minutes (including prepping the images to their specifications in Photoshop).
If you are a gallery, arts organization, or anyone else that organizes art exhibitions please take a minute, click the link above and review their process. It would be so much better for artists and the people who host art exhibitions to do things this way!

More New Drawings

In between the 30 new paintings I am making for my solo exhibition at GRACE (and two for a collaboration with JT Kirkland) I have made some more Ghost Music studies for my collaboration with minimalist composer Matt Sargent. The drawings are graphite on polypropylene and measure 6"x4".

Ghost Music Study 12

Ghost Music Study 13

Ghost Music Study 14

Ghost Music Study 15

Ghost Music Study 16

Ghost Music Study 17

Ghost Music Study 18

Ghost Music Study 19

Looking at Art Tonight

After some ice skating at the National Gallery of Art, dinner and a trip to Utrecht for more paint I'll be going to this exhibition tonight, mainly to see Mark Cameron Boyd's work. It should be worth checking out.

Still Here

I've been making excellent progress in the studio for my solo show at GRACE that opens May 2. I've also been overwhelmed with applications for residencies, shows, grants, etc. More soon. (I keep saying that don't I?)

Burnout

Franklin Einspruch has some great "Unsolicited Advice" for artists out there.

My Art Tonight and Tomorrow In NYC

Postcards From the Edge benefiting Visual AIDS
Metro Pictures
519 West 24th Street, NYC
Saturday January 10, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
$5 suggested admission

The annual display and sale of postcard-size artworks donated from 1600+
artists

Donating artists include: John M. Adams, Alfredo Jaar, Cindy Sherman, Ross
Bleckner, Kara Walker, Jeff Koons, Robert Longo, John Waters, Catherine
Opie, Glenn Ligon, Tony Feher, Ann Hamilton, Kiki Smith, Nayland Blake, Fred
Wilson, Mary Heilmann, David Armstrong, Carrie Mae Weems, Barton Lidice
Benes, Adam Fuss, Jane Hammond, McDermott & McGough, Vito Acconci, John
Baldessari, Louise Lawler, Marcel Dzama, Patty Chang, Paul Pfeiffer, T.J.
Wilcox, Marilyn Minter, Kate Shepherd, Arturo Herrera, Julie Mehretu, Emily
Jacir, Jack Pierson, Barry McGee, Slava Mogutin, Rirkrit Tiravanija,
Lawrence Weiner, Annie Sprinkle, William Wegman, Yoko Ono, and many, many
more. A list of all donating artists will be distributed at the Benefit Sale

The Benefit Sale -- ONE DAY ONLY!
Saturday, January 10, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
All works are only $75 EACH. Buy four, get one free. Works are signed on
the back and displayed anonymously. Artists' names revealed only after
purchase. First-come, first served. $5 suggested admission

The Preview Party
Friday, January 9, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
$75 admission* includes one raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets $20.
Your only chance to get a sneak peek at the entire show! No sales, but one
lucky raffle winner selects the first postcard. More prizes: new Rizzoli
Keith Haring book, signed Cindy Sherman catalog, artist multiples from
ARTWARE editions and Tulip Enterprises. Special hosts: The Imperial Court of
New York. Plus a silent art auction. Wine courtesy of Wine & Spirits
Magazine
*Admission for donating artists is waived

All proceeds support the work of Visual AIDS utilizing contemporary art for
AIDS advocacy and historicizing the work of HIV-positive artists while
offering career support

Questions?
Visit: http://www.thebody.com/visualaids/current/postcards2008_faqs.html