A Passion for Art

Emerging Arts Leaders Creative Conversations Program Page

Every October, in honor of National Arts & Humanities Month, Americans for the Arts partners with emerging leaders from across the country to host Creative Conversations. Last year, more than 1,500 emerging arts leaders participated in 43 locally hosted Creative Conversations throughout the country, and those leaders continue to be engaged at the national level.  

via www.americansforthearts.org

For those of us with a passion for art, this is a wonderful and powerful way to engage in ensuring the continued support of the arts in America.

Edvins Strautanis: Action Painter

Hoping you can stop by to see the new exhibition I co-curated currently on view at the Lobby Gallery, 499 Park Avenue, New York City.

The exhibition is on view until December 30, 2010 and is open to the public seven days a week from 10 AM to 6 PM.

For more info about the exhibition and to download a brochure with an essay by Judd Tully click here 

Here's some photos from this past Tuesday's gala opening reception.

Art Project to help Haitian schoolchildren

One month after losing their home, school and every possession to Haiti’s earthquake, 100 children from the Maranatha School and Orphanage came together and created 209 masterpieces of art. The project was the initiative of Rogue Space Gallery owner and documentary filmmaker Kevin O’Hanlon. O’Hanlon collaborated with artist Richard Laurent and the Life For The World team to bring canvasses and painting supplies to Maranatha which has been the home and school to over 100 children since 2002. The children have been sleeping outside, on the streets or under tents since the earthquake. "This was one of those mutually abundant situations. We got to experience the mindset of these amazing children at a pivotal moment in their lives, while bringing so much joy to kids who had never held a paintbrush or seen a blank canvass before. The project empowered them, affirmed their artistic abilities and set them on a creative path their own solution. They are Haiti’s future, the generation who will rebuild."

Click the link to view via roguespacechelsea.com

With all the more recent natural disasters being in the forefront of the news, I've still been wondering what's being done in and for Haiti now. I was happy to discover this event at Rogue Space Chelsea. If you're in or near Manhattan, try to check it out.

New York School Redux Exhibition

I'm so excited about a new exhibition I co-curated that is currently on view at the Lobby Gallery at 499 Park Avenue (at 59th Street) in New York City.  It features important works by five artists Alcopley, Herman Cherry, Howard Daum, Edvins Strautmanis and Nina Tryggvadottir, who were part of the New York School. The Lobby Gallery is open to the public seven days a week from 10 AM to 6 PM.  A gala opening reception is planned for April 21 from 5-7 PM.  We hope you can join us.

For more information about the exhibition click here

Exhibiting artwork in commercial venues such as this can be a valuable tool for developers and property managers to help market their buildings in today's competitive environment.

Art adds to the cachet of a building, and can support its branding and leasing efforts.  Art helps set a building apart from its competitors, and it provides a unique amenity for existing and prospective tenants.  Art not only visually enhances a property, it also is a powerful and cost-effective way to communicate to a targeted audience and and can generate positive media coverage about the building.  Art demonstrates a firm's commitment to support local culture for the benefit of the community.

Una Dora Copley (daughter of Alcopley and Nina Tryggvadottir) at the installation