Visiting Artist: Desmond Beach

Pyramid Atlantic is glad to have artist, Desmond Beach, visit for two weeks. Desmond will be working in the Paper Studio and the Printshop.

Visit him on his website: www.desmondbeach.com

CALL FOR ENTRIES!

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
Call for Entries: Annual Members Juried Exhibition for Prints, Works on/in Paper and Book Arts. Selected works will be considered by juror and exhibited in The Washington Printmakers Gallery from April 2-25, 2013.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2013
For exhibition prospectus visit:
www.pyramidatlanticartcenter.org
or email Gretchen at gschermerhorn@pyramid-atlantic.org

Artist is Residence: Lisa Moren

I came to Pyramid with a specific project using pigments that I had collected last summer in South Australia along an aboriginal "songline" that's now run by big mining companies. So all of my prints are red and yellow ochre.

For a few years I've been collecting pigments from pollution, mostly water pollution, and probably the most insane experience was being in the Gulf of Mexico during Deep Water Horizon rig's oil spill that devistated that region.

I got sick while playing the tidy bowl man out in a little white fishing boat amongst chemically inundated oil blobs floating in Bastian Bay LA, I documented it in a book coming out by the Center for Art Design and Visual Culture. For that project I was inspired by the arial videography that was all over the news which is why I made marbleized paper out of the BP pigment.

As far as inspiration, I recently curated an exhibit with artists Nina Katchadourian, Paul DeMarinis, Ingrid Bachmann and artist team Émile Morin & Jocelyn Robert entitled "Artists Working with Phenomena and Technology." They make a flame sing, popcorn talk, shoes tap, a grand piano play poems like rain is falling on the keys, I love them all and look forward to touring the show and catalog distributed by D.A.P. this spring. Other than technology artists I also like Fluxus artists, Happy Birthday Allison Knowles who just celebrated her 80th birthday!

Lisa's 'Harmano' project

Pyramid pays a visit to Velatis

Helen enjoyed the yum-yum dust--a lot

We enjoyed a sweet evening last night at Velatis Caramels, located just up the street from Pyramid, on 8408 Georgia Avenue.
After a great tour from Dana, we all learned how to 'paint' chocolate with opalescent edible yum-yum dust and how to make their famous sea salt turtles!

Stephanie watches Dana explain the fine art of casting hot chocolate

So, the next time you're visiting Pyramid Atlantic or Washington Printmakers Gallery, or eating dinner downtown......make the most of your time here in good ole' Silver Spring, and pop into Velatis.

Patty Lee learned how to cast a chocolate bunny

My recommendations: dark chocolate sea salt turtles, Amy's toffee with nuts, or vanilla chewy

TAKOMA PARK COMMUNITY CENTER SHOW

We're very excited here at Pyramid Atlantic to have our very own Amdy Adje be exhibiting at the Takoma Park Community Center. To see Amdy's work, go and visit:

Takoma Park Arts and Humanities Commission
Atrium Gallery - White Wall
7500 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park MD 20912

The day to see his artwork is Friday, January 11th, 2013 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

“Everything I see, every day, serves as inspiration. As Picasso said, 'I do not seek, I find.' Colors, forms, shapes and the relationship of those elements just come to me. I don’t think about it – I just paint and draw. I have to paint. My sense of color is influenced by memories of my homeland, Senegal: the constant sunshine, brilliant dress, loud sounds.” - Amdy Adje

Again, congratulations, Amdy!

For more information about the event as well as the other artists featured in the exhibit go to http://www.facebook.com/events/309778422456439/

My 2013 Wish For You

For 2013, I want to wish you all the help that you need, but have been afraid to ask for. 

I know, from experience, asking for help is hard.  

It makes me feel weak and many times like not I am not enough, but there is also a funny thing about asking for help.

As crazy at it may sound, when I ask others for help I discover how much others are willing to do and how much more I am capable of because of their support.  I don't feel so alone anymore.

I didn't know it when I first got to Pyramid Atlantic and asking for help was the last thing on my mind. I was going to do it all by myself.  Its 5 years later and it is not because of me, but because of staff, artists, volunteers, board members, elected officials, interns, donors, members and people like you that we have succeeded.  

Our success is not because of anyone one person, but it is because of this collection of greatness that you are a part of.

If you have not done it yet, please make a $100 tax-deductible gift to Pyramid before December 31, 2012. Click here to donate online. If you have already, thank you, thank you, and yes, thank you.

I don't know what's best all the time, but I don't have to because I have great people like you to learn from.  

In 2013, my resolution is to start "Coffee with Jose" once a month. This will be an opportunity for you to tell me what I can do better and how Pyramid can be better.  

I thought asking for help was a sign of my weakness, but I have learned its actually a sign of strength.  I thought being a leader meant that I couldn't ask for help and I learned that asking for help is what good leaders do best.

Ask for the help that you need, but have been afraid to ask for in 2013. I asked for help and it changed my life.  It can change your life too.

Happy New Year

Jose 

PS: Contribute today AND you help us raise an additional $5,000 thanks to a challenge grant from the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation!  The Cafritz Foundation will match, $1 for $1, every donation you make until we reach our $5,000 goal.  So don't wait,do it today!

Photo of Erin helping a young artist taken by Marty Ittner 

Make and Take: Advent Calendars

Whoo! Make and Take was so fun, there were many activities that inspired both creativity and thoughts on how the little things can make a big difference! It looked like everyone had a blast- from letterpress to screenprinting. 

 Seeing people's advent calendars come together was very exciting! Putting together a nice collage as the first page of the calendar was a nice way to personalize the how thing.

 Looking good, ladies. Loving how different the calendars can all be!