http://www.artomatic.org/about/press/releasestitle/2007/feed http://www.artomatic.org/node/1381 <br />Artomatic 2007 an enormous success<br /><br />With hundreds of events, thousands of works of art and more than 31,500 visitors, Artomatic 2007 was an enormous success this spring. <br /><br />The free event, which was held April 13 to May 20, transformed 90,000 square feet of a former office building into a major art attraction, with activities that included film screenings, book signings, poetry readings, workshops and dance, fire and musical performances. About 700 artists participated in Artomatic, showing their art, performing and volunteering their time.<br /><br />“This was a great opportunity for artists, who sold their work, made new contacts and strengthened their ties to the local arts community,” said Sondra Arkin, president of Artomatic’s Board of Directors. “Artomatic 2007 was also a huge draw for area residents, who came out in droves to support the arts and just to have a lot of fun.”<br /><br />Held four times previously since 1999, this year’s Artomatic was the first time the event has been held outside of the District Of Columbia. The 2007 venue, located in Crystal City, Arlington, Va., helped broaden the event’s audience and engage new artists, according to George Koch, chair of Artomatic.<br /><br />“The location was ideal, and the residents and businesses were very supportive,” Koch said. “We are thankful to all of our volunteers and supporters, and we are especially grateful to the Crystal City Business Improvement District, which joined us as a partner for this year’s Artomatic.”<br /><br />For a full list of supporters for Artomatic 2007, which included washingtonpost.com, Vornado/Charles E. Smith and the Crystal City Business Improvement District, visit www.artomatic.org/about/credits.<br /><br />Organizers are now working on plans for the next Artomatic event, with dates and location to be determined. Ideas for the location of the next Artomatic can be submitted to Koch, who is heading the site selection team. Previous Artomatic sites have included a former museum, government offices and a home improvement store.<br /><br />“We’re already brainstorming for the next event,” Koch said. “Artomatic will be back, and we may be coming to your neighborhood.”<br /><br />For more information on Artomatic or to sign up for the Artomatic e-newsletter, visit www.artomatic.org. <br /><br /> http://www.artomatic.org/node/1381#comment Press Releases Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500 muckraker 1381 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/1378 See attached PDF for news release<br /> http://www.artomatic.org/node/1378#comment Press Releases Fri, 11 May 2007 23:00:00 -0500 muckraker 1378 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/1376 See attached PDF for news release http://www.artomatic.org/node/1376#comment Press Releases Thu, 03 May 2007 23:00:00 -0500 muckraker 1376 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/1377 See attached PDF for news release<br /> http://www.artomatic.org/node/1377#comment Press Releases Thu, 03 May 2007 23:00:00 -0500 muckraker 1377 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/1375 See attached PDF for news release<br /> http://www.artomatic.org/node/1375#comment Press Releases Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:00:00 -0500 muckraker 1375 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/1374 See attached PDF for news release<br /> http://www.artomatic.org/node/1374#comment Press Releases Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:00:00 -0500 muckraker 1374 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/1373 See attached PDF for news release http://www.artomatic.org/node/1373#comment Press Releases Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:00:00 -0500 muckraker 1373 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/1372 See attached PDF for news release<br /> http://www.artomatic.org/node/1372#comment Press Releases Fri, 20 Apr 2007 22:42:13 -0500 muckraker 1372 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/1371 See attached PDF for news release<br /> http://www.artomatic.org/node/1371#comment Press Releases Tue, 17 Apr 2007 23:00:00 -0500 muckraker 1371 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/1370 See attached PDF for news release<br /> http://www.artomatic.org/node/1370#comment Press Releases Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:00:00 -0500 muckraker 1370 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/1072 <p><strong>ARTOMATIC ATTRACTS </strong>a range of artists and performers, from emerging artists showing their works for the first time to longtime professionals established on the art scene. The following are a sampling of some of the artists that are showing their work or performing at this year’s Artomatic or have taken part in past shows.<br /><br /><strong>REPORTERS: </strong>Feel free to quote from or use the information in these biographies in your news coverage of Artomatic 2007. These artists are also available for interviews. To arrange an interview or for more information,<strong> e-mail michelelate@gmail.com or call George Koch at (202) 607-0879.</strong><br /></p><h2><strong>Frank Warren</strong></h2><p>Frank Warren is the sole founder and curator of the PostSecret Project: A collection of over 100,000 highly personal and artfully decorated postcards mailed anonymously from around the world, displaying the soulful secrets we never voice.</p><p>A New York Times best-seller, PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives is Warren’s first book. In 2006, his PostSecret Web site (which receives over 3,000,000 visitors every month) was awarded six weblog awards including Best American Blog and Blog of the Year. PostSecret was also awarded the Webby Award for best NetArt. The National Mental Health Association presented PostSecret with an award for Outstanding Contribution in raising public awareness about issues of mental health and suicide. His traveling exhibition of PostSecret cards was called by the Washington Post, “One of the five best art shows in 2005.” His books, My Secret and The Secret Lives of Men and Women, are also New York Times best-sellers. The next book, A Lifetime of Secrets will be published in October 2007.<br /><br />Warren was born in Arizona and went to high school in Illinois. He later graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in the Social Sciences and moved to the Washington DC area to start a business. Fifteen years later, Instant Information Systems takes up less of his time as he focuses more time and energy on the project that thrust him into the public eye.<br /></p><p>Warren has appeared on the Today Show, 20/20, CNN, MSNBC, CBC, NPR and Fox News. USA Today called Warren, “An award winning Blogger, a first-time author, an artist with a traveling exhibit, a possible documentary subject, the inspiration for a music video and the all-around media ‘it’ boy of the moment.”<br /></p><p>In 2005 the All American Rejects approached Warren about using images of actual PostSecret images in their, “Dirty Little Secret” music video. They offered Warren $1,000 but Warren instead asked them to donate $2,000 to 1(800)SUICIDE where Warren is a volunteer. The donation was made and the music video became one of the most requested on MTV. The National Mental Health Association presented Warren with an award for his work in raising public awareness of Suicide. The PostSecret project has now raised over $75,000 for 1(800)SUICIDE.<br /></p><p>Warren continues to receive between 100 and 200 postcards everyday. He updates his website on Sundays and is working to produce more PostSecret books. Germantown, Maryland is where Warren, his wife, and 11 year-old daughter call home. He continues to call himself an “accidental artist” because he has no artist background or training. “I have been asked many times why I started this. It still feels to me as though this project found me. All I try to do is make the right decisions every day to protect the integrity of the project – and learn to trust the journey.”<br /></p><p>Here are a few things people are saying about Frank:<br /> “Your presentation was heartfelt and eye-opening.” – Cleo Wilson Executive Director, Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art<br /></p><p>“I believe that there are so many people who have the potential to be touched by you. And when they meet you, I think they are even more amazed by the way you speak so kindly, tell stories as if you had all the time in the world for them, and listen to them as if they were your own child. I hope that other colleges and communities will be able to benefit from your presence with them, and that you are able to spread your project to every town you possibly can.” – Amie Hack, Graduate Assistant, The College of William &amp; Mary<br /></p><p>“For me Artomatic was the gateway that allowed me to move into a highly creative word.” - Frank Warren<br /><br /><strong>http://postsecret.blogspot.com/<br />http://www.artomatic.org/user/677<br />Artomatic 2007 space: Yellow 6B25<br /></strong><br /></p><h2>Sondra N. Arkin</h2><p>Having started as an Artomatic audience member, Sondra joined as a participating artist in 2002 and volunteered to help organize for 2004. As a result of her involvement in Artomatic, Sondra was recommended and applied to work with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities in the purchase of art for the John A. Wilson Building. From early meetings with the DCCAH staff, it was clear to Sondra that this project was more than orchestrating the selection and installation of art, but a chance to build and showcase a wide community of visual artists. As the project developed, it was expanded and re-branded as the City Hall Art Collection. <br /><br />While a broad Call for Artists for any large scale public art project attempts to reach all interested parties, Sondra felt that this project required an unprecedented outreach component for its success. In a six week period, the challenge was how to reach both established and emerging artists in every corner of the city?<br /><br />The Artomatic experience laid a strong foundation for community connections. It was through these connections that she was able to meet with artists, educators, curators, gallerists, and arts administrators. It was through these connections that she was able to leverage the available resources to reach and represent the broadest possible cross-section of local artists.<br /><br />In a recent tour of the City Hall Arts Collection, Sondra found herself pointing out all of the artists that had been Artomatic participants — even a few of the collection pieces that had been purchased as a direct result of Artomatic.<br /><br />“There has been enthusiastic support [for the City Hall Art Collection] not just because everyone understood the value of a collection in the city hall of the Nation’s capital, but because everyone agrees that a strong arts community is a vital element of a healthy city,” she says. ”We’re so often overshadowed by the quality museum and performance environment; I think Artomatic lets this city shake loose a little bit and levels the playing field for all artists’ to showcase their creative spirit. One of my favorite things about Artomatic is the incubator aspect. Who knows what will see in 2007, and I can’t wait to find out.”<br /><br />Sondra creates abstract art in a variety of media and is represented widely in private collections. She studied fine arts, writing, and literature at Southampton College/LIU and Florida Atlantic University, where she received her BA and MA. In addition to her full time work as a professional artist, she serves as Project Curator for DCCAH City Hall Art Collection at the John A. Wilson Building, is a founding director of the Mid City Artists, and is President of the Board of Directors for Artomatic, Inc. Previously she was President and Founder of ProMarket, Inc., Mid-Atlantic’s largest high-tech marketing agency. Learn more about her work at www.sondranarkin.com.<br /><br /><strong>http://www.sondranarkin.com<br />http://www.artomatic.org/user/32<br />sondra@artmarketdc.com<br />Artomatic 2007 space: Red 6A03</strong><br /><br /></p><h2>Lou Stovall</h2><p>Lou Stovall was born in Athens, Georgia in 1937 and grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts. He studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and at Howard University (B.F.A.). Since 1962, he has lived and worked in Washington, DC. His drawings and silkscreen prints have brought him grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Stern Family Fund, as well as numerous other awards and accolades.<br /><br />His recognition as a master printmaker has earned him commissions to print works of art for such noted artists as Josef Albers, Peter Blume, Alexander Calder, Elizabeth Catlett, Gene Davis, David Driskell, Sam Gilliam, Lois Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Robert Mangold, Mathieu Mategot, A. Brockie Stevenson and James L. Wells.<br /><br />Among his special commissions, he designed the Independence Day invitation for the White House in 1982 at the request of Mrs. Ronald Reagan. In 1986, at the request of Mayor Marion Barry, he made the print American Beauty Rose for the Washington, DC Are Host Committee 1988 Democratic National Convention. In 1996 he designed and made the print Breathing Hope to honor Howard University’s incoming president H. Patrick Swygert.<br /><br />Stovall’s own prints and drawings are part of numerous public and private collections throughout the world. Though his craft is that of a master printmaker, Stovall’s passion for art extends beyond a single medium. He gives the same care and attention to his framing and furniture construction as he does to his two-hundred-color prints and intricate drawings.<br /><br />The center/hub of Stovall’s artistic energy is his studio adjacent to his home in Cleveland Park. Through Workshop, Inc., founded in 1968, he has made a unique effort to build a community of artists in Washington, DC and to encourage, by his own example, service in the community. <br /> <br /> &quot;True art is in the eye of the beholder, come and behold&quot; Lou Stovall<br /><br /><strong>http://loustovall.com/CrosstownArts/client_art/lou/<br />(202) 966-4202<br />loustovall@gmail.com</strong><br /><br /></p><h2>Mike Clayberg</h2><p>Over the past 25 years, Mike Clayberg has played bass, guitar and sung in local bands from hardcore punk rock to traditional Americana. Through most of the 80s, he helped run the punk record label, DSI Records. In the 00s, he runs an acoustic music record label, Acoustic Americana. In recent years his group, Dead Men&#39;s Hollow, has earned nominations and received awards from the Washington Area Music Association. <br /><br />Dead Men&#39;s Hollow began as an impromptu backyard pick n&#39; sing. In the summer of 2001, five musicians gathered in the backyard to sing a little honky-tonk and old-time country. When three sweet voices sang Hank Williams&#39; &quot;I&#39;m So Lonesome I Could Cry&quot; in lush, three-part harmony even the crickets quieted for a moment so they might savor the last few notes hanging in the steamy twilight. This iteration of Dead Men&#39;s Hollow was right at home in a raucous bar, but its founders always yearned to recapture that cricket-lulling transcendence.<br /><br />He has performed in the lowliest of dives. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, State Theatre, and Strathmore. He has even sung gospel on the steps of Washington&#39;s National Cathedral. And when he&#39;s not the Performance Chair for Artomatic, he may still be found performing regularly throughout the Washington area and beyond.<br /><br /><strong>www.deadmenshollow.com/bios_mike.html <br />(703) 362-8702<br />Performing at Artomatic 2007 on Friday, May 4</strong><br /><br /></p><h2>Tim Tate </h2><p>Tim Tate is a Washington, DC native, and has been working with glass as a sculptural medium for the past 25 years. Co-Founder of the Washington Glass School, Tim’s work is in the permanent collections of a number of museums, including the Smithsonian&#39;s American Art Museum and the Mint Museum. He was named ‘Outstanding Emerging Artist for Washington, DC’ in 2003 and was one of OUT Magazine’s 100 People of the Year in 2004. He was the subject of recent articles in American Style and Sculpture magazines, as well as the Washington Post and Times newspaper reviews. <br /><br />Tim Tate was recently included in a new book, 50 Distinguished Contemporary Artists in Glass, edited by Lisa Hoftijzer . &quot;As a part of the publication of a unique book about glass design and making, Judith Neiswander (curator, British Museum, Fogg Art Museum, research fellow of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and assistant curator of Harvard University Art Museums) and Caroline Swash (St Martins College, London) invited over 500 contemporary artists in glass to submit examples of their work to be considered by a major figure in glassmaking for inclusion in a gallery. Distinguished appraisers in glass chose 50 artists who, in their opinion, represented &quot;the best work of their generation&quot;.<br /><br />Art-Interview Magazine has just awarded Tim ‘First Place’ in the 2007 International Art Competition. Tim’s entries to the competition will be featured in a show at Gallery 24, Berlin, Germany in 2008. He will also be teaching in Istanbul in August 2007.</p><p>“The view of some fine art galleries in Washington has been that no reputable artist would ever show at Artomatic. I believe that the venue (Artomatic) does not determine the quality of the artist. Rauschenberg and many other well respected artists are famous for showing in alternative spaces. And if having my work seen by 16,000 people, every art critic and every curator from every museum in the region will hurt me as an artist, then let me be hurt. I have faith that my art can stand the scrutiny.&quot; Tim Tate<br /></p><p><strong>http://www.timtateglass.com<br />(202) 744-8222<br />timtateglass@aol.com<br />Artomatic 2007 space: Red 6A01</strong><br /><br /></p><h2>Thomas Edwards </h2><p>Thomas Edwards is a technological artist living near Washington, DC. His work seeks to explore the interface between people and electronic machines, often by encouraging true interaction between them. His specialty is in combining sensors, robots, and networking. Edwards is also the organizer for Dorkbot DC, the Washington, DC chapter of the international Dorkbot electronic arts organization.<br /><br />Edwards was formally trained as an electrical engineer, but has since spent many years in the video-over-IP industry. He co-founded The Sync, an Internet streaming video entertainment site, and currently works for a major television network on issues concerning transmission of broadcast quality video using IP protocols over satellite.&quot;<br /><br />&quot;Artomatic 2004 gave me the first real chance to have my artwork shown to a large number of people, for me to meet other tech artists, and also for my work recognized by the art world. It was one of the most exciting and seminal opportunities for me, my artwork, and my collaborations.&quot; Thomas Edwards <br /><br /><strong>http://www.t11s.com/about.html<br />thomas@thesync.com</strong></p><p><strong><br />###</strong><br /><br /></p> http://www.artomatic.org/node/1072#comment Press Releases Fri, 06 Apr 2007 23:06:00 -0500 muckraker 1072 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/644 <p>Artomatic, the Washington, D.C., area’s eclectic, engaging — and occasionally even eye-popping — arts extravaganza is back this spring and promises to be more of a draw than ever before.<br /><br />Held regularly since 1999, Artomatic is the region’s one-of-a-kind multimedia event featuring more than 500 regional artists and performers. The free five-week event, to be held April 13–May 20, will feature 90,000 square feet of paintings, sculptures, photography and other creative work.<br /><br />Artomatic will also feature special events, including musical and visual performances, poetry readings, art workshops for kids and adults and a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Previous Artomatic shows attracted as many as 50,000 visitors.<br /><br />“With more events, new art and a great location, Artomatic will be the area’s most interesting, off-the-grid art attraction this spring,” said George Koch, chair of Artomatic, Inc. <br /><br />Artomatic is unique in that it is an inclusive and open art event, showcasing works from a range of performers and artists — from emerging artists showing their works for the first time to longtime professionals established on the art scene. Visitors can browse Artomatic and discover new artwork, and — in most cases — even buy the art that’s on display.<br /><br />“When people think of Washington, D.C., ‘art’ is not always the first word that comes to mind,” Koch noted. “But Artomatic shows that the region has a strong creative community at its heart.”<br /><br />The Arlington, Va., neighborhood of Crystal City will play host to this year’s Artomatic. The event will be held on two floors of an office building at 2121 Crystal Drive. The location is close to downtown Washington, D.C., and is just blocks from the Crystal City Metro station. Free garage parking will be available evenings and weekends, but visitors are strongly encouraged to take Metro to Artomatic.<br /><br />This year’s Artomatic is presented in partnership with the Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID), which is “very excited” that the event is in Crystal City, according to Angela Fox, executive director of the Crystal City BID, www.crystalcitybid.com.<br /><br />“Art adds dimension and soul to our daily lives. It reaches us in ways that we might not anticipate — making us think, react, reflect,” Fox said. “It also recharges us in a way that we need in today&#39;s ‘always on’ world. Artomatic does all of these times 100. One building, two floors, more than 500 artists entertaining, stretching and challenging us. It&#39;s fun, whimsical, focused, intellectual and brilliant. It&#39;s takes Crystal City where we want to go.&quot;<br /><br />A schedule of events will be available on the Artomatic Web site, www.artomatic.org. The site will also contain a catalog of artists taking part in Artomatic with images of their work as well as videos and music from performers.</p><p>For directions and hours, call the Artomatic infoline at (202) 544-1005.<br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p> http://www.artomatic.org/node/644#comment Press Releases Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:08:22 -0500 muckraker 644 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/615 <p>Members of the media: Are you planning to cover this year’s Artomatic? Join us for a special sneak peek lunch and behind-the-scenes tour before the show opens to the public.<br /><br />This special media-only event will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 13, at the Artomatic site, 2121 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Va. Come and see what the excitement is about with an insider’s look at works by more than 500 artists. <br /><br />Held regularly since 1999, Artomatic is the region’s one-of-a-kind multimedia event featuring more than 500 regional artists and performers. The free five-week event, to be held April 13–May 20, will feature 90,000 square feet of paintings, sculptures, photography and other creative work.<br /><br />Artomatic will also feature special events, including musical and visual performances, poetry readings, art workshops for kids and adults and a Cinco de Mayo celebration. For more information, visit www.artomatic.org.<br /><br />This year’s Artomatic is presented in partnership with the Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID), www.crystalcitybid.com. <br /><br />The April 13 lunch and preview tour is open to media only. To attend, RSVP by April 5 to mpotts@crystalcitybid.com. For more information, call (703) 412-9430. </p><p><strong>Artomatic Opening Media Lunch and Art Tour</strong><br />Friday, April 13, 2007<br />2121 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Va.<br />8th Floor<br />Noon-2 p.m.<br />RSVP requested </p><p><em>© 2007 Artomatic, Inc. All trademarks and service marks are property of their respective owners. Artomatic is an event of Artomatic, Inc. Funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. </em></p> http://www.artomatic.org/node/615#comment Press Releases Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:07:32 -0500 muckraker 615 at http://www.artomatic.org http://www.artomatic.org/node/516 <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial">Crystal</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial"><strong> City, VA – </strong>The Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) is pleased to announce the upcoming arrival of Washington’s artist extravaganza known as Artomatic.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial">Occurring four times since 1999, Artomatic transforms found spaces into a living, exciting arts community that is free and open to the public. This five-week event is the collective synergy of hundreds of participating artists and the energy of the thousands of people who visit. Artomatic shows have drawn between 20,000 and 50,000 visitors, who come to look, absorb, question, and identify what they like from this talented community of artists. This marks <em>the </em>Artomatic debut in Northern Virginia. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial">In the heart of Crystal City, Artomatic will convert two floors of the former U.S. Patent and Trademark building (2121 Crystal Drive) into a showcase of engaging works, performances, and educational presentations. The nearby Crystal City Metro station provides easy access and there&#39;s plenty of parking in the area.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial">“The goal of the Crystal City Business Improvement District is to change the way people perceive and experience Crystal City,” said Angela Fox, Executive Director for the Crystal City BID. “We are bringing things to see and do here into a place that is already central, accessible, has ample free parking, and lots of wonderful restaurants. Artomatic is the perfect partner to help us get there. We are very excited to be their host as they debut in Virginia, and we welcome the many artists and spectators who are looking for fun and adventure in their own backyards.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial">“We are excited about our collaboration with the Crystal City BID.” According to George Koch, Chair of Artomatic, Inc. “We believe that launching Artomatic in Crystal City will substantially increase future exhibition and presentation opportunities for local visual artists, poets, actors, dancers, and musicians as they expand their creativity in the new Crystal City. The Crystal City BID and its members have already become strong new partners for Artomatic.” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial">Artomatic will kick-off its collaboration with the Crystal City BID with an opening celebration on Friday, April 13, 2007. The event will run for five-weeks, closing on Sunday, May 20, 2007.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> http://www.artomatic.org/node/516#comment Press Releases Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:00:00 -0600 administrator 516 at http://www.artomatic.org