Kate Kalmias is a self taught artist who has always been inspired by colors and shapes of nature. She has been drawing and creating art her entire life and creative outlets have included weaving, architecture, decoration, drawing and design. Artomatic is the first public exhibit of her work.

Kate likes to work in large format pieces. Color has always been very important to her, so the tones are very important to bring out the mood of the paintings. Sometimes, she uses images found in old magazines or books as inspiration to create a scene. Often she begins a painting not knowing the outcome, and builds in layers until it is 'done'. She has great interest in primitive art from indigenous cultures which shows in her geometric creations. She respects and enjoys nature and those themes are repeated in her works.

Her art has been created in the most environmentally friendly method Kate has found: 100% post consumer paper, 100% post consumer paint (reclaimed from the haz-mat transfer station) and leftover wall paint. Images are mounted on cardboard boxes found on craigs list. She uses a variety of used and found objects as 'brushes' (packaging, old clothes, plastic and old brushes) and mixes all her paint in post consumer containers (egg cartons, yogurt containers). Her easels are old doors.

Eryca Kasse will share her spoken word poetry covering personal struggles and healing, community activism and social justice political themes. Saturday night, May 24th at Artomatic.
8:30 - 9:00 - Creating a Community Poem, Interactive!
9:00 - 9:30 - Feature Reading

Statement for 'Forest of Bygones'

The vessels arranged in a forest grouping are truncated, off-center, weathered and perforated, combining natural movement and an apparent state of organic deterioration that invokes the cycle of life, death, decay. The inescapable nature of change allows for the compiling of memory, as well as for a feeling of profound loss– the recognition of temporal beauty bound inextricably with grief. The grouping of pieces brings to mind a forest that is a remnant, a landscape of objects that remain after some kind of significant change, grave markers, or organic matter that has survived a great fire.

Works on Paper

I am interested in articulating the experiences of everyday life through images of animals paired with texts from my own inner dialogue. These animals range from readily recognizable dogs, cats, and birds, to endangered species such as the lynx and otter. How do animals function in the work? They become stand-ins for me, and can be more carefree and less vulnerable than their maker. These animals are allowed to express my own anxieties, political misgivings, and observations in an honest, awkward, and fiercely intelligent manner. By pairing animals and text, I jam together two parallel tracks or structures, which then create a space for humor, introspection, and pathos.

Animals display emotion accurately. Implying that animals communicate honestly all the time, I believe that animals are authentic selves, more so than people. For example, animals commit violent acts, but not acts of nonsensical cruelty. Animals are inherently good. This belief system underpins my artwork.

Though artists are increasingly becoming more interdisciplinary in their approaches to borrowing from many media, printmaking still differs widely from other paper-based mediums such as cartooning and drawing. An awareness of the unique possibilities offered by printmaking techniques informs my aesthetic.

I believe that we humans have a primal need for both light and color – hence the invention of the luminous tube. In my work I am continually fascinated by the processes involved in working with glass – the idea that I can change the shape of something that is seemingly inert and fragile and then turn it into a bright, colorful light is astonishing! Illuminating everyday objects and twisting glass into freeform shapes adds a bit of whimsy to a world that is often in need of a little surprise.

"A self-taught artist, Kreg David Kelley won his first art award at the age of 12 with the Connecticut Scholastic Art Awards Program for a drawing entitled "Holocaust." Throughout his teenage years he experimented in different artistic mediums, but it wasn't until 2003 that his art became more of a full-on hobby. He works with damaged antique engravings and lithographs from the 17th, 18th, and 19th century, oils, acrylics, pastels, and is also influenced by ancient Roman, Greek, & Egyptian history. From February until April of 2006, he had his first solo show in collaboration with David Mamet's Victorian lesbian comedy,'Boston Marriage'- a production by Ganymede Arts (formerly the Actors' Theatre of Washington): all 16 pieces sold. Additionally, several of his pieces hang in a Gerry Garvin restaurant on Sunset Boulevard. He was also in a group show in NYC featuring works by Yoko Ono and donates to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) National Dinner, Whitman Walker Clinic's Art for Life, and Georgetown Hospital's/Four Season's Georgetown Jingle. His current venue is the 17th Street Cafe, featuring over a dozen pieces. He also volunteers as visual art's curator for Ganymede Arts, which hosted a festival featuring Karen Black in late October of 2007. Having moved from Connecticut to attend the George Washington University, he has been living in D.C. since 2000 and is the curator for a fine art gallery in Georgetown. His website is www.KregDavidKelley.com."

Just as the cup is both half full and half empty, there is more that one side to any story, more than one answer to a question. I can pick up the cup to drink or I can explore with my eye and hand the undulating line and volume. I can also choose to deconstruct the form and use the components to explore childhood memories, respond to material and methods, or invent new meanings for the half-finished pieces, and broken bits that draw my ideas through unexpected doorways.

My forms are both bricks and windows. They can obscure or reveal. The forms can meander along the wall and my eye can explore space both within and around. These components frame a story and are a story in their own right.

Elizabeth Kendall

2008

I began creating wall art from textiles to express the love I have for the medium, and to celebrate the richness of colors and texture. In addition to providing a sense of warmth, I feel it brings a dimensional aspect to a space that makes it come alive.

I am usually inspired by the fabric itself. I enjoy working with the vibrant colors found in Batik and Wax Cloth fabrics, the rich colors and patterns of African Mud Cloth, and the texture of African Kuba Cloth. I also enjoy working with Indigo and fabrics with Asian designs. The art pieces I create are lively and bold, and range from small quilts presented in shadow boxes, to tapestries, to large abstracts and themed series.

To each of my designs I add various objects, such as beads, cowrie shells, brass figures, wood pieces, raffia, tassels, baskets and more as embellishment; the more unusual the better. I feel there is no limit to where my imagination will take me, and my artwork is the vehicle through which it is expressed.

"In all things I try to recognize the unlovely as the lovely disguised. As an artist, I seek to make something from what seems to be nothing- a discarded door or window, old shelving, a used metro ticket, broken glass, mirror or reflector lights…- the list is endless. During my time in Paris, France I began my journey with found art simply because I needed things to hang on my walls. My first project was half of a broken sign that I completed, painting the other half on a piece of discarded hardybacker. I have since begun to see the world through different eyes. The seemingly useless becomes useful; discarded items breathe a new life. What I have learned and love about creating is the inability to make a mistake. If I am willing to wait for the inspiration or the new idea every decision becomes something useful, positive, beautiful."

Kristin's paintings have been shown at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and Mejarte boutique, both located in Paris, France; at Savory Café located in Takoma Park, MD; at Soho Tea and Coffee and the Moderntimes Coffeehouse at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC; at Cosi Dupont South and Bethesda, MD; and at Venn Strategies Lobbying Firm in Washington, DC.

Her KEAGER Purses- a line of one-of-a-kind earth-friendly haute-couture handbags- have been shown at museums nationally; at Cecile Jeanne Boutique in Bethesda, MD; and at the "Arts for the Aging" 2007 Holiday Showcase held at the Netherlands Embassy.

KINETIC ELEMENT of Richmond VA is a classic keyboard progressive rock trio in the format of Emerson, Lake & Palmer but with a generally harder-rocking style of their own. Headed up by composer/keyboardist/vocalist Mike Visaggio, with bassist Matt Harris and drummer/vocalist Michael Murray, they will be performing four of their new compositions which are currently being recorded, and a good chunk of Mike's 2006 solo CD "Starship Universe." There may be a classic prog cover thrown in! Kinetic Element wil be fresh off shows at Jaxx on May 2 opening up the Circa show, and May 10 at Orion Studios in Baltimore supporting Rare Blend. "Starship Universe" has received 30 reviews around the world, the vast majority of them positive. If you like the sound of Hammond B-3, grand piano and synthesizers, mean but melodic bass and classic/prog drumming, this band will get your feet moving and your mind engaged.

King Vitamin plays loud post-psych-punk madness.

A multi-media installation chronicling one photographer who spent 24 hours on one block of 14th Street, DC. Featuring over 350 images and a special video 'featurette' by Ryan Pfleger of the installation of '24 on 14th'

Having spent most of my adult life overseas as a Foreign Service Officer, travel is an integral part of my existence. As a photographic artist, I capture the essence of people, places and things. I reach back to reflect the social, cultural, historical and spiritual aspects of my experiences.

I want the viewer to experience emotion, curiosity, intrigue, or amusement from my work.

As a student of an unseen hand I am allowed freedom of exploration. Growth has been my greatest challenge and accomplishment. I often find a dichotomy in my chosen life's work. It is a form of meditation in that as I work, there is no time, and no space. I easily spend days on one piece. On the other hand,it can be a bit unnerving to be so driven and consumed.

I express my artistic abilities by working across multiple mediums. I have created a limited edition body of work on canvas by combining images of members of a family from the 19th century, with images I created either in the studio or on location. Found objects were included in each piece to add interest and a third dimension.

I also create or transform images through use of fabric, clay, metal or wood, to tell my stories -- all in order to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind works and evoke from viewers, a "How'd you do that?"

Sen. William S. Klein is campaigning for the president of the United States as a real and true conservative, representing the real Americans left voiceless by liberals Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain. This is a town hall meeting with stump speech, comments on current events, and questions from the audience.

If you ever wanted to ask a presidential candidate questions or hear the right side of today's pressing issues, this is your chance.