What's N E W

October 2020 - December 2020

"Speak Your Truth Black Lives Matter" Juried Exhibit

The Athenaeum/NVFAA

Alexandria, VA

NVFAA.org

My artwork, "The Gulf Between..Not So Great" and my artist statement were chosen by Jurors, KaNikki Jakarta, Victor Ekpuk, and Twig Murray, to be included in the exhibit.

August 2020 - September 2020

"Artist Choice" Juried Exhibit

Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts

Fredericksburg, VA

Aug. 29, 2020 - Sept. 25, 2020

FCAAGallery.org

My artworks, "All She Had to Give" and "Inspired" were chosen by Juror, Carol Iglesius, to be included in the exhibit. "All She had to give was additionally awarded an Honorable Mention.

March 2019 - April 2019

"TREEmendous" Juried Exhibit

Hill Center Galleries

Washington, DC

March 7, 2019 - April 28, 2019

HillCenterDC.org

My artwork, "A Typical Fall Afternoon" has been chosen by Juror, Carole Ottensen, to be included in the "TREEmendous," exhibit in the Hill Center Galleries. "a Typical Fall Afternoon" was created by manipulating a photograph that I took in the Anacostia section of Washington DC.

Decmber 2018 - January 2019

"Focus on Color"

National Juried Exhibit

Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts ("FCCA")

Fredericksburg, VA

December 1, 2018 - January 29, 2019

https://fccagallery.org/

My artwork, "Untitled Fatherhood" has again been chosen by Juror, Cheryl Bosch, to be included in the "Focus on Color," exhibit in the Frederick Gallery. "Untitled Fatherhood" is a combination of manipulated photography and digital art drawing. The colors are warm to capture this precious, primal moment.

Click here to see my past work at that has been exhibited at the FCCA, Frederick Gallery:

September 2018

The 48th Annual Labor

Day Art Show

Glen Echo Park, MD

September 1, 2018 - September 3, 2018

My artwork, "Untitled Fatherhood" and "Comfort Zones" will be exhibited. "Untitled Fatherhood" is manipulated photography. It depicts a father and his infant daughter. The texture symbolizes the variables and life events that will affect this baby,....including whether her dad can be a good father. However, his hopes and dreams for her are genuine as symbolized by the daisy chain he holds. "Comfort Zones" is a digital art drawing that is more personal. The zebra and frog pictured are stepping out of their comfort zones by being in a social setting. The zebra is comforted by the purple butterfly (symbolizing a cousin who just passed away) who reminds the zebra to have the courage to enjoy life. The frog partakes of a beverage in the shape of a lily pad which is familiar but that is only a quick remedy to feel more comfortable.

December 2017 - March 2018

7th Annual National Juried Exhibition

Marshall University - Huntington, WV

January 8, 2018 - February 16, 2018

My artwork, "Rutland Road" will be exhibited at the Charles W. and Norma C. Carroll Gallery in the Visual Arts Center at Marshall University. The Exhibit was juried by Mr. Bill May, Executive Director of the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.

One of my favorite past times is to drive through the backroads of Anne Arundel County, MD. The paternal side of my family has lived there for more than 200 years. I recently learned that one of my 2x great grandmothers was born somewhere along Rutland Road in 1870.

This drawing is based on a farm off Rutland Road that captivates me everytime I pass by because of the variety of farm animals on display.

Alexandria Art Purchase Awards

Alexandria, VA

December 2017 - March 2018

My artwork, "Summers on the Anacostia" was chosen to be one of 10 finalists to be exhibited at City Hall in Alexandria for the theme, "Neighborhoods and Gathering Places."

During the warmer months, I occasionally drive over to the Anacostia section of Washington DC to bird and people watch along the river. The park is filled with families having picnics, people jogging and walking.

Busboys and Poets

Shirlington, VA location

October 2016- Present

My art continues to be exhibited in this location.

September 2017

47th Annual Labor Day Art Show

Glen Echo Park

September 1, 2017 - September 4, 2017

My artwork, "View From Chatham Manor" and "Street Performer", will be exhibited at the Labor Day show in Glen Echo Park, MD.

July 2017 - August 2017

All-Media Regional Juried Exhibit

Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts

July 29, 2017 - August 25, 2017

My artwork, "Sunday Fishing", will be exhibited at the FCCA. Juror: Gina Cavalla Collins

FEBRUARY - JULY 2017

Spring Breeze

Many thanks to Jeanne Tanks and the PAASC for the opportunity to display my art in the Mary Washington Hospital-Stafford and at the Crossings at Falls Run in Fredericksburg during the month of March.

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2017

We the People

Origins: Manufactured Thought, Origins: Mid-Day Crossings, Origins: Beauty Secrets will be exhibited in the Fabulon from Mar. 4-Mar. 31, 2017. Manufactured Thought has been the most confusing for people. Initially, the vendor who prints my posters refused to do so because they thought it promoted hate speech. I had to explain that it was anti-hate. The poster attacks the Alt-Right movement who attempts to make over their image. However, they are preaching the same hate as the KKK hidden behind the curtain. The speaker behind the lecturn mesmorizes the dandelion subjects who return the infamous salute. As they die they spread hate in their seeds. The birds of prey symbolize suspicion as they circle around ALLEGED objects of fear such as a Sihk man (often mistaken for a Muslim), an African American youth in a hoodie, and a woman wearing a burka. R.I.P. Trayvon Martin, Srinivas Kuchibholta, Deah Barakat, to name a few. Mid-Day Crossings emphasizes that children have to be taught to hate.. This is not a natural impulse. Beauty Secrets deals with a beautiful cove that I visited that was stunning because of its beauty but also stunning because of the atrocities that have taken place in similar areas up and down the east coast in the Post-Columbian era.

http://www.fabulonart.com/we-the-people-1

For and About Women

Unknown Origin and Woman Under Tree will be exhibited at the Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts, from Feb. 25 - Mar. 31, 2017. The juror was Dr. Preston Thayer. Unknown Origin is a digital art drawing based on my observations of a Muslim woman of possible East African origin who danced aimlessly in the middle of a square near the courthouse. No one could hear what song she danced to. I surmised that the melody was exotic and brought her peace. Woman Under Tree, previously exhibited in NC, is manipulated digital photography. This lady frequently stood under a tree in the Eastern Market and sang quietly to herself.

Both women were possibly homeless. Please continue to support your local charitable organizations providing support to the homeless. In addition to homeless shelters, the homeless organizations providing aid during the day (when most are forced to leave the shelters), need ongoing donations (to provide showers, items to protect against extreme weather, computer labs, etc).

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017

Four of my art works, Single Rose, Wedding Day 1, Wedding Day: Jake and Anna, and Evening Walk with Wisdom are being exhibited from January 30-February 24, 2017.

It's All about Love

Show and Tell Art Display, Stafford Hospital Gift Shop

All Photography

Regional Juried Exhibition

Honorable Mention

Running Buddies will be exhibited at Frederick Gallery, FCCA in Fredericksburg, VA, from Jan. 28 - Feb. 24, 2017. The juror was Jane Bowling-Wilson

One of my neighbors running in the morning with his golden retrievers. They appeared to be thrilled to join their owner!

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

The Artist as Maker, Thinker, Feeler

National Juried Exhibition

Tree Knowledge will be exhibited at the Cade Art Gallery at Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD, from Nov. 18 - Dec. 19, 2016. The juror was Dr. John Rasmussen, Dir./Curator, American Univ. Museum, Katzen Arts Center.

This digital art photography reflects my interest in history and genealogy. When I look at nature, I do have an ability to just appreciate its beauty. However, I saw this beautiful tree line in SC and my mind was flooded by ideas:

IDEA#1 - I live in the outer suburbs where I regularly enjoy the driving on the back roads and all the glorious scenery. However, there has been some development causing some trees to disappear and of course, there is the occasional idiot who throws out a cigarette and starts a forest fire.

IDEA#2 - A branch of my family was enslaved in a county near Charleston before their forced migration to a plantation in western Arkansas. The beauty of Charleston area was stunning and the connection to some of ancestors was overwhelming. The seed was then planted to add something related to my family history.

IDEA#3 - There is a mystery in my mother's side of the family regarding my maternal, 2X great grandfather. I believe that he may have been lynched in 1911 in Clarksville, TX. His fate is not a part of the oral history of the family.

NOVEMBER 2016

Touch of Blue

Lost will be exhibited at the Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts, from October 29 - November 25, 2016. This man was photographed in Indianapolis, Indiana in July 2016. He was sitting outside a bus station in the downtown area looking disheveled and disoriented as to time and place. He was lost. He appeared homeless and like no one cared about him.

I continue to encourage others to support their local charitable organizations providing support to the homeless. In addition to homeless shelters, the homeless organizations providing aid during the day (when most are forced to leave the shelters), need ongoing donations (to provide showers, items to protect against extreme weather, computer labs, etc).

Help the Homeless

OCTOBER 2016

Your #Panel61 Online Exhibition

Doubt is being displayed on the Phillips Collection's, interactive website to celebrate Jacob Lawrence's 60 panels of the Great Migration of African Americans during the early part of the last century. This artwork is a love letter to the many African American inner city youth and young parents who I work with lacking foundation and natural role models for success in recent memory. I took the latter for granted while growing up. This young man is attempting to board a city bus on a cold day for a job interview downtown. On his way to personal growth and potential greatness, he has to overcome feelings of self-doubt, and any negativity from others that may be discouraging. Hopefully he can remember a kind word or thought to overcome his doubt and get on that bus.

Migration#61

Seven of my Digital Art Photographs (Change is Coming, The Decision, Reconstruction Continues, The Problem We All Have, Marked, Lost, Memories-Regrets) have been chosen for exhibit at Busboys and Poets in their Shirlington location from Oct. 15, 2016 – Mar. 26, 2017 . These art works were created in response to the question, what would Jacob Lawrence's 61st panel look like today in his Great Migration series. Jurors: Elsa Smithgall, Phillips Collection, A.M. Weaver, Writer/Curator, Andy Shallal, Busboys and Poets Owner, Carol Dyson, Busboys and Poets Curator.

READ MORE about the Great Jacob Lawrence here. His 60 panels, shared by the Philips Collection and MoMa will be reuniited for a limited time in the Philips Gallery

Focus on Color

Three Artworks ("Finding a Reason, " "After Work Toy," and "Typical Fall Afternoon") are on display during the Month of October at the Stafford Hospital for the theme, Focus on Color. Finding a Reason deals with substance abuse. I saw this man struggling to move and dealing with an apparent hangover. He hoped that his cigarette gave him a boost. I was obsessed with the texture of his jeans and cap. The surrounding color matches his jacket because through his struggle, it is doubtful that he noticed much around him. After Work Toy and Typical Fall Afternoon gave me excuses to play with fall colors. A wonderful time of the year in this region.

SEPTEMBER 2016

2016 Banks of Arts

My artwork, Woman Under Tree will be exhibited October 14 2016 - November 26, 2016 at the Craven Arts Council & Gallery in New Bern, NC. The juror was Dr. Larry Wheeler, Director of the NC Museum of Art. The woman pictured was a frequent visitor to the Eastern Market Section of Washington, DC. I believe that she was homeless and had to wait until the shelters opened in the evenings.

http://www.cravenarts.org

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