Sign Up and Support or Be Supported

By Betsy Spruill Clarke

Okay, so, being that I have 2 shoots today--one a gig and one for DC Shot List--as well as the fact that I'm behind on finishing 2 other projects AND I haven't written in DC Shot List in a week and a half, I woke up at 3AM with a head full of worries.  So, among loads of laundry, transferring photos, and re-writing contracts, I jumped on Facebook just to catch up and see what's new in the photography community and discovered that today is the official online opening of Talenthouse - an online arts community.

My friend, Kate Michael, who is one of the hosts of The District Dish as well as Examiner columnist and friend, revealed in her article "Move Over MySpace?" that this new site designed to "aid emerging and established artists and assist in creating an online creative collaboration," will go live today (June 30)!

According to Kate, Talenthouse's alpha phase has already rolled in 25,000 artists--including the likes of curator Dan Cameron as well as model Naiomi Cambell.  Also endorsed by Jay-Z, Talenthouse was started by British recording artist Amos Pizzey with a goal to inspire collaborative work.

Though similar sites, such as Creative Hotlist and Washington Project for the Arts (WPA), are already on top of this initiative, there is always room for more.  Creative Hotlist, by Communication Arts Magazine, is more of a hybrid between a job board and an online community for graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, etc.  Creative Hotlist also charges to display a portfolio, whereas Talenthouse and WPA do not.

Both Talenthouse and WPA offer the opportunities for artists and art supporters to meet, share portfolios and collaborate on projects--perfect for those who have been hesitant about MySpace, Facebook, etc. but desire to network amongst the art community and supporters.  However, both are different in their own way.  Talenthouse offers a more global networking format, whereas WPA has the DC (and I would argue East Coast) region covered.

I did sign up and you can see my half-assed page at www.talenthouse.com/fotomaven although I would recommend waiting a few days until I've had time to make it a full-assed page ;) adding the usual info, as well as some of my projects that I've been working on, especially my portrait portfolio.

In the meantime, I strongly encourage any and all artists and supporters to create your profiles.  Shoot them my way!  Lemme see whatcha got!

from the desk of Jenny Walton, DC Advocates for the Arts

The DC Advocates for the Arts are looking to showcase individual artists of all disciplines (visual, dance, theatre, music, literary) and Arts Organizations in Washington, DC. If you are interested in being featured, please send an image of your work, a paragraph about the work, and your website link.

The photo can be a logo or a piece of your work or even a photo of you. We would recommend putting what showcases you the best for both photo and paragraph. We will need them by July 16th . if you prefer, you can also send them directly to dcadvocatesforthearts@gmail.com. Just let Rob know that Jenny sent you :)

Also, if you know of an artist living in Washington, DC - please forward!

The Advocates will be putting it on the bottom of the website in a rotating order of individuals and organizations.


Thanks.

Jenny

About DC Advocates for the Arts
Founded in 2002 by Jill Strachan and Lionell Thomas, The DC Advocates for the Arts are an all-volunteer organization working to increase support for Arts in the District through interaction with Arts leaders and policy-makers. We are organized by a steering committee.

Flaunt Fashion Show, A Sold Out Success

Article and Images by Shawn Duffy, http://shawnduffy.com

Undeterred by traffic and closed streets, hundreds of people in DC's art community descended on the Honfleur Gallery Saturday night to participate in the culmination of the "Flaunt: A Photography & Fashion Collaboration" exhibition. 

Flaunt launched at the Honfleur Gallery on April 25 and features the collaborative work of local photographers Meaghan Gay, Joshua Yospyn, John Ulaszek, and Steve Goldenberg, along with DC fashion designers Taimur Baig, Lara Akinsaya, Dana Greaves, and Will Sharp. 

While the exhibition had already proven to be a success, Flaunt organizers Ten Miles Square and Project Beltway, took it up a notch by producing a full-scale fashion show on Saturday night. 

The runway show featured work from the Flaunt exhibition designers while the Flaunt photographers enjoyed a front-row seat.

The featured photographers were some of the only people sitting, however. 

Since the show had sold out by Friday afternoon, gallery was standing-room only by the time the first model hit the runway a little before 9:30pm.

After viewing the great photos and fashion, each of the show's attendees must have left Honfleur certain that DC's fashion scene is just as vibrant and full of talent as anywhere else.

Congratulations to the designers, photographers, models, volunteers, and organizers for a truly memorable show!

ABOUT SHAWN DUFFY

Shawn is a freelance photojournalist based in the Washington, DC Metro area, who has traveled and shot in locations such as India, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Ireland, France, and DC.

Currently pursuing projects in the Washington, DC area, Shawn plans to be traveling again to Israel/Palestine in mid-2009.  Though he finances all of his own projects and travel, donations to assist him in his work are greatly appreciated.

For more information or to contact Shawn directly, please visit his website at http://shawnduffy.com.

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail

DC SHOT LIST'S FIRST PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Remember when we kept asking you to send us your Flickr link?  Well, here's why...DC Shot List wants to start doing a Photo of the Week, pulling from a group we created.  The first photo of the week is by Jon Haber, entitled Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail.

Here is what he says about his shot:  "Noticed this while walking along a canal in Amsterdam. Ironic considering my job in 'preparedness planning'."

YOUR THOUGHTS, PLEASE.

We encourage constructive criticism...What do you like?  What would you do differently?  So, please share your thoughts with us and Jon.

JON, THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING YOUR PHOTO!

ABOUT JON HABER
2009 has been a good year for Jon, having work on display at the Kentlands Mansion as well as Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg, MD.  His love of photography started with his first camera, a Kodak Instamatic (complete with flash cube). Self-taught in both the technical and artistic aspects of photography, Jon spent his early years immersed in the world of film, and he's now creating photography and art entirely digitally.  
For more information - http://www.jbhaber.com/index.htm
Flickr Page - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbhaber/

ABOUT DC SHOT LIST'S PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Want to submit for the Photo of the Week?  Go to http://www.flickr.com/groups/dcshotlist/ and check it out.  Send us your flickr page, too, Mister!

Masculine Art by Amy Elkins

Image: Amy Elkins, Kyle, New York, NY, 2008. Courtesy of Yancey Richardson Gallery.

I have been wanting to expand DC Shot List interviews into the collector sector and just this past Sunday, I had the good fortune to be invited over to Dr. Fred Ognibene's residence to view his art collection!  In an informal get-together, he was hosting his students who, up until the Washingtonian article, had no idea about his passion.  So, not only did I get a great afternoon of art viewing and a great interview with Fred, but I also got to chat with these students, too.

I promise that this interview will be up in the next few weeks.  One thing to mention now, though, is that in his collection are two pieces by Amy Elkins, who's works are on display at the Transformer Gallery as part of the show "Domesticated: Men and the Domestic Interior."

From the description of the show, it certainly seems like it is exactly as the title promises.  Featured photography by Amy Elkins, Yolanda del Amo, Dru Donovan, and Jamil Hellu depicts men in domestic interiors, "capturing moments of complex masculinity that can only occur behind the closed doors of the home."

Now, the opening day has already passed, but don't despair!  On June 20th, at 2pm, they are having a Closing Day Curator & Artist Talk.  Definitely worth going to.  And, of course if you can't make it, you have until then to drop by for your own viewing!

For more information, please contact Victoria Reis or Marissa Long at info@transformergallery.org or 202.483.1102.

Please see Transformer's website to download a full press release with more information on the artists and curator: www.transformergallery.org.