A Confession to Make

Lowes Wharf in St. Michaels, by Betsy Spruill Clarke

Shot a party the other day with the theme Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall and I thought it would make the perfect title to kick off this part of the year in blogging the DC photo world.  Of course, my deliberate theft of another person's title is not the confession I have to make.  My carefree neglect to this blog, however, is.

I thought, back in June, that I would be able to blog more, since photo jobs and more tend to thin out over summer.  And I would be partially right, except for one thing that I never saw coming...the very fact that my husband needed a vacation.  And therefore, I would also need a vacation.

Working in a creative department, he puts in long hours through the spring and into the early weeks of summer.  And, much like any human, he was going to crack if he didn't get a little air.  So, I started focusing all of my energy into two things...his sanity and renewing my portfolio.

When August rolled around, I figured that I would take the month off, since it seemed that most people would be getting in those last weeks of vacation anyway, and jump back in this month.  But, alas, I am jumping in a little later than I wanted.

I apologize and I confess, I got carried away with the summer.  But, while we're on topic, here's a summary of our two big trips:  we went to St. Michaels and Rehoboth with Mom and Dad Clarke and we went to LA to see one of the final NIN concerts and visit with our friend Diamond Dallas Page (DDP).

The St. Michaels and Rehoboth trip was awesome and ended with a delicious crab feast/birthday dinner for me.  Southern Maryland is fantastic and has so much to offer--relaxation, shopping, much to photograph.

El Lay, what can I say...first time for both of us and the opportunity to see one of the final NIN concerts before Trent had to take a few sick days was...well...sick.  Plus, it was fantastic getting to visit with our friends DDP and Angela and getting to try out some new moves (quick background on DDP - former pro-wrestler-turned-fitness-guru; creator of a brand of power yoga called YRG that Adam and Betsy swear by).

There were some pretty nice activities going on here, too - SynchroSwim being my fave - WPA rules!  The DC Photography community also had to say goodbye to good friends and fellow talent - Stirling and Rachel Elmendorf, who have pulled up roots and moved out west.  And, while working on my portfolio, I did get some portraits and interviews of local photogs Megan Nadolski and Michael Domingo, so please stay tuned for that as well!

Of course after such a busy month or two, my husband says "You know, you really haven't put anything in the blog lately." Argh.  The reality that you have wronged someone...or an entire community...is a lot to take.

Let's kick this off right and get this engine up and running...

So, tell DC Shot List - you know the drill...in photo...what you did for the summer:  foto.maven@gmail.com

And for goodness sakes, please tell us that you met the DC Fotoweek submission deadline!

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.

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.