News (continued)
Transformer one-year after “Hide/Seek”
DC based journalist Kriston Capps writes about the one-year anniversary of Transformer's response to the Smithsonian's censorship of David Wojnarowicz's video work A Fire in My Belly, Lisa Marie Thalhammer's Wojnarowicz Mask in the upcoming 8th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party on November 18, and our current Storefront Video exhibition. Read the full article in the City Paper detailing the connection of these Transformer actions & programs:
Silent Auction Host Committee Reception & Artwork Preview October 20, 2011
Chris Botnick, Julie Weber, Joe Ireland, Kyle O’Donnell, Edith Gregson
The 8th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party is made possible through the generous support of our Host Committee & Sponsors. A complete list is featured on our website and the event invite. A special Thank You Reception in their honor took place at the Australian Embassy on October 20th, hosted by this year’s Auction Diplomatic Chairs, The Honorable Kim Beazley and Ms. Susie Annus.
The Honorable Kim Beazley, Ambassador of Australia, Diplomatic Chair of Transformer 8th Annual Silent Auction & Benefit Party, addresses guest at pre-Auction Host Committee thank you reception
“Transformer is a daring and exciting organization highlighting artists’ ideas and experimentation. Working close to the creative coalface, this nimble organization has a mission to strengthen community by supporting emerging artists in their development.
Tonight we commence the build up to the 8th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party on November 18. I am honored to be the Diplomatic Chair of this dynamic occasion in Washington’s cultural calendar. The Auction is an opportunity for each and everyone of us to affirm our support for the next generation of artists that will help us collectively make sense of the world and illuminate our future.”
-The Honorable Kim Beazley, Australian Ambassador to the United States of America
Excerpt from the Ambassador’s speech presented to Auction Host Committee & Sponsors at the Australian Embassy on October 20, 2011.
Storefront Video Exhibition
October 29 - December 3, 2011
Wilson Butterworth, code #3, 2011, digital ink jet , 20x20
Nearly a year after Transformer’s December 1, 2010 storefront screening of an edited version of David Wojnarowicz’s A Fire in My Belly , screened in a direct response to the Smithsonian Institutions’ censorship of a similar work from the National Portrait Gallery’s Hide/Seek exhibition, Transformer revisits the use of our storefront space as a way to interact with audiences through the sidewalk presentation & viewing of video.
Working in collaboration with a diverse range of artists and organizations in the development of this program, Transformer launches Storefront Video this Saturday, October 29, 2011 with works from the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum’s ARTLAB+ program, a design studio for teens (www.artlabplus.si.edu). ARTLAB+ guest filmmaker Akosua Adoma Owusu, curator of the ARTLAB+ Film Forum program, has guest curated a special selection of Film Forum videos especially for Transformer’s Storefront Video exhibition.
This first selection of Storefront Video works to be screened beginning at noon on Saturday, October 29 through 11:59am on Monday, October 31, include: Camel Tooth Curtain, 2005 by CamLAB (a Jemima Wyman and Anna Mayer Collaboration) and Inside Out, 2010 by Candice Lin. Additional works from the ARTLAB+ Film Forum program, as well as works by teen participants of ARTLAB+ will screen each weekend throughout the run of Storefront Video.
Storefront Video Exhibition Hours: Works will be on view 24 hours a day, 7 days a week beginning Saturday, October 29 at noon. New works will screen Mon – Saturday at noon. A full schedule will be released weekly on Transformer’s new website www.transformerdc.org & our facebook page.
Renowned DC based art collectors Heather & Tony Podestas support Transformer’s Auction
The Podestas seek artwork anywhere and everywhere, including the upcoming Transformer auction, scheduled for Nov. 18. Transformer is a D.C.-based non-profit organization that connects and promotes emerging artists locally, nationally and internationally.
If one is looking to get into art collecting, Tony recommended attending Transformer. “There’s a lot of very good younger artists out there and their work is inexpensive,” he said. “For the price of a night on the town you can get a great piece of art instead.”
To read the full article about the Podestas, click here:
http://washingtonscene.thehill.com/people/12379-heather-and-tony-podesta
8th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party
Friday, November 18, 2011, 8-11pm
Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street, NW
Images: Sampling of upcoming auction artworks, left to right: Dan Treado, Candy Coasted Clown, 2003; Laurel Lukazewski, Restless, 2011; Kate MacDonnell, halo, 2009; Frank Day, San Vicente Trees, 1998; Jesus Leon, the rhythm of the absent burden, 2010; Lely Constantinople, Young's Chicken Shack, Washington, D.C., 2011
Tickets to this dynamic annual event celebrating Transformer, our programs on behalf of emerging artists, and the extensive community of artists throughout the DC region and beyond, are now on sale.
Transformer's Annual Auction is one of the most exciting events of the fall arts season & this year's is sure to be our best yet! For more information, please visit our 2011 Auction page.
View the 2011 Auction Invite (PDF)
Current Exhibition: transformers: the next generation
September 17 - October 22, 2011
Crowd in Gallery 31
Transformer launched our 10th Exhibition Season with two group shows highlighting the current work of Corcoran College of Art + Design alumni - both artists who have helped to define Transformer's exhibition program aesthetic since our inception, and a new generation of artists emerging in their careers.
Exhibitions Hours for transformers: the next generation are Wed- Sat, 1-7pm and by appointment.
(e)merge art fair great success for Transformer!
Transformer would like to thank everyone who helped make our presence at the inaugural (e)merge art fair a great success. Transformer was proud to present a site-specific installation of new works by DC-based artists Erin Boland, Jessica Cebra and Emilia Olsen in Room 219 at the Capitol Skyline Hotel.
Image Credits: Emilia Olsen, installation with drawings, 2011; Jessica Cebra,rocks and shapes, 2011
(e)merge Website
http://www.emergeartfair.com/
transformer(e)merge tumblr - Mia's, Erin's and Jess' inspirations and works in progress
http://emergetransformer.tumblr.com/
"(e)merge art fair @ Capitol Skyline Hotel" - dcist.com
http://dcist.com/2011/09/emerge_art_fair_capitol_skyline_hot.php
"(e)merge Art Fair Review, Washington DC" - ArtBlogNYC
http://artblognyc.blogspot.com/2011/09/emerge-art-fair-review-washington-dc-by.html
Each of these artists brings a unique approach to their medium. Boland's drawings and sculptures investigate the dissonance that allows us to explore our anatomies without the physical experience of looking at a dissected human body. Similarly, Cebra's photographic collages disassemble and reassemble glamour shots of women from high-end fashion magazines exploring the aesthetics of decadence and opulence. Olsen's mixed media works on paper revolve around the emotions that girls and women face as they grow out of adolescence and experience flaws, pain, love, sexuality and disappointment.
In addition to the presentation of new works by these three artists, Transformer presented works from our FlatFile program.
