My next show…

Originally uploaded by akkleis

Heather Schmaedeke & Angela Kleis

Feed Your Eyes @ Georgetown Optician Gallery

1710 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, D.C.

Opening Reception: Friday, August 1, 2008, 7-10pm
Part of Dupont Circle’s First Friday Art Walk

love: on the wall

Originally uploaded by akkleis

Four photos from my “Love” series are hanging in Wall Mountables 2008, the DC Arts Center’s Annual Open Exhibit, which opens this Friday, July 18, 2008.

link

Wall Mountables
July 18-August 31, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, July 18, 7-9pm

2438 18th Street, NW in Adams Morgan
Washington, DC 20009

Went out last night with Flickr friends to see the Muppet Movie at the AFI Theatre in Silver Spring, MD. I hadn’t seen this movie before, and was a little hesitant, since I’ve always found Miss Piggy slightly annoying, and never really thought Kermit the Frog was that into her, but I digresss…Mel Brooks’ as the Mad German Scientist made me laugh so hard I had tears! After, we had dinner and ice cream. Alas, there was no CakeLove last night…

Moving right along….

Jim_Darling still needed something to post for Day 11 of his Flickr project, so he put us in a circle and created this video. And, then we crowded around to see the result…

Photo by Pianoman75

Sally Henny Penny, Mosely.Brian, Erin_M, Jim_Darling, MoFo, and Moi

Atom on the Wall

Originally uploaded by akkleis

Please come out to the My Space on 7th opening at Touchstone Gallery this Friday, 11 July! I am showing six photos of my friend Atom Shock, with whom I entered a collaboration about a year and a half ago.

The idea was born at the opening night of Artomatic 2007, when Atom and Jen came out to the show. Atom resembled Fidel Castro at the time, and we started talking, and a few beard cycles later, we have enough for a show.

By the way, Atom and Jen started a blog about Atom’s pursuit for bearded glory in Alaska with Beard Team USA. For more information about our collaboration, how we got started, and where he’s growing, er, going next, check it out here. shocksalaskanbeardquest.blogspot.com/

The World Beard and Moustache Championship returns to the USA for the second time in its history. The competition will be held in Anchorage, Alaska on May 23rd, 2009. This just so happens to be Shock’s birthday. Destiny? You bet your hairy chin it is!

Beard Team USA wants to pose a serious threat to the always dominant Germans, and Shock wants to aid the cause….but he needs your help. Will you sponsor him and his dream of facial hair domination? Any amount you donate will be used to get him to the competition. He will acknowledge his sponsors at the championship to show his thanks.

July 9- August 2, 2008

“MY SPACE on 7th”

Opening Reception and Wine Tasting
courtesy of Washington Wine Academy

Friday, July 11, 6-8:30 pm

My Space on 7th, a new tradition (second year) at Touchstone Gallery fulfills two perpetual needs: that of artists for exhibition space, and that of collectors for work they don’t yet know, often at bargain prices. The beginning artist has the chance to be discovered, while the established artist has the opportunity to go in a totally new direction.

Opening July 7th, this explosion of art will fill the main gallery. Building on the success of last year’s show, three-dimensional works will be included this year as well.

Due to an overwhelming response all wall spaces sold out within the first half hour of registration, which was by e-mail only, on a first-come, first-served basis.

50 ARTISTS PARTICIPATING:
Bill Abel, Cynthia Angeles, William Atkins, Karen Baker, Marilyn Banner, Andre Barnett, Sophie Bethune, Thor Berglie, Harmon Biddle, Sharon Burton, Alexander Feshenko, Olga Weiss,Tom Drymon, Larkin Goff, Philip J. Gross, Kurt Godwin, Alexandra Goldschmidt, Nathaniel Hester, Sandra D. Humphrey, Leslie Johnson, Angela Kleis, Lauren Shea Little, Mila Kagan, Peter Karp, Kay Layne, Emery Lewis, Priscilla De Lima, Mary Mallia, Karen Mazzarella, Laurie Mertens, Marcellus D. McIntosh, Elba Molina. Newton More, Bob Morrison, Jonathan Ottke, Wendy Plotkin-Mates, Haydeh Raskin, Paivi Salonen, Heather M. Schmaedeke, Jenny Singleton, Brendan Smith, Carole Lyles Shaw, Janathel Shaw, Laurie Tylec, Jaqueline Unanhue, Jon Wassom, Crystal V. Whitfield, Jack Whitsitt, Kelly Young and Gwenn Zaberer.

My website…it’s g-o-n-e.

Originally uploaded by akkleis

That was close. My website went *poof* for a few days.

So, the hosting company that I currently use leaves database back-ups to the client.

Word of the day: Lame.

…and, we’re back.

Artomatic 2008

Originally uploaded by akkleis

While I didn’t make it to as many events as last year or actually visit as much as I had hoped, I did have the opportunity to meet a lot of new artists, catch up with friends, and absorb a high volume of artwork. I did see an increase in website traffic and in Flickr views, and even made new Flickr contacts as a result. My wall showed up in a few photos and in Brightest Young Things’ guide to . “Artomatic in 15 Minutes”

Blogger’s Night was a success and allowed myself and others to learn about the artwork straight from the artist. A painting, photo, or sculpture becomes a lot more meaningful when the creator provides insight into their motivation, their influences, and their own perspective towards art and the creative process. Beyond the artist tour and free pizza, I hope Blogger’s Night accomplished its goal: artists and bloggers, um, blogging about Artomatic and helping to increase its Internet presence. Artomatic is, afterall, successfully driven by those who participate, even visitors.

Meet the Artist Night was also cool…I overheard a group of teenage girls in front of my photos and spent a little while talking with them about photography. Not that I usually talk about my photos; I find it difficult to really explain what I’ve shot and why, or even why I do it.

The artdc.org tour was difficult for me, as I was on the list to speak about my show. See above. That was hard, and I failed miserably.

Allow me to try to redeem myself…I shoot film and print traditionally in a darkroom. The cameras I use are varied and I choose them based on what I feel like carrying with me that day. Some are old, some are modern; some are toys. I just like how they each feel. I shoot a lot of film and develop it, myself. Most of it is crap. But, define “crap”. What makes a photo “bad”? If it lacks any trace of perfection and is technically just wrong, is it truly a piece of crap that should never be shown? I don’t think so. I think a photo has multiple dimensions of meaning that aren’t necessarily limited to exposure, focusing, and other such technicalities. How about looking at the photo as a whole and how it makes you feel? Why did it catch your eye enough to make you stop for a longer look? In the sea of digital perfection, I shoot film. I’m not perfect; why should I expect that from my photos? Just try looking at something from a different perspective once in awhile. It may surprise you.

I’m very late posting about Artomatic’s Blogger Night from May 17…Sorry!!!!

Thank you to everyone who attended the tour, who have blogged about your experience, and to all of the artists who spoke about their work. It was exciting to hear the stories behind each of the artists’ shows, their influences, and where they have come over the years. Many of the artists on the tour have built upon their previous work and experiences, transistioning into a new dimension and expanding upon their earlier artwork. I know that I have struggled with direction and meaning for quite some time, so it was reassuring to hear the same from other artists I admire. At least for me, it’s important to connect with other artists and people and hear about their own experiences so I don’t feel like a freak.

There are a lot of photographers in this group, so be sure to check out the photos here.

I apologize in advance if we’ve left anyone out…if you attended Blogger’s Night and are not on this list, please let me know ASAP!!

Michael Auger
Erin Antognoli
Jennifer Beinhacker
Chuck Divine
Liz Floyd
Theresa Manzanares
Angela Raincatcher
Miriam Rylands
Kerri Sheehan
Jennifer Shock
Nikolas Schiller
Frank Warren
Jack Whitsitt

And, also thank you to all the other bloggers who have allowed their inboxes to accept these periodic email updates

I had an opportunity last year to take photos at Britishink. So far, they’ve done really well for me and a few have been sold. Paul Roe, the owner of Britishink, is super cool, and if you haven’t been to his temporarily re-located shop on the 12th floor at Artomatic, you’re really missing out! Go on a weekend to experience the Victorian theme, complete with costumes and meet both Paul and his partner Cynthia Rudzis. (There are a lot of photos on Flickr, too, btw)….

Melissa Marr, a local novelist, has included one of my britishink tattoo photos in the promotional video for her new book, Wicked Lovely. Here is the link to her site, and here is a link to the video!