Thursday, April 16, 2015

ON THE HORIZON

Time marches on. I'm afraid it's been quite a while since posting on my blog. It's not for lack of being busy, but because I decided to use other sources for my announcements the past year.

Since my last post, which was in October 2013, I have participated in three art fairs: Arlington, Virginia in the Spring of 2014, the McLean Project for the Arts Artfest in October 2014, and Crozet, Virginia also in October 2014.

This year I will be participating in two art fairs - thus far. The first in Williamsburg, Virginia later this month, and one in Annapolis, Maryland in June. Also, on the horizon, is a group exhibit I am delighted to have been juried into, which takes place in Naples, Florida in June.


"Art on the Square" is hosted by the Junior Woman's Club of Williamsburg and this will be their 52nd year of putting on the event, which takes place on Sunday, April 26. Artists of all mediums will display their work in Merchants Square from 10:00-5:00 in the heart of the Williamsburg Historic District. Artists can be found along North Boundry and Duke of Glouster Streets. My booth is #24 on North Boundry Street. The event is free and open to the public.

The Annapolis Arts, Crafts, and Wine Festival takes place over the weekend of June 6-7 at the Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium. The juried event is hosted by City Dock Productions and was formerly known as the Annapolis Arts and Crafts Festival. The event is open to the public from 10:00-6:00 on Saturday and 10:00-5:00 on Sunday.


In March I submitted an entry into the Camera USA 2015: National Photography Exhibition and Award. I was recently contacted about my photograph being one of the selections for the exhibition. A maximum of 50 photographs were to be chosen with one photographer being awarded the $5,000 National Photography Award. The exhibition was juried by the following:

Scottish-born photojournalist Harry Benson. Harry Benson arrived in America with the Beatles in 1964 and has photographed every US president from Eisenhower to Obama. He was twice named the National Press Photographer's Association Magazine Photographer of the Year, and he received a LUCIE award for Lifetime Achievement in Portrait Photography in 2005.

Patty Carroll is Adjunct Full Professor at School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has taught at Columbia College in Chicago, IIT and the Royal College of Art in London. She is also an author of four photography books, and has participated in a number of group and solo shows.

Ariel Shanberg is Executive Director of the Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW). He has curated numerous exhibitions at CPW, as well as other venues. And he has served as a panelist for numerous awards associated with groups such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Photo Festival Awards, and the Parsons School of the Arts, among others.

You can read more about Harry Benson, Patty Carroll and Ariel Shanberg here: Camera USA 2015: National Photography Exhibition and Award.

A Chartreuse Morning
Size 26" x 37"       Price $800
The exhibit takes place at the Naples Art Association at The von Liebig Art Center from June 15 - July 17, 2015. On Friday, June 12 from 5:30-7:30 the NAA will host a preview reception for the exhibition and the National Photography Award will be announced that evening.

"A Chartreuse Morning" is my submission and chosen entry into this exhibit. Taken on an early morning walk along a public beach in Vancouver. Winter sunlight illuminates the Kitsilano Beach swimming pool. I am so honored to be a part of this exhibition.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

NEWS FROM MY STUDIO

WAYNESBORO: I was recently juried into my third art fair which took place over a weekend in Waynesboro, Virginia. The 42nd Annual Fall Foliage Art Show was held on a very rainy Saturday and Sunday, October 12th and 13th. The Show is hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Art Center each year and typically brings in large crowds. It was also awarded Best In Virginia in 2012 by the art fair community. Luckily set up on Friday was dry. The rains came the next morning and didn't stop until I was home late Sunday night!

After 41 years it seems to have a great following in the art community because in spite of the weather the crowds both days were impressive. I visited with many patrons and artists both days and had a few sales each day. Thank you to Piper Groves for organizing an excellent event.

The one bright spot to the weekend was that I took home the blue ribbon for a media-specific award - First Place Photography - for my body of work at the show. The judge, John Morgan, graduated from the University of West Virginia with a bachelor of fine arts degree and later received his master's in fine art at Virginia Commonwealth University. He has taught at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond and Sweet Briar College. He has also received two National Endowment for the Arts grants in the past. He visited my booth three separate times on Saturday, the second time commenting, "I am enthusiastic about your work." Needless to say he made my day. The ceremony took place Saturday after the show closed. And to make it all worthwhile a check came with the ribbon!

Jones Point Mist ©CarolSimonsHuddleston
Wilson Bridge Abstract
©CarolSimonsHuyddleston
DULLES: Starting November 15th nine members of the women's photography group that I belong to, F11, will exhibit a total of 42 images at Dulles International Airport's Gateway Gallery. The exhibit will showcase differing views of the Potomac River that each of us have taken over the past couple of years. Images range from land-scapes to abstract and reflect each photographer's own vision of the Potomac. The photographs will be enlarged and made into transparencies which will in turn be displayed in the Gallery's individual back-lighted "frames" which line the walls of the walkway. If you are headed out of town between mid-November and May 30, 2014 be sure to get to the airport early so you can stop and take a look.

MOSAIC DISTRICT: Each first friday of the month throughout the Fall the Mosaic Shopping District in Northern Virginia will feature a mix of fine art, shopping, dining and entertainment.  Each month a line-up of artists will be curated by élan magazine to showcase their work among the shops and restaurants along District Avenue. Starting with November 1st I will be exhibiting (initially at Neiman Marcus Last Call Studio boutique) between 6:00pm and 9:00pm. Visit Mosaic Art Walk for more information.


Thursday, April 4, 2013

Harbour Island Memories

Finally a few days to devote to editing and eventually printing images from (fairly) recent trips. The first images are from a trip to Harbour Island, Bahamas. Following blogs will include images from Vancouver, B.C., Orvieto, Italy. I'm also working on images from a photo shoot that took place at the Workhouse prison grounds in Lorton, VA which will soon to be developed into residential, commercial and retail uses. All images are copyrighted.

This was my fourth trip to Harbour Ialand since first discovering the island on my honeymoon 11 years ago. Not being able to pick up Cuban cigars in the US, my husband makes up for lost time while in that part of the world. The first order of business is to find the perfect ashtray, which didn't take long, and worked out very well for the week.

Cuban
 This one was so beautiful, with its pink tones - like Harbour Island's beaches - and its time-worn patina, that I wanted to pack it up and take it home with us, but left it for others to admire.

We stayed in a small two-bedroom beach cottage with good friends from DC and pretty much had the beach to ourselves for the better part of a week. Unfortunately we saw quite a bit of rain that week, but we tried not to let it get us down. And honestly, the skies at any time of day were amazing!

Harmony













The sand was washed clean each morning by the tide and walks along the shoreline were peaceful. It's a small island, only 3.5 miles long and .5 mile wide, but not short on beautiful - and varied - sights in all directions. Can't wait to go back!


Early Morning Tide


Textured Shoreline

Look for more images from this and other trips soon to be uploaded on my website - www.carolsimonshuddleston.com.



Tuesday, March 12, 2013

You're Never Too Old To Learn

I learned a term not too long ago that I probably should have already known. Long story short, I had surgery when I was 16 to straighten my eyes. I didn't know that the medical term for this is strabismus. I only learned the term when a local magazine that writes about Washington, DC-area artists interviewed me for a profile piece in 2011. In the course of our interview my cross-eyedness was mentioned. The talented writer was Donna Cedar-Southworth and the magazine is elan.

A friend of mine contacted me after reading my profile in elan and mentioned that in doing research for a book she was writing she discovered that Ulysses Grant's wife Julia also was a strabismic and she was an artist. She further went on to explain that apparently quite a bit of research has been done to determine if having the condition has a connection with following a path in the arts. My friend sent me an article that was extremely interesting. It appeared in The New York Times in June 2011. A link to that article follows - A Defect That May Lead to a Masterpiece by Sandra Blakeslee

I never really knew what stereo blindness was but I did know that when I put on 3D glasses I could never see what all the fuss was about. I could not see in 3D, even though my eyes had been straightened when I was 16. I still had stereo blindness. I essentially see with one eye at a time - always have always will. They are "out of alignment" as the article states and work independently. I am not aware when my brain switches from using my predominant eye - my right eye - to my left, but for the most part the only time I depend on my left eye is when I am driving and need that peripheral vision on my left side. Needless to say, I was fascinated with the article and with the idea that stereo blindness might have something to do with artistic talent.

It is an idea I will delve into further because I personally find it fascinating. In case anyone is wondering why I waited until I was 16 to straighten my eyes. It wasn't until I found out through a girlfriend in high school that my eyes could be straightened. She had undergone two surgeries by the time she was three years old. I never knew that it was possible because I never went to doctors. I was raised a Christian Scientist and at the ripe old age of 16 the only time I had gone to a doctor was to have stitches in the emergency room. I, of course, ran home to my father after learning of the procedure, pleading to let me have the surgery. I had suffered enough stares and name-calling for one lifetime. My mother was a devout Christian Scientist, but my father was not and I lived with my father at that time. While a little apprehensive about surgery on my eyes, he agreed to let me meet with an opthamologist and ultimately have the surgery.

One last note, my father was cross-eyed (a word I hate using to this day for obvious reasons), but I never knew it until a friend mentioned it to me. He had his eyes straightened when he was in his 70s.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

McLean Project for the Arts Annual Juried Artfest

PRESS RELEASE

CAROL SIMONS HUDDLESTON SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN MPAartfest

Sixth Annual Arts Festival to Be Held October 14th in McLean Central Park

The Tackle Box ©CarolSimonsHuddleston

McLean, Va., (October 3, 2012) – Carol Simons Huddleston of Oakton, Virginia has been selected to display her artwork at the 2012 McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) MPAartfest to be held in McLean, Va on October 14, 2012.

Carol will join 49 other artists for the sixth annual MPAartfest on Sunday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at McLean Central Park located at Old Dominion Drive and Dolley Madison Blvd (Rt. 123) in McLean, Va. More than 5,000 people are expected to attend.

“I am very honored to be selected to display my photography at MPAartfest this year,” Carol said. “I look forward to being part of this wonderful event and meeting art enthusiasts from McLean and all of Northern Virginia.”

MPA Executive Director Nancy Perry said: “McLean Project for the Arts is extremely pleased to have Carol Simons Huddleston as one of the 50 juried artists for the sixth annual MPAartfest. We look forward to seeing her works on display. We are confident that this year’s MPAartfest will be even more spectacular than past years’ events.”

MPAartfest will transform McLean Central Park into a lively landscape of mini art galleries, showcasing and offering for sale the works of the diverse group of 50 juried artists. A Children’s ArtWalk, Senior Art Space, Innovation Station for the kids, Open Studio and live entertainment throughout the day will make this a must-attend event for art lovers of all ages.

Parking is easy at MPAartfest designated lots with shuttle buses running all day.

MPAartfest is a free community event, but a $5 donation is greatly appreciated.

This will be the first time that Carol has participated in the annual event and she will offer framed photography, unframed works, and note and gift photo cards for sale.

MPAartfest attendees can browse and purchase paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, photographs and fine crafts that will appeal to all levels of collectors. Artists will keep 100 percent of art sales proceeds. Donations from corporate sponsors, individual donors and a portion of the event’s food proceeds benefit McLean Project for the Arts, helping to fund a multitude of high-quality art exhibitions and educational programs at its galleries in the McLean Community Center.

McLean Project for the Arts is a non-profit visual arts center founded in 1962 to exhibit the work of emerging and established regional artists. Designated as a museum partner by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, MPA’s mission is to bring the visual arts into the community by promoting public awareness and understanding of contemporary art. Additionally, in its Susan B. DuVal studio MPA offers instruction and education to the public by dedicated professional artists. MPA is permanently housed at the McLean Community Center.

For a complete list of MPAartfest participating artists visit the MPA Web site at www.mpaart.org and click the MPAartfest section.
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For media or other inquiries:
Carol Simons Huddleston
csimons@mris.com
www.carolsimonshuddleston.com

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Upcoming Shows and Events

Architectural Bones
Just learned that I am among 38 artists chosen to participate in the MiniSolos@Touchstone show to be held August 2 - 30, 2012 at the Touchstone Gallery, 901 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001.
Stairway to Heaven
High Contrast
Opening reception for the show is Friday, August 3, 2012 from 6:00-8:00pm. My "solo" show will include ten images in a four foot by ten foot space within the gallery, and all images will be offered for sale.

Additionally, I have been juried into this year's McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) Artfest, which will take place at McLean Central Park on October 14, 2012. I will be one of 53 artists participating in the day's festivities and will have a 10x10 tent with prints and framed works offered for sale.

Friday, April 20, 2012

NEW SHOWS AND OPPORTUNITIES

At Water's Edge (Belize)
During the month of April my image At Water's Edge (Belize) is featured and awarded an Honorable Mention by juror Erica Fortwengler. Read the Juror's Dialogue about the current Art League show entitled "Earth" here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theartleague/sets/72157629397165496/. I hope you will visit the show if you find yourself near Old Town Alexandria. While at the Torpedo Factory visit The Art Legue's Bin Gallery where additional framed and unframed images of mine are offered for sale.

No. 19 (Paris)


No. 19 (Paris) is included in a group show at the Falls Church Courthouse organized by friend and colleague Thuy (Tweetie) Dong. The photo is one I shot during a trip to the City of Light in 2005. It was my first day back in Paris, where I lived for a brief period in 1995. The shot was taken down a dark side street at night where the lighting and colors caught my eye.

I recently attended a workshop by photographer and gallery owner Catriona Fraser on "Success as an Artist." It was an excellent workshop filled with much information. While it's hard to juggle two careers, as an artist and as a real property appraiser, the workshop made me realize even more so just how much harder I need to work to get my name and photography out there in front of the right people (collectors, gallery owners, judges). One way is to participate in art fairs. I hope to soon be able to announce where my first fair will be held and I'm very much looking forward to it.