Oceans exhibit at Triangle Art Studios in Bethesda

The work of Stephen Estrada, one of the resident artists at the Triangle Art Studios at 7111-A Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda, is very much in season. A number of paintings are now on display in an exhibit entitled, "Oceans." Silver Spring resident Estrada specializes in images from the natural world. Oceans are a favorite subject, drawing on his own travels around the world. 

"My work approaches the subject head on, eschewing linear perspective, as if stepping into the moving ocean from solid land," says on his website. Look for Triangle Art Studios in the alleyway behind the Cheval Bethesda condominium tower at the corner of Old Georgetown and Fairmont Avenue.

Def Leppard's Rick Allen to return to Bethesda today at noon

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen will bring his newest art exhibit to Bethesda today, February 18. Allen's show will be at the Wentworth Gallery in Westfield Montgomery Mall today from noon until 3:00 PM.

The 2017 exhibit features pieces from his Drums for Peace and Art to Wear jewelry collections. Purchase something for a chance to meet a rock legend. Entry is free. Wentworth Gallery is located on Level 2 of the mall, right outside of Nordstrom.

To attend, RSVP by calling (301) 365-3270.

7101 Democracy Boulevard

Westfield Montgomery Mall

See artists' inspiration and process close-up at Waverly Street Gallery in Bethesda next month

Waverly Street Gallery member artists and guests will participate in a special exhibit and events dedicated to the creative process next month. The "Process and Inspiration" guest artist roster will include Pat Autenrieth, Robert Cwiok, Judith Ahistrom, Cookie Kerxton, Janet Berry, Andrei Kushnir, Kathleen Byrnes, Lisa Schumaier, Sukjin Choi, Jowita Allen, Ellen Kreiger, Sandra Sedmak Engel, Kristina Penhoet, Ann Leonard, Di Stovall, Joanne Miller, Elroy Williams and Susan Main.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, February 10, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. And an artist talk and demonstration will take place on Sunday, February 26, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Both events are free and open to the public. The exhibit itself will run from February 7 to March 4, 2017.

4600 East-West Highway

301-951-9441

WAS Gallery opening at Westwood Center II in Bethesda

While the Westwood Center II is facing demolition at some point in the next three years, owner Regency Centers has brought in a nice addition to the neighborhood. WAS Gallery is a new art gallery that will be hosting exhibits in its space at 5110 Ridgefield Road in Bethesda. The 475 SF exhibit space will adjoin three artist studios, and the gallery is expected to remain open until the demolition of the shopping center.

Their first show will be appropriately called "WAS opens," and will feature works by the gallery's three current artists-in-residence, Jenna North, Fabiola Alvarez Yurcisin and Joumana Moukarim.  An opening reception will be held on Saturday, February 4, from 6:30-9:00 PM at the gallery, and the exhibit will run through March 10. Regular hours at the gallery will be Wednesday – Saturday, 12:30 – 5:30 PM, or by appointment.

The diverse artists' works have themes that resonate with current issues both national and local. North sometimes works as her alter ego, Wendy Well, a "fracking-obsessed Post-Apocalyptic Interior Decorator." Maryland is in the midst of debate over whether to allow fracking in our state, and North says the election of Donald Trump has made the apocalypse seem closer. In response, "Wendy wants to prepare us by offering a tasteful glimpse into domestic bliss in space," in one work featuring an outer-space-themed room.

Alvarez addresses the environmental and human impact of the technology we leave behind, incorporating VHS tapes and typewriter ribbons into panels, cages and nets. As an artist who splits her time between Bethesda and Mexico City, she is also keenly attuned to the symbolism of borders and boundaries.

And at a time when Bethesda residents are expressing anger against our elected officials for failing to provide sufficient public space and parkland in the developments they approve, Moukarim is a new resident and new mom who is finding solace in the spaces that do exist around town. The native of Lebanon photographs these spaces, prints them out, and then creates layered paintings juxtaposing the private and public spaces in her life.

New art exhibit this month at Bethesda Library

"Hilde" by Jill Tanenbaum

Two artists are participating in an exhibit this month at the Bethesda Library, located at 7400 Arlington Road. Playful and Spirited features paintings by Patricia Dubroof, and glassworks by Jill Tanenbaum.

"Ma de Deux" by
Patricia Dubroof

The exhibit can be viewed through January 31 during library hours, but there are also a couple of meet-the-artists events scheduled for January 25 (6:30-8:30 PM) and January 29 (3:00-5:00 PM). During those events, visitors can create their own watercolor marker works based on line drawings provided by the artists. Works will be available for purchase from both artists.

Bethesda's Waverly Street Gallery to host photography exhibit in January

Waverly Street Gallery will be hosting a new photography exhibit to start the New Year in January. Photographers Kate Stillwell and Wil Scott will bring a trove of shots from their travels - and the inspirations derived from the people, places and events they witnessed - in Two for the Road - A Photographic Journey.

The exhibit will open on January 10, and run through February 4, at the gallery, which is located at 4600 East-West Highway in downtown Bethesda. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Friday, January 13, from 6:00-9:00 PM. An Artists' Talk with the photographers will be held on January 28, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

All of the events are free.

Art exhibits around Bethesda this month

There are several special art exhibits around downtown Bethesda this month. Two are pop-ups, and one is at a gallery.

Bethesda Library - Today to December 31

Gel Jamlang of Artworks Fine Art Studio at 7740 Old Georgetown Road has organized an exhibition of paintings by 16 female artists at the Bethesda Library at 7400 Arlington Road. The women are from the studio's Adult class, and come from a variety of professional backgrounds and countries around the world, and their media and subjects are equally diverse.

Join them for the opening reception from 3:00-5:00 PM today, or stop by throughout the month to view the works.

Waverly Street Gallery - Friday, December 9, 5:00-9:00 PM

The gallery at 4600 East-West Highway is hosting "A Bright Night for the Arts," to kick off a holiday exhibition on Friday, December 9, from 5:00-9:00 PM. All of the artists and designers will be from the Washington, D.C. area. Media will include paintings, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, glass art, jewelry and photography. Artists will be on hand at the event.

Food and beverages will be served, and the event is free. There is a Montgomery County public parking facility right next to the gallery.

Peripoint Building - Today to December 18

Works by Elyse Harrison
on display at the Peripoint Building

Art Pop Up Bethesda is showcasing three artists in the Peripoint Building, the distinctive triangular building at 5001 Wilson Lane, where the lane meets Old Georgetown Road and Arlington Road. The artists are Lisa Brotman, Marta Gutierrez, and Elyse Harrison.

Hours of the exhibit are as follows:

Thursday-Friday: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, 3:00-6:00 PM
Saturday-Sunday: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Art pop-up returns to Peripoint Building in Bethesda

A pop-up art exhibit has popped up again in the Peripoint Building at 5001 Wilson Lane. It is in the ground floor space vacated by Soup Up. The website shown on the sign was not yet active as of press time this morning.

Art exhibit " A Cat in the Aviary " opens in Bethesda (Photos)

"A Cat in the Aviary," an exhibit by artist Elyse Harrison, opened yesterday at the Peripoint Building in downtown Bethesda. Within the space formerly occupied by Bang & Olufsen, mixed-media sculptures and acrylic prints are on display Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, through March 29. Works can also be purchased from the artist through her website. Below are some photos taken as the exhibit was in the process of being installed.

"A Cat in the Aviary"

5001 Wilson Lane

(301) 718-0809

DEF LEPPARD DRUMMER RICK ALLEN TO APPEAR IN BETHESDA MARCH 21

Buddha of Inspiration: A Study in Orange
by Rick Allen

Rick Allen, drummer for the legendary Def Leppard, will appear Saturday, March 21 from noon to 3:00 PM at Wentworth Gallery in Westfield Montgomery Mall. He will be exhibiting a collection of his fine art at the Bethesda gallery entitled, "Rick Allen: Angels and Icons."

Allen's art creation process is as innovative as his drumming technique. Working in the mediums of photography, light art and painting, he sometimes creates abstract works by filming his playing while using LED lights on the drumstick tip. Using long exposures, the lights create patterns that are also unique to the music that was being performed. 

His dramatic life story has brought him to the DC area before. As you may know - and as my falling-apart copy of Def Leppard: Animal Instinct recounts - Allen lost an arm in a car wreck at the height of the band's Pyromania-era success. Allen says a visit with wounded veterans at Walter Reed helped him "come to terms" with that traumatic event more than 20 years later. Rather than retire, he redefined what could be done on the drums with new techniques and technology.

Now he is expanding his palette to the worlds of art and philanthropy, helping to raise money for Project Resiliency’s Warrior Resiliency Program, sponsored by the Raven Drum Foundation.

Here's a chance to meet a real rock star - RSVP online, or call 301.365.3270.

Wentworth Gallery is on the second level of the mall, just outside of Nordstrom.

Photo courtesy Wentworth Gallery

BETHESDA DENTIST TRANSFORMS OFFICE INTO ART GALLERY (PHOTOS)

Your dentist probably doesn't have art like this in his waiting room. Unless, of course, your dentist is Dr. Randy Yazhary, a.k.a., YourDentist.com at 7508 Wisconsin Avenue. With modern furnishings and exposed ductwork, the space looks more like an art gallery than the typical dental office. 

Once again, that gallery-like space is being put to use for an actual art exhibit. The office is still fully-open and taking appointments as usual. Patients are just going to have the bonus of getting an art gallery visit, and a dental checkup, for the price of one.

Dr. Yazhary has been in private practice since 1993, and also offers sedation dentistry, Invisalign and cosmetic procedures, along with typical dental services. But art is a central theme at the downtown Bethesda office, as evidenced by their motto, "The Art of Dentistry."

Here are some of the paintings on display (click on photos to enlarge for greater detail):

ROCK STAR, ARTIST MICHAEL CARTELLONE TO APPEAR IN BETHESDA THIS SATURDAY (PHOTOS)

Michael Cartellone is not your typical celebrity artist. The famed drummer of rock supergroup Damn Yankees, and the man on the throne for Lynyrd Skynyrd since the late 90s, Cartellone hasn't picked up the paintbrushes as a late career change. Art has always been as much of a creative outlet as music has been, Cartellone said at a VIP reception at Wentworth Gallery, in Westfield Montgomery Mall Wednesday.

Cartellone, and a large collection of his art pieces, will make an appearance at Wentworth in Bethesda this Saturday, May 17, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. The gallery is located just outside of Nordstrom on the mall's upper level. Hint: park on Level 3 of the garage outside of Nordstrom. If you are coming from outside of the area, the mall is right off of I-270 at Democracy Boulevard.

I think you'll be impressed by Cartellone's range as a painter. His works span from modern pieces with the wit and commentary of two of my favorites, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, to travelogues of the touring musician, all the way to more classical works, inspired by his travels in Italy. Another painting features three of his heroes - his father, Harry Houdini and Charlie Chaplin - in a photo-realistic scene of 1920s New York City. The attention to detail also rewards the viewer - what's that in John Lennon's eye? The reflection of Yoko Ono. Cartellone recalled a special moment when he presented the original of that piece to Ono.

One detail that caught my attention was the Wise Potato Chips bag in one of a set of scenes Cartellone literally painted while on the road, setting up his canvas in hotel rooms along the way. These were my favorite potato chips as a child, but they are no longer sold in grocery stores around here.

You might not be surprised that some of the pieces draw on his other life as a drummer, but perhaps at the creative ways in which they do so. "Michael's Desk" gives you the view he has from behind his "desk" - the drum kit, in an arena jammed with fans. You'll see that - and an actual snare drum with his image painted on it - right inside the doors of the gallery. A few framed pieces actually come with a pair of autographed drum sticks.

Cartellone had some fascinating details about the specific locations and objects he drew upon in Italy - an arch, a theatrical mask, and Michelangelo's legendary David. The latter inspired an epic 4-painting interpretation that not only references 4 iconic artists, but a specific year within their careers. That full creation is on display at the gallery, as well. There are also more affordably-priced giclées on display. Cartellone makes these stand on their own by adding paint on top of the reproductions. Meaning that your giclée almost becomes a piece separate from the original. The "Wise chip" giclée, for example, ends up with more vibrant roadside woods than the original piece.

It was fantastic to meet Cartellone in person. I'm a huge fan of Damn Yankees, as well as the bands its members started in. A lot of times I'll read an interview with a musician I admire, and they'll trash the record that I thought was fantastic. But Cartellone is still enthusiastic about his days in Damn Yankees, and the albums they recorded. And rightfully so. When I asked if we could take a picture, he suggested taking it in front of his rendering of the Damn Yankees debut album cover - which features the musicians silhouetted in the iconic pose they struck on that multi-platinum disc.

I highly recommend stopping by Saturday, whether you are a fan of his music career, or are just seeking out some highly-creative new art for your wall. Wentworth Gallery also can obtain works by just about any artist you are searching for.

RSVP to the phone number below, and you are all set:

Wentworth Gallery

Westfield Montgomery Mall

Upper level

7101 Democracy Boulevard

(301) 365-3270

With Michael Cartellone (L)

"Michael's Desk"

4 interpretations of Michelangelo's
"David"

His commemoration of the
1990 Damn Yankees album that
made him famous

Explaining the creative process behind
the David project on a video display

Paintings of life on the road,
painted on the road

This reminds me of the roads
in Southern Maryland

My, alas, blurry photo of a painting
of a meeting that could have happened
in the 1920s

Recognize any of these folks?

Inspired by Venice, and a mask...
and completed with help from
his wife as the artist's model -
ask questions, and you'll
find out some fascinating details
about Cartellone's works