Art around town and what some writers are saying about it

DC-based artist Renee Stout speaks about the relationship between African art and her art practice in this video for The Phillips Collection in conjunction with the special exhibition "Man Ray, African Art and the Modernist Lens." (Through January 10, 2010.) I love hearing artists speak about art because I think artists have a special ability to see the world in ways that the rest of us don't.

Deborah Dietsch writing for the Washington Times believes, "this exhibit is as dryly academic as the footnotes to a doctoral dissertation."

I find it interesting to hear different perspectives as a starting point for discussion about art work. However, as always, I think you should go see the exhibit for yourself and make your own assessment.

Also take a look at the National Portrait Gallery's "Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2009."  Michael O'Sullivan writes in The Washington Post, "Portraits slow you down," according to the fab curators at the NPG.  This survey of portraiture in America goes way beyond oil paintings of stodgy people in stately chairs with their dogs.  These pictures depict real people and in many interesting media - video, sculpture, photography. Read more HERE.