Sondheim Semi-Finalist Opening Reception Tonight

Thursday July 14, from 6-9pm
Meyerhoff & Decker Galleries of MICA
(1303 Mt. Royal Avenue - on the first floor of the Maryland Institue College of Art's Fox Building)

All of the Semi-Finalists included in this exhibition:
Ken Ashton
Baltimore Annex Theater
Kelley Bell
Milana Braslavsky
Abby Donovan
Eric Dyer
David East
Linda Hesh
Mindy Hirt <<<<<< Installation is in the Decker Gallery
Brian Kain
JK Keller
Dean Kessmann
J.T. Kirkland
Andrew Laumann
Magnolia Laurie
Christopher LaVoie
Joe Letourneau
Ben Marcin
Sebastian Martorana
Michael Benevento + Andrew Liang
Brian Patrick Miller
Christian Parks
Robby Rackleff
Adam T. Rush
Jo Smail
Diane Szczepaniak
Alessandro Valente
Elena Volkova
Richard Vosseller
Melissa Webb
Adam Weir
Marty Weishaar
Wendy Wu
Jenny Yang

There will be three artists/collaborative artists doing performances throughout the opening:

Michael Benevento + Andrew Liang
Ballmovement III: Human Pinball (you can see this also throughout Artscape Weekend)

Missy Webb
Landing of the Magic Flight: The Mysteries of Memory

Baltimore Annex Theater
Tlon by Connor Kizer
Wedding on the Eiffel Tower by Jean Cocteau
Baltinoctis by Tim Paggi

International Sculpture Center Profile

I now have a profile on International Sculpture Center's website, listed under Mindy Hirt you'll find images of my last installation and a little bit of information about me. You'll also find thousand of other sculptor/installation artists throughout the directory.

International Sculpture Center (ISC) is a "nonprofit organization founded in 1960 to champion the creation and understanding of sculpture and its unique, vital contribution to society." ISC is also the publisher of Sculpture Magazine. "Sculpture is an international, monthly magazine dedicated to all forms of contemporary sculpture. It contains provocative criticisms, knowledgeable technical discussions and timely exploration of new materials and techniques."

TRAJECTORIES

TRAJECTORIES
A Panel Discussion and Closing Reception for SPRING SOLOS 2011

Thursday, June 2, 2011
Reception: 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Talk: 7:00 pm

Featuring all six SPRING SOLOS artists: Ailsa Staub, Jennifer Coster, Mindy Hirt, Mariah
Anne Johnson, Joshua Wade Smith, Leigh Davis

From Arlington Arts Center "On Thursday, June 2, AAC will host a panel discussion in our Tiffany Gallery with the six DC- and Baltimore-based artists featured in SPRING SOLOS 2011. While these artists were chosen for individual merit—and not because of any common themes in their work—they nonetheless share strikingly similar attitudes.

These SOLOS artists all present unusual, off-kilter takes on how gallery space should be used,and all draw the viewer’s attention through their installations to the structure of our building. Further, these artists all use related strategies for bridging the gaps between themselves, their work, and their audiences.

For TRAJECTORIES, we’ll ask our artists to explain these overlaps in their otherwise very dissimilar styles. We’ll also ask about their respective career trajectories as emerging artists showing site-specific pieces in non-profit spaces. How do the places in which these artists show and the audiences with whom they want to connect shape the art that they make?

This event is FREE and open to the public."

SPRING SOLOS 2011 is on view through Sunday, June 5.

Gallery hours: Wed – Fri, 7 – 9 pm; Sat + Sun, Noon – 5 pm

3550 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
www.findyourartist.org
703-248-6800
jeffry.cudlin@findyourartist.org
Metro: Orange Line, Virginia Square

https://www.arlingtonartscenter.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/pressreleases/2010-2011/trajectories.pdf

Curating for a Cure

Curating for a Cause and Glenda Fu present “Curating for a Cure”
Exhibition and Art Auction Event to Benefit
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Friday, May 13, 2011 8 pm – 12 am (TONIGHT)

...Lamont Bishop Gallery
1314 9th St. NW
Washington DC, 20001

The show is co-curated by Curating for a Cause’s Jackie Cantwell & Allison Byers. This exhibition is one night only, and artworks will be sold by live and silent auction on the night of the event. A significant portion of the proceeds from sold works, as well as proceeds from the suggested door donation of $10, will go directly to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.


LIVE AUCTION BEGINS AT 9:30!!


Featured Artists:

Adam Lister, Bat Favitsou Boulandi, Bobby Coleman, Brandon Hill, Chris Ulrich, Craig Hill, Dafna Steinberg, Diana Adams, Joan Belmar, Joel D'Orazio, Marcelo Novo, Mindy Hirt, Stephanie Rivers, Steven Pearson & Mike Cantwell

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. An estimated 957,902 Americans are currently living with blood cancers. Every 10 minutes, someone dies from blood cancers - an estimated 54,020 deaths are expected this year. LLS made 4.7 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals throughout its history. With the help of major fundraising campaigns, including Team In Training, the world's largest endurance sports training program, and Light The Night Walk, LLS has awarded more than $750 million in research funding since the first funding in 1954.

About Curating For A Cause

Curating for a Cause creates and executes art oriented fundraising events, primarily in the form of art exhibitions and auctions, for non-profit organizations. In all cases, a significant portion of the proceeds go directly to the featured organization. Not only do our events benefit the organization monetarily, they also serve as a forum to increase awareness of the non-profit and their mission, and to promote artistic talent by providing a professional exhibition and installation opportunity.

Above all, Curating for a Cause strives to unite non-profit organizations, artists, and audiences through worthy causes and quality art.

About Lamont Bishop Gallery

Founded in 2011, Lamont Bishop Gallery aims to shape the next era of the arts by uniting the nation’s emerging contemporary artists with budding collectors. LBG provides the vibrant DC community with a myriad of opportunities to forge the future of the arts through art creation, exhibition and collection.

Named after Lamont Bishop, counselor, mentor and teacher at the Institute for Student Achievement, the gallery embodies Mr. Bishop’s legacy. Mr. Bishop’s namesake gallery endeavors to nurture curiosity, expand inquisitive minds and give back to the community by exposing members to new and exciting artistic opportunities.Hosted by Curating For A Cause on behalf of Glenda Fu's Woman of the year campaign to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

$10 Suggested Donations at the door

LIVE/SILENT AUCTIONS

CASH BAR

Studio Visit Publication

My work and 300 other artists work were selected to participate in what will become volumes 15 and 16 of Studio Visit!

Studio Visit is a branch of New American Paintings. This publication is a series of juried artist books featuring 150 artists per volume, who have been selected by professional curators. Once printed, Studio Visit will be received by more than two-thousand galleries, museum curators, and art aficionados throughout the country.

Look for this publication in Fall 2011

Arlington Arts Center SOLO Show Opening

SPRING SOLOS 2011

APR 15 - JUNE 5, 2011

"For AAC SOLOS 2011, DC collector and curator Michael Pollack and independent international curator Melissa Keys, formerly of the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA), Australia, selected this year’s crop of promising emerging contemporary artists from across the Mid-Atlantic region. Our Spring installment of SOLOS includes Mindy Hirt, Mariah Anne Johnson, Ailsa Staub, Leigh Davis, Joshua Wade Smith, and Jennifer Coster" From Arlington Art Center: SOLOS

My installation is the first thing you'll see when you walk into the galleries and is designed to slowly unfold itself toward its viewers.

Show Opens Friday April 15th 7-9pm

Show will be up from April 15th - June 5th
Galleries Hours:
Wednesday - Friday, 1 - 7 pm
Saturday - Sunday, 12 - 5 pm

Arlington Arts Center
3550 Wilson Blvd Arlington VA 22201
Metro : Orange Line : Virginia Square
703.248.6800

Mindy Hirt is a Semi-finalist for the Sondheim Prize

The semifinalists for the 2011 Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize were announced today! I am very excited to announce that I am one of the semi-finalists!

This is the sixth annual competition awards a $25,000 fellowship to a visual artist or visual artist collaborators living and working in the Greater Baltimore region. The Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize is held in conjunction with the annual Artscape juried exhibition and is produced by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts. The finalists and semifinalists exhibitions are presented in partnership with The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) and Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Artscape, America’s largest, free arts festival, celebrates its 30th anniversary on July 15, 16 and 17, 2011 on Mount Royal Avenue and North Charles Street.

Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize Semifinalists:

Ken Ashton, Washington, DC
Michael Benevento + Andrew Liang, Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Annex Theater, Baltimore, MD
Brian Patrick Miller, Baltimore, MD
Stephanie Barber, Baltimore, MD
A. Moon, Baltimore, MD
Kathryn Bell, Baltimore, MD
Louie Palu, Washington, DC
Milana Braslavsky, Reisterstown, MD
Mark Parascandola, Washington, DC
Abby Donovan, Newark, DE
Christian Parks, Cockeysville, MD
Eric Dyer, Baltimore, MD
Matthew Porterfield, Baltimore, MD
David East, Baltimore, MD
Robby Rackleff, Baltimore, MD
Linda Hesh, Alexandria, VA
Rachel Rotenberg, Baltimore, MD
Mindy Hirt, Westminster, MD <<< that's me!!!!
Adam T. Rush, Baltimore, MD
Brian Kain, Emmitsburg, MD
Jo Smail, Baltimore, MD
JK Keller, Baltimore, MD
Dan Steinhilber, Washington, DC
Dean Kessmann, Washington, DC
Diane Szczepaniak, Potomac, MD
J.T. Kirkland, Sterling, VA
Alessandro Valente, Lutherville, MD
Andrew Laumann, Baltimore, MD
Elena Volkova, Baltimore, MD
Magnolia Laurie, Baltimore, MD
Richard Vosseller, Vienna, VA
Christopher LaVoie, Baltimore, MD
Melissa Webb, Baltimore, MD
Joseph Letourneau, Baltimore, MD
Adam Weir, Baltimore, MD
Michael Mansfield, Washington, DC
Marty Weishaar, Baltimore, MD
Ben Marcin, Baltimore, MD
Wendy Wu, Baltimore, MD
Sebastian Martorana, Baltimore, MD
Jenny Yang, Washington, DC
Allyn Massey, Parkton, MD

For more information visit BmoreArt's blog.

Congrats to everyone who was selected as semi-finalists and good luck in the next round!

The Life and Death of an Installation

When my pieces are installed they are being born to me. They generate connections, passages, and tensions. Uniformly strung with a modest density, they cover and uncover space. The installation lives, moves and breaths with the architecture. Influenced by the most common of elements, it adapts and holds its weight while fulfilling its purpose. Viewers can see this, if they give it the time. And then, it dies.

I became an installation artist when I conquered my fear of the unsustainable.

Nonetheless, de-install is the hardest part of my work. Killing your own creation is not easy. Typically, I do this alone, sometimes with close friends or family. I mourn. Taking down a work of art is numbing at first. I usually try and prolong the first stages of the murder by taking as many photographs as I can manage. Then I tell myself there will be a next time (hopefully) and I will create anew. At the first snip of the scissors, the tension leaves the work. Slowly, with each clip the work deflates and I feel guilty, but through its death comes incitement, a different kind of aesthetic is revealed. Few have seen my pieces fall, but I believe there is something rich in the way my installations heroically pass.

I've documented this part of my process and share it with you now:

The life of Revealed Space: Midland (shown at The Esther Prangley Rice Gallery in Westminster, Maryland. January, 2011.)








The Death of Revealed Space: Midland
















I encourage you to join the conversation with my work by leaving comments below.

Developing Dialogue

My work is formulated through material, often in response to physical space and time. The work is grounded in the process of making and the experience of site specificity. My string installations are not only a response to architecture, but also to the strength and form of the materials used. To me string presents a visual delicacy, balanced by the ample physicality and scale of my work. References to energy, memory, mapping, movement, growth, and object-ness often emerge out of the physical. My pieces make known the space they occupy through intuitive inspiration.

I value growth inasmuch as my entire practice is an evolving process. What I discover in one work, materially, physically, or conceptually, can be the starting point for future works, and so on. Much of my practice is taking from my process and the dialogue that I have with my materials. I have a need to further broaden the context for this ongoing dialogue, so I decided to start a blog . . .




Detail from Atmosphere.

For more information about me and my work visit my website: Mindyhirt.com