Thursday, August 6, 7-8PM
Presenters: Eric Celarier and Joan R. Weber
This program is now available as a YouTube Video (below).
https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcxUKfEDuvY?feature=oembed
No one can tell you what your work means, but without putting it into words, we take a real chance of not knowing what we are doing ourselves or being able to explain it. The conceptual nature of the art world demands that we describe what we are making and why it might be meaningful. Few of us got into this field because we were great writers, but talking about one’s work is essential for applying for shows, grants, and residencies. On a wider scale, fully communicating what you do will make you more effective at networking and participating socially within the artistic landscape. There are real pitfalls to avoid when characterizing your work and this workshop will enable you to write an effective art statement that should reflect your intent for a myriad of contexts in the clearest and most compelling way possible.
Our panelists are uniquely qualified to address these issues. Eric Celarier has taught, written, exhibited, and made art at many levels, while Joan R. Weber, as a prominent business person and collector, has tapped into the inner workings of the DC art scene. WSG knows that emerging can be difficult for newer artists and that successful strategies for talking about artwork is fundamental to succeeding. Join us for an online workshop that is sure to help newcomers organize their thoughts so that their work can find its audience.
ERIC CELARIER
Eric Celarier was born, lives, and works in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland in 1991 and his Master’s in Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati in 1997.
His work has developed the theme of biological evolution associated with human impact. Exploiting garbage as a metaphor, Celarier engineers sculptures and prints from everyday caste-offs, calling attention to earth’s history of radical, biological change, change that seems to coincide with dramatic environmental shifts. As an artist, educator, reviewer, and curator, much of his work can be seen as designing opportunities that allow audiences to construct personally meaningful understandings of the world we live in.
His most immediate activities include: Biosphere, a solo show in NoMa Lobby, and Wasteland, a solo show at Honfleur in 2019, Wasteland, a solo show in NoMa Lobby, Alternative Evolution, a solo show at Artist & Makers, Finder-Maker, a group show at Honfleur Gallery, in 2017, and Trash, a solo show at VisArts in 2016.
In addition to making artwork, Celarier reviews gallery shows, having recently published in East City Art. He is active in the Washington Sculptors Group, as a member of its board, and currently helps administrate the DCAC’s Sparkplug fellowship.”
JOAN R. WEBER
Joan R. Weber is on the Board of the Washington Sculptors Group (WSG) since 2017 and is Liaison to the WSG Advisory Board. She was previously on the WSG Board from approximately 2000 to 2008 as the only non-sculptor on the Board. Ms. Weber is an active art collector and avid supporter of Washington area art production and arts organizations. As a collector, she is a longtime member of ArtTable, a national organization of women professionally in the visual arts and, independently, has curated two large exhibitions in Baltimore at Gallery Four and School 33.
A business person, Ms. Weber is a partner with a commercial real estate development company since 2005, and brings strong business management and analytic experience to the company. For 23 years prior to that, Ms. Weber was a Senior Vice President of Sales for one of the largest commercial printing companies in the Washington metro area. Previously, Ms. Weber co-founded a company which exported printing and paper converting machinery from Germany, England and the U.S. to Africa, South America and the Far East. In addition, Ms. Weber, having completed her Master’s degree work and most of her Ph.D. work in Sociology and Medical Sociology, taught for eleven years at the university level – at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York and at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.