By F. Lennox Campello

Over the decades that I’ve been writing this column, I’ve discussed, and showcased, and offered proof of the love for art that it takes to run an independent commercial fine arts gallery in the DMV — where the owner, often running the gallery by the skin of their teeth and two or three bad shows away from financial ruin — nonetheless continues to run the second most likely to fail business in the US… because (in my experience) their love for art.

Allow me to repeat myself: In the world of art dealers and art galleries, most of them are run through the skin of one’s teeth and are usually a labor of love on the part of the dealer. When a gallery “survives” for a few years and then establishes itself as a permanent fixture on a city’s art scene, that cultural tapestry gains another member and we all benefit.

A key member of the DMV’s visual art scene is the Adah Rose Galleries in Kensington and Rockville, Maryland.  This amazing and hard-working tiny superhero of a lady has not only survived the end of most DMV fine arts galleries since she first opened 14 years ago, but has also managed to expand into a second (and super cool) location in Rockville!

And currently at the Rockville location at 12115 Parklawn Drive (gorgeous space by the way), the gallery has Carte Blanche: Awakening, a superbly curated group show running through most of July.

I especially liked Mur·mur·a·tion by the immensely talented British-born, but DMV artist Kirsty Little, who notes that the title is a both a Noun – a flock of starlings and also a Verb – The action of murmuring: “the murmuration of a flock of warblers.”

Bottom line: The gathering of many voices to form one sound — look at the image to see how a talented artist — such as this UK ex-patriate is — interprets that!  Is this not great proof of the superpower of artists to deliver ideas?

I also liked Helen Frederick’s linocut on flax paper with chine colle’ titled “No More Shrouds.”

This powerful Frederick lino-cut print on custom-made flax paper was part of the international portfolio, LIVING THE DARK NIGHT, curated by Paula Sengupta, that traveled throughout India during the pandemic, under the auspices of the Kala Chaupal Trust.

“No More Shrouds” is a “reflection on the vast number of lives lost to Covid 19. Wrapped and waiting in hospital beds, homes, doorways, streets, and lovingly carried by beloved ones to a final fire, and prayed over, so their journey may continue into more blessed spheres. As a witness my prayer is no more shrouds”.

Helen was the fine arts superhero who was the founder of Pyramid Atlantic, another gorgeous contemporary visual arts center and gallery in Hyattsville, MD, dedicated to creation, exhibition and appreciation of paper, prints and book art, and a key fine arts space which she ran for 26 years!

Also a fave was June Linowitz’s mixed media  (handmade Abaca paper, photo transfer of an original drawing, water-based oil paint, pastel, crochet and embroidery thread, Powertex, dyed and shaped cotton canvas) work titled Winter (Water).

As I’ve noted before, June Linowitz is one of those “can do” artists who has been engaged with art her whole life.  In addition to being a very prolific artist, she has also been at one-point ot another: an art teacher, a gallery director, an exhibition curator, and an art consultant with her own business, ArtSeen Inc.

June tells me that “Winter (Water) is one of the Five Chinese Elements that I was exploring last year.  Each Element, and the Chinese have 5, relates to a season, an emotional state, a body part, etc.  There are 5 elements instead of the Western 4.  The Chinese Five Elements are:  Fire, Water, Earth, Wood and Metal.  Winter relates to the element Water.”

Also loved Jacqui Crocetta’s “Sea of Renewal”, a gorgeous Mixed Media on paper piece that pops right out of the paper!

Please go see this show – a superbly curated show of work by Helen Frederick, Catherine Day, Kirsty Little, William Masters, Sarah Purvey, Emily Pettigrew, David Carlson, June Linowitz, Jayme McLellan, Mary Higgins, Jean Sausele Knodt, Monica Jaham Bose, Jackie Hoysted, Jacqui Crocetta, Rosa Vera, Pat Goslee, Elzbieta Sikorska, Caroline Mayorga, Brian Williams, Jonathan Ottke, Madyha Leghari, Iwan Bagus, Gen DeLeon, and Lila Snow.

And at the risk of plugging my own endeavors: opening on September 7th, the Adah Rose Gallery at Rockville will be one of 14 art spaces across the DMV hosting 1/14th of the “Women Artists of the DMV” survey show that I am curating as a monster of a survey show of women fine artists working across the Greater DC area!

And to close it up: Pyramid Atlantic is also one of the 14 venues hosting the survey show! Boom Chockolatta!

About the Author: F. Lennox Campello’s art news, information, gallery openings, commentary, criticism, happenings, opportunities, and everything associated with the global visual arts scene with a special focus on the Greater Washington, DC area has been a premier source for the art community for over 20 years. Since 2003, his blog has been the 11th highest ranked art blog on the planet with over SIX million visitors.