Tag Archives: artomatic

artomatic update + real life horror: fractured foot edition

This story is so tragic it could almost be a country song.

About a year ago, I developed a stress fracture. (That’s not the tragic part).

It healed eventually, but then I developed a neuroma and/or some tendinitis. (That’s not the tragic part, either).

My foot apparently didn’t heal properly and now my right foot is slightly wider where my cuboid meets my tarsometatarsal joint. (Still not the tragic part).

The tragic part is that my adorable red Frye harness boots no longer fit. I would have been sad about this longer, but the day after I discovered this I saw a colleague from Nashville who’d been coveting a pair of red Frye harness boots. They fit her beautifully and we all lived happily ever after.

Oh right, about those Artomatic rumors….

Must be something about the crisp Fall air that puts Artomatic rumors into the wind. I don’t have any Artomatic news to report but I would like to remind you that the best way to stay informed is to hit the Artomatic website and sign up for the monthly newsletter. When things start hopping, you’ll be among the first to know.

Of course, I’ve been on sabbatical this year from the Board so I can’t rule everything out since there might be super-secret things happening even I don’t know about, but I doubt it. I’ll return to duty soon, so I’ll keep you posted. Or, you can just sign up for the newsletter….

Artomatic Happy Hour & May Metro Music Source networking event

Wednesday the 19th brings the return of the Artomatic Happy Hour:

Artomatic Happy Hour
Wednesday, May 19
5pm – 7pm
Bistro Bistro
1727 Connecticut Ave, NW

Also on Wednesday, Dave Mallen, founder of Innovation Station Music, hosts a monthly music business networking event at Whitlows on Wilson. I’m super-lazy today so I’m going to copy/paste from the email Dave sent out because it says it’s okay to forward it:

Just a reminder about this month’s Metro Music Source networking event, which will be held Wednesday, May 19th at Whitlow’s on Wilson in Arlington, VA at 6pm!

This is a great opportunity to connect with others in the DC area music community and have fun doing it! The Metro Music Source was founded nearly a year ago with the goal of bringing the disparate elements of the vibrant DC music scene together, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing amongst music creators and music industry professionals, as well as helping to raise the profile of our music scene on a national level. ??In past months, MMS events have brought together local musicians, major and indie label executives, artist managers and marketing reps, record store managers, publicists, filmmakers, music publishers, producer/engineers, and more.

Whitlow’s is located at 2854 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22201 (Metro: Clarendon). We’ll be meeting in the room with the 2 pool tables. Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and sign up for the Iota open mic next door (sign up by 7pm and 10pm).

I hear these are great events and I swear someday I’m going to get to one. This week is pretty hectic, with every night triple-booked, so I know I’m not going to make it this time. There’s always June…

How Peeps turned a regular automobile mechanic into part of the backbone of the Washington, DC art scene

Today, we celebrate the birth of Reservoir Carl.

Reservoir Carl was born a small child. He grew up to become the deeply weird and intense character we know today. Along the way, it was Marshmallow Peeps that showed Reservoir Carl his destiny.

On a cold, grey, rainy February day in 2007, some Peeps became imbued with a cosmic life force and a blinding light shown down upon them. The Peeps drew themselves up to their full height, which, admittedly, isn’t very tall. Then, one of the pink peeps cleared it’s throat and spoke to Carl in a soft but resolute voice. “Carl,” The Peep said. “It is your destiny to be a leader in the DC arts community and make art accessible to tens of thousands of people.”

It’s also possible that Reservoir Carl inhaled too many glue fumes while creating macabre and witty dioramas out of said Peeps and only thinks that they began speaking to him on that fateful day in 2007.

It’s also possible I made up some or possibly even all of the part with the lights and the talking peeps and the metaphysical mumbo-jumbo.

To make a long story short, in 2007 Carl was a finalist in the Washington Post’s inaugural Peeps diorama contest. Michele L got the Post to display the Peeps at Artomatic that year. Carl thought Artomatic was so cool he actually participated beyond the Peeps and did umpteen volunteer shifts. Then he joined a committee. Then he became part of the team that attends to every single detail pertaining to the buildout, maintenance and tear-down of the event. Then he became Chair of a Committee. Then he stopped speaking to me.*

Now, I don’t think Artomatic is the end of the road for Carl. The Peeps aren’t done guiding Carl. I can’t say for sure what his destiny is, but I suspect that there’s a lot of art to be made and enjoyed along the way and it’ll be interesting to see where Carl’s path leads him.

This much I can say for sure: today is Carl’s birthday and it’s been a hell of a year for him. Let’s get this year off to a better start for the guy. Stop into the comments on this post and wish him happy birthday, because if you don’t you may find him some night in your kitchen with a few cases of Peeps and a glue-gun, and I’m not sure you want that to happen.

*He didn’t really, but would you blame him?

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Since this post has been getting a lot of traffic, I’m adding a post-script. Carl Cordell died in 2011. Here’s my post about the shrine to Carl and the 2012 Artomatic being dedicated to Carl’s memory.

Pay attention. Do it now. Or else.

Last year, Artomatic was runner-up for Best Arts Festival in Washington City Paper’s Best of DC issue. This year – WE CAN WIN IF YOU VOTE!

Please vote for Artomatic for Best DC Arts Festival + share with friends on Facebook, Twitter, and email. Use this link: http://bit.ly/9FzE3E

Everything you do to help – big and small – continues to show Artomatic’s value in our community, and lets us to create better and better events!

Please vote for Artomatic in City Paper’s Best of DC issue for Best Arts Festival!

This is the end, my friends…

This is it, the last day of Artomatic 2009. By the 4th weekend we’d surpassed our previous visitor numbers. By the time this – our 6th, and final, weekend, began – we’d surpassed an attendance number the Board never thought possible. As soon as we release the numbers, I’ll post them.

In the meantime, you have 10 hours left to take in all of the sites, sounds, and, increasingly, smells, of Artomatic. When the event closes tonight there’s an after-party at Molly Malone’s. It’s not over ’til George Koch sings.

Then, you can get a couple day’s rest before Thursday night’s Capital Fringe Festival kickoff.