From the Harford County Cultural Arts Board:
In what has become an annual tradition, Harford County Cultural Arts Board installed an art exhibit in our state’s capital in support of the Harford County Delegation. Selected paintings by two Harford County artists, Kostas Damalas and Jonathan West, are hanging on the third floor of the Lowe House Office Building in Annapolis, outside the offices of many Harford County delegates. The exhibit runs the entirety of the 436th session of the Maryland General Assembly, January 13 through April 11, 2016. Most pieces are for sale.
Both men have extensive bodies of work. In this exhibition, Mr. Damalas is showing landscapes in oil and Mr. West is showing still lifes in acrylic. Jonathan West also has art on display at Key Title in Bel Air, Maryland, and his website is www.jonathanwestart.com. Kostas Damalas has a studio at his home in northern Harford County; appointments may be made by telephone or email. Mr. Damalas’s website is www.damalasartstudio.com.
As the government-appointed local arts agency, Harford County Cultural Arts Board is the premier local resource for arts, cultural, and historical organizations, individual artists, and the residents of Harford County, Maryland. We provide advocacy, financial, and administrative support to local arts and cultural groups. The Board administers several grant programs for local nonprofit organizations, sponsors workshops and promotional events, and hosts a Cultural Arts Calendar. Alongside and in partnership with local government, schools, artists, and arts organizations, and the general community, the Cultural Arts Board’s vision is to “preserve, enhance, and promote the culture of Harford County.”
Why is the work limited to two professional artists?
Why aren’t the winners of that public school art contest exhibited along side these “for profit” paintings.
If Harford County Cultural Arts Board, a government-appointed local arts agency, is representing culture in Harford County, then why not exhibit as much locally created art as possible in the Lowe House Office Building?
A wide range of artistic talent could be exhibited on a rotational basis. What a wonderful way to show off the achievements of the HCPS Art programs as well give exposure to “struggling” and new artists in the Harford County area. These items could be sold to raise money to benefit the Arts as well as the Artists in Harford County.
After all, the halls of government are open to everyone ( more or less depending on security precautions).
And to think I was going to talk to somnoee in person about this.