Transformer Gallery

If you haven't checked out the Transformer Gallery lately or yet, you should really stop by this tiny space on P Street (a few doors down from Whole Foods). It's a non-profit gallery that promotes truly emerging artists. They're doing an outstanding job putting on thought-provoking shows, raising money through prestigious entities like the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts and the Meyer Foundation, and sponsoring educational events such as a recent panel discussion on art collecting. Support for this gallery is support for an emerging art scene in DC.

Also, save the date! The 4th annual Transformer Gallery Art Auction will be November 17 at Halcyon House. The venue is impressive - the auction will actually take place in John Dreyfus' studio attached to the back of the house. You should come to the auction just to see this place. But I think you should buy some art, too. It's Transformer's big fundraising event of the year and you could get a deal on some great art. That's where I picked up my Iona Brown print last year. Oh, and yours truly is the co-chair of the event along with my good buddy Allison Cohen. I'll post more details as we get closer to the event date.

Transformer is very proud to present E4: Station to Station, an exhibition resulting from the fourth installment of our unique peer critique and mentorship program, The Exercises for Emerging Artists. Featuring four dynamic DC area based artists - Rebecca C. Adams, Carolina Mayorga, Rob Parrish, and Fereshteh Toosi - and guest curated by Niels Van Tomme, E4: Station to Station consists of four individual artist projects at Transformer incorporating video, sound, performance art, and conceptual mixed media installation.

Each of this year's Exercises artists will take over the Transformer project space for one-week, beginning July 11, 2007, to present new work resulting from their peer-critique and mentorship experience at Transformer. Opening events including performances and artist talks will take place each Thursday, July 11 - August 5, 2007 from 6:30 - 8pm. "I wanted to involve artists who could further transform the gallery into an experiential space; into temporary stations of media art," states Van Tomme. "Each of the artists brings a very specific approach to Transformer in establishing a relationship between their work, the gallery space and the audience."

Beginning in March through June 2007, the artists participated in facilitated bi-weekly meetings discussing the challenges they face as artists, the inspiration that helps propel them forward, as well as their artistic intentions and goals. Launched in March 2004, The Exercises for Emerging Artists was created to support artists at critical points or crossroads in their professional growth and development; to stimulate and encourage artists as they create new work.

In addition to several peer critique sessions, participating artists receive mentorship and feedback from area gallerists, more established artists, professors, and curators. This year's mentors included UMBC's Associate Professor of Visual Arts Steve Bradley, composer and visual artist Alberto Gaitan, Transformer's Executive Director Victoria Reis, The Corcoran's Curator of Photography and Media Arts Paul Roth, Provisions Library Executive Director Don Russell, and E4: Station to Station guest curator Niels Van Tomme.

E4: Station to Station - Schedule of Artist Projects

July 11 - 14
Carolina Mayorga: New Trends in South American Cuisine
Don't miss the launch of the revolutionary South American style recipe that will change the way you've thought of cooking. Cook it, taste it, buy it, all at Transformer.
Opening Event: July 12, 6:30 - 8 PM

July 18- 21
Rob Parrish: Jack
Mixing elements from the television series "24", the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Advisory System, and archival footage, this installation explores the sensation of being an object of manipulation.
Opening Event: July 19, 6:30 - 8 PM

July 25 - 28
Rebecca C. Adams: Compulsory Figures and ∞
Using sound and large street drawings to interpret an archaic division of figure skating, this indoor and outdoor installation captures the sonic environment of practicing compulsory figures on ice, while visually striving to reproduce similar exercises on pavement.
Opening Event: July 26, 6:30 - 8 PM

August 1 - 4
Fereshteh Toosi: You're not as green as you are cabbage-looking.
The accounting firm of H&R CABBAGE will calculate your personal carbon emissions with a free report to take home. Bring in a reusable water bottle or coffee mug and enjoy a freshly carbonated Italian soda while you wait.
Opening Event: August 2, 6:30 - 8 PM

Exhibition Hours: Wednesday - Saturday, 1-7pm & by appointment

Images (left to right): Carolina Mayorga, Rob Parrish, Rebecca Adams, Fereshteh Toosi