Fall in Washington brings a number of art fairs, formal and informal. For me, it is a good way to scout potential exhibitors for the Gallery. There are many talented Arab American artists working in the DC area and not enough venues. I am pleased to have discovered several whose work will appear at the Gallery in the future.
The Gallery is also reaching out to new audiences. In October we will be co-sponsoring an art exhibit with NAAP-DC (Network of Arab American Professionals). This one-night-only event will feature 10 artists, who will showcase their work in a stunning penthouse model apartment in downtown DC. This will introduce their work to a new audience, and also demonstrate how well art integrates into a domestic environment. At the Gallery, we want not only to exhibit artwork, but also to encourage our audiences to support the artists by buying their work as well.
I recently attended a panel discussion with the extraordinary art collector and patron Meera Rubell. She made a point to encourage beginning collectors not to shy away from purchasing original art. By buying with the heart as well as the eye, one can invest in a new young artist, often for little more than the price of a poster. Meeting and engaging with the artist, learning about the work, is very rewarding and can offer a lifetime of pleasure. Our talented Arab American artists are here. Come and find them.
