FREE in D.C.: Diplomatic Art

 
Benedict Dudde, 12, and his sister Anna-Katharina, 9, are among the artists showing their talents at a free exhibition of works by the Washington, D.C., diplomatic community though March 22, 2010.

Their mother, Martina Landsmann-Dudde, also has her work hanging on the walls at The Bing Stanford in Washington Art Gallery, which is part of Stanford University (and technically on California soil).

Called Festival des Artistes: Diplomacy through Art, this exhibition includes paintings, photography, jewelry, and ceramics by both amateur and professional artists who are part of the diplomatic community in the nation's capital. The artists come from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, China, Djibouti, France, Germany, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Malaysia, Peru, Switzerland, and the Ukraine. If you live in the Washington area, are affiliated with Stanford U., or are just visiting Washington and looking for an intellectually stimulating and inexpensive activity, check it out.

It's part of the 50th anniversary celebration by The The Hospitality and Information Service for Diplomats (THIS),  www.THISfordiplomats.org  which was started in 1961 at the request of the U.S. Department of State to welcome and assist diplomats and their families in Washington. Now more than 300 volunteers strong, the group says its purpose to to promote peace, prosperity, tolerance and mutual understanding among nations. 

Festival des Artistes was launched in 2004 by THIS to explore ways that art can connect people while building international understanding.

Philanthropist Helen Bing, who has supported THIS since its beginning, attended the Jan. 25 reception to open the current exhibition.

Volunteers, artists and their families and friends were served decadent brownies, spicy peanut chicken and a bountiful selection of hors d'oeuvres.

THIS volunteer Ilona M. Fox explained why she joined the group:  "THIS opens doors in Washington by planning activities and providing opportunities for volunteers and diplomats to meet and enjoy this great city."

Some works in the exhibition are for sale, with prices ranging from $50 for a painted-china bird plate by Argentinian artist Marcela Rohan to $3,950 for "Crossroads," a 30-inch-by-30-inch acrylic-on-silk work by Nebiur Arellano of Peru.

Artist Claire Feng, who hails from China and is married to a European Union diplomat,  studied painting in Belgium and graduated from American University with a master of fine arts in studio art.

In the exhibition are two of her oils on canvas, "Head of a Man and  "The Magnolias."  On Jan.28, other works by Feng will go on exhibit at artspace www.artspacegallery.org in Richmond, Va., with the theme "Kids Don't Know." Those works will be shown through Feb. 20. (See a selection of her works at www.clairefeng.com )

May Yang, the wife of the ambassador to Iraq,  specializes in oils and has studied with renowned Taiwanese painter Yan Yong Zen. Her "Under the Tree" lures the viewer's eye over the horizon.

Lola Poisson, the wife of the former Haitian ambassador, has in the exhibition both religious art--"Ezili Danto," an oil painting of a madonna with child--and a rag doll with red bonnet and white dress with red zigzag trim. Poison makes dolls and donates them to various charities.

Works by jewelry-makers include THIS volunteer Madge Palumbo's "off loom seed beading"; Australian Doreen Markel's beaded items, casually displayed around egg-laden bird nests; and Israeli Nitza Warmbrand's delicate Swarovski crystals,

Novrita Isayanti of Indonesia has on exhibit two crocheted vests, in black and red. She has been crocheting in her spare time, the exhibition catalogue states, for only three years.

Indonesian Uthie Fadhillah's specialty is making paper objects from Korean paper. She said that it usually takes three months to finish one object, according to the catalogue. On exhibition is a lamp with five delicate yellow flowers that camouflage bulbs. Also shown are decorative boxes and wall art.

Art by the the Dudde family of Germany includes Martina's oil painting "Three Holy Kings" (priced at $390) as well as four paintings by her children that are not for sale. Benedict said he likes his "Palm Pastel," a small (12-by-12-inch) work that evokes evening in a desert, better than his crab painting--which he noted "somebody hung upside down" at the gallery. He said he also likes to work with sculpture. Anna-Katharina's bright watercolors show food--a fat pumpkin and what she says is her favorite composition: apple, banana and drinking glass.

The exhibit will be open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays noon to 6 p.m.. through March 22.

The Bing Stanford in Washington Art Gallery is at 2655 Connecticut Avenue, NW; Washington. To get there by Metro, take the Red Line to Woodley Park-Zoo / Adams Morgan. The gallery is right across from the Metro stop.
For more information, visit http://bsiw.stanford.edu/art_gallery/index.html