about SPARKPLUG

What constitutes an art collective? What is the difference between a collective and a cooperative? Do artists need collectives? Are collectives only about showing? Are curators involved in collectives? How much feedback and criticism is involved in a collective? Am I ready to be in a collective?

These are the questions DCAC hopes to address with the initiation of SPARKPLUG. Over the next few months we will be hosting discussions and forums on these and similar topics as we seek a structure to assist area artists in their artistic advancement.

The goal of SPARKPLUG is to identify superior artists, curators and arts writers without current gallery representation or institutional employ, provide an environment to help foster their development, provide legal, technical and other resources, and provide opportunities for them to exhibit both in DC and around the country. SPARKPLUG will actively seek its membership from all communities in the Washington , DC region with the goal of bringing together emerging artists and curators with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, a diversity of professional preoccupations and creative visions.

DCAC is currently seeking artists and arts professionals to engage with us in this exploration. You may contact us to get involved in the nuts and bolts discussions about the concept, or wait for the Sunday Night Forum Series to begin and join in there. In either case we want your input and possibly your participation in this exciting new prospect.

SPARKPLUG at Learnapalooza 2008

Artist Materials 101: 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM taught by artist, Jenny Walton
This short demonstration will take you through materials that artists have traditionally used up to today's vast variety of widely available media. We will explore the transition from dirt to paint and everything in between, focusing on the genres of drawing and painting.

*Black and white
Graphite & Charcoal, Differences between each, how are they made
Inks: Sumi and India
Commercial – traditional vs. modern (natural and synthetic)

*Color pigment – what is it and where does it come from?
Natural vs. synthetic
How does it get mixed to create different mediums
Watercolor, Gouache, Oils, Acrylics, Pastels

*Paper - Small history lesson on papermaking
Examples today’s vast variety
Usage
Eastern vs. western methods

*Painting Grounds
Canvas vs. linen painting

Stretching Your Own Canvas: 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM taught by artist, Peter Gordon
This demonstration (with a handout) will give people the knowledge to stretch their own painting canvases in order to save them money and increase their sense of ownership using a three step demonstration so people can see the process first hand before attempting in their own studios.

Demonstration supplies:
• Unprimed canvas (3 pieces, roughly 14-17 inches each)
• Stretcher bars (six 11 inch/ six 14 inch length bars)
• Canvas pliers (1)
• Staple gun (1)
• staples (plenty!!!).

Framing Tips: 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM taught by artist and museum preparator, Mark Planisek
In this demonstration the canvas that was stretched in the earlier class is placed in a widely available standard size commercial frame. Students will get pointers on the different fasteners that can be used to hold the canvas in the frame, how to wrap a professional picture wire, when to use D-rings and what kind of hanging nail to use with each hanging mechanism.

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