The Loft Gallery is a recent addition to the local art scene, at 1926-B 14th Street NW, just south of U Street. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Cecile Oreste at danceDC. Cecile covers the arts for Borderstan. Question or story idea for her? Send her an email.
DC Loft Gallery is one of the newest commercial galleries to enter the local art scene, at 1926-B 14th Street NW. The gallery, owned by Fairfax resident Joseph Teshome, opened its doors in September and presented its first exhibition of East African Diaspora Art a month later.
The current exhibit, “Social Network in the Neighborhood,” features the work of 12 Mid City Artists including Chuck Baxter, Groover Cleveland, Thomas Drymon, Glenn Fry, Charlie Gaynor, Regina Miele, Mark Parascandola, Dave Peterson, Richard Siegman, George H. Smith-Shomari, Bill Warrell and Robert Wiener. The work of artist Brian J. Legan is also part of the exhibition which runs until the end of the year.
Teshome envisions DC Loft Gallery as more than a gallery space for local artists; he also hopes it can serve as a convenient event space for organizations and businesses. He plans on seeking opportunities with the art community including the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and looks forward to continue working with Mid City Artists.
“Anna” by Regina Miele (2005), oil on linen. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Cecile Oreste at danceDC
Local artist Regina Miele knows about turning passion into a paycheck. For more than 16 years, she has made a living from selling her paintings and exhibiting her work. Although creating work on demand has its challenges, she finds the experience extremely rewarding.
Miele is one of 12 Mid City Artists currently exhibiting her work at DC Loft Gallery on 14th Street NW. According to Miele, she wanted to participate in the exhibition, Social Network in the Neighborhood, as it was a great opportunity to show with other local artists. Although she is part of Mid City Artists, she often exhibits outside the DC area. Most recently, her work has been displayed in Miami as part of Art Basel.
Miele is one of 12 Mid City Artists currently exhibiting her work at DC Loft Gallery on 14th Street NW.
In addition to exhibiting her work nationally in Miami, New York and Chicago, Miele has had an impressive showing internationally. She was invited to be part of the 2009 Florence Biennale in Italy and next year she will display her work at The International Art Biennial at the Izmir International Fair Center in Turkey.
Regina Miele’s studio. She is a member of Mid City Artists. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Studied in Florence
Miele took classes in fine arts, art theory and art history while studying abroad at the Scoulo Lorenzo Di Medici Istituto Di Studi Italiani in Florence.
The technicality of painting and drawing is still what she enjoys today.
Her course work in Italy has had a dramatic influence on her painting style. While studying in Florence, she took a curriculum based on traditional painting. Many of the classes focused on the technical aspects of both painting and drawing, providing a full tool box of skills for Miele to use.
Chuck Baxter in his studio. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Cecile Oreste at danceDC
The familiar saying, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” is particularly relevant to Mid City Artist Chuck Baxter. For more than 15 years, the Shaw resident has created works of art from objects found in the alleys of D.C. Basketballs, ties, yogurt containers, vodka bottles, lighters and car air fresheners have all been artistic inspiration to the area’s “foremost collector of gutter gifts.”
Whether you view his work as trash or treasure, Baxter has had great success exhibiting in the area. He has shown his work at Artomatic, Arts on Foot, Touchstone Gallery, Studio Gallery, Mid City Caffe and the 17th Street Festival, among others. Currently, he is part of a group show, “Social Network in the Neighborhood,” with 11 other Mid City Artists at DC Loft Gallery on 14th Street NW.
When it comes to his artistic process, Baxter admits that there is not much planning involved. The approach may differ for each piece, but the result is always something unique.
“I rarely have a preconceived notion of what I’m going to do,” he said. “I usually look at the materials and think about what I can do with them. Sometimes it comes to me. Sometimes I manipulate the material.”
Chuck Baxter says his work is rarely political, but there was an exception at Artomatic last year. (Luis Gomez Photos)
