Annoucements

ArtSelect Event Scheduled for March 2nd

February 7, 2012

A unique fundraising event that is being planned ensures that everyone attending walks away with something.  The event, known as ArtSelect, is an art lottery that guarantees ticket holders the opportunity to bring home a piece of artwork.  The event will be held at the Cultural Arts Center, and is scheduled for Friday, March 2nd from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

A limited number of Art Collector tickets are available for $125 per person.  Additional guests can attend for $25.  Each Art Collector ticket holder will walk away with a unique piece of art donated by national, regional, and local artists.  Ticketholders need not be present to receive the artwork, as their number will be drawn and arrangements can be made after the event to pick up the artwork.  Light fare will be provided by Isabella’s and Acacia Alley and a cash bar will be provided by Brewer’s Alley.  All ticket holders will participate in a random drawing that evening to determine which piece of artwork they will receive. 

Featured artists include Ed Ramsburg, Walt Bartman, Kesra Hoffman, Bill O’Donnell, Catherine Christopher, Steve Dobbin, Bill Watson, and many others.  Several pieces of art are valued well over $100 and retail for as much as $1,500.  The event provides an opportunity for serious art collectors to add to their collection but also gives a chance for individuals to start developing their art collection.  In addition, many of the artists will be on hand to network with attendees.

In addition, all guests will also be treated to a special art demonstration by one of the world’s most prominent political cartoonists.  Kevin Kallaugher, the editorial cartoonist for The Economist of London, will give an interactive talk and drawing that evening.  Kallaugher, known by many as Kal, was recruited by the magazine to be the first resident cartoonist in their 145 year history.  The Harvard graduate then joined The Baltimore Sun in 1988 as its editorial cartoonist.  Between 1988 and 2006, he drew over 4,000 pieces for The Sun while continuing to draw two cartoons per week for The Economist.

KAL’s work for The Sun and The Economist has appeared in more than 100 publications worldwide, including Le Monde, Der Spiegel, Pravda, Krokodil, Daily Yomiuri, The Australian, The International Herald Tribune, The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, and The Washington Post. His cartoons are distributed worldwide by Cartoonarts International and the New York Times Syndicate.

Kallaugher has won many awards for his work including the 2004 “Gillray Goblet” for Cartoon of the Year as presented by the Political Cartoon Society of Great Britain, the 2002 Berryman award presented by the National Press Foundation, the 1996 Grafica Internazionale Award at the International Festival of Satire in Pisa, Italy, the 1982 Feature Cartoonist of the Year Award as presented by the Cartoonist Club Of Great Britain, and others.  He is also a three-time recipient of the Thomas Nast Award presented by the Overseas Press Club of America, winning it 1999, 2002 and 2005.

He published a collection of his Economist drawings entitled Drawn from The Economist (1988) and three collections of his Baltimore Sun cartoons entitled KALtoons (1992), KAL Draws a Crowd (1996) and KAL Draws the Line (2000). A new collection KAL Draws Criticism was published in June 2006.  In 1995, Kallaugher was invited by The Walter’s Art Gallery to help curate the celebrated exhibit “Worth a Thousand Words: A Picture of Contemporary Political Satire”. In 2006, The Walters mounted a major retrospective exhibition of his cartoons titled ” Mightier than The Sword; The Satirical Pen of KAL”. Kallaugher’s work has also been exhibited at the Tate Gallery in London and the Library of Congress in Washington. He has had one man exhibitions in London, New York, Washington, and Baltimore.  In 1999, The World Encyclopedia of Cartoons said of him “Commanding a masterful style, Kallaugher stands among the premier caricaturists of the (twentieth) century.”

In addition to his print work, Kallaugher has also worked in the field of animation.  In 2004, he teamed up with animator Gary Leib at Twinkle studio to create flash animation video for ABC’s “Nightline” and CNN’s “Lou Dobbs”.  He launched his Maryland based animation company Kaltoons LLC in 2007 with his first video “Dancin” Dubya.”  Kal later teamed up with Chicago’s famous “Second City” comedy troupe for a 6 city touring show called ‘The Art of Satire”.

ArtSelect is a different kind of fundraiser.  During a traditional auction, the bidding often heats up and can leave some participants out in the cold.  However, everyone wins during this exciting event as every ticket holder will take home a piece of artwork produced by local, regional, and national artists in a lottery-style drawing.  Although everyone may not walk away with their favorite piece, they will walk away with something in hand and the knowledge that they are supporting a great cause.  But we also want to provide a fun evening and allow folks a chance to acquire a piece of art from a prominent or promising artist. 

Proceeds from the event benefit the 19th annual Frederick Festival of Arts.  The Frederick Festival of the Arts is a nationally juried, two day arts festival held the first weekend in June along Carroll Creek Linear Park.  The 2012 event will again be free of charge providing more access to the arts for everyone.  The Cultural Arts Center is located at 15 W. Patrick Street in downtown Frederick.  For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 301-662-4190.