Artomatic, the DC-area homegrown traveling art museum featuring hundreds of regional visual and performing artists, has occurred in local venues every two to three years, depending on space availability, since its 1999 debut. This year, the free-for-the-public event began on April 13 and will run through May 20 in the former US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) building in Crystal City, Arlington, Va. Paintings, sculptures, photography, dioramas and other creative works by local artists -- many are exhibiting their art for the first time -- are on display throughout nearly 90,000 square feet of space, while live performances occur at scheduled times.

The building location for the first Artomatic was the historic Manhattan Laundry building. Artists emptied, cleaned and set-up the 100,000-square-foot building. In 2000, the old Hechinger’s building hosted 865 visual and performing artists; in 2002, more than 1,000 artists showcased their work at the Southwest Waterfront; and attendance doubled at the last Artomatic show, held in 2004 at the old Capitol Children’s Museum in Northeast. In total, more than 40,000 people have visited an Artomatic show since its 1999 start. The event’s success has led to the name “Artomatic” being trademarked, and a board was formed to incorporate the event, becoming Artomatic Inc.

“I always have a great time perusing the work again and again and again, meeting new artists and running into artists, collectors, gallerists and art appreciators I haven't seen for a while,” says East of the River visual artist Camille Mosley-Pasley.

Pasley, owner of Pasley Place Photographer located in Southeast, DC, has been a participant in the past two Artomatics and finds the current location to be one of the best.

“This is by far the nicest and most convenient Artomatic building. I think free parking and the freight elevator will spoil a lot of us. I've always lugged my stuff through lobbies and up stairs and often parked illegally to unload. I'll probably whine if the next Artomatic doesn't have easy parking or an elevator,” says Mosley-Pasley. 

She and other artists participating in this year’s Artomatic rave about the beautiful location. Beth Baldwin, a visual artist who lives in the Hillcrest area of DC, agrees that this is definitely the “poshest Artomatic ever.” The location was selected after attempts to secure space in DC fell through. The Crystal City Business Improvement District jumped at the opportunity to bring the art event to Crystal City.

“We are excited about our collaboration with the Crystal City BID,” says George Koch, chair of Artomatic Inc. “We believe that launching Artomatic in Crystal City will substantially increase future exhibition and presentation opportunities for local visual artists, poets, actors, dancers and musicians as they expand their creativity in the new Crystal City. The Crystal City BID and its members have already become strong new partners for Artomatic.”

Former offices on the sixth and eighth floors of the USPTO building are being utilized for Artomatic; each room showcases an exhibit, and almost every room offers views of Virginia and DC. From some of the windows, you can even see planes lifting off and landing at National Airport.

“The view is outstanding…and reminds me of Paris,” says Baldwin. However, she believes that the Artomatic can be brought east of the river if vital marketing is invested in the area and people begin to think outside of the box and consider the area as a viable art community. “It’s going to depend on development and people wanting that stuff to happen,” she says. She believes it can and will begin with places like THEARC, where artists have opportunities to showcase their talent and network.

Camille Mosley-Pasley
Mosley-Pasley and Baldwin are two of at least six artists in this year’s Artomatic who hail from the East of the River area. Mosley-Pasley has enjoyed much success as both a studio photographer and a fine artist, having her most recent collection, “Mama Love,” showcased in museums along the east coast. The collection, which was exhibited at the Anacostia Community Museum last year, led to the creation of a book which will be released in May. Pictures from the collection are being shown at this year’s Artomatic.

“I was inspired to do [the Mama Love collection] after being amazed at how motherhood has changed lives…once becoming a mother, [women] thought different, they acted different,” says Mosley-Pasley. Her black and white shots of mothers embracing, kissing and gazing upon their young children are both poignant and sentimental. Mothers of all ages can relate to the energy expressed through the lens.

Mosley-Pasley was raised in a family where photography was a profession -- her father taught photography -- so by high school, she knew that it was something she enjoyed as well. In 1996, she opened her photography studio after having difficulties finding somewhere she felt comfortable working.

“I love what I do,” Mosley-Pasley says. She believes that her work will serve as a testament to the positive in the community. For as she says, “I am more interested in documenting the community that is here.” As a member of the steadily growing artist collective Black Artists of DC, Mosley-Pasley believes that the art community will continue to do just that as artists continue to have opportunities to network and showcase.

“I love Camille’s work,” says one visitor to the Artomatic. “It is something honest and visually refreshing about the shots she shows us.”

Amber Robles-Gordon
Visual artist Amber Robles-Gordon is a fellow member of the Black Artists of DC and is showcased in this year’s Artomatic. Robles-Gordon was born in Puerto Rico, brought up in Arlington, Va., and moved to DC ten years ago to raise her son who attends classes for the deaf at Galludet University. This is her first year in the Artomatic. She calls the Artomatic a “really great experience so far.”

Working at the Takoma Recreation Center in Northwest as a Pilates and yoga instructor, Robles-Gordon balances her work, art and parenting with an upbeat and positive mindset. Right now, she has put a more concentrated focus on her art. “I’m trying to move energy in creating art and selling art.”

Robles-Gordon’s primary medium has been creating woman-centered images through collage. Her piece “Before: B late Now: A plus” is a strong testament to womanhood and self-esteem as a plump brown woman is shown preening and enjoying her bikini-clad body. Not afraid to use color and deviate from straight lines, Robles-Gordon’s artistry is both vibrant and daring. Still growing as an artist, Robles-Gordon discloses on her blogsite: “I have learned to transfer ideas and visions to paper. Art is my calling, and I have heard its pleasing whispers for years.” She now revels in its voice.

Beth Baldwin
Beth Baldwin’s eclectic artistic taste is a fitting complement to her wry sense of humor and strong background in theater scene design. The Philadelphia native moved to the DC area nine years ago after earning a graduate degree in art and has participated in the past four Artomatics. This is her first exhibit, however, as a visual artist.

“I like sequential art like that found in comic books, some people think that’s weird,” Baldwin says. Her exhibit in the Artomatic is a splash of color with drawings, paintings and dioramas that attract everyone from the family of three with a toddler to the college art student. Weird or not, many have fallen in love with her work. From her 2-D art to her panda-esque blue bears, Baldwin’s artwork is definitely appealing. She appreciates the Artomatic for providing a venue to bring her work to the people.

“Some people think [the Artomatic] is visual chaos, but if you keep on, you’ll find something you’ll like.”