Rosetta DeBerardinis moves about in a bubble of energy—an actual aura that gives off rays as she transports herself from one life-adventure moment to the next. In her wake is a comet’s tail of art. Abstract color compositions, like bursts of joy, stream through time and space. If an energy field were to write an autobiography, it would look like Rosetta’s paintings.

Influenced by her mother and a teacher while in early grade school, she decided to go to Vassar College and started sending letters. By the time she graduated from high school, the college not only accepted her, it was ready to name a building after her.
She began taking art classes at the Pratt Institute in New York at age five (“Grandma’s basement is full.”) and sold greeting cards at six. Even while earning non-art degrees at Vassar, UDC and the Baltimore School of Law, she has been making and marketing art. In Rosetta’s worldview, opportunity doesn’t come knocking, you go out and smile at it and keep smiling until it comes your way.

For Rosetta, making art is not enough. You have to sell and you have to learn how to sell. That means taking marketing classes and keeping current with sales techniques and new technologies. She has created a line of “affordable originals” that do not compete with her gallery shows and she participates in every art event from here to New York. She makes the rounds of all the galleries and gives tours of the art scene in Bethesda.

Still, the most important part of being an artist is creating. To Rosetta, the process is spiritual. She doesn’t try to reproduce works that have been popular because the original energy can’t be copied. Besides, she loves the adventure of a blank canvas. “It’s like starting a new relationship; the first brush stroke is like the first kiss.” From there, the whole process is spontaneous with no preconceived ideas.

You can see her work this month at the Woman’s National Democratic Club at 1526 New Hampshire, NW and at Hoopla on 8th Street NE. For more information, email her at rosettamcpherson@aol.com.

Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art

I was recently asked to donate a painting to a fundraiser for a charter school. It hurt to say no. As someone who has taught at private schools, I know how difficult it is to raise operating funds.
Art auctions are common as fundraisers for all sorts of non-profits and they depend on artists to donate their works of art. Ironically, it is the artist who is least able financially to give things away. There is no tax deduction except for materials used in the piece and many artists do not make enough to really benefit from a deduction anyway.
As a result, artists tend to donate pieces that haven’t sold and they don’t want. I have gasped at the quality of art in many of these one-night fundraisers and wonder if the nice folks who buy them actually take them home.
Instead, organizations should have someone jury the art that is to be sold and give the artist half of the selling price, just like a gallery. More “name” artists would be interested and the quality—and sale prices—will go way up. Artists who aggressively market their work and bring art buyers to the event should be included.
Everyone wins. Local artists are supported, the organization makes more money and the buyers/donors get quality art. If there are legal restrictions or other problems I am not aware of, let me know.

Openings of Interest
Bradley Stevens
“La Vie quotidienne”
Zenith Gallery
413 7th Street, NW
202-783-2963

“La Vie quotidienne: Scenes from Paris to Provence,” features new paintings by Washington artist, Bradley Stevens. It will continue through June 19.
Stevens looks for the small moments in every day life, or, “la vie quotidienne,” that pass through awareness without celebration and lay bare the assumed essentials of our ordinary lives. The scenes are of France “from Paris to Provence.” As studies of the visual effects of people reflected in glass and other surfaces, the setting could be anywhere. But there is a quality of artistic timelessness that, in turn, reflects on the location. It is French culture and living history that continue to captivate and perhaps inspire his best works.
Stevens studied painting in Washington at the Corcoran and has degrees from George Washington University, with studies in France, and has become nationally recognized as an exacting realist for his portraits, landscapes and urban scenes.
The fun stuff of Stephen Hansen begins June 24, with opportunities to meet the artist on Friday, June 24, 6-9, and Saturday, June 25, 2-5. Check out the web site for a preview: www.zenithgallery.com.

Members Art Exhibit
Results Gallery
Results the Gym
6th and G SE
202-669-4226

There still a great opportunity to take in the 4th Annual Members Art Exhibit at Results the Gym. It remains up through June and features 100 very diverse works by 25 area artists. This is the show where you can get a see a lot of terrific artists all in one place and the paintings are generally priced below value. You can get more information and a look at some of the work at www.fishergallery.com.

“Canvas and Steel”
“Project: Painting”
Touchstone Galleries
406 7th Street NW
202-347-2787
TouchstoneGallery.com

“Canvas and Steel” by sculptor David Pecrick runs through June 5. The show includes color on canvas and welded steel sculptures with steel cutouts. These are happy, almost whimsical pieces that stay this side of cute because of successful color composition.
“Project: Painting” begins June 8, with the opening reception on June 10, 6-8:30pm. The pure painting show is comprised of ten local artists known for expressive painting and color. You will find a range of subjects and approaches to painting but all are exploring personal expression and that is what can make a group show fascinating.

Tribute to Fiber Art
APEX Gallery
406 7th Street NW
To June 18, 2005
www.apex-gallery.com

The June exhibition is the annual juried show, a “Tribute to Fiber Art.” Many artists are included and it is the most comprehensive fiber art show you will probably ever see. The show ends June 18.
Sadly, it may also be the last show you will see at the Apex Gallery. I have been informed that the gallery will close at the end of June. The gallery was opened a year ago, in April of 2004. It had previously been the Artist’s Museum since 1996. It has featured some of the best shows in the region with local, national and international artists. Thank you David, Gary and Jodi for making Washington a better place.

Karen Hubacher
GalleryPlanB
1530 14th Street NW
202-234-2711

Karen Hubacher is a Washington area abstract painter who constructs color harmonies alternately subtle and dramatic through layers of paint and other materials such as papers, fabrics and other textures. The show runs to June 26.

The Birds and Bees
The Parker Gallery
629 New York Ave.
202-783-2960

The Parker Gallery at Mickelson’s Fine Arts Framing puts artists together that contrast and compliment in medium and style in The Birds and the Bees: Union at Parker Gallery. Richard Barrett’s photographs and Pamela Soldwedel’s sculptures play with emotions in separate ways but seek a union through similar themes. It runs through the end of June. Email: kate@MickelsonsFramingParkerGallery.com.

Jim Magner is a Capitol Hill artist and writer. He can be reached at jimmagnerarts@aol.com