“We love raising money each year for the Washington Project for the Arts,” said local PR maven and consultant to Hickok Cole, Marilynn Deane Mendell. “This year has been the hardest of all and I have been thrilled with how many people attended the event and gave with such great enthusiasm.”
Art Night’s curator, Brooke Seidelmann, selected works created by local, contemporary artists working in a variety of mediums. Another PR maven in the mix, Jennifer Motruk Loy, commenting on the works said, “I think there’s something for everyone here in the contemporary vein – there’s sculpture, there’s photography, there’s painting. It’s exciting.”
This year’s featured artists included Heidi Fowler, Laurel Lukazsewski, Hadieh Shafie, Noelle Tan, Colin Witnerbottom, and many others. In addition, Hickok Cole Architects’ employees and their friends and family members go through a juried process to be included in the show. This year 23 artists from this pool exhibited work. All artists receive 50% of the sale price, with the other 50% donated to the WPA, sending 100% of the proceeds back into the Washington D.C. art community.
Each year Hickok Cole Architects teams with WPA to put on a juried art show with proceeds going to further WPA’s mission of providing essential resources to support the creative spirit and success of regional artists. Specifically, WPA uses Art Night proceeds to produce exhibitions, hold panels and workshops for artists, and support the ArtFile Online, a web-based registry of member artist portfolios used by artists, art advisers, art buyers, curators, critics and educators.
Hickok Cole principals, Michael Hickok, AIA and Yolanda Cole, AIA, IIDA- LEED AP (Art Angels themselves) commit each year to purchase a new piece of art for the firm at Art Night. Employees vote on their favorites, and at 8:30 pm the piece with the most votes wins. Over the years, the firm has gained a sizable art collection chosen entirely by staff – reinforcing the firm’s best place to work mentality. Washington Life magazine was an Art Angel / sponsor this year.
On a personal aside, Hickok Cole Architects approved a piece of my artwork to be in the show a few years ago. I missed the deadline (again) this year. But after seeing the quality of the work on display, I’m a bit intimidated to show again! I’ll have to muster up some courage (and better work for next year). After perusing the three floors of great art, it was time to run off to another event. As I said my goodbyes, I left thinking that the arts community Hickok Cole is helping to cement in Washington, has to be right up there with some of their best designed buildings.
Hickok Cole Principals Michael Hickok and Yolanda Cole. (Photo by Hoachlander Davis Photography)
David Bell and Anice Hoachlander. (Photo by Hoachlander Davis Photography)
Curator Brooke Seidelmann and artist Scott Huchison. (Photo by Hoachlander Davis Photography)
Artist Diana Adams. (Photo by Hoachlander Davis Photography)
We think that this year has been key to give to artists and the WPA. Our cultural heritage must be supported–generously.
We thank the community for opening their wallets and we look forward to next year. Thank you Washington Life for all that you do to help the ARTS!
Marilynn Deane Mendell
President
WinSpin CIC, Inc.
(consultant to Hickok Cole and art angel for Art Night)
Hickok Cole and the Washington Project for the Arts make an unbeatable combination each October. I always have the best time and it is definitely the most fun way to acquire new art pieces that I have ever seen.
I hope we up in upstate New York can learn from Hickok Cole and The Washington Project for the Arts by garnering enough support in the business / summer community – tiny as Henderson is here next to Lake Ontario – to organize a mini arts event to bring people together. I’m just struck by the successlful vision that Art Night above proved to be.
Garrett McCarthy
Artist/Mural Painter
Future gallery owner