Artomatic

Artomatic is a five-week, multimedia arts event held in the Washington, D.C. area. It has been held in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008. It was held May 9 through June 15, 2008, on nine floors of the Capitol Plaza I building at 1200 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. [ [http://www.artomatic.org/ Artomatic home page] Accessed June 18, 2008.]

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A steering committee comprising local artists, arts administrators, and community activists develops outreach procedures and participation guidelines to ensure the broadest possible artistic representation from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Each participant pays a nominal fee and commits to volunteering for 15 hours. Most participants, however, give much more of their time; volunteers execute every task, from hauling trash and building exhibit structures to maintaining the website. As a result, the show draws artists and visitors of different races, cultural backgrounds, ages and experience levels.

Artomatic provides a mechanism for emerging and established artists to have the chance to work with and learn from one another. The diversity of artwork and performances attract a broad range of people, providing a forum to build institutional connections; linking public and private schools, universities, community development organizations, human service organizations, corporations, foundations, and cultural organizations.

Notable Artists

*Frank Warren's PostSecret project began at Artomatic 2004.

*Glass artist Tim Tate [ [http://www.thefrasergallery.com/artist-timtate-res.html Tim Tate Resumé] ] exhibited in the 2000, 2007, and 2008 shows. In the 2007 Artomatic, Tim Tate’s artwork “The Rapture” disappeared under dramatic circumstances, and later a ransom demand (for Monopoly money) was sent to "The Washington Post". The demands were met and parts of the artwork were returned by the thief, named "The Collector," along with his manifesto about society failing to value its art.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.artomatic.org Artomatic home page]
* [http://artdc.org/forum/index.php?board=37.0 Artomatic Forum at ArtDC.org]
* [http://www.thefrasergallery.com/MD2005.html Fraser Gallery Artomatic Top 10 Show] * [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/10/AR2007011002207.html "Artomatic Thinks Small in Bethesda"] , Washington Post, January 11, 2007; Page C13.
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/03/AR2007050300544.html "'Artomatic (2007)': Treasures Hiding in Plain Sight"] , Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, May 4, 2007; Page WE53