An art party at the Embassy of Austria

Myra Maslowsky was one of the featured artists at the Roger Nakazawa Art Reception at the Embassy of Austria. Her Spiritual Journey can send a viewer into her own kaleidoscopic venture/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

It took only a few seconds to consider a response to the Embassy of Austria inviting me to an art auction, wine bar, hors d'oeuvres, and diplomats, all for $29 with a third of the art sales to benefit Charlie's Place, a homeless service center which has assisted clients in the Dupont Circle area for more than 20 years. 

Yes.

Hosting the event on Friday evening was Roger Nakazawa, the major sponsor, for whom the reception was named.  Other sponsors were the embassy and Summit Connection, LLC.  Andreas Pawlitschek, the embassy's counselor for cultural affairs, welcomed guests.  Bruce McBarnette was the producer.

Registration at the Roger Nakazawa Art Reception at the Embassy of Austria/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Seven artists brought their paintings, drawings, watercolors, photographs, and sculpture to describe, sell, and discuss with attendees.  One, Myra Maslowsky, the curator for the show and a University of Maryland graduate, focuses her sci-fi influenced designs on global warming, the Earth, and what appeared to be Utopia.

She exhibits at Washington galleries and her Party Animal Project was selected by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum for display there.

Myra Maslowsky talks about her Cold Winds and Jack Frost at the Roger Nakazawa Art Reception at the Embassy of Austria/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Other artists who participated and whose names are familiar to Washington art enthusiasts were:

Eloy Areu, a self-taught sculptor from Cuba and the U.S., formerly an aerospace engineer

Eloy Areu was a featured artist and sculptor at the Roger Nakazawa Art Reception at the Embassy of Austria.  He brought along paintings, watercolors, and aluminum sculptures he designed and made/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Phil Bolles,  a D.C. photographer and filmmaker who trained at the NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, the BBC, and Duke University
 
Stephanie Glover, a photographer from Hagerstown Maryland who began her career taking pictures of her four children.  She is a full-time student at Frostburg State University.

Katie Ikeler, a Washington, D.C. artist and recent graduate of William and Mary whose president has three of Ms. Ikeler's works in his private collection. Ms. Ikeler uses handmade box dioramas for her pastels, and for her oils, a palette knife.

Donna L. Shields, a portrait artist and graduate of the University of Maryland, draws people and animals. 

Donna L. Shields of Germantown, Maryland, was another featured artist at the Roger Nakazawa Art Reception at the Embassy of Austria/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Norman Strike, a Washington self-taught printer and picture framer whose prints are in the collections of the Library of Congress, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and the Baltimore Museum of Art.  In 2007 the National Museum of American History bought Ben's Chili Bowl by Mr. Strike.

Also on hand was Gail Romiti, face reader. 

At the Roger Nakazawa Art Reception at the Embassy of Austria/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

It pays to get out...and get early notices for other happenings, like the EU Open Embassies Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10 with free shuttles and admission, homeland treats to drink and eat, ambassadors to meet. 

Click here for the schedule of events on May 10 at the Embassy of Austria.

Patricialesli@gmail.com

 

Washingtonians loved the European Jazz Motion at the Embassy of Austria

European Jazz Motion in concert at the Embassy of Austria/Patricia Leslie

Antti Kujanpaa on piano and Angela Trondle, European Jazz Motion/Patricia Leslie

Angela Trondle, Mattia Magatelli, and Tobias Meier, European Jazz Motion/Patricia Leslie

Give me jazz, any jazz, day or night, and I'll be there. Like at the almost "sold out" performance last week at the Austrian Embassy where the European Jazz Motion (aka New European Jazz) came to play.

The young group evolved after one week of collaboration in 2008 where they initially gathered in Riga, Latvia as "Group A" at an international music school.
Only one of the performers at the embassy was Austrian (Angela Trondle, the stellar vocalist), but the group's international flavor is a great mix. Tobias Meier from Switzerland played alto sax and alto clarinet; Marek Talts, Estonia, guitar; Antti Kujanpaa, Finland, piano; Mattia Magatelli, Italy, bass; and Christian Windfeld, Denmark, was on drums.
The beginning music of the first piece came from a melancholy, slow piano, joined later by heartbeats of the bass and then, drums, followed by a solo sax.
The voice of Ms. Trondle, who exhibited her distinctive scat talents during the concert, often sounded like a worthy solo musical instrument of its own. The evening featured, quite naturally, contemporary selections, many composed by group members, and many which were quite short. Not than anyone had objection to their length, for the audience came to hear modern sounds, and no one left disappointed.
That the group is only three years old makes for great expectations.
Event sponsor was the Austrian Cultural Forum whose website lists future events:
Now through Nov. 22, 2011 at the American Film Institute Silver Spring Theatre, the films, Michael and Breathing
Nov. 15: Little World, 6:30 p.m. at West End Cinema ($11 and $9). Call 202-419-3456 for information.
Nov. 16 Six short silent movies with live piano, 7:30 p.m. at the Embassy of Austria. Free admission, but RSVP required: 202-895-6776 or click here.
Nov. 18: Die Sklavenkonigin/The Moon of Israel with live piano, 7:30 p.m. at the Embassy of Austria. Free admission but RSVP required: 202-895-6776 or click here.