Spotlight feature – Levi Robinson – July 2023

Lives in: North Potomac

Website: levirobinsonart.com

Social Media: IG: levirobinsn

Media and subjects: Oil, Acrylic, Collage/Culture, Music, History, Religion, Literature 

Why you joined MAA: I joined MAA in order to expand my practice and connect with the arts in my community. 

Have you participated in any MAA shows or events so far?: I have not.

Artist Biography:  Levi Robinson’s art takes you on a journey through the sublime and familiar. He uses mixed media techniques to create visual art that serves as metaphors that encourage the viewer to reimagine the way they consider language, theatre, music, art, and culture while exploring complex questions of race, religion, gender and politics. 
Levi’s work is now represented in several galleries along the east coast. He is the co-founder, program director and curator of Grail Arthaus, and Unbound Digital. He is a leading member of the DMV League of Artists art collective and has participated in several major art fairs including Red Dot Spectrum at Art Basel in Miami Beach, and Superfine DC. He has developed a burgeoning mural practice that has landed him media coverage from Reuters, New York Times, USA Today, National Geographic, and ABC News.

We are thrilled to have artist and educator Sumita Kim as the judge of this year’s Paint the Town Labor Day show. Kim is a professor of art at Montgomery College in Rockville.

Kim was born in Gwang-ju, South Korea. Growing up in Seoul with artist and journalist parents, she developed a deep appreciation for the power of art and language at an early age.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Sogang University in Seoul, she came to the United States to continue her education. In 1982, she was awarded a master’s degree in filmmaking from The American University in Washington, DC. She then worked for Voice of America for 10 years as a broadcaster in the Korean Service.

In 1992, Kim left journalism to pursue a formal education in fine arts, focusing on painting. She earned her MFA from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1999, and was hired the next year as a full-time professor by Montgomery College through a national search.

She is currently the painting coordinator of the Art Department at the Rockville campus. From 2008 to 2011, she also served as the department chair. She has been an active member of the college community, serving on schoolwide committees such as the General Education Revision Committee. In 2011, she was recognized for her excellence in teaching by earning the Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award.

While committing herself to teaching, she has also continued her career as a practicing artist. Her one-person show, “In Limbo,” at VisArts in Rockville, Maryland, received a review in The Washington Post. In 2019, Kim was appointed to the Maryland State Arts Council, where she served as a councilor until early 2023.

As MAA’s new year commences, I would like to welcome our new Board of Directors. You will see some names that have deep roots and knowledge of MAA and other new names who come with a fresh perspective and energy, both necessary to have MAA grow and thrive.  We are excited for all of you to come together as a team.

I would also like to sincerely thank our outgoing Board members, Amelia De Silva (2nd VP of Shows) and Marta Lopez Teigeiro (Community Outreach Chair) for their time, service, and dedication to MAA. We could not have done it without you and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

In closing, I want to keep my door open for any questions, comments, ideas. You all are what makes MAA a fabulous organization.  Please feel free to contact me at maapresident22@gmail.com.  

Cheers to another wonderful year,

Jen Barlow

Montgomery Art Association's
2023-24 Board of Directors

Officers

• President: Jennifer Kahn Barlow 
• 1st Vice President, Programs: Frank Mancino
• 2nd Vice President, Shows: Kathy Tynan
• 3rd Vice President, Communications & Marketing: Teresa Sites
• Secretary: Ella Soroori 
• Treasurer: Anastasia Walsh
• Past President: Alan Rich

Committee Chairs

• Activities: open
• Children’s Activities: Judith Levine
• Communications: Teresa Sites
• Community Outreach: open
• Equipment: Joyce Koeneman
• Hospitality: open
• In-Person Shows: open
• Marketing: Martina Sestakova
• Membership: Kathy Tynan
• Online Shows: Wendy Shiau
• Paint the Town Labor Day Show: Anastasia Walsh
• Plein Air Events: Sandhya Sharma
• Programs: Hiral Joshi

Lives in: Bethesda, Maryland 

Instagram: @suzannepapiewski, @__pink__poppy

Media and subjects: Mixed media collage from a woman’s point of view

Why you joined MAA: At the suggestion of another member, Fran Simon

Have you participated in any MAA shows or events so far? I participated in the Heart of the Vineyard Show at Windridge Vineyards. I'm looking forward to participating in more events and shows. 

Something fun about you: During the pandemic, I baked over 40 types of cookies. This was before I broke up with my boyfriend and started creating art. 

Artist biography: I have been supporting myself since age 18. I left home, put myself through college, and put myself through law school, going to law school at night and working full time. I made law review and graduated with honors from Georgetown University Law Center. I survived a divorce, cancer, and a layoff within a two-year period when I was in my 40s. I found my favorite job of all time--I negotiate with foreign governments about the taxation of multinational corporations.  

As a single mother, I raised a son who has a B.A. and an M.A. Then, I became an artist. I have no formal training but I have a lot to say about being a woman in a patriarchal society. I started creating art seriously in September 2022 and began to apply to open calls.  

My art rejects traditional gender role stereotypes. I want to raise awareness for the rights of women and people of color, with whom I feel an affinity.  I want to put a spotlight on strong women, who are heroines in my eyes. Every piece has a story and I intend to reveal layers of meaning, including whimsicality.  I am grateful to be part of a very supportive community of artists and have even begun to mentor others.  

List of Juried Exhibitions

“It’s the Little Things” small works show.  December 1, 2022 – January 13, 2023.  

Girls Who Paint Gallery - Kensington, MD; Piece entitled “What You Imagine, You Create.” (sold)

“Claim to Fame” February 3 – February 24, 2023.  Gallery Underground, 

The Shops, Arlington, VA.; Piece entitled “Nonconformist.”

“The Urge to Create” 2023 Invitational. February 5, 2023 – March 4, 2023 Waverly Street Gallery, Bethesda, MD; Four pieces: “Eve Was First,” “Capable,” “Art Lover,” and “In Charge.”

“Paradise Pink.”  February 1 – February 28, 2023. HMVC Gallery New York online group exhibition; Piece entitled “Pop Princess."

Lives in: the Rock Creek Palisades neighborhood in Kensington, Maryland.

Social Media: @12th_house_virgo on Instagram

Media and subjects: Acrylic, Mixed-Media, Photography 

Why you joined MAA: To encourage myself to paint more and to connect with other artists.

Something fun about you: I like making things. I do a lot of do-it-yourself projects. I recently bought an old cargo van to convert to a camper van. 

Artist Biography
I started painting because I took a color theory class in college and realized I love working with acrylic paints. I like to build up layers of color and sometimes work in mixed media, painting on prints of photos I’ve taken. These days, I am interested in painting what I think of as psychological landscapes to try and reveal private but also universal moments when the self sees itself as part of the cosmos. I have collected photos of sunrises and sunsets and am working out how to paint them. If you live in the area, you will likely see me walking my dog Bo around Kensington and taking photos at sunrise. I look forward to connecting with others over the years. 

Thank you to all who submitted entries to the Windridge Vineyard Watercolor Map Contest! This was a very difficult contest because the artists were asked to channel their creativity through a prism of constraints ... a lively, colorful vineyard map seen from above to include vineyard grape labels.  Eleven fabulous MAA watercolor artists submitted beautiful vineyard map paintings.

The Windridge Vineyard owners have made their selections.

First Place: Windridge Vineyard Map, Tracey Gage

Second Place: Venue Where the Sun Sets, Antonia Tiu

Third Place: Windridge Vineyard Map #1, Lily Kak

The first place winner's painting will be purchased by Windridge for $350.00 and used for publicity and advertising.  MAA will have the winning painting photographed by Debra Halprin of Fine Art Giclee Printing Services to provide Windridge with a high resolution digital image.    

The second place and third place winners will receive monetary awards along with award certificates..  

Congratulations to all.  

Lives in: The White Oak neighborhood of Silver Spring.

Media and subjects: Acrylics, right now focusing on surrealism. 

Why you joined MAA: I'm hoping to share my work and get feedback from more experienced artists. 

Have you participated in any MAA shows or events so far: I came to the Meet the Artists event at the Oasis Gallery. 

Something fun about you: I have a farm in North Dakota. 

Artist biography: I'm recently retired and am enjoying taking art classes and trying new techniques.

Lives in: Rockville, MD

Media and subjects: Oil Painting. I mainly paint things from nature, as well as surroundings/environments from my travels around the world.

Why you joined MAA: I would like to get to know other artists in the area, as well as getting my artwork out there.

Something fun about you: I have been to over 20 countries around the world!

Member Spotlight – February Mireim Alibrahim 

Lives in: Rockville, MD

Website: Mireim.myportfolio.com

Social Media: Instagram: _Mireim

Media and subjects: I mostly work on canvases and experiment with mixed media. 

Why you joined MAA: I joined MAA to meet new artists and learn from others along with participating in local events. 

Something fun about you: I have been creating art as long as I remember and recently, I have been trying a new art related hobby every month. 

Artist Biography: Mireim’s art ranges from realism to abstraction. She primarily utilizes acrylic and graphite but has experience working with oil, pastel, watercolor, ink, and mix media. Some of her major work includes bringing her vivid dreams to life and showing her love for animals. Her style is consistently evolving and changing based on her interests.