Hosted by Bmoreart

Casual attire

Free admission

After twelve years, The Janet & Walter Sondheim Prize has generated an elite alumni of visual artists from the Baltimore / Washington region. Each year, esteemed jurors select 6-7 finalists for a museum exhibition and the chance to compete for the $25k prize. At this point there are approximately seventy former Sondheim finalists. The Dog and Pony Show is an Artscape Satellite exhibition that recognizes those who have been previously selected as Sondheim finalists as a community of high achieving visual artists. The exhibit at Area 405 is curated by Stewart Watson, Director of Area 405, and Cara Ober, Editor of BmoreArt and is designed to celebrate the award and the evolving careers of former finalists. Although the title of the exhibit is a tongue-in-cheek response to the spectacle of competitive art, the exhibit will function as a celebration, as well as a critique, of Baltimore’s most prestigious art prize from the perspective of those who have experienced it directly. Participating artists have been encouraged to create new works in response to the phenomenon of art prizes, both the positive and negative aspects of the experience, and can function as a critique of the artifice inherent in theatrical display. Using serious and humorous approach, as well as metaphorical imagery of dogs, ponies, and stage acts, the artists in this exhibit will honestly examine the vulnerability of artists, definitions of success in the art world, and performative public experiences. As Area 405 is a large space with inherent personality, large installation work and sculpture will form the centerpiece of the show. The Dog and Pony Show seeks to build community and advocacy within a growing family of Sondheim Finalists, to recognize their achievements and struggles, and to visualize the long-term impact of this prize upon the careers of regionally based artists. Participating artists include: Chris Lavoie, Chris Palios, Laure Drogoul, Darcie Book, David Page, Frank Day, Hasan Elahi, Jon Duff, Jason Hughes, Jim Leach, Karen Yazinsky, Lauren Frances Adams, Lisa Dillin, Leah Cooper, Magnolia Laurie, Mark Parascandola, Melissa Dickenson, Molly Springfield, Neil Feather, Ryan Hackett, Ryan Syrell, René Treviño, Stephanie Barber, Stewart Watson, Tony Shore, Wickerham & Lomax, and Zoë Charlton.