My current figurative work features portraits of people that I know – friends and family. Thus I take images of models, people I don’t know, who don’t look like the people I see every day, and construct portraits of people that I recognize.

"Simply put, arts and culture are the engines that drive business. Without the arts, businesses cannot thrive, neighborhoods decline and our quality of life is greatly diminished."

"Public support for the arts is important because governments should engage in activities that improve the quality of life in their communities, particularly by supporting things that the private market might not otherwise provide."

"I am told that the most recorded song in the world is the Beatles' Yesterday. But among the top 10 most recorded songs in the world, and also the most recorded Spanish language song in history is the Guantanamera."

"The recurring images that I have for this new piece have been relating to how I grew up, and fundamental mid-life questions of love, identity, and home."

The DC Advocates for the Arts report District arts agency spending from 2009.

Should critics watch dances more than one time? One critic reflects on lessons from attending a recent rehearsal.

Patricia Spears Jones writes about D.C.'s recent 2010 Split This Rock poetry festival. Photos by Jill Brazel.

DC Artist Prudence Bonds discusses the good and bad of being a self taught artist.

Curator Blair Murphy writes about the ways we work: Talk to ten different visual artists in the DC area and you're likely to hear about ten different working situations, from former auto body shops to corners of studio apartments.