Survivor and self-taught painter
Al Biegel escaped the Nazis in Vienna, where he was born, joined the U.S. Army, rose to the rank of colonel while engaging in combat during the Vietnam War, retired from the military after 25 years, then went on to serve another quarter of a century in the national intelligence community. Now 84 and an artist-teacher, Biegel is displaying several works from his “plein air” (outdoor... READ MORE
Torpedo Factory founder’s first love: art
Marian Van Landingham has achieved many distinctions so far in her 83 years, including as a federal agency writer, speechwriter for a U.S. Congressman, and during a 24-year career as a delegate to the Virginia legislature. But the former Alexandria Art League president is perhaps best known as the founder of Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory Art Center. Oh, “and she is known for her... READ MORE
Ever-changing artwork, powered by the sun
A friend of mine recently sent me a TED Talks video filmed in Vienna. It displayed gorgeous light studies in vivid shades of green, blue, red and yellow — very fluid, alive and ephemeral. I was amazed to learn they were created from sunlight and that they changed throughout the day following the movement of the earth. I was also surprised to find out that the internationally known... READ MORE
Late-life artist relishes challenge
For most of his life, Allan Akman has dabbled in art. The 77-year-old Rockville resident spent his 33-year career as a military consultant, but on nights and weekends, he painted using watercolors and oils. When he retired in 2009, Akman had a long “bucket list” of things to do, books to read and places to visit. But he became captivated by one of the first items on the list:... READ MORE
Amateur art competition closes March 20
Amateur artists 50 and over are invited to enter their best works in a variety of media in the Beacon’s 2020 Celebration of the Arts, an online art competition. The Beacon held its first Celebration of the Arts competition in 2018, when it attracted more than 900 entries in four categories. This year’s competition has expanded to seven categories. Winners in each category will... READ MORE
Sculptor’s works express historical truths
Melvin Edwards melds the story of African-American past and present through sculpted steel. Now through January 12, his work can be seen at a solo exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA). During his 60-year career, the revolutionary sculptor has had more than a dozen solo exhibitions and was part of nearly 50 group shows. Edwards was also the first African-American sculptor to... READ MORE
Art is her dream encore career
Sometimes retirement offers the ability to finally pursue a lifelong dream. Karen Winston-Levin, 71, didn’t start what she considers to be her true career until she retired in 2012. Since then, the Marriottsville resident has been prolifically painting images of nature and people. “I probably have been painting all my life, even though I wasn’t holding a brush,” Winston-Levin... READ MORE
Exhibit highlights Marian Anderson’s life
Singer Marian Anderson is perhaps best remembered for her most famous performances. On April 9, 1939, because segregationist policies denied her access to the DAR’s Constitution Hall, Anderson sang at the Lincoln Memorial. She performed from the steps of the monument before an integrated audience of 75,000. In 1942, the DAR changed its policy and invited Anderson to sing at... READ MORE
A winning artist paints the town at night
“Set up your easel and paint the town!” the Howard County Arts Council told artists during the Paint It Ellicott City event this summer. Local landscape painter Bruno Baran sometimes works from photographs. But on a sweltering Saturday in June he situated his easel on a sidewalk in historic Ellicott City and painted the old town directly from life. The painting he produced, named... READ MORE
Artist tries to recapture family’s lost past
Walking into the third-floor gallery of the American University Museum feels like stepping into a painterly vision of a family photo album, that of Brooklyn-based, Filipino-American artist Maia Cruz Palileo. Most Americans have a familial origin story rooted in immigration; perhaps a great-grandfather arriving at Ellis Island from Ireland, or a grandmother passing through the port of... READ MORE
