ACADEMY 2008: July 11 – 26, 2008 || online exhibition through August 2008.

Conner Contemporary Art is very pleased to announce ACADEMY 2008, the eighth year of our annual invitational survey dedicated to outstanding work by recent fine art graduates of regional college art programs.

The following artists were invited to exhibit: Geoffrey Aldridge, Jamie Andrew, Andrew Buckland, Robert Campoy, Andrea Chung, Sarada Conaway, Cheraya Esters, Nathaniel Fink, Ryan Foti, Kenny George, Sara Hubbs, Stephanie Kozemchak, Michelle McAuliffe, Wayde McIntosh, Carmen McLeod, Meg Mitchell, Diane Ramos, James Swainbank, Kristoffer Tripplaar, Virginia Warwick and Aleksander Zhikulin. They are graduates of American University, Corcoran College of + Design, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Maryland Institute College of Art, University of Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth University.

The curators are ACADEMY exhibition founder and chief gallery Curator, Jamie Smith, gallery Director, Leigh Conner and Assistant Director, Kristi Mathews. As in previous years, the curators attended BFA/MFA exhibitions between December and June, viewing works in person to formulate a profile of area art programs. After consulting with artists, they selected a group of works created in various media, including painting, video, sculpture, and photography, which demonstrate individual achievement and represent vital currents in the fine art curricula of our region.

Since the exhibition's 2001 debut, over 109 grads have participated in ACADEMY. We are pleased that, as these young artists have continued to develop, some have achieved international critical recognition, exhibiting at venues including the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC; the Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York; Nassauischen Kunstverein, Wiesbaden and The British Museum, London, England. 

Because we are finishing our new gallery space renovation, ACADEMY 2008 will be held nearby at 1341 H Street, NE (near the Atlas Theatre / Arts District). We appreciate the support of Taurus Development, who generously donated the ground floor space at their new corporate headquarters.

> ACADEMY 2008 opens Friday, July 11th with a reception for the artists from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. 
> Exhibition hours are Thursday – Saturday 12-5pm. 
> Taurus Development is located at 1341 H Street, NE – Washington, DC, 20002 

Concurrent with ACADEMY 2008, SOVA Espresso and Wine bar (1359 H St, NE) is hosting an exhibition of paintings by first year MFA students from the George Washington University, curated by Diane Ramos. The opening reception is also Friday, July 11, 6 - 8 pm. 

For further information and visuals contact Leigh Conner or Kristi Matthews at 202-588-8750 / info@connercontemporary.com.