Barbara Blanco: Artist and Curator

By Crystal Bowers

Barbara Blanco is an artist’s artist. From the moment you walk into her cozy home in Maryland which she shares with her husband and two youngest sons, you know you’re in the presence of someone who lives and breathes the creative process every day. Every visible wall space is decorated with many of her own photographs and paintings, as well as the work of other artists she admires. Some are well known, and some are good friends who hope to be well known someday. You can’t help but notice a plaque that reads, “Painting is a religious activity” hanging amidst her collection of photographs and paintings.

Even though Barbara had only joined the BADC in May 2005, she didn’t hesitate to step up to the plate when the call went out for a curator for the July 2005 show at The Graham Collection. Having curated small shows in the past, she chose put her knowledge to work, along with her enthusiasm and boundless energy, to make sure last year’s Summer show was a huge success. The now popular BADC Artist CD was also her idea. “It’s one of the best things in my life to happen to me, that I was able to be a part of that,” she says, smiling. The show was successful on both levels for Barbara: She sold her work and the show was very well received. She has achieved recognition from the entire spectrum of the art community in the form of additional offers to curate and exhibit in various venues in and around DC in 2006. She will also curate the annual 2006 BADC show this summer.

These days her time seems evenly split between exhibiting and helping others exhibit their work, and she thinks the balance is just about right. From her unique position as both artist and curator, Barbara hopes that she will able to bring her work and the work of others to the forefront. “I don’t know what I will accomplish in my lifetime, but I hope I will able to... I just want to be a force in the art world. I just want to be able to do art without any constraints, you know, just to get out there and show it and do it; be a part of the world that is imaginative and fantastic.”


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