By Dave Roffman
Chris Murray, owner of the internationally-acclaimed Govinda Gallery in Georgetown, kicked off the opening of the Citizens Association of Georgetown's three-day ART 2009 showing featuring resident artists. Chris reminisced about the many galleries and gallery owners that have played such an integral part of the social fabric of our community over the past four decades.
Recalling such legendary art houses as the Fendrick Gallery, Jose Nunez' Washington Gallery of Art and Lee and Beverly Silberstein's Georgetown Graphics, Chris' entertaining and lifting talk became a testimony to the creative spirit of art and artists and gallery owners in Georgetown over the years.
Murray's love of Georgetown goes back to his college days at Georgetown University when he took part time jobs at such Georgetown landmarks as Lad Mills' Exxon station at Wisc. and Que Streets. He worked at Ollie Popenoe's YES health food store as well. Upon graduation, he fell in love with the empty storefront at 34th and Prospect and because the rent was so low, he signed a lease. He didn't know what he was renting the space for, he just knew he was supposed to rent it. Soon, the paintings of David Waters and his wife were hanging on the walls of the newly christened Govinda Gallery. That was 34 years ago, on 34th Street.
It wasn't long before friends of his introduced him to Andy Warhol, and Chris Murray's many visits to NYC and time spent with the iconic artist, opened Chris' eyes at "how to stop and look and appreciate the little things, the unusual, the beautiful" that surrounded him every day, forming an eclectic taste that defines him and his gallery to this day.
After showing the photographs of Annie Liebowitz, Chris "had an epiphany -- to show important works of photography of the music world." Today, Govinda is known internationally for its major exhibits of rock, jazz and blues legends, and for its many publications and books and for curating museum and gallery shows the world over.
Before Chris Murray's lecture, we enjoyed browsing the makeshift gallery space at 1209 31st Street, N.W. (formerly the site of Smith & Hawkins, formerly the site of Larry McMurtry's Booked Up) where the CAG ART 2009 exhibit of local artists will hold forth through the weekend.
Now we don't portend to be art connoseurs, but we know what we like, and we liked Betsy Cooley's "Morning Incense from the Fields of May," a delicate small oil on canvas. We also appreciated the huge oils on canvas by Hayley Gordon Pivato titled "Crossing" and "Veins." And Barbara Downs" haunting "Early Snow at Rock Creek Park" was superb. And we loved the six Georgetown scenes by Homayoun Yeroushalmi, all so colorful, bright, and affordable.
Too bad the show was only up for three days. It deserved a longer run.
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