I've been busy with my new venture:

Forged within the heart of the artistic community Jamaica Plain, the UFORGE Gallery is the newest fine art gallery in Boston. UFORGE launched in 2011 by Boston artists, Brian Crete (painter) and Rob Festa (photographer) with the belief that everyone has the right to show their creativity without worrying about cost or having an “expert” artistic ability. UFORGE began as a locally grown concept in 2010: dedicating a space within the community that allows artists to create new artwork and grow beyond their artistic comfort zones.

Now as an official fine art gallery in the center of Jamaica Plain, UFORGE offers distinct monthly assignment opportunities for all artists including amateurs, professionals, students, teachers and cooperatives. As the only non-juried gallery in the area, UFORGE puts aside the pretension and the financial gain that ever-so-often hinders creativity – they accept and exhibit artwork based on the monthly assignment on a first come, first serve basis. With monthly assignments, impromptu artistic sessions, teachings and special events, UFORGE is an original fine art destination and education center that awakens and inspires the creativity within the community and you.

The rumor is true! A new fine art gallery is opening in Jamaica Plain…and it is ours! We’re excited to officially announce the launch of our website, www.uforgegallery.com. We welcome you to browse our site, learn about our mission and goals as well as how YOU can participate in the first monthly assignment called ART DECO. The gallery itself will officially be open in mid-March…stay tuned!

Originated in Paris in the 20s and 30s, ART DECO is based upon geometrical shapes with a strong elegance of style. We invite all artists to challenge themselves and submit their interpretation of ART DECO to UFORGE Gallery.

For further details, please review the submission process and art requirements http://uforgegallery.com/assignments.html.

As part of the inaugural ART DECO assignment, UFORGE Gallery will have a public reception Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.– 8:00 p.m. where the ART DECO works of art will be displayed in the gallery. In conjunction with the opening festivities, UFG is hosting this year’s JP to Me 2011, "Defined by Light."

Not ready to share your ART DECO artwork? We have different assignments every month that offer a variety of art opportunities for every type of artist http://uforgegallery.com/assignments.html.

Thanks for your support and we hope to see you at the ART DECO reception and beyond!

Cheers,

Brian & Rob

2010 Jamaica Plain Arts Council Annual Juried Exhibition at Maliotis Cultural Center at Hellenic College, 50 Goddard Street, Brookline.
Gala Reception and Silent Auction benifiting Jamaica Plain Arts Council, Saturday, June 19 7:00-9:00pm.
Come see three of my choosen mounted photographs along with the works of 20 other artists. The exhibit will be on display from June 19 - July 12.

Coming soon to The Mall at Chestnut Hill. JP to me 2010 will be on exhibit from April 10 through the end of May. This exhibit will be displayed on the upper level of the mall in the storefront adjacent to Papa Razzi. The exhibit coincides with the Mall Flower Show and the JPAC art sale set for May 22nd and 23rd.

Tickets on sale now for Father of the Bride. Don't miss it!! Director Peyton pugmire's adaptation will take you to back in time.

PRESS RELEASE
40 Artists Envision the Jewels of Jamaica Plain

JP to Me 2010: From Emeralds to Jewels, a themed exhibit organized by Jamaica Plain photographer and architect Robert Festa, will be on public display at Eliot Hall (home of the Footlight Club), 7A Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain, from January 29 to February 13, 2010. The public is also invited to the opening reception on Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 6 to 8 pm in the Parker Room.

Festa joined with Joy Cochran and Bill Shamlian of the Jamaica Plain Arts Council and Terry Boutelle of Jamaica Plain Artists Association to present local artists with a challenge: Bring to light a “jewel” within Jamaica Plain’s portion of Boston’s beloved Emerald Necklace. Forty artists answered the call and were randomly assigned one of five green spaces, including Franklin Park, Arnold Arboretum, Forest Hills, Jamaica Pond and Southwest Corridor Park. The resulting work ranges from painting and photography to mosaic and mixed media.

“It’s an opportunity for the artists who make Jamaica Plain their artistic home to express what they see as unique about the green spaces here,” said Festa “The exhibit will display visions as diverse and inspired as Jamaica Plain itself.”

Viewing hours will take place at the Footlight Club, America’s oldest community theater [est. 1877], during performances of Oscar Wilde’s “An Ideal Husband” on Friday and Saturday evenings 7-10pm. In conjunction with the reception on Feb. 6, the JP Historical Society will be present to show historic photographs and answer questions about the history of Jamaica Plain. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public; tickets to the performance can be purchased at the box office or online at Footlight.org.

This is the second installation of the JP to Me series; the first (in early 2009) was an exhibit of 12 Jamaica Plain artists whose work reflected their personal views of JP. The organizers hope that the series will continue to evolve into an annual event.

Learn more about the exhibit and the participating artists at the website, www.jptome.com. For more information contact Robert Festa at 617-818-8679 or email rob@dogdevilstudio.com.

Robert Festa dba dogdevilstudio has been selected to design the cover of the Jamaica Plain publication of Indie Owned.

"Indie Owned is a publication dedicated to spotlighting independent business."

dogdevilstudio has moved to the heart of the Jamaica Plain retail district.
My new address is 53 South Street. Come say hi if your in the hood.

Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theaters has nominated And Then There Were None for several DASH awards. Closest to my heart are the nominations for Props in a Play and Ensemble in a Play. Check out the following link for all of our nominations. Congrats to all and the Footlight Club!

Come celebrate Boston's architecture, design, and neighborhoods at our third annual weekend series of neighborhood tours, open buildings, and displays. The Common Boston Weekend 2009 will be held June 18-21, 2009.
CB09's Theme: Designing a Livable City for Families
Featured "Common Points": Chinatown | Fort Point Channel | Jamaica Plain | Ashmont/Peabody Square

Look for my photographs in T Stations in Jamaica Plain, Fort Point Channel, and Chinatown!

Come, check out the June season finale show at the Footlight Club [And Then There Were None] by Agatha Christie, directed by Peyton Pugmire. This will be my first time on stage at the Footlight Club, playing the ghost of Edward Seton [the dead]. I am also Props Master for this show.

Show dates are June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20 with curtian call at 8pm.

JP to me is receiving much press!! Check out my shows tab for event info. and the following link for the Boston Globe article highlighting the conception for the show. I hope to see you at our reception on February 7th.

my prints are now available at imagekind. imagekind is a cafe press company specializing in decorative and fine art. as always, you can also purchase matted prints from dogdevilstudio.etsy.com

Imagekind is one community for creating, buying and selling high end framed artwork. We offer giclee art prints of all types for sale. From customers decorating their homes to professional interior designers shopping artwork for clients, Imagekind offers one of the widest selections of art for sale online. Visitors can shop from over 50,000 unique and independent artists or choose from the classics in our Masters of Art collection. Artists from all disciplines, including traditional and digital photographers, painters, digital artists and illustrators sell their artwork on Imagekind. Shop our selection of high end wall art, framed art, canvas artwork, custom greeting cards, photography and poster art prints. Or choose to create your own high end work of art with your personal digital images. Discover why Imagekind is one of the fastest growing online art sites.

observe . look at your world photography by robert f. festa, jr.

check out my first publication from Blurb.com. If you love it buy it!!

check out my new facebook page!!

Check this out. National Geographic, international photo contest, photo of the week (September week 2) features my photo in the places category. Click the link below and enter either the "Places Photo Gallery" or the "Places Voting Machine". Vote for me!!

thanks so much to randy marthins for creating such a cool logo for dogDevilstudio. from conception through final design, randy nailed it. thanks again, the new logo will show up on eveything dogDevilstudio.

big thanks to Kyle Freeman for featuring my work on apartment therapy.

apartment therapy is a website focused on "saving the world, one room at a time". they are based in new york, los angeles, san franciso, chicago, and soon to be boston.

Check it out!!!