NOTICE: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the monthly Art in the City receptions at our City Center Branch are now held virtually. Check in periodically for updates.
We’re excited to partner with The Compass Atelier on a program that allows Master Artist Program students to showcase their paintings inside Signal Financial’s flagship branch at City Center, located in the heart of Washington, DC. Each month, the City Center branch morphs into a revolving art exhibit, giving the students a platform to display their visual artwork and be recognized among the community. New artists are highlighted each month, with an opening reception on the first Thursday of every month. Come by and enjoy music, light refreshments and complimentary beverages as we acknowledge and celebrate the artists of our very own community. Check back monthly to see which artist we’ll be featuring next.
For our most recent exhibit, Signal is proud to showcase the lively and vibrant artwork of Frank Cantel and John Weber.
A virtual showcase of both artists work will show across Signal’s social media platforms and website.
John Weber Bio
“A Washington D.C. based oil painter of non-abstract art. Majored in Studio Art and English as an undergraduate. Worked full-time as a journalist editor at National Public Radio and honed my painting skills on the side. Traveled extensively throughout Europe where I studied the work of past master artists. Re-trained in the Master Artist Program at the Compass Atelier. It is on that foundation of representational art that I now model my own work while bringing a 21st century view to canvas.”- John Weber
Artist Statement
“I paint that which evokes beauty and personal connection. My studio work is largely derived from photos and sketches. My landscape work captures urban and rural settings, looking for the emotional response that comes through the building of a visual image. Figurative paintings are portraiture and the universal moments found among family and friends.”- John Weber
Education
2020 Master Artist Program, The Compass Atelier, Rockville, MD
1982 Bachelor of Arts (Studio Art, English) University of Maryland Global Campus
1981 Arts and Culture studies, Universitario di Bergamo, Italy
1978 Arts and Culture studies, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain
1973 Associate of Arts (Studio Art, Design) Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
Frank Cantrel Bio
Frank Cantrel, Jr. is a third generation Washingtonian. After a career of nearly forty years in law and public policy – including ten years working on Capitol Hill and nearly forty years in the telecommunications industry – he is pursuing a lifelong passion for art. Cantrel is a graduate of the Master Artist Program at the Compass Atelier in Rockville, Maryland. His artwork has been exhibited in four shows at the Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery in Glen Echo, Maryland and in a variety of art shows in the DC metropolitan area. Cantrel’s work can be found in numerous private collections. Cantrel is a graduate of Fairfield University and George Mason University School of Law. He and his wife, Anne, reside in Chevy Chase, Maryland. They have three adult children.
Artist Statement
“Through the medium of oil paints, I capture the color and light that reflects the beauty and feeling of my chosen subject matter — an arresting landscape, the fiery glow of a sunset or the translucence of a flower petal — subjects that I find interesting, beautiful or inspiring, or all three. Oil painting offers a stimulating challenge and represents a new chapter in life after nearly four decades in law and public policy. The act of creation is a source of enjoyment and fulfillment. I prefer to work in a loose and painterly style, feeling the dance of brush on canvas and enjoying the energetic results of bold brushstrokes. Nature’s beauty, as well as its intersection with human creation — such as architectural elements, ancient ruins and golf courses — compel my attention. I experience the greatest pleasure in the spontaneity and challenge of plein air painting.”- Frank Cantrel Jr