A listing of new openings, exhibitions and opportunities to show art.
Abstract Collages at Curves
Long time Falls Church resident Lou Jones has a solo show of her abstract collages at Curves, 240 West Broad St, Falls Church. (703) 536-0140 Opening reception Friday, November 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Lou has an extensive resume that includes study under Gene Davis. Her work is in the collection of numerous museums. Please Note: The work will be up through November, however Curves is a women’s work out facility. So males wishing to see the show after the Friday opening will need to make an appointment.
3rd Annual Dominion Hills Fall Craft Show
Saturday, November 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eleven local artisans will offer their work, featuring watercolors, jewelry, fine woodturning, paper cutting, decoupage, mosaics, handbags, creative paper craft, pottery and glassware. Dominion Hills Community House (DHARA Pool House), 6000 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA. For more information call (703) 533-0957.
Reeb Hall Artists Open Studio & Exhibition
Saturday, November 4 from 2 to 5 p.m. Thirteen artists will hold their annual open studio and exhibit. The Reeb Hall studio, on the grounds of the Unitarian Church, 4451 First Street South, Arlington, VA (703) 772-3861 For complete details see www.reebhallstudios.com.
‘Masterworks’
Through November 11, at Renaissance Fine Arts in upper Bethesda, MD. In addition to the Vintage Poster shows, this gallery also has “Masterworks” shows. Just stand there and watch as they flip through unframed portfolios of Henry Moore, Motherwell, Warhol, and the like. There aren’t many places you can see this sort of stuff in the raw. It’s like going to a museum where everything is for sale… for better or worse. Looking is free. Renaissance Fine Arts, Wildwood Shopping Center, 10307 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Phone (301) 564-4447.
‘All Arlington Salon’
Through Saturday, December 16. Ellipse Art Center, 4350 North Fairfax Dr., Suite 125, Arlington, VA. Ph. (703) 228-7710 Gallery Hours: Wednesday though Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.arlingtonarts.org/ellipseartscenter.htm
‘All Arlington’ is a pleasant surprise. Wide spectrum open calls such as this can produce some painfully weak shows. Generally they’re non-judged, ‘you bring it – we hang it’ affairs. It becomes a ‘weakest link’ situation where the beginner level art drags down the advanced work. For this reason, the better artist tend to avoid these shows like the plague, which further exacerbates the situation. On the other hand ‘all hung’ shows offer a way for beginners to get their feet wet, and get used to the art exhibit process.
However, this ‘All Arlington’ had a juried entrance process, and thus is not an ‘all hung’ show. While many seasoned Arlington Artists are absent, the quality range is quite acceptable. There’s more than enough talent here to keep you entertained.
‘All’ shows can be quite chaotic since they are by definition theme-less, taking in all media. This iteration was masterfully hung. At times adjoining pieces appear to be by the same artist when they are anything but. It takes a fair amount of time, effort, and talent to hang an ‘All’ show the way this one is. Someone deserves a serious pat on the back for this presentation.
Jean Marie Barrett’s painting ‘Unsafe At Any Speed’ seems the most engaging of the lot. Here we find a suburban street landscape aflame with reflected color. An indistinct car approaches the crest of a hill, traveling towards the setting sun on the wrong side of the road. Telephone poles and wires shockingly rendered in red, foretell the horrific, life altering news they will soon convey about the carnage unfolding beneath them.
In conversation, the artist revealed that while painting ‘Unsafe At Any Speed’ she felt a yearning to visit her mother in Michigan. Metaphoric questions abound. Who is driving the car, her or her mother? Is this trip to be the last? The title almost makes you wonder if it isn’t a wry political comment about Ralph Nader, his role in the 2000 election, and the effect that outcome has had on America since. Asking the artist may shed some light on the above, but the subconscious mind has a wicked way of throwing in meaningful content that the conscious mind has yet to fully comprehend. A sort of visual Freudian slip if you will. It’s one of the reasons man makes art, and why it can be so important. While she is fully aware of the wrong way driver now, I’m not sure she realized it when she painted it. It’s an interesting piece on several levels.
There should be something of interest for just about everyone here. Be sure to check out Frederick Markham’s impressionistic landscapes titled ‘First Snow’ and ‘Last Days’.
Artistic Opportunities
37th Treasury of Art Show
Vienna Arts Society’s 37th Treasury of Art Show postmark deadline for pre registration is Friday, November 3. ‘TART’ is a juried show to be held at the Vienna Community Center November 17-19. $1,500 in prize money will be awarded. See http://www.viennaartssociety.org/Newsletters/2006_TART.pdf for complete information and downloadable entry form.
• The Northern Virginia Art Beat is compiled by Kevin Mellema. To e-mail submissions, send them to mulsane@aol.com.
