There is a hidden art hub in Falls Church, yet the artists who have studies there desire to be less hidden to their neighbors in Falls Church! Located in Art and Frame of Falls Church, these artists recently held an open house exhibition at Studios at 307. The new studio is actually a repurposed office building that was long vacant but now has studios of some twenty local artists and arts-related businesses, such as the frame stop and a dance studio. During the open house, there were a variety of artworks on display, ranging from a more traditional approach to art to abstract art, and needle and wet felting “painting with wool.” We were able to view some of these artworks and speak with some of the artists.

Stuart Allison Hindle’s oil painting “Prague: Mala Strana Across the River” depicts a quaint view of the Czech capital Prague from the bird’s eye view perspective. Red terracotta tile roofs covering warm toned yellow and orange buildings give the viewers a feeling of comfort for those who have lived in Europe or who have a longing to visit Europe. Another artwork currently on display is her landscape painting of the Jefferson Memorial surrounded by cherry blossoms. Artist Hindle paints the Potomac River in an Impressionist style with visible blue and pink brush strokes, unifying the whole painting pleasantly.

In preparation for the coming winter months, Mara L. Flynn takes us to the far North for “Fjords in Winter,” an acrylic painting in which the artist brings forth a sense of chill and solitude with her cold blue colors and vivid shapes as she presents the fascinating world of Fjords. Meanwhile, swirls upon swirls in creamy ice cream colors mark the paintings on Dara Friel. Her abstract artworks such as “Nautilus” play off a limited color palette, but the colors she uses are very striking, eye-catching, and welcoming. Children’s book illustrator and occasional writer of children’s stories Zara González Hoang displayed some of her artistic sketches for upcoming children books, including one with an engaging image of a flying owl with outstretched wings.

Cynthia K. Miller started in the field of recreation, was then a director at the YMCA, worked in human resources, and was active in leadership development. When she retired, she was drawn to express herself through art. She told us how she used to play in the field during childhood, push down the grass to make secret places, and was finally inspired by these memories to create her artwork “My Secret Garden.” Her painting of nature is abstract art, but she has concrete explanations and encourages us all, through our own personal lens, to recall the fond memories of youth.

Some Dave Curtis’ paintings resemble Salvador Dali’s style, and one even is a portrait of the Surrealist master. An interesting untitled work of his shows classical, Egyptian-style ruins with realistic columns on the right, a tank and a war plane in the center, and two rather large insects to the left. There is no title, as for many of the Curtis works, but based on the insects, the activity, and the suggestions of a honey comb in the lower left, we might suggest “Busy As A Bee!”

While most of his paintings today are in the Surrealist style, one of Mr. Curtis’ older, more traditional works recalls Sir Percivale, seeker of the Holy Grail. The artwork shows a castle which turns into a skeletal structure. Nailed claws branch out from the trees like thorns. The knight at the center of the image is facing the fruit tree which has extending roots connected to another skull. These seemingly unrelated items are indeed related with connection between the tree roots and ground. A woman in the painting who is seen spinning will, when touched by the knight, turn into dust, according to Lord Tennyson’s “Idylls of the King,” on which the painting based.

We were fortunate to meet many of the artists in their studies. Photographer Shaun van Steyn, however, was not there the day we visited, but his photographs were very much present. We especially enjoyed “Reflections, Washington, D.C., in which we saw the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial photographed in images in Impressionistic blue water.

We encourage Falls Church residents to visit this vibrant new hub in the art of Falls Church and to support this worthy endeavor.