Mixing Bowl: Immigration and Diversity in America opens January 8

Exhibition Dates: January 8- February 27, 2011

Reception: January 13, 6-8pm artists reception;
Gallery talk 7pm with Jurors Amy Cavanaugh Royce and Briony Hynson Evans

Special Programming:
February 4, 7-9pm: “Beyond Borders” film screening & panel discussion led by guest speaker, Simon Burrow, Executive Producer
February 10, 7pm: SPARK – a spoken word event inspired by the Exhibition

Target Gallery’s Mixing Bowl examines Immigration & Diversity in America

From tax structure to health care; immigration bleeds into the fabric of this country. Although the United States’ greatness was founded on the labor of immigrants, headlines still read; “Fractured States of America - Relentless Mass Immigration,” or “Congress Displeases on Dream Act,” to “Strapped US cannot afford immigration any longer”.

Immigration is clearly a hot topic in the media and on political agendas. This can easily be relegated to the realm of talking heads, skewed statistics, and Washington bureaucracy. Nonetheless, it is an important social element. The Mixing Bowl collection sheds light on the human and personal side of this equation.
- jurors, Amy Cavanaugh Royce and Briony Evans Hinson

Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery opens their 2011 Exhibition Season with Mixing Bowl, an exhibition examining the hot topic issue of immigration in America. Artists were invited to submit work for consideration addressing their personal views on immigration and diversity in America today. Our jurors, Amy Cavanaugh Royce and Briony Evans Hynson, selected 16 artists for the exhibition. The work on view ranges from a large-scale video installation, photorealistic drawings, collage, and assemblage to photography.

Artists in the exhibit include: Nathan Bond (NY), Anne Dushanko Dobek (NJ), Chris Dutch (WV) and Amy Williams (WV), Corey Escoto (PA), Claire Feng (MD), Hugh Jones (VA), Carolina Rubio MacWright (NY), Barbara McIntyre (CA), Jennifer Nuttall (TX), Indrani Nayargall (NC), Joseph Ostraff (UT), So Yoon Lym (NJ), Kitty Sweet Winslow (CT), Stephanie Williams (VA), and Mara Zaslove (CA).

Holiday Fun Scavenger Hunt through December

Torpedo Factory Art Center offers family fun adventures this Holiday season with a Holiday themed Scavenger Hunt and our Holiday Gift Guide.

What: Holiday Fun Scavenger Hunt is for all families interested in exploring the Torpedo Factory Art Center. The Torpedo Factory is also offering a Holiday Gift Guide that can be picked up alongside the scavenger hunt or downloaded from our website at www.torpedofactory.org.

When: Every weekend through December 31st, from 10-6pm

Cost: FREE

Where: Begins in the Target Gallery, located inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center behind the spiral stairs and takes you throughout all three floors.

Alexandria, VA- The Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery is bringing back its scavenger hunt for the Holidays. The game will run through December 31. It is designed for people of all ages, but children especially enjoy the challenge. The young participants who complete the Scavenger Hunt receive a small gift from the Target Gallery.

The Target Gallery initiated the Scavenger Hunt during the summer and brought it back for the fall due to the great feedback from the participants. The Target Gallery decided to bring back the game with a holiday theme to celebrate the festive season. When touring inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center, visitors can experience the holiday atmosphere by appreciating the creative decorations made by artists in the art center. Meanwhile, visitors are welcome to pickup our Holiday Gift Guide along with the Holiday Fun Scavenger Hunt and make it a family affair at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

The scavenger hunt allows visitors to explore the three-floor historical art center. There are 82 artists’ studio, 6 galleries, and the Archaeology Museum inside the building. Visitors will not miss any details of the history and art works. Moreover, it is a wonderful opportunity for those who would like to interact with the artists. While participants attempting to look for the answers of the scavenger hunt, will find that the artists love to assist them by dropping some hints. Besides the questions, the scavenger hunt sheet includes a special coloring page of classic art works and information of upcoming major events happening in the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

Holiday Gift Guide:
The Torpedo Factory offers a gift guide offering fun, unique gift ideas in every price range. Visitors can download and print the gift guide from our website (www.torpedofactory.org) or pick up the Holiday Gift Guide at the art center which will list participating galleries, artists and studio numbers.

Gallery hosts Washington Guild of Goldsmiths "Metalwork '10"

Please join us for two very special Thursday receptions


The Washington Guild of Goldsmiths exists to promote the fine craft of metalsmithing through shows and education in
the form of many outstanding workshops on specific techniques and processes that each member might incorporate into their own work.

Elizabeth "Betty" Ochs Memorial Exhibition

When: November 24 -28, 2010
Memorial Reception - Sunday November 28, 3-5pm
Where: Target Gallery, Torpedo Factory Art Center

Betty Ochs' friend, Joan Kasprzak, also an artist at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, eloquently shared her thoughts about Betty:

"Over the past 20 years that I have known Betty, she was a supportive friend and colleague. She was an accomplished, distinguished artist with a warm, generous spirit, always willing to listen and give counsel to those around her. We spent many lunches discussing art, family and even politics. I will miss her deeply and she will be missed deeply by all who knew her."

Please join us as we celebrate the life of the late Elizabeth "Betty" Gaither Ochs, a former artist at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, with a memorial exhibition in the Target Gallery over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The exhibition will be held from Wednesday, November 24 through Sunday, November 28, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. each day. A reception in honor of Betty Ochs will be held on Sunday, November 28, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The memorial exhibition will feature Elizabeth Gaither Ochs' realistic prints and paintings. Her subject matter includes horses, etchings of flamenco and other types of dancers, and her Coffee Break series

5x5 Exposed Reception Photos

5x5 Exposed Reception on Thursday, November 11 was great! Thank you to all who came out for it. Kathleen Ewing did a great job!

Congratulations to the 5x5 Exposed artists!

Congratulations to the following artists for being chosen by juror Kathleen Ewing to be featured in the Target Gallery's 5x5 Exposed exhibition.

Exhibition: November 6-21
Reception: November 11, 6-8pm; juror talk with Kathleen Ewing @ 7pm
Workshop: Introduction to Cyanotypes; November 13, 10-6pm



International Artists:
Greg Shapley, Australia
Agnieszka Sosnowska, Egilsstadir, Iceland

DC Metro Area Artists:
Jane Rader, Potomac Falls, VA;Barbara Johnson, Washington DC; Savitri Maya Sedlacek, Washington, DC; Amy Carmichael Smith, Silver Spring, MD; E. de Planque, III, Fairfax, VA; Michael Wolly, Rockville, MD; Chris Fedderson, Alexandria, VA; Linda Plaisted, Clarksburg, MD; Hugh Jones, Arlington, VA; Amanda Archibald, Alexandria VA;Ivy Bigbee, Centreville, VA; Amy Bruce, Alexandria, VA; Louise Noakes, Manassas VA; Deb Jansen, Alexandria, VA; JoAnn Tooley, Arlington, VA; Danny Conant, Chevy Chase, MD; Colleen Henderson, Bethesda, MD

Regional and National Artists:
Adrian Davis, Fort Collins, Colorado; Michael Maizels, Charlottesville, VA; Jessie Redstone, Seattle, WA ;Therese Brown, El Cerrito, CA; Chieko Tanemura, San Jose, CA; Nicholas Dantona, Franklin, TN; Scott Groeniger, Honolulu, Hawaii; Jesus Sanchez, Brooklyn, NY; Maria Fulmer, Fairfield, CA; Denise Stewart-Sanabria, Knoxville, TN; Diana Brennan, Greenville, RI; Sky Bergman, San Luis Obispo, CA; Leslie Getz, West Harrison, IN; Jordanna Kalman, Poughkeepsie NY; C. Matthew Luther, Milwaukee, WI; Joel Leeb, Chapel Hill, NC; Randy L. Waln, Peru, Ne; Alison Overton, Raleigh, NC; Joseph Mougel, Sarasota, FL; Terri Bright, Greenville, SC; Elizabeth Meggs, Brooklyn, NY; John Francis, Boise, ID; Ann Madden, Saint Louis, MS; L.S. King, Pulaski, VA; Peggy Shaw, Mahomet IL; Dave Magyar, Newton, NJ; Clarence Talley, Sr., Prairie View, TX

5x5 Exposed: small works in photography opens November 6

Exhibition Dates: November 6-21
Reception: November 11, 6-8pm; gallery talk with Kathleen Ewing at 7pm
Workshop: November 13, 10-6pm; Introduction to cyanotypes with Allison Nance

Target Gallery joins the photography madness of FotoWeek DC

Target Gallery is excited to participate in FotoWeek DC by offering an exhibition, lecture and workshop geared towards photography enthusiasts everywhere. 5x5 Exposed, a small works photography exhibition, opens to the public on November 6 and runs through November 21. We will have a reception to meet the artists and listen to a gallery talk by our juror, photography expert and gallery owner, Kathleen Ewing on November 11, 6-8pm. Ewing will speak at 7pm.

5x5 Exposed brings 46 photographers from across the country and around the world to exhibit in the gallery. Out of the 46 photographers, two are international artists from Iceland and Australia. The remaining 44 are from around the country with 17 of the artists from the DC metro area. The photography chosen for the exhibit does not exceed 5 inches in any direction inclusive of frame. This created a challenge for many photographers who would not normally work on such a small scale.

Juror Information:
Kathleen Ewing represents over 40 contemporary photographers and maintains an inventory of 19th and 20th century vintage photographs. The Kathleen Ewing Gallery has also organized exhibitions, which have traveled to university galleries and museums throughout the United States and Canada. She was the Executive Director of AIPAD, The Association of International Photography Art Dealers, from 1991 to 2007. Also, Kathleen was responsible for organizing AIPAD’s annual fine art photography trade show, The Photography Show, in New York City. She is also the Executive Director of the art Dealers Association of Greater Washington, and she is a board member of the Washington Animal Rescue League.

Workshop Information:
The gallery will also host an all day cyanotype workshop with photographer Allison Nance on November 13 from 10-6pm. In keeping with the theme of small-scale photography, Allison Nance will lead an all day workshop centered on the alternative photography process of the cyanotype. Each participant will leave the workshop having created three small prints and the knowledge to continue creating cyanotypes on their own. This workshop is suitable for beginners with little or no previous art experience and for skilled artists looking to try a different artistic process. The cost for the workshop will be $75, which includes materials. Contact the gallery directly to register.

Allison Nance is an artist whose focus is in photography and mixed media. She received her degree in photography from East Carolina University’s School of Art and Design in 2003, and currently lives and works in the Alexandria, VA. She is also co-founder of microWave project, whose mission is to act as a conduit between artists & groups and businesses to provide space for temporary pop-up, “micro” galleries in the DC metro area.

Shaun Richards:Closed Captioned opens October 2nd with reception on October 14

October 2-31, 2010
Reception: October 14, 6-8pm; artist talk 7pm

“The experience of viewing Shaun Richard’s work is like finding a time capsule from an unspecified era. The sundry media and material book pages, repetitious stenciled forms, carefully delineated figures that combine to form larger forms positioned alongside one another without explanatory narration, beg a greater story, a structure against which their meanings might be deciphered. The strength in his work lies in his unwillingness to fully answer the questions they raise. It is the product of an artist constantly searching.”
-Lauren Turner, curator and artistic writer

“Closed Captioned” will consist of approximately 10 60” x 44” and larger paintings crafted from acrylic, graphite, paper and oil on canvas, which examine themes of role-modeling, gender identity, social dynamics, and how media affects our opinions, actions, and identity. Several of the pieces in “Closed Captioned,” from a recent show entitled “Women and Children First,” feature images of a veiled woman in an iconic, powerful pose. These paintings explore spirituality, religion, identity, sexuality and self-actualization, while the rest are reflections on the economy: the auto industry, environmental concerns, and resource exhaustion, and our complacency towards these concerns.

Early in Shaun Richards’ career, he was concerned solely with traditional, figurative painting. Now his focus has shifted to juxtaposing media, mark making, incorporating elements of traditional painting and text to create artwork that presents a message on multiple levels. Richards includes the art-historical perspective, ethical considerations, and the political, but prefers to raise questions rather than taking an overt stance. According to juror Shauna Lee Lange, “In his case art is not a matter of personality but of respect earned from displaying a thorough grounding in deeply narrative works, classical art history, and contemporary risk-taking. Richards strikes one as an independent thinker, philosopher, and influencer well beyond his present young age.” Juror Joey Mánlapaz states that, “Shaun Richards’ energetic brushwork on a large-scale canvas is what captivated me. Despite the vigorous and passionate imagery, though, his work is fraught with social content that is conveyed via a formalistic approach to painting techniques, which in the end is what makes his work stand out among the rest.”

About the Artist:
Shaun Richards attended Hagerstown Junior College in Maryland before transferring to UNC Wilmington to earn a B.A. in Art in 1999. In 2003, he enrolled in SUNY Empire State College as a non-matriculated graduate student, where, through the MSLA program, he obtained a studio in Manhattan with weekly studio visits and critiques from established artists, critics and curators. Richards returned to North Carolina in 2006 to pursue art full time, and in January 2007, he was awarded the Regional Emerging Artist Residency at Artspace. In September 2007, Richards was featured in Southwest Art’s annual emerging artist issue, 21 under 31. In November 2007, Richards was included in his first museum show, “The Human Scale,” at the Cameron Museum in Wilmington, N.C. In April 2008, he was awarded Best in Show for his piece, “Bootleg Romanticism,” by Dr. Larry Wheeler, Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art, Juror for the North Carolina Artists Exhibition. From October through December 2009, Richards completed a 3-month residency at The Bemis Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The artist currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, is represented by Flanders Art Gallery, and holds studio space at Artspace.

Juror Information:
Shaun Richards was awarded the Target Gallery’s prestigious solo exhibition spot for 2010. The Target Gallery annually selects one contemporary artist for a solo show. A panel of three jurors selects the winning proposal and the gallery produces a catalog for the winning artist. This year, the juror panel consists of: Cynthia Connolly, visual arts curator for Arlington County’s new Artisphere; Joey P. Mánlapaz, a D.C.-based painter and faculty member at the Corcoran College of Art and Design; and Shauna Lee Lange, founder of Shauna Lee Lange Arts Advisory and Design Studio.

September 23 @ 7pm: Gallery talk by Sarah Tanguy for Systems Failure Closing Reception

The gallery will be hosting a closing reception on Thursday, September 23rd from 6-8pm. Beginning at 7pm our juror from Systems Failure will be here to discuss the work on exhibit. Meet a few of the artists in this exhibition and take in the works one last time. The show closes on September 26.

Torpedo Factory Art Center partners with the NCRC to kick off national "Keys From the Crisis" campaign

The Torpedo Factory Art Center, The Art League, and Multiple Exposures Gallery are partnering with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) to kick off their national campaign “Keys From the Crisis.” Through a variety of art related activities, the art center will help the NCRC tell the story of the foreclosure crisis to the public in a very visual way. The barrage of statistics, audible and written information about the foreclosure crisis have made it difficult for the average American to digest what is truly happening to families and neighborhoods. This exhibit humanizes an abstraction, presenting a visual explanation for what has become a national crisis. This powerful approach expresses the reality that so many Americans are facing today.

Please donate your spare keys

The NCRC will be collecting keys and the stories of affected families throughout their campaign, and we will assist them throughout the month of September in collecting as many keys as possible. These keys are physical symbols that represent every family that has lost a home to foreclosure due to unfair lending practices.


Calendar of Events:

August 21- September 26: Systems Failure exhibition in the Target Gallery

September 1- September 30:
• David H. Wells’ photo-essay, “Foreclosed Dreams,” that explores the empty homes littering the American landscape in the wake of the housing crisis on exhibit in the Site 3 Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and a large scale projection at The Art League Gallery/National Harbor Location
• “House of String”: Large Scale installation located on the main floor of the Torpedo Factory, created by Torpedo Factory Artists serving on the Target Gallery Committee

September 9, 6-9pm : Second Thursday Art Night
• Target Gallery’s Systems Failure “Meet the Artists" Reception – 6-8pm
• National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), Special Presentation at 7pm by John Taylor, President and CEO of the NCRC
• David H. Wells, artist talk, in the Multiple Exposures Gallery at 8pm

September 11, 12-4: Art Activated
• 1:30pm -Target Gallery hosts SPARK: art from writing, writing from art – a spoken word event, along with a hands-on writing activity for the public. Focus is on the Systems Failure exhibit and the Keys from the Crisis campaign

September 23, 7pm: Target Gallery hosts a Curator Discussion with juror Sarah Tanguy for Systems Failure Exhibition. Sarah Tanguy is an independent curator, arts writer, and critic, as well as a curator for the Art in Embassies Program, based in Washington, DC.

New Exhibit Opens August 21st!

Systems Failure
Exhibition Dates: August 21- September 26
Reception: September 9, 6-8pm

Special Programming: Sept. 23, 7pm
Juror Discussion with Sarah Tanguy



Target Gallery will be presenting an all media juried exhibition, Systems Failure. The exhibition will run from August 21 through September 26 with two special events. The first ‘meet the artists’ reception will be during our Second Thursday Art Night, September 9 from 6-8pm and the closing reception will be with our juror Sarah Tanguy for a Juror’s Discussion of the exhibition on September 23 beginning at 7pm.

This exhibition examines the current crises facing our country and the world and the plight of the people who must suffer from the failures. Our juror for this exhibition is Sarah Tanguy, an independent curator, arts writer and critic, as well as, a curator for the Art in Embassies Program based in Washington DC. The submitted works explored subjects that ranged from financial and housing crises, botched environmental policies and government responses to Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill, failed healthcare systems, and the fall of the church to questionable military policy. Rather than narrow the focus, Tanguy chose 39 works for the exhibition that poetically express the human cost of these breakdowns.

The artists in the exhibition are from around the country with 5 local DC Metro area artists included in the exhibition. The work on exhibit encompasses a variety of media and themes. The juror remarks in her statement that with the artists she chose, a few emphasized the personal and existential or would use surrogates to convey their message. Some of the artists borrowed from art history to make haunting 21st Century updates while a few endowed new life through recycling. By turns witty and serious, the artists in Systems Failure share a deep concern for the current state of the world, while maintaining their individual emotional and conceptual perspectives.

Great review of last Thursday's Dance and Kayak event

http://dancersindialogue.blogspot.com/2010/07/on-view-last-night.html#more

Excerpt: Karen Reedy has a sophisticated way of building relationships through choreography and developing these images over time and space. Nothing feels forced or imposed or gimmicky, yet the images are stunning and the dancers are exquisitely trained. She excels at savoring the human qualities of a dancer while revealing their artistry, and this is both rare and beautiful.

She is an artist who honors craft and communication. I think the image of a finely-tuned instrument best captures this sense of grace: not too loose, not too tight.

It was an ideal evening: a sliver of time that was dry in between the rains offering a moment for us to enjoy an impeccable collaboration. I have never seen a kayaker/artist, choreographer, dancers and musician come together to create such a harmonious and exquisite interlude.

Special Event: Modern Dance and Kayak this Thursday @ 6pm

Special Kayak and Dance Performance July 29th @ 6pm

WHO: Alison Sigethy, artist and professional kayaker and Karen Reedy Dance

WHAT: A kayak and dance performance inspired by the "Art in Balance" Exhibition

WHEN: July 29th at 6pm

WHERE: on the Waterfront side of the Torpedo Factory; performance begins with Alison Sigethy in her kayak on the Potomac and then the dancers lead the audience into the Torpedo Factory ending in the Target Gallery

Description: On July 29th a special performance by modern dance group, Karen Reedy Dance (KRD), and artist, Alison Sigethy will begin at 6pm at the Torpedo Factory. Alison Sigethy, sculptor and professional kayaker, will begin the performance with a solo kayak performance on the Potomac River right outside of the Torpedo Factory with musical accompaniment by musician/percussionist Jeff Franca.

The artistic "play" will be passed to the dancers outside in the spirit of improvisation. Eventually, the audience will be invited to follow the music and dancers into the Torpedo Factory. The journey will continue inside with performers of KRD to include a dance inspired by water called "Undertow," danced by New York artists J. Alexis Thury and Rachael Venner. Other dance works will travel through the space towards the Target Gallery, where Karen Reedy finds choreographic inspiration for the evening in the exhibition Art in Balance: Rhythm and Repetition by Marsha Staiger and Alison Sigethy. Other performers will include Karen Reedy and Constance Dinapoli.


Alison Sigethy, professional kayaker:
After 20 years in marketing and print production, Alison left the corporate world to pursue her love of paddling and art. She stays busy making kayaks and other environment-inspired sculptures in her glass studio and paddles whenever she can. Alison competed in the 2006 Greenland National Kayak Championships, was the first international woman to compete in all nine events, and medaled in eight of them. She set records for her class in Rope Gymnastics and Distance Harpoon.

Karen Reedy Dance:
Karen Reedy Dance is a professional modern dance company committed to strengthening the presence and integrity of dance in the Washington DC metropolitan area, particularly in Alexandria, VA, and beyond. KRD is devoted to nurturing artists through the exploration of new work and collaboration with other art forms, in both traditional live performance and site-specific venues, as well as looking towards future possibilities for the evolution of performance. In the community, KRD provides opportunities for education, awareness, and appreciation of contemporary dance through live performance and educational programming. Believing that dance should not be an exclusive art form, KRD pursues opportunities to reach all members of the community.


Marsha Staiger and Alison Sigethy:
These two artists present Art in Balance: Rhythm and Repetition, an exhibit that investigates the paradox of balance, the nature of rhythm, and the beauty and order created by repetition. Staiger's and Sigethy's works are very different but have in common a clean, contemporary aesthetic. The works play well off each other and reveal a fresh aspect of each artist's work that would be missed without the counterpoint provided by the other. Staiger's vibrant color palette is calmed and soothed by Sigethy's soft monochrome tones. Sigethy's tranquil round forms are energized by Staiger's horizontal bands that pulse and vibrate with energy. The result is a dynamic interplay that sings in perfect harmony. The exhibit runs through August 15. Visit our website to view the artwork at www.torpedofactory.org.

Art In Balance opens July 8th

Marsha Staiger and Alison Sigethy present Art In Balance: Rhythm and Repetition, with an opening reception to meet the artists on July 8th from 6-8pm!

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING - July 29 at 6pm!
Karen Reedy Dance and Alison Sigethy will perform on July 29th at 6pm in connection with Marsha Staiger and Alison Sigethy's exhibition "Art in Balance".

Special Performance by Alison Sigethy and Karen Reedy Dance (KRD) with music accompaniment by musician/percussionist Jeff Franca.

The evening will begin at the water, directly outside the Torpedo Factory entrance, with Alison Sigethy in her kayak and musician/percussionist, Jeff Franca. The artistic "play" will be passed to the dancers outside in the spirit of improvisation. Eventually, the audience will be invited to follow the music and dancers into the Torpedo Factory. The journey will continue inside with performers of KRD to include a dance inspired by water called "Undertow," danced by New York artists J. Alexis Thury and Rachael Venner. Other dance works will travel through the space towards the Target Gallery, where Karen Reedy finds choreographic inspiration for the evening in the exhibition Art in Balance: Rhythm and Repetition by Marsha Staiger and Alison Sigethy. Other performers will include Karen Reedy and Constance Dinapoli.

CLICK HERE to a youtube video of a previous kayak performance by Alison Sigethy.

CLICK HERE to see photos by Gary Jean of Karen Reedy Dance from their last performance at the Torpedo Factory in connection with the gallery's WomanMade exhibition.

Torpedo Factory Artist of the Year opens July 8

Marsha Staiger and Alison Sigethy share the title of
2010 Torpedo Factory Artist of the Year



Art in Balance: Rhythm and Repetition

Exhibition Dates: July 8 - August 15
Reception: July 8, 6-8pm; Awards Ceremony at 7pm
Special dance and kayak performance: July 29, 6pm
Karen Reedy Dance and Alison Sigethy

Description: The Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center's "Artist of the Year" is a juried competition recognizing a Torpedo Factory artist for outstanding achievement in art, and awarding the winner a cash prize of $1000 and a month long exhibit in the Torpedo Factory Art Center's Target Gallery.

Who: Marsha Staiger, abstract painter and Alison Sigethy, glass sculptor
These two artists present Art in Balance: Rhythm and Repetition, an exhibit that investigates the paradox of balance, the nature of rhythm, and the beauty and order created by repetition. Staiger's and Sigethy's works are very different but have in common a clean, contemporary aesthetic. The works play well off each other and reveal a fresh aspect of each artist's work that would be missed without the counterpoint provided by the other. Staiger's vibrant color palette is calmed and soothed by Sigethy's soft monochrome tones. Sigethy's tranquil round forms are energized by Staiger's horizontal bands that pulse and vibrate with energy. The result is a dynamic interplay that sings in perfect harmony.

Reception: Meet the artists, July 8th 6-8pm; awards ceremony at 7pm

Special Performance: On July 29th a special performance by modern dance group, Karen Reedy Dance, and artist, Alison Sigethy will begin at 6pm at the Torpedo Factory. Alison Sigethy, sculptor and professional kayaker, will kick off the performance with a solo kayak performance on the Potomac River right outside of the Torpedo Factory and then visitors will be led inside the art center to the gallery for a dance performance inspired by Staiger's paintings and Sigethy's sculptures.

The Language of Paper opening reception tomorrow, June 10, 6-8pm

Luis Acosta and Miriam Londoño: The Language of Paper - June 7-July 3

Exhibition Dates:
June 7 - July 3, 2010
Reception to meet artists: June 10, 6-8pm
Special Music 6-8pm with Paul Bangser

Workshops with Luis Acosta:
click here to download application to apply for workshops
June 12 (10AM till 5PM) "Design of Weavings" (Acosta’s method)
June 19 (10AM till 5PM) "Designing Fashion Accessories"


Gallery hosts World Renowned Latin American Artists from the Netherlands

The Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery will host two well-known international artists from the Netherlands. Luis Acosta and Miriam Londoño, will join us in the gallery from June 7-July 3, 2010 for their exhibition, The Language of Paper. We will be hosting a reception to meet the artists on June 10th during our Second Thursday Art Night. The evening will merge the two cultures through art, music, food and wine.

Luis Acosta (Argentine-Dutch) and Miriam Londoño (Columbian-Dutch), long time friends, will be arriving to Alexandria, VA from the Netherlands in the beginning of June and will be staying through the month with another artist friend of theirs, Sylvia Saborio, a resident of Old Town Alexandria. In addition to an exhibition of both artists’ work, Acosta will be providing two weekend workshops that deal with his specialized weaving process; and Londoño will be offering a power point presentation along with a display of her tools showing her complicated and unique paper process. Beginning on June 7, the gallery will be open to the public from 10-6pm and invites the public to meet the artists, and watch the installation process in action.

As a designer, Luis Acosta is particularly interested in forms. Once a form is found, he enlarges or repeats it, concentrating on the possibilities of that form becomes the basis for developing his design. Acosta graduated in 1988 at the textile department of the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam.

He has participated in group and individual exhibitions in many countries around the world. In addition to his active exhibition schedule, he has published several articles dealing with his own method of textile design in the Dutch magazine Textiel Plus and Spanish Oficio+arte; translated Dutch to Spanish the book Si'ira (woven belt of the Wayuu Indians) by Mirja Wark. He has curated and has served on the jury of several exhibitions in Spain and the Netherlands. Also, Acosta participates in a founding circle of members and co-curator of the LAKMA, Latin American Art Museum of the Netherlands, which will open next year.

Luis Acosta's works can be found in the Museum of Arts and Design (New York), Centre of Fine Arts in Utrecht (NL), Textilemuseum Tilburg (NL), Museo del Traje (Buenos Aires) and in private collections in Argentina, Finland, India, Norway, Spain, Venezuela, USA and in the Netherlands. He currently resides in the Netherlands. He will be a part of a group exhibition this October at the Museum of Arts and Design (New York).

For the past ten years, Miriam Londoño’s artistic work has focused on a type of drawing derived from hand-made paper techniques. Using paper pulp, she draws figures on a fine mesh, stretched taut on a frame. When the pulp dries up the drawings can be peeled off. This technique has a textile and a sculptural quality, which inspired the artist to find new ways of producing drawings free of any support.

Miriam Londoño studied Fine Arts at the University of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia and at the Art academy in Florence. Her works have been exhibited in many countries around the world. She currently resides in the Netherlands.

Special Music:
Paul Bangser is an active guitarist and teacher who lives in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. He is the former Director of Guitar Studies at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts high school in Washington, D.C. Paul has been performing as a guitarist for over 25 years, playing jazz guitar as well as latin, classical, and popular styles. His performances include the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage as a leader with his own jazz quintet and Strathmore Mansion tea room. His groups have also performed at local clubs, outdoor festivals, and other public and private events. Paul has performed as a duo with jazz singers and has also held the principal guitar chair for theater productions including Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar. He teaches all styles of guitar to both adults and children.

Sponsor Information:
The Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center (Friends) is a nonprofit membership organization presenting a variety of arts-related programs and events in collaboration with the Torpedo Factory Art Center, one of Alexandria’s best resources for the arts. They do this by sponsoring programs and events that both bring art to the community and connect the community to art.

Female Shorts: Film & Video Showcase

Female Shorts: Film & Video Showcase celebrates Independent Female Filmmakers in a four-day event at the Torpedo Factory Art Center

When: June 3-6, 2010

Where: Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA

Who: Collaboration between the Torpedo Factory Art Center and The Art League

Additional Information: Please visit our website to learn more about the programming timeline and the selected filmmakers - www.torpedofactory.org/galleries/target_femaleshorts.htm
Open daily 10-6pm and until 9pm on Thursdays

Schedule and Special Programming:
The Gallery will be showing all of the 22 chosen films throughout the day beginning at 10am.

June 3: 10-6pm: Screening of the 22 chosen films
6:00-9pm: Opening reception to meet the filmmakers and the juror, Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

June 4: 10-5pm: Screening of the 22 chosen films
*7pm: Special Screening of “Who Does She Think She Is?” directed by Pamela Tanner Boll followed by an audience discussion mediated by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins and Pamela H. Viola ($5 advance tickets; $8 at the door)

June 5:Screening of the 22 chosen films
1-2pm: Screening of Karen Sosnoski’s “Wedding Advice: Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace” followed by director’s discussion
3-5pm: Screening of Karen Cantor’s, “Last Rights” and “The Danish Solution” followed by director’s discussion

June 6: Screening of the 22 chosen films
2-3pm: Screening of experimental film “Pandora’s Clock” and “Danse Maudite” (work in progress) followed by a director’s discussion with Blanca Gruber and Anne C. Fisher
5-6pm: Closing reception/awards ceremony with special screening and director’s discussion of “EcoDude” and “Beauty is Motion” by local student filmmaker, Sydney Schaedel

*all events are free unless otherwise noted

WomanMade Reception this Thursday

Exhibition Dates: May 1 - 30, 2010
Reception: May 13, 6-8pm • Juror's Talk with Lillian Fitzgerald: 7pm

Special Programming: May 13 at 7:30pm • Karen Reedy Dance

Following the gallery talk at 7:30pm, Karen Reedy Dance will perform Enter, with choreography by Robert Battle. Exploring the various stages of womanhood, this trio (Constance Dinapoli, Adriane Fang, and Karen Reedy) is set to Strauss arias that will be performed live by soprano Kathryn Hearden.



photo credit: Lois Greenfield

WomanMade continues Minds Wide Open Celebration

Exhibition Dates: May 1-30
Reception: May 13, 6-8PM, juror talk: 7PM
Special Programming: Karen Reedy Dance performing "Enter", May 13, 7:30PM

Second Thursday Art Night continues the Minds Wide Open celebration of women in the arts with the Target Gallery exhibit WomanMade and Karen Reedy Dance’s exploration of the various stages of womanhood.

Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery has scheduled an exhibit WomanMade from May 1 - 30 as part of Virginia’s 2010 statewide celebration featuring women in the arts. Reception to meet the artists and hear the juror speak will be during Second Thursday Art Night, May 13, 6-8PM. Also a special dance performance by Karen Reedy Dance will follow the juror talk, beginning at 7:30PM.

In participation with the Minds Wide Open statewide celebration of women in the arts, the gallery is presenting WomanMade, an all-media juried exhibition that features work made by women artists from across the country. Lillian Fitzgerald, curator and art consultant, was the juror for this opportunity. Fitzgerald will speak at 7PM on May 13th about her selections. She chose 28 artists’ work from more than 400 artists who had applied submitting over 1200 images for her review. She chose work that provided a small window into the art being made by women today.

In Fitzgerald’s statement she says: I really enjoyed jurying the WomanMade exhibit. It was insightful for me to have a glimpse of the work women are creating, on a national level. The overall quality and the sheer volume of submissions were also impressive. My process was not to develop a specific theme but to select work that strongly resonated with me. The show feels playful and yet has an edge of melancholy or maybe discontent. I loved the humorous twist artists gave to domestic/feminine objects. Natalia Vega-Forero’s intricately decorated dishwashing gloves, Nina Fletcher’s Burtonesque metal ballet shoes and Kelly O’Brien’s delicately literary tutu, were among my favorites.

Following the gallery talk at 7:30PM, Karen Reedy Dance will perform "Enter", with choreography by Robert Battle. Exploring the various stages of womanhood, this trio (Constance Dinapoli, Adriane Fang, and Karen Reedy) is set to Strauss arias that will be performed live by soprano Kathryn Hearden.

Juror
Lillian Fitzgerald is the director of Fitzgerald Fine Art. Established in 1983, FFA is an art consulting firm specializing in the collection and exhibition of original works of art. In 2006 Ms. Fitzgerald was awarded a fellowship to the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

Karen Reedy Dance

photo credit: Lois Greenfield

Karen Reedy Dance is a professional modern dance company committed to strengthening the presence and integrity of dance in the Washington DC metropolitan area, particularly in Alexandria, VA, and beyond. KRD is devoted to nurturing artists through the exploration of new work and collaboration with other art forms, in both traditional live performance and site-specific venues, as well as looking towards future possibilities for the evolution of performance. In the community, KRD provides opportunities for education, awareness, and appreciation of contemporary dance through live performance and educational programming. Believing that dance should not be an exclusive art form, KRD pursues opportunities to reach all members of the community.

Gallery Information
The Target Gallery, national exhibition space of the Torpedo Factory, promotes high standards of art by continuously exploring new ideas through the visual media in a schedule of national and international exhibitions. Located on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, VA. The gallery is open daily from 10-6pm and until 9pm on Thursdays. The entire exhibition will be online by May 1. Please visit our current show page at www.torpedofactory.org/galleries/target_current.htm.

MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts will include thousands of special events and programs offered between March and June of 2010. Events include plays, choreography, compositions, and exhibitions of paintings, photography or films that have been created by women or feature women as the primary focus. This celebration is an unprecedented collaboration of hundreds of participating artists and cultural organizations and is a demonstration of the breadth and diversity of arts and culture across the Commonwealth. It is the first of what the cultural community hopes will be an ongoing series of statewide collaborations shedding light on topics of interest to the people of Virginia.

For a list of events and more information about Torpedo Factory Art Center’s additional activities through MINDS WIDE OPEN, visit www.torpedofactory.org/mindswideopen/

TFAC Newly Juried Artists Exhibition

Dates: April 10-18, 2010.
Reception: Sunday, April 18th, 2-4pm

We are pleased to announce the 2010 Newly Juried Artists!







2D Results:
Vincent Colvin
Mary Morrison
Nancy Pane Fortwengler
Donna T Jones
Jo Ann Tooley
Matthew Tito Cuenca
Blake Stenning
Pete McCutchen
Ellen Delaney
Laurie Sand

3D Results:
Melissa Hackmann
Paulette Warwick
Matthew Farnsworth
Anna Yakubovskaya
Kelly O'Brien

2010 Jurors’ Statement

There were a record number of applicants for Torpedo Factory’s 2010 annual jury. There were a total of 76 entries, 55 2D entries and 21 3D entries. 10 2D artists were selected and 5 3D artists were selected.

The jurors said they were impressed with the level of technical competence of many of the applicants. This allowed them to look for artists who were creating on a higher level than just technical competence, artists who were creating their own vision not just focusing on the commercial viability of their work. They said that the challenge is to balance craftsmanship with an original and unique voice, which is consistent but not predictable. One juror defined ‘stronger’ work as those entries which the juror returned to over and over again as they sorted through the entries, works that demonstrated the highest level of technical skill and mastery of materials, works that conveyed passion and intelligence, works with a sense of authenticity or uniqueness.

The jurors made some suggestions for applicants. When asked what should characterize the 6 works of art that are brought in, they said that they should be consistent with each other, provide variations of a theme, provide depth in a series so that the art works inform each other, to present in effect a mini-show. They said that applicants should choose the 20 images on their accompanying CD carefully to be part of their overall presentation. Where the 6 works of art provide depth, the 20 additional images should provide breadth, although additional depth is always welcome. They said that if the presented works were strong, the additional images weren’t that important. But, when the jurors were on the fence about an applicant, the 20 additional images often tipped the balance one way or the other. They often did read the artist statements, but that the works themselves should be able to convey their power and meaning visually.

The jurors said they enjoyed the jury process, and thanked both the Torpedo Factory and the applicants for the opportunity.

Two-dimensional jurors were:
Steven Cushner, Painter and Professor at the Corcoran School of Art
Bill Harris, Printmaker and Teacher at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Gretchen Schermerhorn, Printmaker and Director of Artistic Collaboration at Pyramid Atlantic

Three-dimensional jurors were:
Karen Hampton, Fiber artist and Professor at Howard University
Kevin Hluch, Ceramic artist and Professor at Montgomery College
Foon Sham, Sculptor and Professor at the University of Maryland

The Clothesline Project: Break the Silence... to end Violence against Women

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month and the Target Gallery is proud to be a part of the Clothesline Project through the Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program, Office on Women, City of Alexandria. SARA will have a selection of their Clothesline Project on display in the Target Gallery from April 5-April 8.

Schedule of events include:
April 5-8: The gallery will have a selection of decorated t-shirts from the Clothesline project on display, a journal for writing messages, and literature about SARA’s program.

April 7: Expressive Arts and Healing workshop organized by local writer/editor and founder of Spark, Amy Souza. Public will be able to decorate t-shirts and add to the Clothesline and/or try their hand at creative writing.

April 8, Thursday: At 7pm a spoken word program led by Amy Souza. Following the spoken word, we will have an open mic portion to the evening for anyone that would like to come forward to say a few words.

The Clothesline Project t-shirts will also be on display the week of April 14-23 at the Alexandria City Hall, Vola Lawson Lobby and April 23-30 at the Diva Boutique at 116 Pitt St. in Alexandria.

For our project, we need donations of t-shirts and craft supplies. The t-shirts should come in the following colors:

White - for women who have died of violence;
Yellow or beige - for women who have been battered or assaulted
Red, pink, or orange - for women who have been raped or sexually assaulted
Blue or green - for women who are survivors of incest or child sexual abuse
Purple or lavender - for women attacked because of their sexual orientation.

The craft supplies to help in decorating the t-shirts could include but are not limited to paint markers, feathers, sequins, glue sticks, glue guns, thread, needles, etc. Any supplies and t-shirts left over will be donated to the Office on Women’s SARA program for their future Clothesline projects.

We need your donations by Tuesday April 6 by close of business, but will certainly continue to accept donations through Wednesday.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!!

Friends of the Torpedo Factory's Mentor Exhibition

Local T.C. Williams and West Potomac students hanging their exhibition. Reception and awards ceremony for the students will be this Saturday from 3-5pm. Open to the public -- hope you can make it!




Friends of the Torpedo Factory's Mentor Exhibition
Exhibition Dates: March 29- April 3
Reception: April 3, 3-5pm

Annually, a selection of Torpedo Factory artists are paired with local Alexandria High School Students to serve as mentors to the students. At the end of the mentorship, an exhibition of the students work is on display in the gallery. This program is sponsored by The Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Inc. The Friends of the TFAC is a 501(c)(3) organization which promotes, enhances and preserves the unique aspects of the TFAC and its value to the community.

PastForward, offered as part of MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts

Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery has scheduled an exhibit PastForward from February 27-March 28 as part of Virginia’s 2010 statewide celebration featuring women in the arts.

PastForward will feature work of four former resident Torpedo Factory artists - Kathleen Dustin, Barbara Rachko, Anne Laddon and Joyce Zipperer. This exhibition kicks off the gallery’s participation in Minds Wide Open. The artists will exhibit their latest works, from Rachko’s pastel paintings, Zipperer’s sculptures, Dustin’s polymer clay works to Laddon’s oil paintings.

The Target Gallery Committee invited these four women to be a part of this special exhibition because of their continued success and critical acclaim after leaving the Torpedo Factory. The exhibition will display their latest work. Please click here to learn more about the artists.


MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts will include thousands of special events and programs offered between March and June of 2010. Events include plays, choreography, compositions, and exhibitions of paintings, photography or films that have been created by women or feature women as the primary focus. This celebration is an unprecedented collaboration of hundreds of participating artists and cultural organizations and is a demonstration of the breadth and diversity of arts and culture across the Commonwealth. It is the first of what the cultural community hopes will be an ongoing series of statewide collaborations shedding light on topics of interest to the people of Virginia.

Imprint Reception

Here are a few snapshots of the wonderful reception last night. Also included are a few photos of the printmaking demonstration in Studio 325 by Printmakers INC.

IMPRINT RECEPTION RESCHEDULED!!

Due to a second round of Blizzard 2010, we have postponed the Imprint reception. We will be honoring the artists next Thursday, February 18th from 6-8pm. Candy and flowers will be given out to the first 150 guests that arrive to the Torpedo Factory. Live music and refreshments. Please join us!

IMPRINT RECEPTION RESCHEDULED for February 18, 6-8pm

A passion for line and process is evident in Target Gallery’s latest exhibition Imprint.


“Imprint is an excellent example of the widespread diversification and combination of printmaking techniques with almost every other art medium known. The quality of works submitted to Imprint is extraordinary and proves that there is a LOT of good art being made in the USA today." - Jane Haslem

What: Imprint- a contemporary printmaking exhibition

When: Exhibition – January 21- February 21
Opening Reception - Second Thursday Art Night, February 11, 6-9pm

7:30 Printmaking demonstration by Printmakers’ Inc. located in the Torpedo Factory, Studio 325

Where: Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria,VA

Admission: Free and open to the public

Hours: Open daily from 10-6pm and until 9pm on Thursdays
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The Torpedo Factory’s Target Gallery opens Imprint, an exhibition that examines contemporary printmaking. Thirty-seven artists from across the country are a part of this exhibition united by one common theme and that is the printmaking process. Eight of the artists in the exhibition are from the DC Metro area. The public is invited to visit Printmakers’ Inc. located on the third floor of the Torpedo Factory in studio 325 for a printmaking demonstration at 7:30pm.

Jane Haslem, juror and print expert, chose a variety of work that serves as a testament to the vast array of techniques that printmakers across the country are using in their work today. The printmaking processes in Imprint include mezzotints, etchings, lithographs, woodblock and linocuts, silkscreen, monotypes, collagraphs, cyanotypes, and digital prints.

The entire exhibition is online at www.torpedofactory.org/galleries/target_current.htm. The gallery is open daily from 10-6 and until 9pm on Thursdays.

Juror Bio:
Jane Haslem Gallery was established in 1960 and specializes in American Art of the last half of the 20th Century. Inventory includes paintings, prints, drawings, and other works on paper. The gallery is known for its in-depth collection of prints by those artists responsible for reviving printmaking in the US after World War II

Remembering Nancy Reinke

Please feel free to make comments to this blog about things you remember most about Nancy Reinke. She will be greatly missed!

This is an excerpt that her studio mate Kim Jones had to say about Nancy and I felt it needed to be shared here:

Nancy was very wise. She told Lane Palmisano when she was a new artist here, “usually anything worth doing is difficult and takes time.” And Lane listens to that advice all the time to this day. She also called her “walking Zen”

Her subject matter in her prints and paintings was vast; thoughtful portraits of women, unique character paintings of animals and often she showed her great sense of humor. A good example of her whimsy is her print “Lap Cat.” An image of a giant cat with a child in its lap made many people laugh out loud year after year. Another piece that garnered many laughs was a typeset print of an 18th century warning to those who steal library books.

Nancy was a strong advocate for animal rights owning over 50 cats in her lifetime. She was a member of many animal welfare groups such as Jane Goodall Institute, ASPCA, Washington Animal Rescue league and numerous other organizations. Her passion for animals was also very apparent in her ability to capture animals and their inner personalities in both her etching and paintings.

People from all over the world have said that they specifically come to Studio 5 to be within the space that was completely Nancy Reinke. With Chinese Tea Boxes, a faux piano and fireplace, bird cage and vintage printing signs, her entire aesthetic, from the warm studio to her tremendous body of work, made every visitor feel welcomed, at home and enlightened.


Memorial Reception to Celebrate Nancy Reinke will be held at the Target Gallery on Sunday, January 17, 2-4pm.

Torpedo Factory Celebrates Life Of Founding Member, Nancy Reinke

What: Nancy Reinke Memorial Exhibition

When: Exhibition - January 14-17
Opening Reception - Second Thursday Art Night, January 14, 6-9pm
Memorial Reception - Sunday, January 17, 2-4pm

Where: Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria,VA

Admission: Free and open to the public

Hours: Open daily from 10-6pm and until 9pm on Thursdays
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(Alexandria, VA) - It is with great sadness that the Torpedo Factory Art Center has lost one of their founding artists. Nancy McDonald Reinke died in Alexandria, VA on Wednesday, December 9, 2009, after a battle against cancer with her beloved husband Roger and her children by her side.

The Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery will present a Nancy Reinke Memorial Exhibition from January 14-17, 2010. The opening night of the exhibition will be during the monthly Second Thursday Art Night event, January 14 from 6-9pm. A closing memorial reception will be held on Sunday afternoon, January 17th from 2-4pm. The receptions are free and open to the public.

Nancy Reinke's early experience as a commercial artist and illustrator provided her a solid background in graphic design. This is evident in the etchings, woodcuts, wood engravings, oils and caseins she created in her Torpedo Factory Art Center studio. This accomplished painter and printmaker has had her works on display in many public buildings, including the Library of Congress and the State of Virginia Legislative Building. Her work is represented in numerous corporate and private collections including the Hilton Corporation and the Marriot Corporation. Commissions include the American Institute of Architects and the Folger Shakespeare Library.