Transferred: Alternative Processes in Photography

Transferred: alternative processes in photography, a juried exhibition headlines Torpedo Factory Art Center’s celebration of Fotoweek DC

Exhibition Dates: November 5 – 27 

Special Programming: Special Fotoweek DC Lecture and reception with juror Regina Deluise; Nov. 6, 6-8pm 

Reception: November 10, 6-8pm, meet the artists and see an alternative processes demonstration by Multiple Exposures Gallery at 7pm

For more information about our additional Fotoweek DC programming visit our website at http://www.torpedofactory.org/fotoweek

Join the Torpedo Factory Art Center as we celebrate Fotoweek DC! Target Gallery presents Transferred, a juried exhibition that highlights artists using alternative processes in photography.  Transferred juror and alternative processes photography expert, Regina Deluise, will be speaking at a special Fotoweek DC lecture on Sunday, November 6 at 7pm with a reception from 6-7pm in the Site 3 Gallery. Immediately following lecture, visit all of the photography exhibitions throughout the art center. On November 10, 6-8pm, meet the Transferred artists and take in an alternative processes demonstration by members of Multiple Exposures Gallery during our reception. 

Masks: Artists define masks in the upcoming Target Gallery exhibition

“How an artist chooses to explore the expression of identity through a mask, what form that mask takes, and the potential impact of expression on both the wearer of the mask and the viewer are the parameters that define this exhibition.” Brittany Yam, juror

Exhibition dates: October 1-30; reception October 13, 6-8pm with gallery talk at 7pm
Special Programming: October 6; 6-8pm; Mask making workshop with lecture and reception

Location: Target Gallery, Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union Street, Alexandria, VA
Website: www.torpedofactory.org/target
Hours: Open daily 10-6pm and until 9pm on Thursdays

 Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery presents “Masks” an exhibition that explores the roles of masks and the presentation of individual identity.  The exhibition opens on October 1 and runs through October 30. A reception on October 13 to meet the artists and the juror will be from 6-8pm with a gallery talk at 7pm. Special programming includes a free mask making workshop and lecture during Mental Health Awareness week on October 6, 6-8pm. Art therapist group, Creative Wellbeing Workshops, will lead this event and it is in partnership with The Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center and Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria.

Out of 197 artists who entered “Masks” only 21 artists made the cut. The artists selected are from across the country including two international artists as well.  The work ranges in media from painting, mixed media, photography, and sculpture. Artists approached the theme in literal and conceptual ways.  A few of the artists are considering the idea of masks in a socially conscious way, examples include, local Alexandria artist, Suzanne Vigil’s “Thelma and Louise” a color pencil drawing, depicting two drag queens and Pennsylvania artist Andrew Findley’s mixed media piece, “Man’s Best Friend” which depicts a man and his dog wearing gas masks while out on a casual stroll.  Some of the work takes on a mysterious psychological approach to the theme as can be seen in Kentucky artist, Mare Vacarro’s digital C print, “Marital Hiss V”, which depicts a female with Alopecia wearing what appears to be a wedding veil placed against a deep burgundy backdrop.

The juror for this exhibition is Brittany Yam, former gallery director with Project 4 in Washington DC.  In Yam’s juror statement, she explains that her direction for this exhibition focused primarily on “The relationship between the concept of a mask and a person’s identity emerged.” She goes on to state, “Depending on the context of the environment, an individual may choose to highlight or present certain characteristics as a way to express a connection to a community or make themselves distinct from a group.” Yam will be present during the reception on October 13 and will speak at 7pm about her selections and the direction she chose for the show.

The entire exhibition will be online beginning October 1 at www.torpedofactory.org/target. 

Deadline Extended for Day of the Dead Exhibition

Due to this past weeks crazy weather and natural disasters - earthquake, hurricanes, tornadoes oh my! - we know a lot of you are still without power, the deadline for the Día de los Muertos: The Art of Remembrance has been extended until midnight on Friday, September 2nd.

Synergy: an exhibition of artwork by the 2011 Visitings Artists

Exhibition Dates: August 11 – 28

Reception: August 11, 6-9pm during Second Thursday Art Night

Location: Site 2 and Site 3 Galleries, Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA

Additional information: To learn more about the Visiting Artist Program visit http://www.torpedofactory.org/vap/

The Torpedo Factory Art Center presents this summer’s 2011 artists in the Visiting Artist Program in an exhibition entitled Synergy. The Visiting Artist Program, the Torpedo Factory Artist Association’s residency program, invites artists both emerging and experienced from around the nation to become a part of its art-making community for a summer. This year’s juror, F. Lennox Campello, international award-winning artist, author of leading art blog Daily Campello Art News, curator, art critic, and writer in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, PA, chose 11 artists for the 2011 summer program. This residency awarded these artists with the opportunity to create in a Torpedo Factory studio from June until August for one, two, or all three months.

This year’s selected artists are: Mark Thomas Anderson (Arlington, VA); M. Chava Evans (Baltimore, MD); Allison Long Hardy (Woodbridge, VA); Katie Latona (Champaign, IL); Heather McCaw (Washington, DC); Emily Moorhead (Cincinnati, OH); Linda Morrell (Castleton, NY); Liza Myers (Brandon, VT); Drew Parris (Stevensville, MD); Fierce Sonia (Alexandria, VA); Kazaan Viveiros (Alexandria, VA).

Synergy stems from the cohesive objective expressed by the visiting artists to fill their time at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC) with new audience exposure, fresh inspiration from within the TFAC and abroad, and productive studio time that, in totality, amounts to an influential and wholesome experience. Conversely, their synergy translates into quite diverse works that ranges from detritus-based installations to graphite renderings. The exhibition Synergy is centered on this aspect and displays artwork created by each artist during residency and presents interviews conducted at the start of summer on each as well. The exhibited imagery portrays each artist’s perspective and the questionnaire conveys each artist’s anticipations and aspirations for the program in a literary art form. The visiting artists’ unique creativity and individuality permeates through while collectively they comprise this summer’s 2011 Visiting Artist Program.

Join us August 11^th from 6-9pm for the opening reception to Synergy held in conjunction with the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s (TFAC) Second Thursday Art Night. Come visit Site 2 and 3 Galleries on the second and third floors of the art center and view synergized art, read insightful interviews, and talk to the visiting artists!

Gallery Information
The exhibition will be held in the Site 2 and Site 3 Galleries. These exhibition spaces, managed by Target Gallery, are the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s outreach exhibition sites. 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.  We are located on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, VA.  The gallery is open daily from 10-6pm and until 9pm on Thursdays. Visit our website to learn more about the Visiting Artist Program at www.torpedofactory.org/vap/.

                                                        

Tory Cowles: Living LARGE! opens July 2

Tory Cowles: Living LARGE!

Exhibition Dates: July 2 – August 14
Reception: July 14, 6-8pm; awards ceremony @ 7pm with juror, Harry Cooper, Curator and Head of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Gallery of Art

Special Programming: July 28, 6-8pm; Art Panel: Why does art move you?
July 30, 11am -1pm; Kids Art Activity – painting inspired by Tory Cowles exhibition

The Target Gallery will present this year’s Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s (Friends) Artist of the Year, Tory Cowles, with a solo exhibition in the gallery. The exhibition, which runs from July 2 – August 14, will have a special reception and awards ceremony to celebrate the artist on July 14 from 6-8pm. At 7pm, the Friends will present the artist with a $1000 award for being selected as this year’s artist of the year. Juror, Harry Cooper will say a few words during the ceremony about his selection. All events are free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

An abstract painter, Ms. Cowles’ background was in three-dimensional work such as stonewall building, woodworking, interior design, architecture, and carpentry, and her paintings were representational landscapes and portraits. When she started painting abstracts, she was able to incorporate the challenges and appeal of her previous 3D work onto the 2D canvas.

For her exhibit, Ms. Cowles will present a series of abstract paintings as large as 60” by 72” and diptychs, which are 48” by 120”. These sizes excite her because they encourage looseness and make a huge impact. A recurring theme in Cowles’ work is strong bright colors, which give energy and joy tempered by serious darks and subdued grays. Complex movement draws the eye throughout and around the painting as tension is created between spontaneity and discipline. Tory incorporates boldness and subtlety within the painting while allowing each quality to hold its own.

Cowles’ paintings combine stream of consciousness, abstract expressionism, and disciplined critical analysis. She paints from the heart and hopes that viewers are moved to respond from the heart.

Her 2010 shows included: Longview Gallery, Washington, DC; plan b Gallery, Washington, DC; Blueberry Gallery, Alexandria, VA; Touchstone Gallery, Washington, DC; and the Art Barn Gallery, Gaithersburg, MD.

Juror: Harry Cooper, Curator and Head of Modern and Contemporary Art National Gallery of Art, Washington

Mr. Cooper, curator of modern and contemporary art at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, is the organizing curator of The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection: Selected Works.

Since joining the Gallery in February 2008, he has organized The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection: Selected Works and initiated a series of focus exhibitions in the Tower Gallery of the East Building on such artists as Philip Guston, Mark Rothko, and Nam June Paik.

Cooper received a PhD in 1997 from Harvard University, an MA in 1992 from Johns Hopkins University, and an AB in American history and literature in 1981 from Harvard University. Cooper also holds a certificate in drawing and painting from the Corcoran Museum School of Art, Washington, DC.