art | ALXnow - Part 17

Morning Notes

Published March 8, 2021 at 9:00AM

Northam Remarks on a Year of Coronavirus — “For far too many people, life will never be the same again. It has been a hard year, but I have been encouraged by the strength of Virginians in every corner of our Commonwealth.” [Patch]

Beyer Remarks on a Year of Coronavirus — “A year ago today Virginia’s first case of coronavirus was confirmed at Ft. Belvoir in Fairfax County. I remember it like it was yesterday, a frightening time. We’ve lost so many people since then, as the country endured misery and hardship. But we are going to beat this virus.” [Twitter]

News

New Torpedo Factory Exhibit Blends In-Person and Virtual

By Vernon Miles

Published February 11, 2021 at 1:30PM

A new exhibit at the Torpedo Factory Art Center set to launch tomorrow aims to blend the virtual and in-person tourism that’s likely to be a cornerstone for local galleries as the pandemic rages on.

The series is called Movements, Moments and features six filmed movement-based performances as part of a larger gallery featuring 20 artists.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published February 8, 2021 at 9:00AM

Carjacking at Gunpoint Near Potomac Yard — “The Alexandria Police Dept. is investigating a carjacking in the 400 block of Calvert Ave. It happened just before 5pm. Victim’s vehicle stolen at gunpoint. No injuries were reported. Expect police activity in the area.” [Twitter]

Port City Brewing Co. Turns 10 — “We can’t celebrate 10 years of PCBC w/ a big in-person event so we’ve put together a Virtual Event to celebrate 10 years. The Anniversary video includes a message from our Founder, a Tasting Room update, 2021 beers, & a Colossal X tasting w/ a brewer!” [Twitter]

News

Del Ray Marker to be Erected this Spring in Pat Miller Neighborhood Square

By James Cullum

Published February 2, 2021 at 2:30PM

The Del Ray art marker for Pat Miller Neighborhood Square at 2311 Mount Vernon Ave. is expected to be erected this spring. The project, which was designed by Maryland artist Kirk Seese, has been in the works since 2018.

“It’s supposed to be an identifier for Del Ray,” Pat Miller told ALXnow. “There’s no place that says Del Ray in Del Ray. None. So, this is to be an identifier through an artistic piece for the community.”

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published January 27, 2021 at 9:00AM

Beyer Rails Against Congressional Republicans — “I’m really sick of whining about ‘canceling’ from rich and powerful Republicans who tried to cancel our democracy.” [Twitter]

Deadline Extended for Landlords to Apply for Relief Program — The deadline for landlords to apply for the Rent and Mortgage Relief Program, to cover overdue rent or mortgage payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been extended to March 1. Applications that have not yet been submitted can now include requests to cover rent payments through February 2021. Previously submitted applications are also eligible to include rent due in February through a contract amendment process.” [City of Alexandria]

News

Alexandria Artist Turns Pandemic Project into New Business

By James Cullum

Published December 8, 2020 at 2:30PM

Alexandria artist Laurel Prucha Moran started painting watercolors at home during the pandemic, and now she’s so busy painting commissioned pieces that she can’t take on any more Christmas orders.

Moran, a freelance graphic designer for the last 20 years in Alexandria, has five paintings she has to finish by this weekend alone. She recently launched Blue Room Studio, and sells prints of her watercolors as cards and stationary. She’s also married with three kids, and until this year only found time to paint while taking classes at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

News

The Alexandria Choral Society is Going to Sing About Social Justice

By James Cullum

Published November 17, 2020 at 3:45PM | Updated December 16, 2020 at 3:10PM

Alexandria’s course toward social justice might be long, but hope remains for a better future. That’s the message behind the Alexandria Choral Society’s (ACS) Refuge project, and if all goes as planned the five-movement piece will be performed live next May by members of the T.C. Williams High School choir.

“There’s a lot of mileage that you have to go on that journey for a better future,” Refuge composer Jonathan Kolm told ALXnow. “There’s an uplifting arc of hope, but one that is tempered by difficult circumstances that we find ourselves in.”

News

New Torpedo Factory Plan Calls for Greater Public Engagement

By Vernon Miles

Published October 29, 2020 at 10:30AM

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Torpedo Factory Art Center is one of Alexandria’s cultural landmarks of the waterfront. But as the city moves forward with other modernizing changes to the waterfront, it is also turning an eye towards overhauling the Torpedo Factory to be more of a “hands-on” public attraction.

A series of recommendations in a recently released action plan include plans the city hopes will turn parts of the Torpedo Factory into a more engaging artistic space.

News

City Looking on Feedback to Send Art Installation at Waterfront Park to Old Town Pool

By James Cullum

Published October 26, 2020 at 5:05PM

New public art at Waterfront Park (Photo by James Cullum)

The Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacies art installation at Waterfront Park will be taken down next month at Waterfront Park, and the public is being asked to weigh in on a proposal to temporarily move the installation outside of Old Town Pool (1609 Cameron Street).

The four figurative sculptures by Olalekan Jeyifous are meant to convey Alexandria’s history with African American quilting and textile designs, and was unveiled in March. The installation is the second to occupy the public art space at Waterfront Park, after the Mirror Mirror installation in 2019.

News

ACT for Alexandria is Hosting a Virtual Fundraiser for Artists on Saturday

By James Cullum

Published October 21, 2020 at 11:30AM

With limited public performances, shuttered galleries and cancelled events, the Alexandria art scene has been hit hard this year.

On Saturday (October 24), the Alexandria Arts Alliance and ACT for Alexandria will host a virtual fundraiser for arts organizations and artists in the city.

News

City Releasing Torpedo Factory Draft Action Plan Today

By James Cullum

Published October 16, 2020 at 10:35AM | Updated October 20, 2020 at 11:41AM

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria will release a draft action plan for revitalizing the Torpedo Factory Art Center today (October 16), and the proposal on the table includes a front entrance on the waterfront and a more interactive experience for families.

The city took over operations of the Torpedo Factory in 2016, and the art center traditionally sees more than a half a million visitors every year. But Diane Ruggiero, the city’s deputy director for recreation, parks and cultural activities, says that it doesn’t have a family-friendly atmosphere.