Torpedo Factory Art Center

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Bookstore Operator Denies Raiding Little Free Libraries for Stock — “A Nextdoor site dedicated to Del Ray in Alexandria has been roiled by allegations that the operator of a nonprofit used bookstore slated to open next week in Alexandria was visiting Little Free Libraries to obtain stock for his shop.” [Washingtonian]

City Extends Public Feedback Deadline on Accessory Dwelling Units — “The public is invited to watch the City’s latest presentation on ADUs and provide feedback through Aug 19 here. There will be a virtual open house on ADUs scheduled before the Planning Commission and City Counsel hearings this fall.” [Alexandria Living]

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Virginia Launches Coronavirus Tracing App — “Virginia is the first state in the nation to launch such an app. It is based on Bluetooth Low Energy technology jointly developed by Apple and Google (Android). Users can download the app from their mobile phone’s app store now. The more people who download and use the app, the more effective it will be in helping reduce the possibility for COVID-19 transmission.” [Alexandria Living]

Beyer Scolds RNC for Trump Candidacy Announcement — Would be an illegal use of taxpayer funds and government property, and one of the most corrupt acts of the Trump era to date. A statement of what their party stands for now?” [Twitter]

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First Lady Northam, Officials Promote Safe Tourism Amid Pandemic in Alexandria

By James Cullum
First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam talks about tourism at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town on Thursday

Tourism in Alexandria isn’t what it used to be. With local economies devastated by the pandemic, First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam visited Alexandria on Wednesday (July 22) to promote safe tourism and congratulate the city on winning a $10,000 grant for its Great Walks program.

“In 2018, Virginia tourists spent more than $26 billion here, and this put 235,000 people to work and contributed $1.8 billion in local and state tax revenue,” Northam told a small audience in the Torpedo Factory Art Center. “This year, however, our tourism and hospitality industries have been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.”

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Humanity Vs. Nature: Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Virtual Gallery Opening Tonight

By James Cullum

Tai Hwa Goh had to make her own flowers and plants when she was a kid.

The artist, whose work is premiering tonight with a virtual reception at the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery, was raised in South Korea in an apartment complex without plants, and Goh’s latest work is meant to express the dynamic existing between humanity living within the natural world.

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Torpedo Factory Soon Opening Jury Process for New Artists

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

In years past, the Torpedo Factory Art Center teemed with upward of a half-million visitors every year, but all that changed with the coronavirus. It’s one of Alexandria’s top tourist destinations, and despite the cancellation of all in-person scheduled programs and private facility rentals, the Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association will soon be looking for new artists to participate in its jury process.

The Torpedo Factory, which is owned by the city, is currently open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. Visitors are required to wear face masks and observe social distancing. The Target Gallery, for instance, now only allows 10 people at a time.

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Torpedo Factory in Old Town Reopens on Weekends

By Vernon Miles
The Torpedo Factory in Old Town (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Torpedo Factory Artists Association (TFAA) announced that as part of the city’s phased reopening, the Torpedo Factory is now reopened to the public on weekends, with some precautions.

“The Torpedo Factory is now open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” the TFAA said on Facebook. “You can enter through the waterfront entrance and masks are required inside the building. Please come out and enjoy some art.”

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Torpedo Factory Art Center a Ghost Town, Artists Haunted by Rent Payments

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

Update 10:40 p.m. — City Spokesperson Craig Fifer noted that the city has offered deferred payment of certain businesses taxes until June 30 and offered 12-month payment plans after that, which is the same offer available to the artists. Fifer also said that rent is paid to the city because the city owns and manages the building, with management resumed in 2016. 

Artists can still access their studios and derive value from having a place to work, make online sales, and store their supplies and art.  Because some artists derive more income from walk-in sales than others, it would not make sense to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to studio rent. We notified each of our 119 leaseholders on March 31 that they could request rent relief with just a simple email, and only eight so far have done so.

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Budget Cuts Push Back T.C. Expansion and Waterfront Redevelopment

By Vernon Miles
Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 1:10 p.m.) As expected, this year’s $753.3 million city government budget will be significantly cut down — with a $46.6 million reduction from the operating budget and $140.6 million in the capital budget put forward in April.

City Manager Mark Jinks called the new document “Budget 2.0,” representing the possibility that its contents are subject to change at next Tuesday’s (April 14) City Council meeting and throughout the budget process. Jinks said the total projected revenue loss for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal year is $92.2 million, and that the sharp reduction in the budget is due to a deferral of the 2 cent tax residential tax increase initially proposed and a steep drop off in commercial tax revenue.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Police Shooter Bashir Takes Insanity Defense for Alleged Stalking/Arson — “[Kashif] Bashir is charged with felony counts of arson, attempted arson, and making a false statement on a consent form to purchase a firearm, as well as nine counts of misdemeanor stalking, unauthorized use of an electronic tracking device, and possession of a firearm by a person acquitted by reason of insanity.” [WTOP]

Residents Cope With Cabin Fever — “Next week puts a little more pressure on me, because when my kids don’t have structure, then they do a lot of fighting.” [Alex Times]

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Torpedo Factory to Remain Open but City Says Artist Presence is Voluntary

By Vernon Miles
The Torpedo Factory in Old Town (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

While other public locations are closing across town due to coronavirus concerns, the Torpedo Factory Art Center remains open — though not without some degree of controversy across social media.

While the galleries are open, many of the artist studios may be empty after the city and the Torpedo Factory Artists Association (TFAA) said that artists concerned about their health were encouraged to close their studios for the time being.

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