With the return of some classes to our facilities at The Madison Annex, we’ve created a new guide to our health protection upgrades, practices, and policies. Here’s a look at our S.A.F.E.R. playbook:
—Social distancing: Keep a healthy distance between yourself and others—six feet is a good general rule—especially when you are near them for an extended period.
—Airflow awareness: Want to take a break to catch up with peers, chat, and share a snack break together? Non-contact social activities, such as talking, laughing, and eating, become significantly safer when you take them outside. The considerate and safer thing to do is plan to take your break outside the building and practice social distancing. Eating is not currently permitted in classrooms or the public spaces on-premises. Classrooms are now outfitted with DFS room air purifiers that use a patented air cleaning system that is designed to be 99.99% efficient in capturing air particles at .3 micron size or larger-that is 4x the particle capture of a similar-sized HEPA unit. DFS is also effective at destroying microorganisms including viruses. Clinical tests have verified microorganism destruction of 94% or higher. The purifiers will run continually and each purifier is effective for up to 1,500 sq. ft. of coverage.
—Face masks: Wear them. They’re not just for you; they’re for everybody around you. And they’re mandatory throughout the League. Here are details: Mask Types + Protections.
—Expectoration: COVID-19 appears to spread through large-droplet transmissions, such as sneezes, coughs, and the airborne transmission of smaller, aerosolized droplets that spray out of the mouths of talkers. Beware especially of indoor environments and activities that naturally include lots of gabbing, singing, or shouting. Face masks are now mandatory to help lessen the expectoration risk. Classrooms will have physically distanced workspaces for students, instructors, and models. Given the new distance between people and masks’ muffling effect, we ask that you please practice general classroom courtesies, such as hand-raising for questions and comments, and refraining from cross-talk during lectures or critique periods. These practices will help make communicating easier, shouting unnecessary, and will support your instructors while they adapt to this new teaching environment.
—Restrooms: Our public bathrooms in the Madison Annex are single-stall and fully enclosed. They’re equipped with touchless faucets and contactless dispensers for soap and paper towels. The toilet paper dispensers are fully enclosed. These restrooms are outfitted with air filtration units to sanitize the air and decrease contamination. The restrooms are also cleaned rigorously and regularly with an electrostatic sprayer loaded with an environmentally-friendly, hospital-grade cleaning agent.
We’re looking forward to seeing you! Please be well and be S.A.F.E.R.
"Two Boats in Still Water," by Jinchen Han, currently on view in the September "2020" Exhibition.
Welcome to Artful Weekend, our guide to fun and interesting ways to enjoy and engage in art as you shelter-in-place or practice social distancing.
This weekend: Our September group and solo exhibits, sprawling outdoor art, and an interactive installation all in Alexandria!
September Shows at The Art League
2020
“Pandemic Survivors (1918),” by Jimmy Greene, received an Honorable Mention Award in the September “2020” Exhibition.
We invited member artists to reflect on this turbulent, riveting, and unprecedented year for our September show. The result: 2020, an impactful exhibition of 90 works that comment on this period of pandemic and protests; on view through October 4 in the Gallery and online.
Tess Olson: Cultivating Imperfection
“Visitor’s Wake” by Tess Olson
This solo exhibit by oil painter Tess Olson, is a collection of abstract work inspired by the subtle vibrations of the natural world. Waves of water, light, energy, and sound emerge in mysterious patterns on richly layered canvases and suggest secret shapes that hide and hum beneath the surface; on view through October 4.
Noah Williams: Ancestral Calling
Mixed media artist Noah Williams celebrates the power and energy of African mask-making traditions in this solo exhibit of intricate, grand masks made with found materials, both organic and man-made; on view through October 4.
We’ve extended hours! The Art League Gallery is now open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Safety of our members and our staff is always our first priority, so we will still be doing temperature checks at the door, masks are required for entry, and we ask that you keep social distancing practices in mind.
Gallery 75 is Now Online!
“Jingle Donkey,” by Trinka Roeckelein, is one of many artworks for sale at Gallery 75.
Visit Gallery 75 online to view our monthly juried shows and other special exhibits. Purchased items can be scheduled for pick-up or shipped. Learn more and start browsing here.
Old Town Installations
“Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacies” by Olalekan Jeyifous at Alexandria’s Waterfront Park. (Laura Hatcher for the City of Alexandria)
There is still time to catch two art installations in Old Town Alexandria that have been generating a lot of buzz. The sprawling Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacyby Olalekan Jeyifous employs ground mural and ornate metal profiles to acknowledge the city’s African American history through the lens of its industrial and merchant past. It is the second in an annual series of temporary public art installations at Waterfront Park; on view through November, 1 King Street, Alexandria, VA.
Scenes from Melanie Kehoss’ “Through the Kitchen Door.”
In Through the Kitchen Door, artist Melanie Kehoss uses the American kitchen to delve into history, technological advancements, and the evolution of the family unit and gender roles. Step into her immersive, interactive exhibit and view scenes of people, tools and appliances from different eras depicted in life-size silhouetted cutouts framed by screening reminiscent of a kitchen’s back door. While there, listen to Kehoss describe each scene and her artwork in this audio guided tour that can be accessed on your mobile device, on view in the New Project Studio in the Torpedo Factory Art Center through November 16, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA.
Yongsuk Adams is the Best-in-Show Award winner in the September "2020" Exhibition.
By Haven Ashley
A dramatic coalescence of sea and sky, Yongsuk Adams’ photograph Become One was captured on the scenic Snæfellsnes peninsula in Iceland. With diverse geological features from volcanic craters, to misty waterfalls, to craggy basalt cliffs, the region’s beauty pierces the heart like a Nordic fairytale, enchanting and devastating in equal spells.
Here, Adams shares her thoughts about the prize-winning photo and her journey from hobbyist to artist.
Finding Photography
“I have been a photographer for about five years. As my kids went off to college, I suddenly had time to explore more of my own interests. I had been curious about photography for years but never had time to actively pursue it. I joined a local photography club and began learning the many skills and techniques of the medium. At first, I felt like I might be ‘too old’ to go back to school or start something new, something that I was completely unfamiliar with. I was wrong!”
“Become One” by Yongsuk Adams
The Message in the Medium
“I try to focus on subjects that are based in nature. I want to create photos that are healing, calming, and relaxing. Become One is not edited at all. I feel so lucky to have experienced the natural beauty of Iceland.”
Hope in the Time of Pandemic
“This has been a terrible year around the world with the pandemic, violence, and resulting protests. I thought this seamless landscape, with the merging of the sky and water, showed the possibility of us coming together and becoming one.”
"Empty Pedestal," by Daniel Horowitz, now on view in the September "2020" Exhibit.
Welcome to Artful Weekend, our guide to fun and interesting ways to enjoy and engage in art as you shelter-in-place or practice social distancing.
This weekend: Art in the time of corona, variations in sculpture, the Portrait Gallery reopens, and more!
September Shows at The Art League
2020
“Contact Tracing,” by Judy Antico, received an Honorable Mention Award in the September “2020” Exhibition.
We invited member artists to reflect on this turbulent, riveting, and unprecedented year for our September show. The result: 2020, an impactful exhibition of 90 works that comment on this period of pandemic and protests; on view through October 4 in the Gallery and online.
Tess Olson: Cultivating Imperfection
“Visitor’s Wake” by Tess Olson
This solo exhibit by oil painter Tess Olson, is a collection of abstract work inspired by the subtle vibrations of the natural world. Waves of water, light, energy, and sound emerge in mysterious patterns on richly layered canvases and suggest secret shapes that hide and hum beneath the surface; on view through October 4.
Noah Williams: Ancestral Calling
Mixed media artist Noah Williams celebrates the power and energy of African mask-making traditions in this solo exhibit of intricate, grand masks made with found materials, both organic and man-made; on view through October 4.
We’ve extended hours! The Art League Gallery is now open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Safety of our members and our staff is always our first priority, so we will still be doing temperature checks at the door, masks are required for entry, and we ask that you keep social distancing practices in mind.
Moments in Time…a very weird time
“Crisis” by Stephen Crossett
Artists from Virginia, D.C. and Maryland express the various ways in which the 2020 global pandemic has affected them in Moments in Time…a very weird time. See it through October 18 at the Athenaeum Gallery or online. Take a virtual tour of the show, then cast your vote for the Moments in Time Viewer’s Choice Award. Click here to join the Zoom Virtual Opening and Prize Ceremony Sunday, September 13, at 4:00 p.m.; 201 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA.
Sculpture NOW
“Tree of Positive Actions,” by Marc Robarge
Over 50 artists bring a wide array of media and approaches to Sculpture NOW, presented by the Washington Sculptors Group and McLean Project for the Arts. See it in-person by reservation only, or see it online; 1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, VA.
Writers and Visionaries
Margaret Wise Brown by Philippe Halsman
The National Portrait Gallery recently reopened with two new exhibitions: Her Story: A Century of Women Writers (September 18, 2020 – January 18, 2021) celebrates some of the country’s most influential female authors—from Margaret Wise Brown and Dorothy Parker to Alice Walker and Sandra Cisneros—whose books have become classics and whose words are well known.
Gabriel García Márquez by Robert McCurdy
Visionary: The Cumming Family Collection(September 18, 2020 – January 24, 2021) presents portraits of national and global leaders whose boldness, courage, and perseverance have left a lasting impression on society. The National Portrait Gallery now has limited capacity, and tickets for mandatory timed entry go quickly. Take time this weekend to plan your visit for subsequent weekends or week days; 8th and G Streets N.W.
We the People, for Show or for Sure
“#31” by Chawky Freen
Painter and George Mason University art professor Chawky Frenn offers commentary on the influence of money, politics, policy, and the struggle for human rights in We the People, For Show or For Sure, a series of mixed media paintings executed on posters of the Constitution. It is on view at the The Delaware Contemporary though January 18, 2021; 200 South Madison Street, Wilmington, DE.
Museum Exhibition Open Call, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art – Altoona, PA
Deadline: September 23 The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art is seeking exhibition proposals for group exhibitions and solo shows that would have an install date anywhere from two months from application to three years. Preference will be given to living contemporary artists with websites. For more information, click here.
Call For Entries, Women’s Right to Vote: 100 Years Since the 19th Amendment Del Ray Artisans – Alexandria, VA
Deadline: October 10 This exhibit celebrates the achievements of women in the U.S. over the past 100 years since the historic ratification of the 19th Amendment, which ensured that the right to vote could not be denied based on sex. The exhibit open to Del Ray Artisan members, area high school students, and 2020 high school graduates. If you are not a member (or a student), you may join Del Ray Artisans now to enter. Click here for more information.
Call For Public Art Proposals, Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council – Prince George’s, MD
Deadline: October 12 Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council is seeking proposals for interior and exterior installations at the Hyattsville Branch Library. Professional artist(s) and design professionals are invited to apply as individuals or teams. Candidates must demonstrate collaborative, project team experience working with other artist and design professionals (engineers, architects, environmental and urban planners, or landscape architects) and direct experience with exterior sculpture design and installation. Local artists are encouraged to apply. Artists and design professionals that are residents or have studios in Prince George’s County are encouraged to apply. Click here for more information.
Fellowship, Halcyon Arts Labs – Washington, D.C.
Deadline: October 12 At the intersection of art and social change, this five-month residential fellowship is designed to provide support and resources to emerging artists working on projects that address issues of social justice, civic engagement, and community building. Arts Lab fellows strive to expand their practices and grow as leaders in their respective fields. For more information, click here.
Call For Entries, Target Gallery – Alexandria, VA
Deadline: October 30 Target Gallery invites artists to submit their work for consideration to a new digital and in-person exhibition Movements, Moments. This exhibition aims to create a dialogue on the intersection of art and movement, be it physical movement as visual expression, such as dance or performance-based work, or movement represented conceptually, such as exploring the idea of growth or the passage of time. For more information, click here.
Torpedo Factory 2021 Post-Graduation Residency Program – Alexandria, VA
Deadline: October 30 This residency is open to recently-graduated students who earned a bachelor’s or master’s art degree from an accredited university. The program is unique for addressing the critical post-graduation juncture in an emerging artist’s career, offering an opportunity for professional development, and a chance to define their independent work process outside of the academic context. Learn more here.
Call For Submissions, The Hopper Prize
Deadline: November 17 The bi-annual Hopper Prize provides grants, visibility, and career enhancing validation to artists who demonstrate a serious commitment to their work. They are currently accepting submissions for fall. Apply here.
Re-runs: These have been previously posted, but it’s not too late to enter!
Studio Openings at The Torpedo Factory – Alexandria, VA
Deadline: September 30 The Torpedo Factory Art Center invites artists and artist groups to apply for available open studios. The leases will begin on December 1, 2020, and end on March 31, 2022, with the possibility of renewal. For more information, click here.
Soho Photo Gallery 2020 International Alternative Processes Competition
Deadline: September 22 Soho Photo Gallery, New York’s longest running cooperative gallery, is excited to announce our 16th International Alternative Processes Competition. All selected images will be featured on the gallery’s website. To enter, click here.
Call For Entries, Focus National Juried Photography Exhibition – Frederick, MD
Deadline: September 28 The National Juried Photography Exhibition is held biennially in November at The Delaplaine Arts Center as part of Focus, our month-long celebration of photography. All photographs, black & white, color, non-silver, computer-manipulated, digital, or pinhole are eligible. Learn more here.
Delaware Contemporary Call For Submissions – Wilmington, DE
Deadline: September 30 The Delaware Contemporary is accepting submissions for our spring exhibition Round About: Reconsidering the Object in Space. This small group exhibition of four artists will take a fresh look at the traditional models for sculptural work through the lens of today and reconsider the viewers’ relationship to the presence of objects in space. Learn more here.
Open Call For Public Programs – D.C.
Deadline: October 1 Hamiltonian Artists is launching a new initiative of public programming, Platform, that positions the organization as a hub for conversation amongst practitioners. For the first season, now through the Presidential election on November 3, we invite artists, independent curators and organizers, organizations, and others to submit a proposal for a public program that specifically addresses racial justice, social justice movements and practices, collective action, and other conversations that intersect with the arts. Learn more here.
National Sculpture Society Grants
Deadline: October 5 The National Sculpture Society offers three grants of $5000 each. Figurative, realist and animal sculpture of greatest interest. Open to US residents and citizens with a social security number. For more information click here.
Bennett Prize Call For Entries, Women Figurative Painters
Deadline: October 16 The Bennett Prize, created in 2018, awards $50,000 to a woman artist to create her own solo exhibition of figurative realist paintings, which will travel the country. The Prize will propel the careers of women painters who have not yet realized full professional recognition, empowering new artists and those who have painted for many years. The Prize will expand opportunities for the public, who may not be familiar with figurative realist painting, to learn more about the creative vision of talented women painters in this increasingly popular genre. Apply here.
Mural Contest Call For High School and College Students, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge – Woodbridge, VA
Deadline: October 17 We are on the lookout for an eye-catching mural design that incorporates the native flora and fauna of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and will welcome visitors to our main parking lot. Both individuals and groups welcome to enter. For more information, click here.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 2021-22 Fellowship Program – Richmond, VA
Deadline: November 6 The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship (VMFA) Program, a vital source of funding for the visual arts and art history in Virginia, is committed to supporting professional artists as well as art and art history students who demonstrate exceptional creative ability in their chosen discipline. Applications are now being accepted for the 2021-22 fellowship program. Click hereto apply.
Atlantic Gallery Juried Show 2021: Drawn to Paper
December 1 Artists are invited to engage in a conversation with paper in whatever way they want. Some examples of paper but not limited to: cardboard, paper, rice paper, newsprint, construction paper, decoupage paper, card stock, recycled paper, kraft paper, deconstructed books, etc. To enter, click here.
Call For Entries, Artist/Writers: Cover Art For Academic Medicine
Deadline: December 30 Submit original works of art inspired by, but not necessarily representative of, an academic medicine experience from any perspective: caregiver, researcher, teacher, learner, or patient (for example, learning how to be a physician or scientist, caring for patients, exploring research questions, making a new discovery, being a research participant, teaching, or being cared for in a teaching hospital). The journal welcomes photography, sculpture, painting, textile work, and other visual media. Images may be cropped or resized to fit into the allotted cover space. Artists must also submit a related Cover Art essay as a narrative companion to the artwork, to explain the connection between the work and the “academic medicine experience.” Learn more here.
Ongoing: These opportunities have rolling deadlines.
Alterwork Studios Online Residency
This residency was designed to give emerging contemporary artists an online platform to create new work and explore their practice. Over the course of four weeks, artists will be encouraged to experiment and explore their concepts and move their work forward in the contemporary art world. Learn more here.
Accepting Artwork for Curatorial Review by AIWA
The Alper Initiative for Washington Art features five exhibitions per year in the newly constructed first floor space in the American University Museum. We accept submissions, on a rolling basis, from Washington artists of all ages and backgrounds, and working in diverse media. The museum’s Director and Curator, Jack Rasmussen, will select curators who will review these submissions for potential use in Alper Initiative exhibitions. For more information click here.
Call For Entry Hamilton Arts Collective Guest Artist Exhibition – Baltimore, MD
The Hamilton Arts Collective (HAC) and the Hamilton Gallery seek applications from artists for month-long Guest Artist exhibitions at Hamilton Gallery located at 5502 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD. The selected guest artists will be invited to exhibit a selection of their current work in Gallery I of the Hamilton Gallery. The Guest Artist exhibition is featured in Hamilton Gallery communications and will be promoted by the HAC and Hamilton Gallery. This is an open call to artists residing within 60 miles of Baltimore City. Baltimore residents are encouraged to apply. Click here to learn more.
Howard County Arts Council Quarterly Call For Artists – Ellicott City, MD
The Howard County Arts Council gallery program was established to enhance the public’s appreciation of the visual arts, provide a venue to exhibit the work of local, regional, and national artists in a professional space, and provide leadership in the arts by presenting a broad spectrum of arts in all media from both emerging and established artists. Artists, ages 18 and older, working in all media and styles including time-based and installation artists, are encouraged to apply either individually or as a group. Proposals from curators and arts organizations are also welcome. Click here to learn more.
Exhibit at Hotel Indigo Downtown Baltimore — Baltimore, MD
The Maryland Art Place (MAP) is working with Hotel Indigo in downtown Baltimore to offer rotating exhibitions in the hotel’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats restaurant. This opportunity is open to visual artists living or working in Maryland. ’s public art partnership projects (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo, is pleased to announce an open call to artists. MAP will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Click here to learn more.
Solo or Group Shows in Athenaeum Gallery – VA
The Athenaeum Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia exhibits visual arts created solely by artists living or working in the region (DC, Maryland and Virginia) and strives to present visitors with a wide variety of excellent art and unique experiences. In addition to the shows curated by the Gallery Director, the Athenaeum Gallery invites artists and curators to submit show proposals. For more information, visit https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=6876.
The Creativity Grant Program State of Maryland (MD)
Deadline: Rolling. The purpose of the Creativity Grant Program is to strengthen the vitality and sustainability of artists and small organizations to maintain a strong and stable arts infrastructure in the State of Maryland. The Creativity Grant also provides opportunities to serve the growing needs of relevant arts projects and collaborations within Maryland communities. For more information regarding eligibility and funding timelines, please review the Creativity Grants Guidelines. For more information about the program, and to apply visit the Creativity Grant Program State of Maryland website.
Artist/Writers: Cover Art for Academic Medicine
Deadline: Rolling. Submit original works of art inspired by, but not necessarily representative of, an academic medicine experience from any perspective: caregiver, researcher, teacher, learner, or patient (for example, learning how to be a physician or scientist, caring for patients, exploring research questions, making a new discovery, being a research participant, teaching, or being cared for in a teaching hospital). The journal welcomes photography, sculpture, painting, textile work, and other visual media. Images may be cropped or resized to fit into the allotted cover space. Artists must also submit a related Cover Art essay as a narrative companion to the artwork, to explain the connection between the work and the “academic medicine experience.” The related narrative should be 250 to 600 words and is subject to editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
The Awesome Foundation Accepting Applications for Art Projects
Deadline: Open. The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is a worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of “awesomeness in the universe.” Established in 2009, the foundation distributes $1,000 grants on a monthly basis to projects and their creators. The money is pooled from ten or more self-organizing “micro-trustees.” The chapters are autonomous and organized by the trustees around geographic areas or topics of interest. Apply on the Awesome Foundation website.
Call for Artists: Maryland Art Place Seeks Proposals for Rotating Exhibition Partnership with Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo (MD)
Deadline: rolling. Maryland Art Place (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo is pleased to announce an open ‘Call to Artists’. As an extension of MAP’s annual IMPACT public art partnership projects, MAP is working with Hotel Indigo to offer rotating exhibitions in Hotel indigo’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats. This opportunity is available to visual artists living or working in Maryland. Maryland Art Place will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Guidelines and information here.
Peripheral ARTeries – Biennial Contemporary Art Publication
Deadline: Rolling. Peripheral ARTeries is looking for artists to be featured in the new special Biennial Edition of their art publication, that comes to its 10th edition. This opportunity is great for both established and early career artists who need a boost to their artist portfolio. The 10th edition will once again explore and show current trends and tendencies in Contemporary Art: Peripheral ARTeries cultivates a spirit of openness through a unique collaborative and participatory approach.Each artist may submit a maximum of three works or projects made in any technique: painting, drawing, video art, experimental cinema, fine art photography, experimental media, mixed media, installations, public art, performance. The call is open to all proposed kind of art and media capable of challenging the viewers’ traditional perspective on art itself. To submit, visit the Peripheral ARTeries website.
Exhibit at Hotel Indigo (VA)
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3.″ If interested, contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected].
The New Project Studio – Ongoing Opportunity (VA)
Ongoing. Located in Studio 8, the New Project Studio is a community-focused arts incubator space that offers a short-term location to test new program ideas, spotlight underrepresented voices, and enhance community engagement. Projects rotate on a regular basis. For more information, clickhere.
Public Arts Grants & Opportunities (VA)
Ongoing. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts provides grants for nonprofit arts organizations as well as individual artists. See all current opportunities and online applications here.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Looking for artists: Foundry Gallery (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
Looking for artists: Printmakers (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].
"Become One," by Yong Adams, is the September "2020" Exhibit Best-in-Show Award winner.
Welcome to Artful Weekend, our guide to fun and interesting ways to enjoy and engage in art as you shelter-in-place or practice social distancing.
This weekend: New Art League shows, graffiti inspired art, and our annual Ice Cream Bowl!
September Shows at The Art League
“Neither Heart Nor Hope (Frederick Douglass),” by Rosa Vera, received an Honorable Mention Award in the September “2020” Exhibit.
2020
We invited member artists to reflect on this turbulent, riveting, and unprecedented year for our September show. The result: 2020, an impactful exhibition of 90 works that comment on this period of pandemic and protests; on view through October 4 in the Gallery and online.
Tess Olson: Cultivating Imperfection
“Visitor’s Wake” by Tess Olson
This solo exhibit by oil painter Tess Olson, is a collection of abstract work inspired by the subtle vibrations of the natural world. Waves of water, light, energy, and sound emerge in mysterious patterns on richly layered canvases and suggest secret shapes that hide and hum beneath the surface; on view through October 4.
Noah Williams: Ancestral Calling
Mixed media artist Noah Williams celebrates the power and energy of African mask-making traditions in this solo exhibit of intricate, grand masks made with found materials, both organic and man-made; on view through October 4.
We’ve extended hours! The Art League Gallery is now open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Safety of our members and our staff is always our first priority, so we will still be doing temperature checks at the door, masks are required for entry, and we ask that you keep social distancing practices in mind.
The Art League Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser at the Alexandria Old Town Art Festival
Join us Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for our Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser supporting The Art League Ceramics Program at the Alexandria Old Town Art Festival.
Reclamation
“CANcelled” by Absurdly Well
Reclamation, “channels the energy of street protests and spray-painted tags,” says Washington Post art critic Mark Jenkins. This group show features works by D.C. artists Absurdly Well, Erik White and Divorce Culture, whose colorful, provocative style is reminiscent of street art pioneers Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring; through September 26 at The Watergate Gallery, 2552 Virginia Avenue, N.W.
"Flying Free" by Ginya Truitt Nakata, on view in the August 2020 Open Exhibit.
Welcome to Artful Weekend, our guide to fun and interesting ways to enjoy and engage in art as you shelter-in-place or practice social distancing.
This weekend: Fiber art with a message, sculptures celebrating sun power, geometrics on exhibit, and more!
August 2020 Open Exhibit and My Body, Shamed
“Mask Up” by Keith Fairbrother
Visit our Gallery to see the August 2020 Open Exhibit and Barbara Muth’s My Body, Shamed, before they close on Saturday, September 5. The Gallery’s new hours are 12:00-4:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. There is a limit of ten visitors at a time and face masks and temperature checks are required upon entry. You can also view and shop the both exhibits online.
Making plans for the week ahead? Add these upcoming League events to your calendar:
“Mabry Mill” by Arleen Jeszenszky
Art Store Sale
Beautiful watercolor paintings start with quality paint. Now through September 13, Da Vinci Watercolors (15 ml tubes) are 20% off on in-store purchases at The Art League Supply Store while supplies last. The store is open from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Wednesday through Sunday.
“Cottage Industry” by Craig Nedrow, is featured in the upcoming “2020” exhibition.
September Shows
Member artists created works reflecting the mood of this turbulent year for 2020, our September Exhibit, juried by Duane Slick and on view September 9 – October 4. Join us for the Opening Reception via Zoom, Thursday, September 10 at 6:30 PM. There will be a video presentation of artwork followed by a brief awards ceremony. Solo artists Tess Olson and Noah Williams will also be on hand, giving short video presentations of their work. RSVP here.
“Visitor’s Wake” by Tess Olson
Cultivating Imperfection, a solo exhibit by oil painter Tess Olson, is a collection of abstract work inspired by the subtle vibrations of the natural world; on view September 10 – October 4. Zoom in Friday, September 11, from 6 – 7 p.m. EDT to see Olson in conversation with League Communications Specialist Julia Chance.
Illusions” by Noah Williams
Mixed media artist Noah Williams celebrates the power and energy of African mask-making traditions in his solo exhibit Ancestral Callings, on view September 10 – October 4. See Williams in conversation with League Tuesday, September 15, 2020 6 – 7 PM EDT.
Ice Cream Bowl
Plan to join us next Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for our Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser supporting The Art League Ceramics Program at the Alexandria Old Town Art Festival.
Zoom Art Class Demo
Pomegranates and Ginger Jar by Elizabeth Floyd
Are you interested in taking one of our online art courses but not quite sure what to expect? Get a feel for Zoom classes with painting instructor Elizabeth Floyd who will conduct a free, online Still-Life Oil Painting Demonstration Tuesday, September 15, from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Workshop: How to Write an Artist Statement
Join The Art League’s Gallery Director Ali Wunder for this two-session workshop and gain the tools to construct a clear, concise artist statement that provides viewers with insight into your work, and serves as a starting point for marketing yourself; Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17. Register here.
Crafting Democracy: Fiber Arts and Activism
“Rise Up 1” by Steven L. Wilson
The craftivists in the traveling exhibit Crafting Democracy, curated by Hinda Mandell and Juilee Decker, use the traditional tools of craft (yarn, thread, textiles) to make statements about socio-political, cultural, and economic issues; on view at the Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House through September 14, tickets for a suggested donation of $5 are required for timed entry; 9000 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA.
Sculpture Garden Splendor
“RA 054” by Carol Brown Goldberg
With beautiful weather in the forecast, this weekend is a great time to take advantage of two outdoor art installations. Visit the lush grounds of the recently reopened Kreeger Museum Sculpture Garden to view monumental works by Hans Arp, Carol Brown Goldberg, Isamu Noguchi, Henry Moore, and other noted sculptors. In accordance with new safety guidelines, there is now timed entry and group sizes are limited to no more than five people per household group. To make reservations, click here; 2401 Foxhall Road, N.W.
“Sun Burst, Beyond the Spectrum” by Jean Kim
ARTINA 2020: LIGHT: A Sculptural Solar Danceis the perfect outdoor attraction to enjoy during these times of social distancing. This juried sculpture garden, created by members of the Washington Sculptors Group, re-imagines solar energy as an art form with sculptures installed throughout the rustic grounds of the Sandy Spring Museum; on view through November 7, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring, MD.
Geometric Aljamía
Detail from “Papercuts” by Reni Gower.
Since ancient times, geometric perfection (circle, square, and triangle) has been thought to convey sacred and secular truths by reflecting the fractal interconnections of the natural world. In Geometric Aljamía, artists Mohammed Saleh Amin, Jorge Benitez, Reni Gower, Hanane Korchi, Tamim Sahebzada, and Julia Townsend explore geometry as a fundamental aspect of art and as a way to communicate universal ideas across cultures; on view through October 3 at the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City, MD.
