Visual art comes alive at the Torpedo Factory during the Alexandria Festival of the Arts! Become a part of the creative process with hands-on projects, artist demonstrations, and special activities taking place throughout the afternoon.

Artist Demonstrations and Hands-On Projects: 12-4pm
Enjoy artist demonstrations throughout the day including pottery on the wheel, drawing, bubble glass making, and much more. Visitors are also invited to try their hand at different art techniques including clay throwing, sculpture, and fiber art at special "Try Me" stations.

Guests will get creative with hands-on projects including the popular Champagne Cork Chairs Workshop, Bubble Gum Painting, and a Create-Your-Own Button activity. The Alexandria Archaeology Museum, The Art League, and Historic Alexandria History Center and Museum Store join the fun with their own special activities.

Click here for full schedule of artist demonstrations and hands-on activities!

BosmaDance Performances: 2:30-4pm
At 2:30pm, award-winning BosmaDance will perform art-inspired dance vignettes in artist studios.

Dissection of Process: Artist Carol Gellner Levin and Dancer Daniel H. Zook
Inspired by Levin's sculptural work, this dance takes the viewer through an experience of creating art.

Dancer on Canvas: Artist Mina Oka Hanig and Dancer Sylvana Sandoz
Dancer becomes abstract moving sculpture as she is collaged with handmade paper squares.

Wood Cut: Artists from Printmakers Inc. and Dancer Kate Jordan
Dancer Kate Jordan cuts, carves, copies, and layers her way through the Printmakers Inc. studio.

Journey: Artist Susan Makara and Dancer Carrie Monger
This collaboration explores three fantastical dreamlike scenes: the dragon, the gnome, and the tree.

BosmaDance presents their finale performance from 3:30-4pm, featuring original choreography from Daniel H. Zook, Sylvana Sandoz, and Kate Jordan, and a final culminating performance from all four dancers inspired by the various studio vignettes.

Alexandria Symphony Cello Performance: 1-3:30pm
From 1-2:15pm, enjoy a performance from Alison Bazala Kim, cellist of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. Kim will perform popular songs, various movements from Bach, and works by Tschaikowsky, Mendelssohn, and other great composers. From 2:30-3:30pm, visitors are invited to join Kim and an Art League instructor for a blind drawing activity inspired by music from the cello. See what unique drawings the music will move you to create!

Indoor Art Festival: 12-4pm
The street fair continues with featured Torpedo Factory non-resident artists offering one-of-a-kind pieces for sale along the main hall of the Torpedo Factory throughout the afternoon. Art-lovers are invited to shop for a variety of artwork on all three floors of the Torpedo Factory, including painting, ceramics, stained glass, sculpture, and much more.

Free Prize Drawing: 2:20 & 4pm
Enter a free prize drawing for a chance to win a Torpedo Factory gift certificate, bottle cap artwork by Lisa Schumaier, or tickets to the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra's opening concert, Seductive Soundscapes.


Special thanks to Rachel Hofer Photography for providing professional photography services to capture this event.

Schedule of Artist Demonstrations and Hands-on Activities

Artist Demonstrations:

12-1pm
Making Bubble Glass
Glass demonstration
By Ruth Gowell

12-1pm & 1:30-2:30pm
Bits and Pieces
Drawing body parts; audience is asked to model
With Jenny Davis

12-4pm
Pottery on the Wheel
Clay demonstration and TRY ME activity
With Lisa Lettieri

12-4pm
Fiber Fun
The art of spinning, weaving, knitting, and more; TRY ME activity
With Fluff and Nonsense

12-4pm
Carving with Chris
Sculpture demonstration and TRY ME activity
With Chris Erney

12-4pm
Recycled Animal Sculpture
Sculpture demonstration using recycled, reclaimed, and found parts
By Jackie Ehle

1-2pm 
Lace Beaded Bracelet
Beading demonstration
By Zoya Gutina

1-2pm 
Etching Demonstration
By Penny Barringer

Hands-on Activities:

12-4pm 
Champagne Cork Chairs Workshop
Create a tiny chair out of a champagne cork, wire, and beads
With Lisa Schumaier

12-4pm
Gallery Scavenger Hunt
Look at art in new ways and win a prize
With The Art League Gallery

12-4pm
Create Your Own Button
Create a button, pin it on, and wear it at future Torpedo Factory events to win special prizes

12-4pm
Bubble Gum Painting
Help recreate Manet's "Olympia" using bubble gum
With Lisa Schumaier

12-4pm
Potter's Art
Recreate patterns inspired by designs on salt-glazed stoneware
With the Alexandria Archaeology Museum

12-4pm
Getting Creative with History
Dress up in 18 th century clothes, explore hands-on objects, and more
With the Historic Alexandria History Center and Museum Store

12-4pm
Screen Printing
Hands-on activity
With Nancy McIntyre of The Art League School

12-4pm
Mask Making Workshop
Design and create your own mask
With Anthony Delfin and Art Outlet

2-4pm
Slab Impressions
Create impressions on clay tiles 
With Joan Ulrich and Jennifer Hatfield

2:30-3:30pm
Blind Drawing to the Cello
Create a blind drawing with cello music as inspiration
With Avis Fleming of The Art League School and
Alison Bazala Kim of the Alexandria Symphony