Featured Events

Sunday, February 14 Wine Tastings at the Torpedo Factory 1-4pm, Third Floor Landing An Afternoon of wine tastings with wine consultant Stephen Potter. Click here for more information.

Thursday, February 11 Second Thursday Art Night: Heart Art 6-9pm, FREE Treat yourself or someone you love to a special evening as you browse open studios, interact with artists, and enjoy refreshments. Click here for more information.

Free Tour

Meet by the main entrance every Wednesday and Friday at noon for a FREE artist led tour of the Torpedo Factory!

January 4 – February 28
In Isabel's Field
Printmakers Inc.                                             
Studio 325 
Printmakers Inc will honor the work of original member Isabel Field with this show.  Each members has taken one of her prints and added her personal touch to Field's work. The studio will also have on display "Tools of the trade".  Plates, proofs, and tools will be on display to help show the various methods of printmaking the artists use in the studio for producing their prints.

January 21 – February 21
Imprint
Target Gallery
Imprint explores contemporary printmaking examining a wide range of printmaking processes. Traditional to alternative processes that include several three dimensional sculptural prints are included in the selection made by juror Jane Haslem. Haslem, owner of Jane Haslem Gallery in Washington DC, will discuss her selections during the reception at 7pm on February 11. With over 300 entries to choose from Haslem decided on 41 works by 34 artists.

Reception: Second Thursday Art Night, February 11, 6-8pm
Juror Talk: Jane Haslem, 7pm during reception

February 1 – 28
Budding Zen: Vases & Ikebanas
Scope Gallery
Studio 19
Handmade vases and Ikebana headline this show and sale which previews the biennial Sogestu School Ikebana Show slated for next month at the neighboring Art League Gallery. Ikebana is the art of Japanese flower arranging with a nod toward minimalism, form, and line and dates back to the 14th century. Kiln Club artists have fashioned shallow forms with needlepoint stem holders, as well as original vases, baskets, and other vessels with Asian silhouettes and details.

February 2 - 28
Afire
Enamelists Gallery
Studio 28
Enamel is glass fused to metal (or sometimes other glass) at high temperatures. We celebrate the heat of our craft this month.

February 2 - April 3
Photo-graphics and Desert Dwell
Multiple Exposures Gallery
Studio 312
Danny Conant presents a new way of viewing photographic imagery and Min Enghauser shows photographs from the Anza-Borrego Desert.
Reception: Sunday, February 28, 2-4pm

February 3 - 14
Patrons' Show
The Art League Gallery
Room 21
A popular annual show of donated artwork that affords the public an opportunity to acquire quality works of fine art at a fraction of the price while supporting a thriving non-profit organization. Click here for more information about the Patrons' Show.
Drawing: Sunday, February 15, 5pm

Thursday, February 11
Second Thursday Art Night
Heart Art
Studios and Galleries Open 6 - 9pm
Treat yourself or someone you love to a special evening as you browse open studios, interact with artists, and enjoy refreshments. Comlimentary flowers and candy will be given away to the first 150 guests!

Visit Target Gallery from 6-8pm for the reception for the show Imprint and hear a gallery talk at 7pm by juror Jane Haslem.

From 7:30-8pm, join Jane Haslem, juror for Target Gallery's Imprint exhibition, for a printmaking demonstration in studio 325.

Go on a love themed scavenger hunt and enjoy fun activities throughout the night!

Click here for more information about Second Thursday Art Night.

Sunday, February 14
Wine Tastings at the Torpedo Factory
1-4pm, Third Floor Landing
Join local wine consultant Stephen Potter for an afternoon of wine tastings at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Sample seasonal red and white wines, artisan cheeses and hors d'oeuvres. Your $5 tasting fee is a donation to the art center.

Thursday, February 18
Thursday Nite Local Spotlight
Mercury Fools the Alchemist
7-9pm, FREE
Unlikely music featuring Daniel Barbiero on avant classical bass, Rich Sheehe on ambient guitar, and Jeff Bagato on homemade synthesizer. The band produces a chimerical cacophony for mystical journeys.

Click here for full Thursday Nite Local Spotlight schedule.

Wednesday, February 24
Friends of the Torpedo Factory Performance Art and Lecture Series
The Rite of Calligraphy
Lecture and Demonstration by Cecil H. Uyehara
7pm, FREE Event
The Rite of Calligraphy is the next installment of the Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center's Performance Art and Lecture series. Our speaker is the noted author and calligrapher Cecil H. Uyehara, who has lectured, demonstrated and exhibited his works at premier art galleries around the United States. Uyehara, a calligrapher, writer, poet, and recent president of the Sumi-E Society of America, brings with him a fascinating vista of Japanese calligraphy. Uyehara will discuss the inter-relationship between Japanese and Chinese calligraphy and also highlight its historical, philosophical and political perspectives.

February 24 – April 11
New Works
Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery
Studio 18
Member artists will exhibit exciting new pieces that have not been previously shown. Jewelry, sculpture, clothing, and wall pieces are some of the items that will be exhibited. 

Thursday, February 25
Thursday Nite Local Spotlight
Port Tobacco Pickers
7-9pm, FREE
This seven-piece bluegrass band from southern Maryland will perform a musical medley of traditional bluegrass, Southern rock, train songs, and even an Irish whiskey tune. Building from their brilliantly eclectic combination of banjo, mandolin, bass dulcimer, electric bass, flute, and varied guitars, this down-home band will offer playful twists that'll keep your heart pounding and your feet tapping. For more bluegrass venues in Alexandria , visit www.tiffanytavern.com and www.birchmere.com

Click here for full Thursday Nite Local Spotlight schedule.

February 27 – March 28
Past Forward: An Exhibition of Four Former Torpedo Factory Artists
Barbara Rachko, Joyce Zipperer, Anne Laddon, and Kathleen Dustin
Target Gallery
An exhibition that kicks off the gallery's participation in the Minds Wide Open statewide celebration by honoring four former Torpedo Factory Women alumni, Barbara Rachko, Joyce Zipperer, Anne Laddon, and Kathleen Dustin. These four women will exhibit their latest works, from Rachko's pastel paintings, Zipperer's sculptures, Laddon's oil paintings and Dustin's polymer clay pieces. The artists will be on hand at the reception on March 11 to discuss briefly their work.
Reception: Thursday, March 11, 6-8pm
Artist Talk: 7pm, during reception

March 4 - 8
Biennial Ikebana Show
The Art League Gallery
Room 21
Every two years, The Art League Gallery welcomes the Washington, DC branch of The Sogestu School for their biennial Ikebana Show. Ikebana is the art of Japanese flower arranging and Sogetsu is one of the many schools of Ikebana.

Sogetsu members will select works of art by Art League and Torpedo Factory artists to create harmonious installations inspired by the chosen work. A Sogetsu member will be on hand in the gallery at all times, watering the arrangements as needed and answering questions about their art form. 

The gallery will host special events related to the exhibition, including a Japanese Tea Ceremony and discussion of the work of Chado, the Japanese way of tea, with Stephen di Girolamo of the National Portrait Gallery, and a musical performance by the Washington Toho Koto Society, performed by Mrs. Kyoko Okamoto.

Click here for more information about the show.

Awards Reception: Sunday, March 7, 1-4pm
Japanese Tea Ceremony and Discussion: Sunday, March 8, 1:30pm
Washington Toho Koto Society Performance: Sunday, March 8, 3pm

March 4 - 8
100.Tea.Bowls
The Art League Gallery
Room 21
The Art League is pleased to present 100.Tea.Bowls in collaboration with the ceramic artists of the Torpedo Factory. 100.Tea.Bowls invites artists to create a harmonious composition through the tea bowl clay form. This exhibit is presented in tandem with the gallery's immensely popular biennial Ikebana Show.
Awards Reception: Sunday, March 7, 1-4pm

Thursday, March 18
Thursday Nite Local Spotlight
Boris Arriata
7-9pm, FREE
Boris Arriata performs Latin American guitar with a twist of jazz. Growing up in Venezuela and drawing much inspiration from its geographical and cultural diversity, he developed a unique approach to classical, jazz, Latin, Spanish, and contemporary guitar styles. After recently relocating to Old Town Alexandria, he now performs in the DC metro area.

Click here for full Thursday Nite Local Spotlight schedule.

Thursday, March 25
Thursday Nite Local Spotlight
The Mango Project
7-9pm, FREE
The Mango Project is a breath of fresh air in performance and musical style that features the sounds of comtemporary and Latin-Jazz, as well as a variety of jazz standards and musical treatment of well known pop, R&B, and smooth jazz selections.

Click here for full Thursday Nite Local Spotlight schedule.

March 29 – April 3
Friends of the Torpedo Factory's Mentor Exhibition
Target Gallery
Annually, a selection of Torpedo Factory artists are paired with local Alexandria High School Students to serve as mentors to the students. At the end of the mentorship, an exhibition of the students work is on display in the gallery. This program is sponsored by The Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
Reception: Saturday, April 3, 3-5pm

Thursday, April 1
Thursday Nite Local Spotlight
The Jefferson Street Strutters
7-9pm, FREE
Enjoy hand-clapping, toe-tapping music from the Jefferson Street Strutters who will treat visitors to traditional jazz and American popular songs from the early years of the 20 th century.

Click here for full Thursday Nite Local Spotlight schedule.

April 5 - 8
Annual Jury for Torpedo Factory Artist Members
Artists must go through the annual jury process to become a Torpedo Factory artist. All artists working in fine arts and fine crafts are eligible. Upon selection, the applicant becomes a juried Torpedo Factory artist and is classified as an Associate Artist. Click here to learn more about the annual jury process and for the 2010 application form.

April 5 – 18
Newly Juried Artist Show
Target Gallery
The Torpedo Factory Art Center's annual jury provides artists with the opportunity to have a studio space at the art center. The newly juried artists are celebrated with a week long exhibition of their work.
Reception: Sunday, April 18, 2-4pm

Tuesday, April 6, 6 to 8pm
Art and the Arctic : Change, Challenge, and Inspiration
Morrison House Presents: Alison Sigethy , Torpedo Factory Artist
Morrison House Hotel
116 South Alfred Street, Alexandria , VA 22314
www.morrisonhouse.com / 703-838-8000
Free Admission; Food and drink available for purchase

Celebrate the 40th Earth Day with environmental artist Alison Sigethy. Alison creates earth-friendly sculptures out of salvaged building glass and wood. Her decision to use these materials was inspired by her kayak trips to Greenland and Arctic Canada. Come learn about the Arctic and see how she transforms common objects like driftwood and solar glass into organic works of art.
 
Alison has been creating green art since her first trip to the Arctic in 2006. A popular speaker in the field of environmental art, Alison has exhibited in shows, private collections, and galleries throughout the US and abroad.

"Morrison House Presents" is a salon-style series exploring Alexandria's heritage and culture with talks by artists, writers, and historians in the stylish yet comfortable salon of the Morrison House. This series is sponsored by the Torpedo Factory Artists' Association, the Alexandria Archaeological Commission, and the Morrison House Hotel. The talks take place on the first Tuesday of each month.

Click here for more information about the Morrison House series.

April 21 – 25
High School Competition
Target Gallery
The Torpedo Factory Artists Association will host a competition for art students from Alexandria public high schools. The students will have the opportunity to exhibit their work in the gallery.
Reception: Sunday, April 25, 2-4pm

Thursday, April 22
Thursday Nite Local Spotlight
U.S. Army Band
7-9pm, FREE
The U.S. Army Band presents world-class music in support of the leadership of the U.S.A.

Click here for full Thursday Nite Local Spotlight schedule.

May 1 – 30
WomanMade
Target Gallery
In participation with the Minds Wide Open statewide celebration of women in the arts, the gallery is presenting an all-media national and international juried exhibition exclusively for female artists. Lillian Fitzgerald, curator and art consultant, is the juror for this show.
Reception: Thursday, May 13, 6-8pm
Juror Talk: 7pm, during reception

June 3 – 6
Alexandria Reel Women in Film Festival
Target Gallery
In participation with the Minds Wide Open statewide celebration, the Target Gallery and The Art League are joining forces to sponsor the Torpedo Factory Art Center's first national and international female independent film festival. A selection of films and video will be on view in the Target Gallery and at The Art League's Duke Street Annex. The juror is Sydney-Chanelle Dawkins, award winning filmmaker and Chair of the Alexandria Film Festival on behalf of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.

June 7 – July 4
Luis Acosta and Miriam Londoño: The Language of Paper
Target Gallery
Target Gallery presents the second installment of their artist in residence (A.I.R.) program. Miriam Londoño and Luis Acosta, two artists traveling from the Netherlands, will be creating and exhibiting their art using handmade paper processes.

Workshops and special programming are being planned for the month long exhibition, including Designing of Weavings with Luis Acosta on June 12-13 and Designing Fashion Accessories with Luis Acosta on June 19.

Reception: Thursday, June 10, 6-8pm
Artist Talk: 7pm, during reception
Workshops: June 12-13, 10-5pm and June 19, 10-5pm