Arts Focus

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Our new capacity-building series for artists and arts organizations is off to a great start!

There are several more opportunities for you to sharpen the skills critical to successfully navigating the business and communications aspects of your creative endeavors. The remaining sessions cover cultural intelligence, arts marketing insights, creating content in a digital world and more. All workshops are virtual, except for the final program, which is held in person at Arlington’s Studio Pause.

The workshops are presented by the Northern Virginia Local Arts Agencies (NVLAA) consortium. Comprised of the arts agencies of Arlington County, the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County, the group is designed to expand resources and opportunities for artists and arts organizations throughout the NOVA area.

Below is an overview of the series of workshops offered through spring 2024. Panelists and additional information for several of the programs is forthcoming. For more details and to register, click here.

Cultural Intelligence for Arts Organizations and Artists with Brighter Strategies 

Feb. 8, 12-1:30 p.m.
Facilitated by: Ann Romosz of Brighter Strategies

In an increasingly interconnected and diverse world, navigating and thriving in culturally rich environments has become an essential skill. This workshop will empower the participants with the tools, knowledge and insights needed to develop a heightened awareness of different cultures, enhance cross-cultural communication skills, and cultivate a deep sense of cultural sensitivity. Whether you’re interacting with colleagues, clients or partners from around the globe, the principles and practices you’ll discuss here will enable you to foster respectful and effective collaborations while fostering an inclusive and harmonious environment.

Nailing the Application: A Guide to Artist Open Calls

Feb. 22, 12-1:30 p.m.
Facilitated by: New York Foundation for the Arts

Artists are constantly applying for exhibitions and residencies. Many creative opportunities start with an open call. How can you ensure you put your best foot forward when submitting these applications?

Drawing upon the perspective of arts decision-makers who run residencies, jury exhibitions and review project proposals, this panel discussion will cover:

• Where to find open calls for art exhibitions, residencies and more
• How to determine if an opportunity is right for you
• Tips for compiling and presenting your work samples
• What reviewers like to see in the application statement/narrative
• Insights into the behind-the-scenes review process

Promotional Partnerships: Creative Ways to Attract New Audiences
March 7, 12-1:30 p.m.

The marketing leaders of Arlington Cultural Affairs, Arts Fairfax and the Office of the Arts, City of Alexandria will highlight unique promotional partnerships that widen the exposure of an arts activity through shared resources. They’ll guide you through interactive exercises to strengthen your ability to tell your story, identify a prospective partner, and grow your project’s reach.

Marketing Tools of the Trade with Substantial Art and Music

March 21, 12-1:30 p.m.
Facilitated by: Substantial Art & Music

Substantial Art & Music will provide artists and arts organizations with tools in social media marketing and analytics and passive income/monetization for both visual and performing arts.

Creating Content in a Digital World

April 4, 12-1:30 p.m.
Facilitated by: New York Foundation for the Arts

In today’s digital world, creatives are often expected to create content representing their artistic practice and their art itself. Yet most artists are not professional content producers, or at least didn’t start that way.

This workshop will explore how artists can professionally and creatively develop content to build their audience online. Expert Molaundo Jones, who runs the marketing initiatives for a world-renowned organization for producing creative content, Art21, will lead the presentation as Senior Director of Communications and Partnerships. Jones will discuss strategies for developing social media and YouTube content and provide time for Q&A.

Community Engagement with Studio Pause

May 2, 5-6:30 p.m.
In-person at Studio Pause, 4710 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204
Facilitated by: Sushmita Mazumdar of Studio Pause

Artists and arts organizations get an overview of ways to engage the community they are trying to serve. Instructor Sushmita Mazumdar will share how her artist’s projects and others she has observed or been part of hope to use art to achieve long-term outcomes, try new processes and build relationships.

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

The new year is the perfect time for a fresh start! What better time for artists and arts organizations to sharpen the skills that are critical to successfully navigating the business and communications aspects of their creative endeavors?

Here are seven free workshops for artists and arts organizations, covering gallery representation, cultural intelligence, arts marketing insights, creating content in a digital world and more. Six workshops are virtual, with the final program being in-person at Arlington’s Studio Pause.

The workshops are presented by the Northern Virginia Local Arts Agencies (NVLAA) consortium. Comprised of the arts agencies of Arlington County, the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County, the group is designed to expand resources and opportunities for artists and arts organizations throughout the NOVA area.

Below is an overview of the series of workshops offered through spring 2024. Panelists and additional information for several of the programs is forthcoming. For more details and to register, click here.

Inside Gallery Representation: Paths to Working with Dealers

Jan. 18, 12-1:30 p.m.
Facilitated by: New York Foundation for the Arts

Attaining gallery representation is a goal for many artists. While it’s seen by many as a marker of success and support, it’s often unclear how to get representation. This panel will focus on how to attain gallery representation. You’ll hear directly from artists on their paths toward reaching this milestone and gallerists perspective on what factors they consider when deciding whether to represent an artist. Q&A will follow the program.

Cultural Intelligence for Arts Organizations and Artists with Brighter Strategies

Feb. 8, 12-1:30 p.m.
Facilitated by: Ann Romosz of Brighter Strategies

In an increasingly interconnected and diverse world, navigating and thriving in culturally rich environments has become an essential skill. This workshop will empower the participants with the tools, knowledge and insights needed to develop a heightened awareness of different cultures, enhance cross-cultural communication skills and cultivate a deep sense of cultural sensitivity. Whether you’re interacting with colleagues, clients or partners from around the globe, the principles and practices you’ll discuss here will enable you to foster respectful and effective collaborations while fostering an inclusive and harmonious environment.

Nailing the Application: A Guide to Artist Open Calls

Feb. 22, 12-1:30 p.m.
Facilitated by: New York Foundation for the Arts

Artists are constantly applying for exhibitions and residencies. Many creative opportunities start with an open call. How can you ensure you put your best foot forward when submitting these applications?

Drawing upon the perspective of arts decision-makers who run residencies, jury exhibitions and review project proposals, this panel discussion will cover:

• Where to find open calls for art exhibitions, residencies and more
• How to determine if an opportunity is right for you
• Tips for compiling and presenting your work samples
• What reviewers like to see in the application statement/narrative
• Insights into the behind-the-scenes review process

Promotional Partnerships: Creative Ways to Attract New Audiences
March 7, 12-1:30 p.m.

The marketing leaders of Arlington Cultural Affairs, Arts Fairfax and the Office of the Arts, City of Alexandria will highlight unique promotional partnerships that widen the exposure of an arts activity through shared resources. They’ll guide you through interactive exercises to strengthen your ability to tell your story, identify a prospective partner, and grow your project’s reach.

Marketing Tools of the Trade with Substantial Art and Music

March 21, 12-1:30 p.m.
Facilitated by: Substantial Art & Music

Sub Arts will provide artists and arts organizations with tools in Social Media Marketing and Analytics and Passive Income/Monetization for both visual and performing arts.

Creating Content in a Digital World

April 4, 12-1:30 p.m.
Facilitated by: New York Foundation for the Arts

In today’s digital world, creatives are often expected to create content representing their artistic practice and their art itself. Yet most artists are not professional content producers, or at least didn’t start that way.

This workshop will explore how artists can professionally and creatively develop content to build their audience online. Expert Molaundo Jones, who runs the marketing initiatives for a world-renowned organization for producing creative content, Art21, will lead the presentation as Senior Director of Communications and Partnerships. Jones will discuss strategies for developing social media and YouTube content and provide time for Q&A.

Community Engagement with Studio Pause

May 2, 5-6:30 p.m.
In-person at Studio Pause, 4710 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204
Facilitated by: Sushmita Mazumdar of Studio Pause

Artists and arts organizations get an overview of ways to engage the community they are trying to serve. Instructor Sushmita Mazumdar will share how her artist’s projects and others she has observed or been part of hope to use art to achieve long-term outcomes, try new processes and build relationships.

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Fifty-five years of time and weather exposure had taken their toll on Compassion, the 1969 sculpture by Una Hanbury installed at the intersection of Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards at Courthouse Road.

When a re-creation of the artwork by sculptor Colin Poole was installed on Tuesday, December 12, it marked more than an ordinary installation. “Una Hanbury was my grandmother, mentor and hero,” said Poole. “Some of my earliest memories are of her studio… My first monumental bronze was a collaboration with her and now, many decades later, we collaborate once again.”

The surface of the concrete sculpture had eroded to the extent that it was unrecognizable. Seeing the need for restoration, Arlington County, Greystar Real Estate Partners, and the family of Una Hanbury worked together to determine how the sculpture could be saved. Due to the condition of the original sculpture, two independent conservators agreed that it would be perilous to move and attempt to repair the sculpture. As an alternative approach, Una Hanbury’s grandson, Colin Poole, a professional artist who apprenticed under Hanbury, offered to undertake the task of recreating Compassion.

Using his grandmother’s sculpting tools and referencing other sculptures she had crafted during that era, Poole skillfully reproduced the surface textures, and the renewed form was cast in bronze for longevity. Poole digitally scanned the weathered concrete sculpture, milled a replica in foam, and enveloped it in clay. Drawing upon Hanbury’s bronze maquette and photos of the sculpture when it was first installed, Poole was able to recreate the missing details of its likeness.

The 1969 sculpture was not part of the County’s Public Art Collection as it did not originate through a site plan community benefit negotiation or a direct County commission. It was a gift to the County from the Jaycees that long predated the County’s Public Art Program, which will celebrate its 40th Anniversary in 2024. Created to convey a message of compassion for others, may this sculpture’s renewal also strengthen our resolve to spread kindness and empathy in our community, and throughout the world.

About Colin Poole

Colin Poole was born in Washington, D.C. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Connecticut College with a concentration in metal sculpture. He continued his professional education apprenticing with master sculptor Una Hanbury, metal sculptor David Smalley and master printmaker Lou Stovall. Known for his classically-inspired contemporary realism, Poole’s bronze sculptures and oil paintings have been exhibited throughout the United States and Europe and his corporate client list reads as a “who’s who” of Fortune 500 companies.

About Arlington Public Art

Arlington Public Art directly commissions artworks integrated into the County’s capital improvement projects, coordinates artworks commissioned by real estate developers as part of the site plan process and assists community groups to initiate public art projects on public property. We also partner with local arts and community organizations, artists and businesses to present interpretative projects, temporary artworks, exhibitions and more. Arlington Public Art is a program of Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs.

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

The holidays are upon us and many of you are hosting family and friends for extended stays well into the New Year. But… what to do before and after the big celebration?

Fortunately, Arlington has one of the most active cultural scenes in the region, and this Winter Arts Highlight is your guide to the myriad ways to keep your guests entertained and engaged right here in Arlington!

Arlington’s exceedingly talented and creative array of visual and performing artists offer you many options this winter, including: this Saturday’s Holiday Cheer concert by National Chamber Ensemble (Dec. 16); grab last minute gifts at the Holiday Makers Market at the Commentary Social House (Dec. 16); Synetic Theater’s youth-friendly, movement-based performance of Snow Maiden (now thru Jan. 6).

Below are a few sample highlights. For a more comprehensive list of events and activities taking place in Arlington through January, see the full Arlington Arts’ Winter Arts Highlight.

National Chamber Ensemble: Holiday Cheer with Renowned Violinist Dylana Jenson
Saturday, December 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington | Barcroft

Celebrate the season with an evening of classical and popular holiday favorites for the entire family! Guest violinist Dylana Jenson is known for her appearances with all the major American Symphony Orchestras, The Tonight Show and has even played a duet with Jack Benny. She will join NCE’s artistic director/violinist Leo Sushansky to perform the Concerto for Two Violins by J.S. Bach and the virtuoso showpiece, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saens, which she recorded for RCA with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The program concludes with a Carols Sing-Along guaranteed to put everyone in the holiday spirit.

Fred Schnider Gallery of Art: “Cross Pollination” Delna Dastur
Thru December 30 | Fred Schnider Gallery of Art | Ballston

“Cross Pollination” includes painting and drawings that explore our peaceful and conflicted relationship with nature. Join for the Artist Talk with Delna Dastur on Saturday, December 9 from 5-7 p.m.

Arlington Artists Alliance: Above & Beyond
January 3-26 | Gallery Underground | National Landing

Gallery Underground kicks off the new year with a group show in appreciation of their hard-working Board members. Arlington Artists Alliance Board: Above & Beyond features artworks by their generous Board member artists who dedicate their time behind the scenes to strengthen their programs and outreach. The exhibition will represent their various artistic styles, mediums, and talent. Join for the First Friday Opening Reception on Friday, January 5 from 5-7 p.m., featuring live music by US Army Field Band musician Troy Paolantonio.

Friday Morning Music Club: St. George’s Chamber Series
Friday, January 5 | 12 p.m. | St. Georges Episcopal Church | Virginia Square
The Friday Morning Music Club resumes the Arlington portion of its free series of concerts with the following program:

• Borodin: Polovtsian Dances. Chen-Li Tzeng and Jeongseon Choi, piano four hands
• Spohr: Six German Songs for Soprano, Clarinet, and Piano, op. 103. Marjorie Wellman, soprano; Carol Falvo, clarinet; Lois Jones, piano
• Debussy: Piano Trio in G Major. Bonnie Shuen (guest), piano; Kay Kakazawa (guest), violin; David Pearl, cello

Encore Stage & Studio: Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr The Musical
January 12-21 | Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre | Arlington Heights

This beloved story follows Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, who lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his child Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured, Marlin decides to face his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as the optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. More

Signature Theatre: That’s What Friends Are For: Nova Y. Payton sings Burt Bacharach
January 16 thru February 4, 2024| Signature Theatre | Shirlington

The incomparable Nova Y. Payton sings the repertoire of acclaimed tunesmith Burt Bacharach, whose six-decade career produced the hit musical Promises, Promises as well as chart-topping pop songs including “I Say A Little Prayer,” “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” and “What the World Needs Now is Love.”

Powerhouse vocalist Nova Y. Payton staring in Signature’s The Color Purple last season.

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Tis the season! From now right through December, many of you are welcoming family and friends for extended stays during the holidays. But what to do before and after the big celebration?

Fortunately, Arlington has one of the most active cultural scenes in the region, and this Winter Arts Highlight is your guide to the myriad ways to keep your guests entertained and engaged right here in Arlington!

Last month the National Center for Arts Research released its 8th Arts Vibrancy Index, which identifies the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area as number three on the list of the most arts-vibrant communities in the Nation according to SMU DataArts. The data is compiled through an analysis of the level of supply, demand and government support for the arts in more than 900 communities across the country. Arlington, along with its neighbors Washington D.C. and Alexandria, has consistently appeared on the Arts Vibrancy index since the launch of the rankings in 2015.

This high ranking was achieved because of Arlington’s exceedingly talented and creative array of visual and performing artists. This winter, their offerings include cabaret evenings at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre (December 5-23); a holiday performance by The Arlington Philharmonic Brass Quintet (December 9); Arlington Artists Alliance’s Winter Artful Weekend Sale featuring everything from woodworking to jewelry (December 8-10); Jane Franklin Dance’s performances of “Set” (December 9-10); and an Artist Talk by Marissa Long about her current exhibit Blister Pearl at Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (November 29).

Below are a few sample highlights. For a more comprehensive list of events and activities taking place in Arlington in December, see the full Arlington Arts’ Winter Arts Highlight.

Arlington Chorale: Of All the Kings
Saturday, December 9 | 5 p.m. | Westover Baptist Church | Westover

This holiday concert has something for everyone, from well-known favorites like the beloved carol, “Good King Wenceslas,” Nat King Cole’s timeless classic, “The Christmas Song,” to Antonio Vivaldi’s uplifting Gloria. A highlight is The Ballad of the Brown King, a seldom performed gem by African American composer and piano virtuoso Margaret Bonds with libretto by Langston Hughes that premiered in 1954. This captivating story of Balthazar, one of the Three Wise Men, weaves together elements of spirituals, gospel and classical music, creating a unique and soul-stirring experience that will resonate with all. Presented by the Arlington Chorale in collaboration with the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington.

LAC STUDIOS: Holiday Show & Sale
Saturday, December 9 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | LAC Studios | Leeway-Overlee

Looking for unique gifts this holiday season? Shop Local! Back after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, the annual LAC Studios Holiday Show & Sale features ceramics, pottery and hand pulled prints for sale by the member-artists of LAC Studios. Just in time to put under the tree!

Encore Stage & Studio: Reindeer Games
December 8-17 | Gunston Theatre Two | Long Branch Creek

Pulling Santa’s sleigh is hard work. And when team leader Dasher decides to retire, coaches Kris and Carol Kringle host the Reindeer Games to find the next member of the Nifty Nine, Santa’s reindeer crew. Eager reindeer recruits showcase their talents in a series of games, but these aren’t your typical winter events, nor your typical competitors.

Synetic Theater: The Tale of the Fisherman and the Golden Fish
December 8-January 7 | Synetic Theater | National Landing

When a kind, poor fisherman discovers a wish-granting fish, he selflessly releases the creature back into the ocean. While content with his simple life, his wife’s extravagant desires soon drive him to re-capture the magical fish and make her dreams a reality — but not without cost.

National Chamber Ensemble:
Holiday Cheer with Renowned Violinist Dylana Jenson
Saturday, December 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington | Barcroft

Celebrate the season with an evening of classical and popular holiday favorites for the entire family! Guest violinist Dylana Jenson is known for her appearances with all the major American Symphony Orchestras, The Tonight Show and has even played a duet with Jack Benny. She will join NCE’s artistic director/violinist Leo Sushansky to perform the Concerto for Two Violins by J.S. Bach and the virtuoso showpiece, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saens, which she recorded for RCA with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The program concludes with a Carols Sing-Along guaranteed to put everyone in the holiday spirit.

Signature Theater “Both Sides Now” Tribute to Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen:

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Come out for the popular annual Dia De Los Muertos Celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 1 (today) at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington!

Enjoy the crisp fall weather with an evening picnic featuring family-friendly art projects. Spread your blanket on the lawn, then grab a warm beverage and a hot Mexican meal from a local food truck, while you enjoy performances and art activities in the park.

A Mexican cultural tradition celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, National Geographic describes Dia De Los Muertos as a combination of “the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls’ Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico” in the early 1500’s. Today, it is a day of remembering departed loved ones through joyous celebration rather than mourning.

Arlington artist David Amoroso will build a large-scale altar on the front portico of the building, and you are invited to bring a photo of a loved one who has passed away to be included.

There will be music from Grupo Fénix, known for their appearances everywhere from the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art to Glenn Echo Park. You’ll also enjoy a performance by the folkloric Mexican dance ensemble Los Quetzales, and poetry readings from Cristi Donoso. Raices Culturales will also present artisan mask maker Rafael Jiménez López’s work for view and purchase. Tasty beverages and bites will be available from pop-up cafe, Rossana, and delicious tacos will be available from local food truck, La Tingeria.

The Museum of Contemporary Arts Arlington (formerly known as Arlington Arts Center) has a long collaborative history with Arlington County Government. The independent nonprofit holds a long-term lease with Arlington County to operate within the County-owned former school building. Designed in 1910 by noted school architect Charles M. Robinson, the school closed in 1975 and the building became home to the Arlington Arts Center in 1976. After an extensive renovation in 2005, it now boasts Tiffany Windows salvaged from the former Abbey Mausoleum by Arlington Arts and the County’s Office of Historic Preservation. The Clarendon School is a designated Arlington County Landmark and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Come celebrate Dia De Los Muertos on Wednesday, Nov. 1 (today) from 5-8 p.m., at Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, 3550 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201. For details, visit the website!

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

The temporary public artwork Put the “I” into C_vic was reactivated for this past weekend’s Arlington Art Walk, as highlighted on WTTG Fox 5. The work will remain on display at various locations around George Mason University’s Arlington campus throughout the fall, marking a new journey for the artwork.

With the “I” purposely missing, participants are invited to pose for a photo standing in the artwork to Put the “I” into C_vic and to share what “civic” means to them.

Created by artist Linda Hesh, the work was commissioned through Arlington Arts in 2016 as part of Courthouse 2.0: Reimagining the Civic. The public art initiative was aimed at sparking public conversation exploring the interaction between civic space and civic life in Arlington in the twenty-first century, and to consider their individual role in civic life.

During it’s successful two-year run, Put the “I” Into C_vic enjoyed activations throughout Arlington, and made an appearance at the “By the People Festival” at the Smithsonian Institution’s Arts and Industries Building in June, 2018. Documentation of comments by past participants was captured for posterity at reimaginecivic.com.

Look for this unique work of art the next time you’re on the GMU campus!

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

This is a guest column by the Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour.

Every September, art lovers roam throughout Arlington County to meet artists in their studios and see their work. The county is dotted with art studios in homes and commercial buildings. One weekend each year, they spark into view.

This year, fifty artists will open their studios to the public free of charge on the weekend of September 23 and 24.

The Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour organizes this artful weekend by publishing a guide showing what’s on view where. Whether you like paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints or jewelry, you can find makers of all those. And this year, makers of furniture and textile artists are present, too.

Anyone can pick their favorite art works now online, find where they’re made on a custom map, and plan a route. Printed guides are now available at art galleries, recreation centers and libraries throughout Arlington. On Saturday, Sept. 23, participating studios in North Arlington will be open to the public; on Sunday, Sept. 24, South Arlington artists will take their turn. Each day studios will open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A special exhibit at Gallery 3700 (3700 S. Four Mile Run Arlington VA 22206) will feature work by the same artists who are participating in the tour. Called AVAST@3700, the show opened on September 9. The opening reception for the tour will also take place at Gallery 3700, from 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 22. The show, opening reception and studio tours are all open to the public.

The Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour is a joint effort of independent artists and volunteers, supported by contributors including Schnider Investment Group, Dominion Lighting, Falls Church Art and Frame, Palette 22, and in cooperation with Arlington’s visual art organizations. Click here for detailed information.

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

A soul-stirring lineup that will have you on your feet with grooves from New Orleans, Havana and U Street NW, the Rosslyn Jazz Fest returns on Saturday, September 9, featuring: the New Orleans-based quintet Galactic, featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph; Cuban percussion icon Pedrito Martínez Group; D.C.’s own Oh He Dead, and DuPont Brass.

The Rosslyn BID and Arlington Arts invite you to the County’s most popular free outdoor music festival on Saturday, September 9, from 1 to 7 p.m. at Gateway Park (1300 Langston Blvd, Arlington, VA).

Join us at Gateway Park for an afternoon of music, food trucks, yard games, community table experiences, and more. Additionally, the Arlington Art Truck is on-site kicking off its new season with, Good Neighbors: Fences into Benches by Michael Verdon, an interactive activation that lets you be part of the creative process as you explore the nature of community.

Rosslyn Jazz Fest is FREE and registration is not required, but encouraged, to help us produce the best experience for all in attendance, as there are capacity limits at Gateway Park. Click Here for full details on the 2023 Rosslyn Jazz Fest!

Jazz Fest 2023 Lineup:

Galactic featuring vocalist Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph — 5:30 p.m.
Galactic is a proud New Orleans-based quintet that has been together for nearly three decades. They have released 10 albums, performed over 2,000 gigs, and garnered tens of millions of streams. They’ve performed with world-class bands and artists — including Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Counting Crows, and The Allman Brothers Band — appeared on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, contributed to the blockbuster soundtrack for Now You See Me, and performed at Coachella, Bonnaroo, and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (a staggering 22 times). They are joined by vocal powerhouse Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph. Visit their website to learn more.

Pedrito Martinez Group — 3:45 p.m.
Cuban born and raised artist Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martínez began his musical career at the young age of 11, and is known as a consummate master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum. He has recorded or performed with world-class artists — including Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne, Elton John, James Taylor, and Sting — and has contributed to well over 100 albums. Pedrito toured the world in the mid to late 90’s, and was nominated for a Grammy. Visit his website to learn more.

Oh He Dead — 2:20 p.m.
D.C.-based Oh He Dead was founded in 2015 by singer CJ “Bowlin” Johnson and singer/guitarist Andy Valenti. Eight years later, the now six-piece group is known for their energetic live shows and music that ranges from soul to pop to funk to rock. Critics call the lead singer’s voice “a combination of Stevie Nicks and Tracy Chapman” (Kojo Nnamdi), and compliment the band’s “sublime instrumentation” (NPR) and “infectious and soulful sound” (Washington Post). Oh He Dead’s second album, Pretty, will be out on September 15, right after this year’s Jazz Fest. Until then, they are releasing a new single every six weeks. Visit their website to learn more.

Dupont Brass — 1p.m.
Originally composed of five music majors from Howard University raising money for tuition at local Metro stations, D.C.-based DuPont Brass has since grown to a nine-piece ensemble consisting of brass, a rhythm section, and vocalists. Through their training in classical and contemporary styles, DuPont Brass has developed a sound they’ve coined “Eclectic Soul” that mixes varied genres of music, including jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. Visit their website to learn more.

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Since the days of Florenz Ziegfeild and David Belasco, hopeful performers and audiences alike have harbored glittering dreams of Broadway.

But each one of those dreams begins in regional theater, where performers train and grow, while audiences enjoy the magic of live theater in their own community. Part of the fabric of our area’s rich cultural scene since 1949, Arlington’s Dominion Stage has just announced its’ 2023-2024 season.

Known as the Fairlington Players until re-branding in the late 1980’s, their first production was Ayn Rand’s Night of January 16th, an interactive courtroom drama whose ending depends on the decision of a jury of audience members (the play premiered in January of 1949, of course). Dominion Stage’s website offers a fascinating digital program archive, replete with ads and notices that offer a fascinating window on changing times.

Take a peek at Dominion Stage’s current season, which launched last weekend:

BRUTE FARCE
by Craig Houk
August 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 2023
8 p.m.
Gunston Theatre Two, 2700 S Lang Street, Arlington, VA 22206
Four vengeful, narcissistic actors, with the assistance of a brutish stage manager and a cynical stagehand, abduct and hold captive a theatre critic notorious for shutting down productions and ending careers through his malicious reviews. To confound matters, they intend to carry their plan out during a performance of a show they’re all currently appearing in. Less than an hour before the curtain is due to rise, their scheme begins to quickly unravel; we discover that none of the conspirators are familiar with the actual plan or its designed outcome.
‍
‍MISERY
A thriller by William Goldman based on the novel by Stephen King
Fall 2023
‍Misery follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car crash by his “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads his latest book and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. The irate Annie has Paul writing as if his life depends on it, and it does.

TORCH SONG
A dramedy by Harvey Fierstein
Winter 2024
The life of Arnold Beckoff, a torch song-singing, Jewish drag queen living in New York City, is dramatized over the span of the late 1970s and 1980s. Told with a likable, human voice, Torch Song follows Arnold’s odyssey to find happiness in New York. All he wants is a husband, a child, and a pair of bunny slippers that fit, but a visit from his overbearing mother reminds him that he needs one thing more: respect.

‍RENT
‍A musical with book, lyrics, and music by Jonathan Larson
Spring 2024
Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, Jonathan Larson’s Rent follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.

About Dominion Stage

Dominion Stage will enrich the local arts community by expressing, through live theatrical productions, the different contemporary, traditional, diverse, and historically under-represented stories in our community. Our company will provide an inclusive place for new and continued education and personal development for participants on the stage, in technical roles, and as leaders/administrators behind the scenes.

For more information on the upcoming season, visit the Dominion Stage website.

An Arlington tradition for four decades, the public is invited to participate in Dark Star Park Day, on Tuesday, August 1 to watch the shadow alignment that the iconic sculpture was designed to capture.

Dark Star Park is located at the convergence of Fort Myer Drive and North Lynn Street, just off of Route 50/Arlington Boulevard, in Arlington’s Rosslyn neighborhood.

Every August 1st at 9:32 a.m., Nancy Holt’s Dark Star Park (1984), in Arlington’s Rosslyn neighborhood, aligns with the sun. Shadows cast by the spheres and poles of this landmark outdoor sculpture align with their permanent forms on the ground, marking the moment of Rosslyn’s founding. The community is invited to celebrate with light refreshments provided by the Rosslyn Business Improvement District.

The work of pioneering Land art artist Nancy Holt, Dark Star Park is one of the first major examples of “integrated public art” in the nation, and Arlington’s first major commissioned public art project. It also marks the anniversary of the day in 1860 that William Henry Ross purchased the land that later became Rosslyn, where the park is located. As many of Nancy Holt’s site-specific artworks were purposely built in remote areas, Dark Star Park is also extraordinary in that it is among the late artist’s few major artworks in an accessible urban area.

A deeply moving experience in-person, you can get a sense of the event from this video of the 2019 alignment which coincided with a live performance of a site-specific composition by Cuneiform recording artists Janel and Anthony.

In addition to being a regional landmark, Nancy Holt’s sculptural park is the cornerstone of Arlington’s internationally acclaimed Public Art collection. This 40th shadow alignment since the artwork’s inception will launch Arlington Public Art’s yearlong 40th anniversary observance with a series of events and activations highlighting the entire collection, including the dedication of several artworks new to the collection. Join us in celebrating four decades of sparking civic engagement and urban placemaking in Arlington County!

About: Arlington Public Art
Arlington County, Virginia, is home to more than eighty permanent public works of art. Arlington Public Art directly commissions artworks integrated into County capital improvement projects, coordinates artworks commissioned by real estate developers as part of the site plan process and assists community groups to initiate public art projects on public property. We also partner with local arts and community organizations, artists and businesses to present interpretative projects, temporary artworks, exhibitions and more.

Arlington’s history of commissioning public art stemming from County planning objectives began in 1984 with the dedication of Nancy Holt’s Dark Star Park in Rosslyn which features a community-celebrated annual shadow alignment. August 1, 2023, marks the 40th shadow alignment since the artwork’s inception and will launch a yearlong 40th-anniversary celebration with a series of events and activations highlighting the entire collection. Arlington Public Art is a program of Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs.

For more information about Dark Star Park Day, click here.