Arts Focus

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

From a major grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), to a temporary public art installation that received regional and international media coverage, 2017 has been an incredible year for the Arlington Cultural Affairs and its presenting arm, Arlington Arts!

Arlington Cultural Affairs, the County’s arts agency, partnered with Americans for the Arts to conduct the most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever undertaken in the United States. The Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study reveals our industry generates $189.2 million in annual economic activity in Arlington — supporting 5,156 full-time equivalent jobs and generating $13.9 million in local and state government revenues. 

While the economic benefits of our creative community are impressive, the power of the arts, especially in Arlington, is its ability to foster a sense of community. From a lunch meeting with co-workers in the Meeting Bowls created by Spanish collective mmmm…, to a conversation with your neighbor on the bus after seeing Anne Rowland’s Art on the ART Bus exhibit, the arts provided opportunities to connect with your community.

We partnered with numerous community and business organizations on events such as the Rosslyn Jazz Festival. Presented by the Rosslyn BID and programmed by Arlington Arts, the festival attendance soared to over 10,000 — a capacity crowd at Rosslyn’s Gateway Park. Also programmed by Arlington Arts, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival once again brought participants from across the County to party in the streets of South Arlington, in partnership with the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization.

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

What started as a partnership with Arlington Public Library and a showcase for Arlington artisans and makers, has grown to attract regional media attention and many new shoppers. Soon after the shop opened, five vendors, Mira Jean textile design, Can you Solve Me puzzles, Jules Jewels, Arlington Weaves and Dennison lane home goods were interviewed in the studios of FOX5 DC.

Even the hosts were stumped to arrange the asymmetrical ‘Can You Solve Me’ puzzle pieces into a simple shape. Also, on Friday, December 1, NBC 4 hosted their morning segment ‘Live in the Community’ on site at the Courthouse shop for the entire 6 a.m. hour. Plenty of coffee from Commonwealth Joe got the day off to a great start.

There are still lots of items in the shop that are perfect for the office gift exchange, visiting holiday relatives and the friend who has everything. Coffee, tea towels, wine stops, t-shirts, wine bottle bags, handwoven yoga mat straps and plenty of chocolate are all available. And two weekly lobby pop-up vendors are still to come.

On Thursday, December 14 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., shoppers will be treated to edible and wearable eye candy. Ruth Barzel, master jewelry designer who uses fine metals and semi-precious stones to make delectable and timeless pieces that suit anyone’s style will show off her beautiful work. The pieces are meant to reflect the wearer and be worn daily as the new favorite.

The final weekly pop-up on Thursday, December 21 will satisfy any sweet tooth. Kingsbury Chocolates is the expert in connecting the sweet experience with unusual ingredients that take the confections to a new level. Rob Kingsbury has never been one to stick to one type of sweet product. Who knew his lavender lemonade mix was the secret ingredient to a local restaurant’s summer ice pop? Come for some sweets, sample some surprises. Finish your holiday shopping in one unique place and support Arlington entrepreneurs.

The Plaza Shop is located on the 1st Floor lobby of 2100 Clarendon Blvd and will be open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through December 22 unless otherwise noted.

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

The words “grump” and Christmas may seem an unlikely pair. But for several years, the GRUMP Holiday Arts & Crafts Show has delighted those looking for unique, artist-designed and locally-sourced gift alternatives for the holidays (and those who want to see the Yeti). The popular pop-up market returns to the Crystal City Underground on Saturday, December 9 from 12 p.m.-5 p.m.

Imagine shopping in a virtual-reality Etsy.com, and you’ll get the gist of GRUMP, which is co-sponsored by Arlington Arts, the Crystal City BID and JBG Smith. Experience 50 local makers chosen via jury. From the sublime (luxurious all-natural cosmetics) to the quirky (Lego_©-covered bound journals), the vendors offer locally produced items including jewelry and bags, t-shirts, hand-milled soaps, stuffed animals, clever greeting cards and baked goods. Find something one-of-a-kind and local without browsing multiple boutiques, including:

Holland Cox handbags; Scarvelous (fabric accessories); Langdon Wood Maple Syrup (condiments); Legendary Bowties; Maré Naturals (cosmetics); Wunder Around (blown glass); Potomac Chocolate; Tigerflight (stuffed animals); Kuzeh Pottery; Craftgasm (paper craft); Becca & Mars (bath products); Sarah Cecilia Jewelry & Metal Goods; American Roadtrip Pillows; Block Party Press; Woolgathering; Bow Glass; Downward Dye; Artologica (science-inspired gifts); Spaghetti Kiss (tee shirts); Marney and swa (accessories); Splotch Monster Island; Laughing Moon Artworks; Jenny Wren Jewelry; Cuddles and Rage; Joe Engel; Naked Décor; Moonlight Bindery; Cynthia Connolly (Banned in DC); Karmic Kollections; Tina Seamonster; I Wear Blue Tights (clothespin magnets); Handmade Habitat (candles); Three Ravens Studio; Seeing in Fabric, Santiago Casares and many more.

And the fun doesn’t end with shopping. In partnership with Arlington Arts, there are numerous workshops* offered during the day:

• Kid’s Gnome Collage Workshop 2 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
• Watercolor Collage Holiday Card Workshop: 3 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
• Learn to Knit: 4 p.m.-4:45 p.m.

*Alas, both of the Splotch Monster workshops are already at-capacity.

Among the highlights is an opportunity to Meet a Yeti at GRUMP (2 p.m.-2:45 p.m.) the ‘ferociously-loveable’ costumed ‘abominable snowman’ character that provides a great photo-op for all ages. Get on over to GRUMP Crystal City, at the Crystal City Underground, 1750 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA.

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

Showing up to an art studio open house on Columbia Pike was the moment of inspiration for a new relationship between business and art. Up until then, Arlington Community Federal Credit Union (ACFCU) had not considered itself a likely venue for original art. Nor did the members of the Columbia Pike Artists Studios (CPAS) imagine that their work would transform a financial institution into a place that displayed their commitment to the community.

But through Arlington Economic Development, connecting ACFCU headquarters with the studios is evidence of the collaborations being made through CPRO and the County. With the current number of commercial art galleries in Arlington being very limited, the time to rethink spaces proved timely. So the art came to the headquarters lobby and to a branch on Glebe Road.

Creative Economy initiatives in the U.S. and around the globe have been built on people already in place and businesses already thriving. At Americans for the Arts, the pARTnership movement paves the way for businesses and creatives to forge new partnerships that go way beyond philanthropy, sponsorships and donor support. With toolkits, success stories and more that put creatives at the forefront of everything from Advancing Corporate Objectives and Strategies, Fostering Critical Thinking and delving into Corporate Social Responsibility, the value of the relationships is changing.

Now in its second season of exhibiting artists work in the lobby gallery, ACFCU has taken its mission to serve Arlington to a new level. Businesses looking for their own inspiration can visit the open house at CPAS on December 2 and 3.

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

Networking is an essential tool in any industry, including the creative sector. Each month, The Arts Meet! (TAM) gatherings provide a platform for Arlington creatives and artists to network, discuss trends, projects and opportunities, and to… well, meet! To accommodate the busy holiday season, the November/December meeting will take place on Monday (5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.), December 4, at Gallery Underground, 2100 Crystal Drive in Arlington.

The monthly TAM events are Sponsored by Arlington Cultural Affairs, along with various partners from the cultural and business community. This month’s hosts, Arlington Artists Alliance (AAA) and Gallery Underground, invite attendees to view AAA’s juried show, This is America, in the Focus Gallery, and talk with Alliance members about their work. Light fare will be provided, sponsored by the Crystal City BID.

Taking place in all parts of the County, past TAM activities have occurred at a range of restaurants and cultural venues. Piola (Rosslyn), Copperwood Tavern (Shirlington), Arlington Arts Center (Virginia Square), Westover Beer Garden, McCormick & Schmick’s (Crystal City), Liberty Tavern (Clarendon) have all hosted the group, which typically draws between 20 and 50 participants.

Your RSVP is requested for The Arts Meet on December 4. Parking in the public garages is free after 4:00 p.m. If you’re coming by Metro, use the Crystal City station. Gallery Underground is located next to Au Bon Pain in the Crystal City Shops.

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

The MADE IN ARLINGTON pop-up retail market is dedicated to beautiful, wearable and edible wares from entrepreneurs and artisans in Arlington, VA. You’ll find them in a new home this fall at the Library Plaza Shop in Courthouse.

In a partnership with Arlington Public Library, the retail mini market will be part of the Plaza Shop for November and December, offering unique items beyond the regular Arlington logo hats and t-shirts. Patrons will find custom chocolates, home goods, puzzles, coffee and more right in time for holiday shopping.

Starting with Livin’ the Pie Life on November 2, weekly pop-ups in the lobby will host more Arlington artisans who will be on hand every Thursday from 11am – 2pm.

This year, MADE IN ARLINGTON welcomes several new makers. Stas Casa from Can You Solve Me has been making unique brainteaser puzzles at TechShop in Crystal City. Stas is a Moldovan born entrepreneur whose passion for puzzles took root when he first solved the Rubik’s Cube. After a 7 year career in finance at Bloomberg, LP, he followed his entrepreneurial spirit and founded Can You Solve Me.

For fitness fans, Arlington Weaves brings beautiful hand woven yoga mat straps to the shop. The weaving studio on Washington Blvd, a signature program of Arlington Department of Human Services and administered by Service Source, has been the training and support center for artisans with intellectual disabilities for many years.

Sponsored by Arlington Economic Development, the pop-up shop is another way the County supports collaborations, small businesses and entrepreneurs through initiatives like Creative Economy and BizLaunch.

The Plaza Shop is located on the 1st Floor lobby of 2100 Clarendon Blvd and will be open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

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

If you see stars and paper airplanes circling your head when you look up from your beer during the first annual Valley Fest Celebration, it’s not that you’ve had one too many. It’s a new Arlington Arts Mural by artist Ham Smith on the façade of 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, adjacent to the event.

The Mural is making its official debut on Sunday, November 5, 2017 during this new street festival in front of Shirlington’s New District Brewing Company, 2709 S. Oakland Street, in Arlington, Virginia.

With live music, food trucks and local art on display, admission to Valley Fest is Free (with tickets for sale for the beer tastings). The first 50 attendees who stop by the Arlington Arts booth between 2-4 p.m. will receive a free tee shirt based on themes from the Mural, signed by the Artist himself.

Now based in Brooklyn, Ham Smith’s roots in the Arlington/Falls Church area go back five generations. Highly influenced by mid-century American blue collar culture, Smith’s work is prominently featured in celebrity chef Jose Andres’ Jaleo restaurants and numerous other commercial projects. His most recent projects have been commissioned in New York City, Los Angeles, Virginia and Savannah.

The home-base for Arlington artists and cultural groups ranging from WSC Avant Bard and Halau O ‘Aulani, to Jane Franklin Dance, the County-run 3700 venue is used for everything from workshops and rehearsals and a recording studio, to performances in the 80+ seat Theatre on the Run. The vibrant shapes and colors of the mural reflect the buzz of activity that occurs at the venue from morning till night.

If you miss getting your free Arlington Arts Mural Tee Shirt at Valley Fest, you can also purchase one at the new Made In Arlington pop-up retail market, a new showcase for the work of creative Arlington makers and artists. It’s located in The Plaza Shop on the 1st Floor lobby of 2100 Clarendon Boulevard (open M-F, 8-5 p.m.).