The 2700 South Nelson Project is planned to replace the two buildings acquired by Arlington County at 2700 South Nelson Street and 2701 South Oakland Street with a temporary flexible outdoor arts and maker space.
Based on the needs and ideas shared by community stakeholders, the artists and designers at Graham Projects have created two design concepts.
View the designs and share your feedback to shape the future temporary creative open space at 2700 S Nelson! The feedback form will be open through November 21.
As a part of the Public Engagement process of the project, the Graham Projects design team and Arlington County officials engaged nearly 400 participants through several outreach strategies; including targeted meetings with key stakeholder groups, a public virtual Kick Off Presentation, two in-person Pop-Ups reaching residents at popular gathering spots, and an online Engagement Web Page where folks could respond to different examples of public art and placemaking; and share their ideas for colors, thematic inspiration, local history, and on-site programming.
Come celebrate Dia De Los Muertos on Tuesday, November 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at an evening picnic at one of Arlington’s venerable cultural institutions recently renamed Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (formerly Arlington Arts Center)!
Bring your own blanket and grab dinner from a local food truck while you enjoy performances and art activities in the park for this annual celebration of Mexican art and culture.
Returning this year is traditional mariachi music by Mariachi Los Amigos. Show off your dance moves to the Salsa, Latin Soul and Boogaloo groves of Arlington’s internationally known DJ’s Leon City Sounds! An array of family-friendly art projects, face painting and other activities round out the evening. Enjoy delicious Mexican food items from acclaimed local vendors La Tingeria.
Although recently renamed, MOCAA has a long collaborative history with Arlington County Government. The independent non-profit 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 Mosuleaum by Arlington Arts and the County’s 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 Tuesday, November 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, 3550 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201. For details, visit the website!
From roads and housing to light rail, development is booming in Northern Virginia. But what are the impacts of development on the natural environment, particularly the bird population?
The kickoff activation for the Arlington Art Truck’s Fall 2022 Season lets you make a bird sculpture made from native seeds to plant in your garden. Learn about Arlington’s birds and those that are a “species of concern”* by loss of habitat in Flight by Greg Stewart, at various locations through November 5th.
Make & Take: A sculpture in the shape of threatened birds made of native Arlington seeds and clay to plant in a garden. Using sifted soil, stencil on the ground the names of Arlington’s birds.
Meet: Greg Stewart, Virginia based artist and Professor at James Madison University, Naz Anissi, BFA candidate in painting at George Mason University, and a park naturalist from Arlington County’s Conservation and Interpretation Section.
Learn: About birds and trees of Arlington County and the importance of native plants and species.
Learn about Arlington’s birds, and those that are threatened by loss of habitat in Virginia. Artist Greg Stewart and Naz Anissi, a George Mason University student, will be on-hand to facilitate your artmaking. You can select from a library of laser cut names of Arlington’s birds, then stencil them onto the ground with sifted soil and create a bird sculpture using clay and native seeds in the shape of the threatened birds to take and plant.
Our community partner for this project is Arlington County’s Conservation and Interpretation Section, who will offer you information on Arlington’s birds, advice on finding and identifying them, and tips on native plants you can grow in your yard and community. You can find the Arlington Art Truck at the following upcoming activations. For more detailed information, visit www.arlingtonarts.org.
From NPR “Tiny Desk Concerts” to Rolling Stone magazine, the Cuban band Cimafunk has the music world buzzing about their super-charged blend of funk and tropical rhythms (“Top 10 Latin Artist to Watch,” Billboard).
Like Beatle Paul McCartney (who was recently seen cheering in the front row of a Cimafunk show), you can catch their groove when they headline the 30th Annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival, on Saturday, September 10, from 1-7 p.m., in Gateway Park, 1300 Langston Boulevard. As ever, the event is Free!
In addition to Cimafunk, the varied lineup also includes: Mwenso & The Shakes, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, and Samuel Pratherand the Groove Orchestra. Presented by the Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Arlington Arts.
“Over the last three decades, Rosslyn Jazz Fest’s music and amenities have evolved and grown, making us the largest outdoor music festival in Arlington,” said Mary-Claire Burick, president of the Rosslyn BID. “Back and bigger than ever, we’re thrilled to host this year’s diverse lineup of artists, headlined by Cuba’s Cimafunk. We can’t wait to throw this party, connect the community through music, and celebrate in ways we haven’t been able to in the last few years.”
“This festival represents the breakdown of long-established, rigid barriers between genres and highlights the contemporary direction of jazz festivals,” said Josh Stoltzfus, deputy director of Arlington County’s Cultural Affairs Division, who programs the Festival. “These bands bring eclectic styles, high level musicianship, and dynamic stage shows that will be the soundtrack for the summer’s best party.”
Attendees can experience the music alongside food trucks and fun programming for all ages. The award-winning Arlington Art Truck kicks off its fall season at the Festival with the interactive Flight by Greg Stewart, through which you’ll learn about Arlington’s birds and those that are a “species of concern.”
Gateway Park is a 5-minute walk from the Rosslyn Metro station (Blue, Silver and Orange lines) and several Metrobus stations. Bike and scooter parking is available onsite, and several Capital Bike Share stations are conveniently located nearby.
About Rosslyn Business Improvement District
The Rosslyn Business Improvement District provides high-quality, customer-oriented services designed to define, enhance and continually improve Rosslyn for those who work, live, visit and do business here. As a resourceful and collaborative organization, we work in partnership with our key stakeholders and Arlington County to create a welcoming, creative, thriving environment that supports Rosslyn’s residents and a wide range of business types, from innovative start-ups to established Fortune 500 companies and international associations. We take an active leadership role in all that we do, serving as a collaborator, community builder and agent of positive change.
About Arlington Arts
Arlington Cultural Affairs is a Division of Arlington Economic Development that delivers public programs as Arlington Arts. For more information about the 30th Annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival, on Saturday (1-7 p.m.), September 10th at Gateway Park, visit www.rosslynva.org or www.arlingtonarts.org.
Calling all artists! October is National Arts & Humanities Month, and we are excited to partner with Americans for the Arts for the #NAHM 2022 Poster Competition!
The top three posters will receive cash prizes, and the winner will have their art featured as part of National Arts & Humanities content all October long! The theme is “Championing the Creative Spirit”.
All entries will be displayed on Americans for the Arts’ website and will be evaluated by a panel of judges (see poster guidelines and judging criteria at the link below). The top posters will be selected as semi-finalists and anyone who visits the Americans for the Arts’ website between September 15-30 can vote for their favorite design. The artists who create the designs with the three highest vote totals will receive cash prizes, and the design with the most votes will be featured throughout National Arts & Humanities Month!
October is National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM). A collective recognition of the importance of culture in America. NAHM was launched by Americans for the Arts more than 30 years ago as National Arts Week in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1993, it was reestablished by Americans for the Arts and national arts partners as a month-long celebration, with goals of:
Focusing on equitable access to the arts at local, state and national levels
Encouraging individuals, organizations and diverse communities to participate in the arts
Allowing governments and businesses to show their support of the arts
Raising public awareness about the positive impact of the arts and humanities in our communities and lives
Americans for the Arts mission is to build recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts and to lead, serve, and advance the diverse networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts in America. Connecting the best ideas and leaders from the arts, communities, and business, together we can work to ensure that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts.
Entries must be submitted by Tuesday, September 6 at 5 p.m. ET. Semi-finalists will be announced September 15 and winners will be announced October 3. Entries must be submitted via www.AmericansForTheArts.org/NAHMposter.
A trio of Arlington’s theatrical ensembles join forces for a special event: join Avant Bard Theatre, The Arlington Players and Encore Stage & Studio for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (lyrics by Tim Rice and Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber), a special collaborative production as part of the Free Summer Concert Series at Lubber Run Amphitheater, at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, August 5 and 6, and on Sunday, August 7 at 6 p.m. Admission is Free.
This fantastically fun and energetic musical will transport you to ancient times where dreamers and destiny collide. Featuring talented local performers, including a children’s chorus, it’s a theatrical experience for the entire family not to be missed!
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Really Useful Group. The production is part of the Lubber Run Amphitheater Free Summer Concert Series, presented by Arlington Arts in partnership with the Lubber Run Amphitheater Foundation.
“The cultivation and celebration of community lays at the heart of Avant Bard’s mission. It is a joy for us to engage this collaboration with this production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” says Avant Bard Theater’s producing partner DeMone Seraphin, who is directing the production. “How exciting it is to watch artists at various levels of experience come together to create something that promises to be fun and to bring joy to the Arlington community.”
“Encore is so excited to be a part of this collaboration!”, says Encore Stage & Studio’s Sarah Duke, who is a co-producer of the show. “We especially value the opportunity for our students to work alongside adult performers in this fun summer show!”
The seeds of this collaboration were sown last fall in the Spotlight Series: a showcase of Arlington-based theater and dance ensembles presented by Arlington Arts. As most of the participants usually performed at indoor ticketed events to their established audiences, the Spotlight Series allowed them to reach an entirely new audience with their artistry. This production takes things to the next level, fostering collaboration between three of Arlington’s longest tenured theatrical arts organizations.
“The Arlington Players is delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with the local theater community in bringing this fun-filled production to the residents of Arlington County!”, notes Jasmine Jones, the Executive Producer for The Arlington Players.
For more details on this special performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 5-7, as well as the rest of the Free Summer Concert Series at Lubber Run Amphitheater, visit the Arlington Arts website!
WE PAUSED! A Handmade Book by Studio Pause for Gates of Ballston, chronicles a year in the life of one Arlington community during the COVID-19 epidemic through creativity and art.
Now, that book has been ‘unbound’: becoming an art exhibit with four thematic installations from June 2022 to May 2023, at Gallery 3700, located at 3700 South Four Mile Run Drive, in Arlington. Admission is FREE to the exhibit which is open during business hours. An Opening Reception will take place on Saturday, July 16 from 4-7 p.m., with an Artists Talk at 5:30 pm. Free Tickets Required via Eventbrite.
We PAUSED! is a Community Handmade Book Project created in 2021 by Studio PAUSE for the Gates of Ballston Apartments, an AHC Inc. community in Arlington’s historic Buckingham neighborhood. The book project was supported in part by Arlington Arts, which is the principal sponsor of the exhibit.
As the COVID-19 pandemic surged and the world grappled with its consequences, artist Sushmita Mazumdar, whose art studio and community space are located in the Rinker Community Center at the Gates of Ballston apartment complex, watched AHC Inc’s resident services team work tirelessly to provide essential services to their residents since March 2020.
“What if we shared everything we did when we paused in 2020 with the residents of the apartment community?” stated Mazumdar. “If they could not come to the studio, as the community center was closed to the public, could we take our stories to them? Could the space become a book?”
Project Director Sushmita Mazumdar rallied allies from her studio community, and others to make the project a reality, securing a grant from Virginia Humanities. Other partners were AHC Inc and Arlington Arts. Kori Johnson, editor; Susan Sterner, humanities scholar; Ella Endo, intern; Ruben Villalta, translator (Spanish); Soheir Ghali, translator (Arabic); MaryLouise Marino, adviser
In 2021-22 each of the 460 households in the GOB community was given a free handmade copy of the book. All copies were made during community bookmaking sessions at the Rinker Community Center, by students in the after-school program, or by PAUSErs at home, or in the studio. The bookmaking kept up with the variations in the pandemic, with building closures, and people’s levels of comfort. Then, they were delivered to each home, inviting the community to connect, reflect and share.
About Sushmita Mazumdar — After a 15-year career in advertising in India and the US, Sushmita started writing stories from her childhood for her American children and making them into handmade storybooks. She has designed programs for the Smithsonian Institution, area public schools and libraries, Glen Echo Park, and Arlington Arts Center, and has exhibited at the National Building Museum, and the Smithsonian’s Dillon Ripley Center. In 2018 she received the Woman of Vision Award from Arlington County and in 2019 she was appointed to the Virginia Commission for the Arts representing Congressional District 8. Photo: Lloyd Wolf
So come check out the exhibit at Studio 3700 during the building’s business hours (Monday-Friday: 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday: 12-6 p.m.).
Join the Artists and the community for an Opening Reception at the Gallery, on Saturday, July 16 from 4-7 p.m., with an Artists Talk at 5:30 p.m.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary with its first fully in-person event since the pandemic, vocalist Shemekia Copeland (2021 Blues Foundation “Entertainer of the Year”) headlines The Columbia Pike Blues Festival on Saturday (1-8:30 p.m.) June 18th. The full line up of blues, R&B, and funk performers of national and regional note, includes: Eric Scott, Robbin Kapsalis & Vintage #18,Shakin Woods, and Anthony “Swampdog” Clark. The free event covers three blocks at the intersection of So. Walter Reed Drive and Columbia Pike, in Arlington.
Hailed as “Arlington’s best block party” (Arlington Magazine), the Festival draws thousands of blues fans to the Pike each year. Ready to celebrate big-time for our Silver Anniversary, the event is presented by the Columbia Pike Partnership and Arlington Arts.
Part of a long-running partnership between the County and the Community, the Blues Fest survived the two-year disruption of the pandemic with a range of down-sized and virtual events in collaboration with businesses along the Pike. Incorporating some of these features, this year’s Anniversary celebration expands to an array of events and activities throughout the weekend: from pop-up music events at local eateries (June 17 and 19), and the Columbia Pike Farmers Market (June 19), to a Juneteenth History Walk (June 19), and a screening of The Blues Brothers at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (June 19).
About Shemekia Copeland:
“Copeland is a powerhouse, a superstar…she can do no wrong.” — Rolling Stone
“Shemekia Copeland is one of the great blues voices of our time. No one comes close to the sheer firepower that Copeland conjures at will.” — Chicago Tribune
As you can see in the accompanying video, Shemekia Copeland never holds back. Her latest CD Uncivil War was named #1 Blues Album of The Year by the influential Mojo Magazine, which opined “There’s an unrelenting power to Shemekia Copeland’s performance on her tenth album; her rich, grainy vocals, sitting midpoint between Ruth Brown and Mavis Staples have never sounded so forceful…”
Her wide-open vision of contemporary Americana roots and soul music showcases the evolution of a passionate artist with an up-to-the-minute musical and lyrical approach.
When Shemekia broke on the scene at age 18 in 1998 with her groundbreaking Alligator Records debut CD Turn The Heat Up, she instantly became a blues and R&B force to be reckoned with. News outlets from The New York Times to CNN praised Copeland’s talent, larger-than-life personality, and true star power. With each subsequent release, Copeland’s music has continued to grow.
Pop-ups have emerged as a fun and insightful tool to explore new and innovative ways to activate public spaces. They provide an inexpensive opportunity to experiment with what works at a particular location (and what doesn’t).
We need YOUR inspiration and input for a flexible outdoor arts and gathering space planned for 2700 South Nelson Street in Green Valley, which will be designed following the planned demolition of the existing building this fall. Arlington Cultural Affairs is working with public art and placemaking firm Graham Projects to design this future arts space.
The acquisition of this property aligns with multiple goals of several adopted plans and policies, including the 2018 Four Mile Run Valley Area Plan that proposed a vision of a larger Arts & Industry District for the area that includes a mix of arts, creative activities, industrial, service and production uses. Additionally, the purchase aligns with the County’s Public Spaces Master Plan and the Arlington Arts and Culture Strategy, all of which look for temporary or “pop-up” uses of space for the availability of public art or other cultural opportunities.
Share YOUR thoughts and ideas online for a new creative, open space at 2700 South Nelson Street: https://2700nelson.grahamprojects.com/ Or check out the next pop-up from 6-8 pm on Thursday, May 26th, at New District Brewing Company, 2709 So. Oakland Street.
From Our Waist to Waste (photo via Elman Studios LLC for Arlington Arts)
What’s Your Sign? (photo via Elman Studios LLC for Arlington Arts)
Arlington Abstraction (photo via Elman Studios LLC for Arlington Arts)
By Michelle Isabelle-Stark, Director at Arlington Arts
Not long after I began working for Arlington County, Arlington Arts launched the Arlington Art Truck: a bold new project to take curated and interactive visual art experiences out into the community to where people congregate. Five years in, the program has succeeded beyond our wildest expectations.
The Arlington Art Truck is a curated mobile tool box for artists-in-residence to engage the public from April to October in interactive art projects designed to blur the line between participant and presenter, citizen and government. Nominated for the 2019 Robert E. Gard Award from Americans for the Arts, the concept was launched in 2018 with a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts grant.
Its activations have recently garnered media attention from WTOP 103.5 FM and NBC WRC4 TV news. But recently, we’ve begun to receive a more personally meaningful level of feedback about its impact: from the community.
“[The Arlington Art Truck] was at the Lubber Run Farmer’s Market, and I met a resident whose daughter has been following us since day-one,” says Special Projects Curator Cynthia Connolly. “Inspired by the way art engages people, her daughter is now considering studying Urban Design in college and wants to volunteer on the Art Truck!”
As part of its structure, the Arlington Art Truck works across County departments, featuring various ‘ride-along’ partners whose missions happen to coordinate with a particular arts activation, ranging from recycling to biking to work. In the current project with artist Laure Drogoul, our own Textile Studio helped Arlington’s Solid Waste Bureau by doing an on-location demonstration of sewing on patches with the new County logo on uniforms with the old logo that would otherwise have gone to a landfill.
“Although small in scope, this simple action demonstrates how the County can walk the talk when it comes to sustainability and waste reduction,” noted Erik Grabowsky, Solid Waste Bureau Chief for Arlington’s Department of Environmental Services. “Instead of purchasing new apparel with the new logo, we are prolonging the life of our work clothes by simply changing out the logo. [We] find value in these sustainability lessons artistically taught to an audience who might not hear it otherwise.”
From community members to arts professionals, to government agencies, the Arlington Art Truck provides a simple pop-up platform for revealing the arcane and unseen wonder of our everyday experience through an artistic lens, outside the confines of a four-walled gallery or museum. I’m inspired for what the next five years will bring.
Looking for fun ways to engage the whole family in Earth Day? A day-long street festival, Earth Day Every Day features live music, great food, kids art activities, a native plant sale, environmental education activities, and even a sustainable art market.
The event takes place from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, in front of the Lee Heights Shops, 4500 Old Dominion Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22207.
Presented by the Langston Boulevard Alliance, this is a day for our community to come together to celebrate the beauty and promise of our local environment and the planet. Every year, communities worldwide uplift Earth Day to mark the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. It reminds us all to do what we can, in ways small and significant, to restore, conserve and protect our environment. The festival offers a whole range of opportunities to engage!
Peruse the Sustainable Art Market, featuring a broad selection of eco-friendly finds. The vendors include: Circuit Breaker Labs — wearable and decorative art created from circuit boards, capacitors and other electronic trash; Elodie’s Naturals — ECOCERT plant-based skin care products; Debra Fabian Jewelry — made from ethically sourced gems and recycled semi-precious metals, and much more.
Recently featured on WTOP 103.5 FM, you can peruse FROM OUR WAIST TO WASTE: Is Fashion Sustainable (?), the latest installation of the Arlington Art Truck. Artist Laure Drogoul explores how our decisions about clothing and textile purchases have affected our environment and community and what we can do about it. To provide the soundtrack for your day, Arlington Arts also helped to program the diverse array of noted performing artists (including several Washington Area Music Award winners).
Jasmine Gillison — A fast-rising Arlington singer-songwriter with a distinctive fingerpicking style. Calista Garcia — 2022 WAMMIE “Best Folk Song” (After You’ve Gone). The Voice (Season 16). Bobby Thompson — the 2018 WAMMIE “Best Blues Album” the singer-songwriter is working on his 7th album. Justin Trawick — Recently featured on CNN, Voice of America and Parade magazine, the nationally-known performer won a 2014 WAMMIE for “Song of the Year” (All the Places That I’ve Been).
Visit the Arlington Public Library Truck for a variety of Earth Day activities: write a postcard imagining the future of Langston Boulevard, pick up some Earth Day coloring sheets, and attend a storytime by one of their children’s librarians. You can sign up for a library card and check out some books when you visit!
With all that dancing and shopping, you’re sure to work up an appetite, so taste the flavors of food vendors Arrowine & Cheese, Lebanese Taverna, Old Dominion Pizza and Starbucks Coffee! Then burn some calories by joining the artists of the Arlington Artists Alliance (AAA) for an afternoon of painting. Barry Keith has designed a hands-on climate change mural project for kids of all ages. Or join Arlington Parks and Recreation to make some 3-D paper sculptures.
That’s just a sample of the fun activities taking place as part of Earth Day Every Day, on Sunday, April 24. For a complete schedule of vendors and activities, visit Earthdayonlangston.com.
