The Greater Reston Arts Center is closing its “Building Worlds” exhibition this weekend. The exhibition, which future worlds reimagined by five artists, will end with two events on Saturday.
One of the artists Rachel Guardiola will lead attendees through an interactive workshop based inspired by her artwork from 1-3 p.m. The activities will explore themes like the role of science fiction, fact, and fantasy. Registration is open online. The event, which is sponsored by Reston Community Center, is open to participants age 18 and up.
From 5-7 p.m. the same day, the exhibition’s artists and curator will take part in a panel discussion and a question and answer session. The event, which is also sponsored by Reston Community Center, is free and open to the public.
A new exhibition featuring the work of DC-based artist Caitlin Teal Price is next up on GRACE’s line of displays. Price’s exhibition, “Green is the Secret Color to Make Gold,” explores themes of daily life.
She’s known for her photographs of people and objects collected by her young son on walks they take together. The exhibit will run from September 29 through November 24 at GRACE. An opening reception is set for September 29 from 5-7 p.m.
Photo via GRACE
We’re bringing the weekend roundup of events in Reston areas back after retiring the twice-weekly rundown of events and deals by Tim’s Reston.
This weekend, Kwame Alexander, a local New York Times bestselling author, will take part in an author talk and book signing on Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at Reston Regional Library.
The talk is part of The Great American Read programming at Reston Regional Library and it’s sponsored by a host of entities like Reston Regional Library, PBS, the American Library Association, WETA-TV 26, and Friends of Reston Regional Library. All attendees ages six and up are encouraged to take part.
The Reston Triathlon also returns to Reston this weekend. Everything you need to know about the event is available online.
If that isn’t your cup of tea, there’s still plenty of other things to do in the area this weekend:
- Bring your dog for a dip in the pool in the Dogwood Recreation area from 4-7 p.m. today. People are not allowed in the water with the dogs and a current dog license is required.
- Families, couples and individuals are invited to take part in a “Nature Scavenger Hunt” from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday at the Walker Nature Center. Registration is $5 for Reston Association members and $7 for all others.
- Miss Emily is back in town for singing storytime with illustration songs from 10:30-11 a.m. at Reston Regional Library on Saturday. The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Reston Regional Library.
- Oil and watercolor works by Gwen White are on display from Saturday through October 7 at Reston Community Centers Hunters Woods. The exhibit is titled “It’s Finished When It’s Finished.”
- Author and Spanish teacher Tracey Kyle leads participants through bilingual story time at Scrawl Books from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Her books include Gazpacho for Nacho, Food Fight Fiesta and A Paintbrush for Paco.
- Scout & Molly’s boutique in Reston Town Center is hosting a Joseph Ribkoff Trunk Show featuring its holiday and spring collection at noon until 6 p.m on Saturday.
- The season for cherries and watermelons may be ending, but the Reston Farmer’s Market at Lake Anne Plaza is here to stay until early December. The market is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
- “Contemplate Creativity” with this meditation workshop at Greater Reston Arts Center from 9:30-11 a.m on Saturday. Registration is free for GRACE members and $5 for all others.
- Also at GRACE tomorrow, explore the intersection of art and engineering by creating your own kinetic art box with artist Tim Harper from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday. The event is open to participants ages six and up.
- The Tour de Cure, a community festival and a fundraising event dedicated to diabetes in Northern Virginia will take place at Reston Town Center from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
- Show of your dancing skills during the “Sunday Afternoon Dance” at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Three mini-lessons and light refreshments will be provided. The cost is $5 for Restonians and $10 for all others. You can also try your hand (or your feet) at western dance from 5:30-8 p.m. the same day, if you’re game.
- If you’re rusty on your computer skills, technology volunteers will be available to guide you through a one-hour session on computers, Internet and ebook help on Sunday. The session is from 2-3 p.m. at Reston Regional Library. Participants should call the library to book an appointment.
- Celebrate the “High Holidays” at Congregation Beth Emeth in Herndon from 6-7 p.m on Sunday. Seats are available for services with family-friendly options.
Photo via Kwame Alexander
Foulger-Pratt plans new development — The Potomac-based developer has submitted plans for a 1.5 million-square-foot development near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station. Plans include up to 907 units, an assisted living facility and an office building with ground-level retail. [Washington Business Journal]
Outdoor movie postponed — Plaza America’s outdoor movie night has been postponed to Friday, September 14. The featured movie is Despicable Me 3 and the movie will begin at 8:45 p.m. at the SunTrust Bank. [Plaza America]
If you’d rather avoid DMV offices — A wireless office for the DMV will be on-site at Reston Town Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Services offered include driver’s license and ID applications and renewals, driving records, vehicle titles, license plates, decals and more. [Reston Town Center]
Creative response tonight — Kimberly Battista leads this month’s creative response at the Greater Reston Arts Center. Creative responses allow a creative professional to respond to work on view in the gallery. [Greater Reston Arts Center]
Yoga workshop this evening —Â Local yoga and wellness coach Rupa Shah discusses the ins and outs of yoga at this free event at Reston Regional Library from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Attendees will also get to practice a few techniques. [Reston Regional Library]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Environmental quality talk tonight —Â Doug Britt, a Virginia Master Naturalist and the director of Reston Association’s first Reston Annual State of the Environment Report, presents findings from the report and gives an update on recommendations. [Reston Historic Trust & Museum]
The secret to make gold — The Greater Reston Arts Center’s newest exhibition will feature the work of DC-based artist Caitlin Teal Price. She explores the topic “green is the secret to make gold.” [Greater Reston Arts Center]
Community circles — Local students, teachers and community members work together to create a mural project called community circles. [Reston Association]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
TSA stops Reston man with loaded guns – A Reston man was reprimanded after an X-ray machine at Dulles International Airport spotted two loaded semi-automatic handguns in his carry-on bag. According to the Transportation Security Administration, the weapons were fund when the man went through a security checkpoint on Saturday. [WTOP]
When fiction, fact and fantasy collide — Five regional artists are teaming together to present the exhibition “Building World” at the Greater Reston Arts Center. The exhibition ends on September 13. [The Connection]
Bring back jazz and blues — Roughly 400 people took part in the 12th Annual Jazz and Blues Festival at Lake Anne Plaza over the weekend. Concert-goers enjoyed seven acts of jazz, blues and soul. [Local DVM]
Survival lecture at Reston Regional Library tonight —Â New York Times bestselling author Tim MacWelch dispels myths and shares facts about surviving in the wilderness. This interactive lecture is open to attendees age 10 and up. [Reston Regional Library]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Building worlds on display — An art exhibit that mixes scientific fact and fantasy is on display through September 15. Several artists’ work is featured in the gallery at the Greater Reston Arts Center. [Greater Reston Arts Center]
Nearby: Springfield man faces charges after threats against mosque — A 22-year-old man faces nine charges after being arrested at Masjid Noor in Springfield. Police believe Zulqarnain Khan threatened to kill everyone the encountered at the mosque. [Fairfax County Police Department]
The biggest of them all — The Washington Business Journal has listed Reston Station as the second largest ongoing construction project in the Greater D.C. area. Projects are ranked based on their construction cost. The project is expected to cost $690 million. [The Washington Business Journal]
Discussion on book themes tonight — Dive into a discussion about why books matter, why we’re drawn to specific themes and what these themes tell us about ourselves. The event is part of PBS’s The Great American Read. [Reston Regional Library]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehillÂ
Heather Spence, a DC-based marine biologist, cellist and gamist will lead this month’s creative response at the Greater Reston Arts Center on Thursday (August 2) at 7 p.m.
Spence performs internationally as a soloist and with Arabic, Sephardic and world music ensembles. Locally, she has performed at George Washington University and has a Ph.D. in bio-acoustics from the City University of New York. She has also designed and taught courses on animal behavior, personality and motivation, and perception.
The Greater Reston Arts Center invites a creative professional to respond to work on view in the gallery one Thursday of each month. Spence will give a short presentation and lead an open conversation. The event, sponsored by Reston Community Center, is free and open to the public.
Video via YouTube
An otherworldly exhibition that explores the intersection of science fiction, fantasy and science with fears, ideals and being human is coming to Greater Reston Arts Center this month.
The exhibit, slated for July 21 through September 15, will feature the work of Michael Booker, Rachel Guardiola, Timothy Harper, Laura Beth Konopinski, and Katherine Tzu-Lan Mann.
An opening reception and curator’s talk, free and open to the public, is set for July 21 from 5-7 p.m.
In a statement, GRACE issued the following description of the exhibit:
Recognizing that our retelling of the past changes constantly and opening ourselves to new possibilities can help to identify the biases of our accepted histories. The artists in this exhibition create their own worlds, including cultural references and artifacts, to question the assumptions of history-making and truth-telling.
Photos via GRACE
The Greater Reston Arts Center is seeking funds to help finance a new 50-foot steel sculpture in Reston Town Center.
The sculpture by artist Sue Wrbican is inspired by the work of Kay Sage, an American surrealist who was known for her paintings of scaffolded structure and furled fabric in barren landscapes.
Wrbican’s work was previously featured by GRACE last fall. Installation and an opening ceremony are expected in August. Donations can be made online.
Less than half of the required funds needed to make the project possible have been raised from Reston Town Center Association, Reston Community Center, ArtsFairfax and Public Art Reston.
Photos via Greater Reston Arts Center
A local ‘dream house’ – This millennial couple used eBay, Craigslist and Ikea to design their dream house in Reston. The 29-year-old photographer and her 30-year-old husband transitioned from a group house in Herndon to a modern house that one Washington writer says “looks like a million bucks.” [The Washingtonian]
Opening celebrations — Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market officially opens on Friday. Special tastings and chef demonstrations will be offered this weekend. [Reston Town Center]
STRETCH for it — Five local artists have been selected to participate in the art invitational, which challenges selected artists to create new work based on the prompt, “If you could do anything, what would that be?” [Greater Reston Arts Center]
Burglary reported in garage — Someone entered a garage on the 9700 block of Lindsay Blake Lane on June 18 and stole a bike. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Fit(ted) bikes — The Reston Bike Team fitted the entire fifth-grade class at Hutchison Elementary School with bike helmets. [Fairfax County Police]
Last chance: summer art camp registration — Looking to enroll your child in Greater Reston Arts Center’s camps this year? There are only a few spots left. Registration is open online. [Greater Reston Arts Center]
Take a Break concert: Mystic Warriors — Enjoy world music at Lake Anne Plaza in this free concert series on Thursday nights from 7-9 p.m. [Reston Community Center]
Nearby: Meet the Northern Virginians of the year — This year’s service, honor, excellence, leadership, and dedication award was given to Michael Rossiter, and Alexandria Police Department sergeant. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Photo by Maureen Jules-Perez
Between the “Take a Break” concert series at Lake Anne Plaza and “Summerbration” at Reston Station Plaza, there are several options for outdoor summer entertainment. “Sunday Art in the Park” will return to Reston Town Square Park on Sundays.
This Sunday, Schwarz and Stokes, who play Bach, Mozart and Brahms, will perform from 7-8 p.m. The event, located at the corner of Market Street and St. Francis Street, is open for all ages.
The complete lineup of the program, which runs through August 19, is below. All concerts run from 7-8 p.m. The series is presented by Reston Community Center and hosted by Reston Town Center Association. Garage parking is free on weekends.
- June 17: Jazz Trio Conversations
- June 24: Shenandoah Conservatory String Ensembles
- July 1: Two Bass Hit
- July 8: A Little Charm from Across the Pond
- July 15: Luis Hernandez and Friends
- July 22: Galestro-Smith Duo
- July 29: R2DUO
- August 5: MLO Fusion Project
- August 12: Amor e Saudade
- August 19:Â Shenandoah Conservatory Saxophone Quartet
During July, Greater Reston Arts Center is also offering free art activities for all ages from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
A new exhibition is coming to Greater Reston Arts Center at Signature apartments this weekend. Susan Hostetler, a DC-based artist, will feature her work “Volatile,” which is inspired by avian life, songbird vocalizations and flight patterns.
The exhibition will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday from Friday (June 8) through September 18.
Hostetler uses mixed media to create delicate works, including graphite drawings with collage on mylar. She uses hand-cut stencils of bird shapes, which she places onto mylar and colors over with graphite sticks in a variety of textures and repeating patterns.
She also created hand-shaped clay birds that are attached to acrylic posts, creating “a coordinate of flight that carries through the linear atrium space,” according to organizers.
Hostetler received her Masters of Art in Teaching from the Corcoran School of the Arts. In 2013, she received the Robert Rauschenberg Award for Art Education.
The satellite gallery includes year-round exhibitions by local artists. It is part of a partnership between Boston Properties, Bozzuto Management and GRACE. Exhibitions are free and open to the public.
Photos by Susan Hostetler
The Greater Reston Arts Center will be hosting the exhibit, “Mike Cloud: Figure Studies” from April 28 through July 7.
This is the first time Brooklyn-based artist Cloud will be showing his work in the greater D.C. area, according to the center. Cloud’s exhibit is described by the center as a selection of works that “consider language, symbolism, metaphor, history and identity through the examination of the figure.”
The exhibit based on a single painting “Cycle and Stable” (2015) features Cloud’s series of collages based on the work of photographer Anne Leibovitz and new paintings.
Cloud received an M.F.A. from Yale University School of Art and a B.F.A. from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He will also host a talk on the opening day of his exhibit from 4-5 p.m. followed by an opening reception from 5-7 p.m.
There will be a private dinner with Cloud celebrating the exhibit. Tickets cost $100 for the public and $75 for GRACE members, board of directors and sponsors. Those interested must RSVP by emailing [email protected] by April 25.
Photo courtesy GRACE
Metro from the future — Future SmarTrip options may include key fobs and stickers. For now, hang on to those cards. [WTOP]
Cycling on down memory lane — Green Lizard Cycling in downtown Herndon celebrated its fifth anniversary this month. Congrats from your neighbors! [The Connection]
Only going up from here — The population is booming in Northern Virginia but shrinking in many rural localities. You’ll never guess where Reston falls in the mix. [Capital News Service]
Young at art — High school artists explore the theme of “becoming” at the Greater Reston Arts Center’s new exhibition. [Fairfax County Times]
