The Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) is preparing to welcome artist Patrick Dougherty, who will begin a public art installation built from tree saplings at Reston Town Square Park.

IPAR says the project needs help — both from people and from saplings needed to construct the sculpture.

Volunteers are needed during the “harvesting” from April 7 to 9.

Ten volunteers are needed for each morning (8:00 am – 12:00 pm) and 10 volunteers are needed for each afternoon (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm), says IPAR. Volunteers will be cutting, bundling, tying, and carrying saplings to the truck and stripping leaves. Note: This is physical labor.

The project also needs construction and installation volunteers at the following times:

Friday, April 10  to Friday, April 17, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Monday, April 20 to Saturday, April 25, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Four or five volunteers are needed for each morning (8:00 am – 12:00 pm) and 4-5 volunteers are needed for each afternoon (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm).

Volunteers need to be comfortable working on scaffold and be at least 16 years old.

To register, visit Sign Up Genius.

The project also needs tree saplings.  If you have the right kind of saplings (see below), contact IPAR Executive Anne Delaney at [email protected].

From IPAR:

The artist requires quite a lot of saplings and has a preference for red maple, gray dogwood, and sweet gum, and possibly ash and certain types of willow (excluding black willow). Other species might be possible depending on flexibility, but most invasive species are not usable.

Ideally, we are seeking a site that was cleared in the last few years, so that the growth of the saplings would be approximately 3 to 5 years. At this point, we are seeking only small saplings, finger-sized in width but long: approximately ½ to 1 inch in diameter at the base, and between 4-6 feet in length.

The saplings will need to be harvested during the period from April 7-9, 2015, so that the materials are fresh and flexible during the construction of the work.

Photo: Patrick Dougherty/Courtesy of IPAR

The story of Patrick Dougherty, the environmental artist who will produce a large-scale artwork at Reston Town Center next month, will be presented in a free film showing at Reston Community Center’s CenterStage Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Dougherty uses natural materials such as branches and saplings to create large installations. Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) received a $20,000 National Endowment for the Arts ArtWorks Grant to help support the project.

Willowsford, a Loudoun residential development, is also giving $30,000 as well as materials to the project, which will remain in Town Square Park for one to two years.

The movie, Bending Sticks: The Sculpture of Patrick Dougherty is a feature-length documentary that celebrates Dougherty’s 25- year career.

The film follows a year in Dougherty’s career and the creation of five Dougherty commissions in different locations — inside the new wing of the North Carolina Museum of Art, on Main Street in Rock Hill, SC, at a private home in Chapel Hill, NC, at the Bascom Art Center in the mountains of NC, and in the gardens of Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC. At each location, viewers will see how Dougherty and many others transform piles of sticks into energetic lines and exuberant forms.

Photo of Patrick Dougherty courtesy of IPAR

A new public art installation planned for Reston Town Center has signed a Loudoun housing community as a major sponsor.

The Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) and Initiative for Public Art-Reston (IPAR) announced in December that IPAR had been recommended for a $20,000 National Endowment for the Arts ArtWorks Grant to support the creation of a temporary, site-specific, large-scale public art work in Reston by artist Patrick Dougherty.

Willowsford — a planned community in Loudoun County with an emphasis on sustainability and nature conservancy — has signed on to become the lead sponsor for the temporary project, committing $30,000.

“We are so excited to have Willowsford joining this project,” said GRACE Executive Director and Curator Holly Koons McCullough. “With their focus on the natural environment and architectural quality, Willowsford is an ideal partner.”

Willowsford spokesman Laura Cole said the sculpture — which will use natural materials such as sticks — “is a wonderful metaphor for what we are building in Loudoun.”

Willowsford will provide saplings from the property to be used in the sculpture, Cole said in a statement.

“This was important to us, to be a real partner and participant in this exciting endeavor, not just a passive investor,” said Cole. “It fits well with who we are, with 2,000 of our 4,000 acres cared for by the Willowsford Conservancy, and set aside for environmental preservation, recreation, and agricultural use. The goal is to provide a complete living experience, and world-class art is certainly a part of the essential life.”

Dougherty is an internationally-renowned sculptor who has created more than 230 sculptural installations worldwide. Dougherty will be creating project in Town Square Park, directly across from the GRACE gallery.

The sculpture, which will take several weeks to build, will be open to the public on April 25. It is anticipated to remain on site for up to two years. Because Dougherty works with natural materials, his sculptures have a limited life span.

Photo: Patrick Dougherty outdoor work “Call of the Wild, Tacoma WA/Credit: Duncan Price  

The bright-yellow aluminum curves have been in place in front of the Hyatt Regency Reston for about six months, however on Monday Reston Rondo was formally dedicated as a part of Reston.

Reston Rondo is the public art work by Baltimore sculptor Mary Ann Mears. Mears was chosen by the Initiative for Public Art Reston to create a sculpture that would, among other things, enhance the visibility of the park, create a sense of whimsey and surprise, and ease the transition from busy Reston Parkway to the serenity of the green space at Hyatt Park and ultimately into the Reston Town Center.

“Successful public art is the convergence of the artist, who has the ideas and a thoughtful and committed client,” Mears said at the dedication. “You also need talented and dedicated craftsman to help realize the vision, as well as public leadership.”

Mears designed the project but some of the metalwork came from Kelco Industrial Contractors of Baltimore.

“What I wanted to do was make Reston Rondo a very welcoming piece,” said Mears. “I love the way it looks in daylight and also at night. I hope it works as a welcome to Reston. … In designing the piece, I was thinking about the scale and modernity of architecture in Reston, but also the respect and love of nature.”

Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins — who joined Del. Ken Plum and Virginia Sen. Janet Howell, as well as other local dignitaries at the dedication — said public art has always been a part of Reston and will continue to be.

“I am delighted that IPAR has been an example for the rest of the community,” said Hudgins. “I look forward to enjoying [the sculpture] as I sit at that traffic light [on Reston Parkway].”

Added Howell: “This is a happy day for Reston. It is a happy sculpture in a happy color. I am going to bring my grandkids here. I think kids are going to want to move in this space.”

The Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) announced on Tuesday that it is among 919 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive a National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) Art Works grant.

IPAR has been recommended for a $20,000 grant to support the creation of a temporary, site-specific, large-scale public art work in Reston by artist Patrick Dougherty.

IPAR, in collaboration with the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE), will commission Dougherty to create a public art work in Reston Town Square Park in Reston Town Center over a three-week period in April 2015.

The project will feature local saplings and will involve local artists, youth, and other community members, GRACE and IPAR officials said.

The Dougherty installation will remain on site for one to two years. There will also be a tandem exhibition in the GRACE gallery from April to July 2015. The display will document the installation and explore Dougherty’s work throughout the world through photographs, sketches, models, and video. There will also be a series of related public programs at GRACE.

“We are thrilled by this significant support for the Dougherty project and its related programming,”said IPAR Executive Director Anne Delaney.  “The NEA Art Works grant will enable the Initiative for Public Art Reston to realize this major temporary art installation. IPAR is delighted to collaborate with GRACE and other Reston organizations in a public art project that will engage the community at-large.”

“The project reflects the spirit of the Public Art Master Plan for Reston, which encourages working with other community organizations to commission public art projects that energize public places and engage the community,” she added.”

Delaney said this is the first time that IPAR is the recipient of a NEA Art Works grant. It is also the first time the group made a submission attempt, she said.

Art Works grants support the creation of art, public engagement with art, lifelong learning in the arts, and enhancement of the livability of communities through the arts, according to the NEA. The NEA received 1,474 eligible applications under the Art Works category, requesting more than $75 million in funding. Of those applications, 919 are recommended for grants for a total of $26.6 million.

For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, visit the NEA website. For more examples of Dougherty’s work, visit his website.

Photo: Patrick Dougherty outdoor work “Call of the Wild,” in Tacoma WA/Credit: Duncan Price  

Summer is about to end, and so is the the Pyramid of Light.

The public art project built by South Lakes High School art students is slated to be dismantled on Friday.

The project — a pyramid on the base of the concrete spilllway that features brightly painted plexiglass panels — was constructed on the Lake Thoreau spillway in early May.

It was originally supposed to remain in place for half the summer. But the pyramid proved to be a crowd favorite, and the students got permission to leave it up through the end of August.

They even returned to the site in July to repair the structure, which had seen many of its plexiglass panels blow away during storms. The repairs worked and the pyramid has been standing intact since.

The student artists worked on the project for more than year, taking it from sketches to construction. The students had to go through the Reston Association’s Design Review Board process.

Turning the spillway into public art was the idea of James Pan, a Reston resident who suggested the concrete square that can be seen from South Lakes Drive would be a great space for art. He offered financial support if the students would work on a project, said Anne Delaney, executive director of Initiative for Public Art Reston, which sponsored the project.

South Lakes High School art teacher Marco Rando, the advisor for the project, has said he would like to see more projects constructed on the spillway in the future.

The “Pyramid of Light” is getting a makeover.

The temporary public art project created by South Lakes High School students and unveiled in May, has suffered the effects of this summer’s wind and rain storms. A large portion of the plexiglas panels has fallen off the pyramid-shaped structure that sits atop the Lake Thoreau spillway.

The students — Sammy Nazam, Gabriella Rando, Margaret Lashley, and Tehmeena Salahin — have been working during summer break to create about 100 new brightly colored panels. On Wednesday, they, along with art teacher Marco Rando and other helpers, were at the site replacing the panels with new reinforced hanging materials.

The project has received approval to remain in place until the end of August.

The SLHS students teamed with the Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) to turn the spillway into public art. In addition to creating the work, they had to go through a lengthy approval process with Reston Association’s Design Review Board.

South Lakes High School students and the Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) on Thursday unveiled a temporary art installation that turns the Lake Thoreau spillway into a colorful pyramid.

“Pyramid of Light” will remain in place for about eight weeks, said IPAR executive director Anne Delaney.

The project was created by SLHS art students Sammy Nazam, Gabriella Rando, Margaret Lashley, and Tehmeena Salahin, with guidance from SLHS art teacher Marco Rando. The students designed the work, built a  model, created the plexiglass panels, and had to go through the same process as any other artist to get their work approved by Reston Association’s Design Review Board.

Turning the spillway into public art was the idea of James Pan, a Reston resident who suggested the concrete square that can be seen from South Lakes Drive would be a great space for art. He offered financial support if the students would work on a project, says Delaney.

Pan was at the dedication on Thursday, along with the students and teacher, RA representatives, IPAR members and Reston founder Bob Simon.

In his remarks, RA board president Ken Knueven pointed out that public art is one of the founding principles of the community.

South Lakes High School art students are teaming with the Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) for a temporary art installation at the Lake Thoreau spillway.

The project stemmed from a request from a Lake Thoreau resident in 2011. The man, who wishes to remain unnamed, said the concrete spillway that can be seen from South Lakes Drive could use some improvement — and if the community could get together on a student project, he would offer a scholarship, said IPAR executive director Anne Delaney.

Delaney said she wanted the students to have a real life artist experience, from proposal to preliminary sketches to approvals and installation.

“What was important to IPAR, Reston Association and SLHS was to provide students with a real life experience that any professional artist would go through in the development of a public art project in Reston,” Delaney said.

“We wanted to make the project relevant to students and give them a unique experience.”

Four SLHS students rose to the challenge. Sammy Nazam, Gabriella Rando, Margaret Lashley, and Tehmeena Salahin worked to create the work  titled “Pyramid of Light.” The final design includes multicolors plexiglass panels in a pyramid shape that will move with the wind.

The students made three presentations to the IPAR and the RA Design Review Board over the last six months, Delaney said. The final concept was approved by the DRB in March.

The project will have a test run in Lake Audubon this weekend. The real installation should be either May 2 or May 5, said SLHS art teacher Marco Rando, an advisor to the students.

Photos courtesy of IPAR

Classic Reston is a biweekly feature sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce that highlights businesses, places and people with deep roots in Reston.

Reston was planned in the 1960s, founder Robert E. Simon purposely left one thing out: a cemetery.

Simon says when his family owned New York’s Carnegie Hall, he had dealings with people in the funeral industry. He did not like what he saw, so he was not eager support the business.

But an entire generation has now lived, worked and played in Reston. It is too late to have loved ones buried here — there is no open space for a cemetery now — but a group of Restonians has been working to get a memorial garden in Reston.

“There is no special area here for people to be remembered, where we can go to honor and celebrate Restonians who have passed,” said Joe Ritchey, board chair and president of the Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR).

IPAR representatives are working with a Memorial Garden of Reflection committee to identify space and design a place of reflection in Reston. Members of the group spoke at last week’s Baron Cameron Park Master Plan meeting about its hope to be included in the park plans.

The Reston Master Plan changes approved by the county supervisors in February also included the framework for such a place.

“From its beginning in 1964, the planned community of Reston has lacked a special place where one can go to remember and memorialize loved ones. A clear vision for such a facility has emerged through IPAR. It should be a universal and inclusive place where Restonians can remember and reflect upon the passing of loved ones. It should respect and support the many ways in which people choose to acknowledge the passing of life. It’s design should provide a setting for tranquil reflection, contemplation, meditation, inspiration and healing,” the plan states.

The IPAR committee was formed in 2011 after the death of IPAR supporter Ann Rodriguez. It envisions a one-acre site at either Baron Cameron or Lake Fairfax Park. The site should feature natural beauty, wooded elements, as well as walkways and benches, the committee says. Once the project is awarded a site, the next steps will be to raise money to fund the project, as well as hire a landscape designer.

“In the 46 years I have lived in Reston, I have made some very close friends,” said Memorial Garden Committee Chair Sally Brodsky. “Some of them have died. I don’t grieve them in the sense I miss them every day. But I know when I can go to a place where it is quiet, my memories start popping up. In that process, I remember my close friends. I think we all need that. We have every way to be active in Reston, but we need a quiet serene place we —can just be.”

Reston will celebrate its 50th anniversary (and Simon’s 100th birthday) at Founders Day from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Lake Anne Plaza. Complete schedule and details. 

Passengers and visitors to Dulles International Airport are getting a little taste of Reston in the baggage claim area.

That’s because Reston Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) has an exhibit between Carousels 9 and 10 that chronicles Reston’s rich public art history. The IPAR information will be in place until May 31.

Comprised of panels organized by geographic locations, the exhibit traces the internationally known planned community’s rich public art history and its continued dedication after 50 years to the arts. It also showcases Reston’s still-growing inventory of close to 50 existing and temporary public art works.

Airport spokeswoman Margaret Bishop says this is the first time Dulles has welcomed this type of freestanding exhibit. Anne Delaney, IPAR’s executive director, says a spot at the airport is a great chance to promote Reston.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce Reston’s public art and Reston as a cultural destination to visitors who may have heard of the community but have not yet had the chance to visit it,” she says.Award-winning exhibition designer Jeanne Krohn and urban planner and former National Building Museum curator Mary Konsoulis created the overall design and content of the IPAR exhibition. Sean Bahrami, media manager at Reston Association, took the photos used as the exhibit’s backdrop.

The idea to install “Reston: The Art of Community” temporarily at Dulles grew out of a conversation between Bishop and Delaney. Delaney drew her attention to the art of place making and how public art reflects a community, Bishop said, noting “we loved the name ‘The Art of Community’ and how it captured what Reston is about and what we’re about.”

The original exhibition was a collaboration between IPAR, whose mission “seeks to inspire an ongoing commitment to public art and [to] create a new generation of artworks in Reston,” and the Reston Historic Trust, which operates the Reston Museum.

In addition to the panels, the IPAR exhibition features a video shown on monitors above the baggage belts. The video is a three-minute clip of a longer documentary, “Fun, Beauty, Fantasy: Reston’s Public Art,” made by Peabody-Award winning filmmaker Rebekah Wingert-Jabi, a Reston resident. The video clip’s music, “The Reston Story,” was composed by Brian Scarbrough, also a Reston resident.