An upcoming exhibit at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery is looking to make a lasting impression on its audience.

The exhibit called “LASTING IMPRESSIONS”  features acrylic and oil paintings and mixed media by Karen Danenberger, a former painting teacher at Reston Community Center at Lake Anne.

“‘LASTING IMPRESSIONS’ is about those images that evoke personal memories,” according to the exhibit’s description. “From depictions of the Reston paths to scenes in the kitchens of friends and family, these paintings represent places that have meaning in my life and show what I have noticed about the world around me.”

Most of the paintings in the exhibit were created in the last five years, according to the description.

The exhibit opens Monday (July 1) and runs through July 29. An opening reception will be held next Sunday (July 7) from 2-4 p.m.

Photo via Karen Danenberger’s website

In recent years, Boston Properties has proffered to set aside a parcel of land in a recently approved mixed-use development for a new performing arts center. The circular center would be located on Block J as part of Reston Gateway, 4.8 million square feet of development near the future Reston Town Center Metro Station.  It would contain up to 50,000 square feet and would sit near an office building with eights levels, including three levels of underground parking.

The proposed proffer has prompted Reston Community Center to explore Reston residents’ opinions on the center and whether or not RCC should play a role in pushing the initiative forward. These questions will be posed in a community survey that will be conducted this summer.

RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon told Reston Now that if the center determines it should construct such a venue, it would seek a bond referendum to fund the construction. Gordon said that RCC’s Board of Governors has no intent to raise the current tax rate.

If RCC takes part in the effort, it hopes to ensure the facility is large enough to host dance, choral and orchestral music, and theatrical musics with large casts. Its primary service audience would be community-based non-profit arts organizations and Fairfax County Public Schools’ arts programs.

Gordon also reiterated that RCC will not compete with the Wolf Trap or negatively impact its operations. RCC also hopes to ensure the center is accessible to all — with affordable rents for local art users and affordable ticket pricing.

Others have also discussed leveraging cash contributions from the county, nearby towns like Herndon and Vienna, and other entities.

“If those were to be realized, those contributors would potentially achieve calendar access to use of the new venue, and/or perhaps some role in its mission. This would be a complicated scenario to pursue, but it’s one worth exploring,” Gordon wrote.

Discussions are preliminary, as RCC has not yet discussed future possibilities with Boston Properties or the county’s land use staff.

Rendering via handout/Fairfax County Government

Reston Community Center‘s Jo Ann Rose Gallery will display “Finding Home,” a collaboration between two artists who explore what home means to them, next month.

The exhibit, which features former Reston resident and visual artist Morgan Johnson Norwood and Reston resident and poet Sally Toner, runs from July 30 to Aug. 24.

Both artists will also explore loss and women’s lives today in the exhibit. Norwood draws from her experience after a divorce forced her to relocate and Toner reflects on a breast cancer diagnosis that influenced her writing. Her first book, “Anansi and Friends,” will be released this summer.

Norwood and Toner, who were neighbors and are educators, look forward to sharing their work with the community. Norwood’s paintings feature circular forms, which symbolize “nurturing small spaces within seed pods,” she told RCC. Toner’s poetry features “flipping around”of romantic concepts inspired by William Blake’s “The Tyger” and “The Lamb.”

RCC interviewed the artists, who said the following about the exhibit:

“Much of my auditory sensibility with spoken language comes from my grandfather — his Georgia accent, smooth syntax, and the audacious storytelling to which I always had a front-row seat,” said Toner. “Finding Home transcends the man-made elements of both Reston and Arlington to find truth in nature and energy in the urban sphere.”

“Sally has gone through cancer and faced fear and reevaluated her priorities, and I have gone through divorce and loss and also faced fear and reevaluated mine,” Norwood said. “I see our conversation as a universal one of transformation and upheaval and then finding that sense of safety and love.”

A reception and special reading is set for Saturday, Aug. 3 from 12-2 p.m. at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery.

Photo via Morgan Johnson Norwood/Reston Community Center

Reston Community Center is launching a major community survey to explore how residents use its program, facilities and services. The survey is the first of its kind since a decade.

RCC is partnering with the Center for Survey Research at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service to complete the survey. It will also explore community opinions on a new performing arts venue in Reston.

The effort is prompted by changes in Reston’s population and projected future growth due to the expansion of the Silver Line.

“Reston depends on RCC for leisure-time options to enjoy; we want to assure that we are in touch with current views about how people want us to serve their needs. In addition, the media landscape has radically changed and we want to know more about how people get information,” said Leila Gordon, RCC’s executive director, in a release. “Along with these issues, this is an ideal opportunity to find out the community’s views about development of a new performing arts venue.”

Respondents selected to participate in the survey will receive an advance letter this month notifying them of the chance to complete the survey. Questionnaire and a postage-paid return envelope will be mailed thereafter. The survey will also be available in Spanish, Russian, Mandarin and Arabic.

Other residents can also participate in the survey, which will be available online for Reston residents and at RCC’s customer service desks.

Surveying will continue in the summer. The Center for Survey Research will submit its analysis of survey responses to RCC in September.

Individuals interested in receiving a copy of the completed report can request one by emailing [email protected].

All email requests will be kept confidential and completely separate from survey responses, according to RCC.

File photo

(Updated on 06/27/19 at 5 p.m.) Greater Reston Arts Center’s new exhibit “Overlooked” presents the work of an artist who bring awareness to issues that are not a part of “polite conversation.”

The exhibit, which features nine artists, includes work that encourages the viewer to embrace compassion, empathy, critical reflection and healing.

The following artists are part of the new exhibit:

• Leila Abdelrazaq
• Lorenzo Cardim
• Larry W. Cook
• Leigh Davis
• Helina Metaferia 
• Matt Storm (Editor’s Note: Link is not safe for work.)
  
• Julie Wolfe 
• Homie House Press
• Red Sand Project

The opening reception is set for Saturday, July 13 from 5-7 p.m. at GRACE. Organizers wrote the following about the exhibit:

Overlooked will present the work of artists who are seeking to bring awareness to issues that are often unnoticed, ignored, or otherwise not part of “polite conversation.” These artists are not necessarily proposing solutions to society’s ills but are alternatively offering an opportunity for the viewer to engage in compassion, empathy, critical reflection, and even healing. Instead of offering a comprehensive exhibition of hot-button issues, Overlooked turns to the artists in our community and beyond to bring awareness to subjects that are important to their lives.

Creative responses are scheduled for July 18 and Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. An expert will respond to work on view by offering a short presentation, which will be follow up by open dialogue. The event, which is sponsored by Reston Community Center, is free and open to the public.

The exhibit will be on display from July 13 to Aug. 31.

Image via Larry W. Cook/Greater Reston Arts Center

Reston Community Center’s leadership is looking ahead to new initiatives by 2021, including launching a comprehensive community survey, redesigning its website, and the completion of the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center.

At its annual meeting this month, RCC’s leadership presented highlights, challenges, and ongoing plans for the coming years. Initiatives in the works include the following:

• Scheduling accreditation visit and achieving Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) accreditation
• Continuing to explore new performing arts venues and plan for capital reinvestment in existing facilities
• Building community awareness, pride and cohesion
• Move programming closer to Reston residents and employees
• Launching a comprehensive community survey by next month

The ongoing renovation of the aquatics center is expected to be completed by October. The most difficult aspect of the project — timing of materials and crews, as well as hiring and training — lies ahead.

RCC is governed by a nine-member board appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Rendering via Reston Community Center

Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors to Hold Annual Public Hearing Tonight — Attendees will learn more about RCC’s plans for the future, including a status report on the renovation of the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center and the center’s annual report and strategic plan. The hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods. [Reston Community Center]

Flash Flood Watch In Effect Today — A flash flood watch is in effect from 2 p.m. through this evening. Widespread thunderstorms and showers are expected. [National Weather Service]

Route 7 Widening Project to Provide Traffic Relief Soon — “The $313.9 million project is designed to ease congestion on a section of Route 7 that links northern and western Fairfax County and includes the busy Tysons area, which is undergoing a massive transformation of its own. The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority provided $10 million in funding. Other money for the project comes from Fairfax County and the state.” [The Washington Post]

Overnight Closures of Dulles Toll Road and Dulles Airport Access Road Ramps Planned This Week — “The ramps from the eastbound Dulles Toll Road and the eastbound Dulles Airport Access Road to the southbound I-495 (Capital Beltway) general purpose lanes will be closed nightly Monday night, June 17 through Friday night, June 21 for bridge work as part of the Jones Branch Connector project, ” [Virginia Department of Transportation]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Our weekend pick is Taste of Reston — Northern Virginia’s largest outdoor festival — which kicks off today and runs until tomorrow (Saturday).

Here’s a recap off the festival, which will bring food vendors, local restaurants, and others together for two days of food-related fun.

Parking will be free during the event.

Tomorrow (June 15)

• Family Fun Entertainment Series (10-10:45 a.m.) — Enjoy the Uncle Devin Show, an interactive musical experience, that takes kids on a magical journey through the land of percussion. Parking is free on weekends at Reston Town Center.
• Stop-motion animation workshop (1-3 p.m.) — Exhibiting artist Stephanie Williams will lead workshop participants on stop-motion animation at the Greater Reston Arts Center. Registration is $30 and all materials are included.
• Trip to Nationals vs. AZ Diamondbacks Baseball Game (2:15-8:15 p.m.) — Reston Association is organizing a trip to Nationals Park. Registration is $54 for RA members and $62 for all others.
• Bookworms Club (11 a.m.) — Young readers will dive into “PAR-TAY!: Dance of the Veggies” at this weekly bookclub. Younger readers are welcome to join at any time.
• Summerbration Fun Brunch (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — Enjoy flow circus at the Reston Station Plaza in this free event for all ages. Parking is free on weekends in the Metro Parking garage.

Sunday (June 16)

• Bird Walk (7:30-10:30 a.m.) — Beginner and expert birders are invited to scout for birds in this walk, which is cosponsored by Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and The Bird Feeder store. Registration is not required and the walk is for adults only.
• Summerbration Fun Brunch (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — Meddle in mad science during this free event at Reston Station Plaza. Parking is free on weekends in the Metro Parking garage.
• Chess Club for Kids (2-3 p.m.) — Learn tactics and end game strategies at Reston Regional Library. Players of all strengths are welcome to join.
• How to Stand Out in the College Admissions Process (2-3 p.m.) — InGenius Prep will give a presentation on how to standout in the admissions process, and Susan Shifflet, a former assistant director of admissions at Yale, will also offer her insights.

Photo by Don Renner

Teens Rob Student Walking from Dogwood Elementary — “One teen has been arrested and authorities are searching for two others after police say they robbed a student walking home from school in Reston on Monday. The incident happened at around 1:07 p.m. on June 10 in the 12300 block of Glade Drive.” [Reston Patch]

Reston Hospital Center Recognized for Patient Safety Practices — “Reston Hospital Center (RHC) is being recognized by Healthgrades as a 2019 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient. This award recognizes the nation’s top hospitals for patient safety, those hospitals providing excellent performance in safeguarding patients from serious, potentially preventable complications during their hospital stay.” [The Connection]

Take a Break Concert Series Tonight — Enjoy a mix of a capella Motown, doo-wop and soul at this weekly summer concert, which takes place at Lake Anne Plaza from 7-9 p.m. [Reston Community Center]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors is holding its annual public hearing on programs and budget next week.

The meeting is set for Monday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road).

During the meeting, the public will get a glimpse of RCC’s plans for the future and highlights and challenges over the past year.

Attendees will also receive the center’s annual report and strategic plan for 2016-2021.

A nine-month renovation of the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center is underway. The 40-year-old center will get two pools — a 25-year lap pool with zero-depth entry and a warm-water therapeutic pool — along with a new roof.

The renovated facility is set to reopen in October.

RSVPs are requested by emailing [email protected] by Friday, June 15. Attendees should include their full name and address.

RCC is governed by a nine-member board appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Selections are based on the preferences of residents and businesses in Small District 5, which the center serves.

File photo

A new pottery studio is coming to Reston at the end of the month.

TealNest Pottery will host a grand opening on Saturday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 11704 Bowman Green Drive.

The owners — Heidi Pommer of Reston and Charlotte Knight of Fairfax — learned the art of pottery after taking classes at Reston Community Center at Lake Anne.

Now, they hope to pass on what they’ve learned through Scandinavian-style, boutique pottery. Their work is characterized by clean lines and calming colors.

The studio will host lessons on wheel and hand-building pottery techniques.

Here’s more from the owners:

TealNest Pottery offers potters at all levels, with seven wheels, large hand-building area, wall-slab roller, oval kiln, and beautiful glazes. “We encourage everyone to bring their unique talents and imaginations to create personalized and high-caliber pottery pieces that treasure and share! And we invite our ceramics community to join us as we collectively raise our skills to the next level.

Guests who attend the grand opening will receive a $25 gift certificate for a future class.

Photos via Heidi Pommer

After a successful turnout at its inaugural event in a local church last year, the second annual Reston Pride Festival returns tomorrow (June 1) with a new location at Lake Anne Plaza.

The event, which aims to celebrate and support Reston’s LGBTQ community, is co-chaired by the Unitarian Universalist Church, St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, and United Christian Parish.

Building on last year’s event, the festival will feature entertainment, music, food, education and celebration, according to event organizers.

“The Lake Anne Plaza venue offers not only more space but greater visibility and access — and brings the festival into the heart of Reston, which is fitting as Reston since its founding in the 1960s has been committed to the principles of equality and inclusion.”

The schedule for the event is below:

• 2 p.m.: Welcome note by Reston Pride co-chairs
• 2:05 p.m.: Remarks by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, Del. Ken Plum, and Sen. Janet Howell
• 2:30 p.m.: Performance by choir from sponsoring churches
• 2:40 p.m.: Vocal performance by Reston Community Players
• 3:15 p.m.: Remarks by faith leader speakers
• 3:35 p.m.: Drag show performance by Delta B. Knyght
• 4:05 p.m.: Vocal performance by Rev. Michelle Nickens
• 4:25 p.m.: Remarks by official speaker Danica Roem
• 4:40 p.m.: Vocal performance by Jeff Young
• 5:05 p.m.: Indian Bollywood dance performance
• 5:20 p.m.: United Christian Parish Total Praise ensemble
• 5:40 p.m.: Voices of Howard University
• 6:10: Vocal performance by Laura Tsaggaris
• 6:55 p.m.: Closing remarks

Tomorrow (June 1)

• Gardens of Note Tour (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)  — Take a self-guided tour of Reston’s gardens and pop-up musical entertainment. Registration is open online. A garden party at Hidden Lane Residential Landscapes will follow the tour.
• Wildlife Counts and Classes (6:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.) — Adult volunteers will explore Reston’s natural areas in this class, which meets at the Walker Nature Center.
• Summerbration Fun Brunch (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — A stilt walker, juggler and face painter performs onstage at Reston Station Plaza atop Wiehle-Reston East Metro. The event is free and open to all. Parking is free in the Metro Parking garage.
• Summer Reading Kickoff (11 a.m.) — Young readers are invited to join authors Erica Perl and Laura Gehl to read some of their favorite titles at Scrawl Books.
• ArtSplash for Adults (2-4 p.m.) — Adults are invited to create their own masterpieces in this workshop led by artists from Abrakadoodle Northern Virginia.
• Lake House Open House (1-3 p.m.) — Enjoy light refreshments and mingle with neighbors during community-drop in time.

Sunday (June 2)

• Nova Tour de Cure (6 a.m. to 4 p.m.) — The event, which is the American Diabetes Association’s signature fundraiser, raises funds for research, advocacy, programs, and education. It will take place at Reston Town Center.
• Sunday Art in the Park (7-8 p.m.) — Hear the voice of the cello in favorites with assistant profess or cello Julian Schwarz and pianist Marika Bournaki at Reston Town Square Park. The event is free and open to all.

Photo by Debra Haffner

Ben Volta, the artist and educator selected by Public Art Reston to transform the Colts Neck Road Underpass into public art, will discuss the project on Monday (June 3) at CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road).

Filmmaker Rebekah Wingert and Hunters Woods Elementary School art teacher Norma Morris will join Volta in the discussion, which begins at 7:30 p.m.

The underpass is identified in the Public Art Master Plan for Reston as a location for new artwork. Volta’s work will address the spirit of the Hunters Woods neighborhood, respond to the cultural diversity, and ensures the underpass is a civic facility in the fabric of the surrounding community.

Public Art Reston wrote the following about Volta:

A 2015 recipient of a Pew Fellowship in the Arts, Volta is known for his public artwork, (including intricate murals and sculptures), working within the fields of education, restorative justice and urban planning. He has a participatory approach to making art and has worked with numerous organizations and schools.

Volta is working directly with Reston community members on this project, which will beautify the underpass and promote its use. He has already done workshops with students at Dogwood Elementary School. In addition, he will give workshops at

Hunters Woods Fellowship House, Southgate Community Center and Hunters Woods Elementary School. He also will hold a community workshop, open to the public, in late June.

According to Volta, his practice “stands on the belief that art can be a catalyst for change, within individuals as well as the institutional structures that surround them.”

Volta–who as a young artist was a member of the groundbreaking art collective “Tim Rollins and K.O.S.” (Kids of Survival), in the south Bronx section of New York City–earned his certificate in sculpture from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2002 and his BFA from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005.

After finishing his academic studies, Volta began working with teachers and students in Philadelphia public schools to create participatory art “rooted in an exploratory and educational process.” Over the past decade, and through hundreds of projects, he has developed his collaborative process in partnership with public schools, art organizations and communities. The

National Academy of Sciences also has recognized his work, which integrates art with math, science and reading.

Ann Delaney, Public Art Reston’s executive director, said Volta unanimously selected by the artist selection committee and Public Art Reston’s Public Art Committee.

“The project is an opportunity for infrastructure beautification, engagement, education, and inspiration,” Delaney wrote in a statement. “It will promote the active use of an underpass that helps link residential areas, Hunters Woods Village Center, two schools, two senior facilities and two community centers.”

The event is free and open o all.

The project is supported by Atlantic Realty Companies, ARTSFAIRFAX, Reston Community Center, JBG Smith, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Pat and Steve Macintyre, Lake Thoreau Entertainment Association and other individuals.

Photo by Ryan Collerd, Courtesy of the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage

Reston’s outdoor venues will come to life this summer as Reston Community Center puts on six entertainment series over the next several weeks.

“Everyone likes to get outside in the fresh air during the summer months,” said RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon. “RCC is taking our ‘show on the road’ with these series and bringing people together right where they are. We want families and friends to enjoy the spirit of Reston all summer long.”

In addition to traditional staples like Thursday dance nights at Lake Anne Plaza and performances at Town Square Park in Reston Town Center on Saturday mornings, RCC has added two new entertainment series to its line up.

In “Lunchtime with the Arts at Mason,” student performers from George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts offer free lunchtime concerts on select Thursdays until October 24 at Reston Town Center’s Town Square Park from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Performances range from show tunes to euphonium ensembles. The series kicked off  on May 9.

Reston Station will be home to the “Summerbration Fun Brunch” series, which brings entertainment and activities to Reston Station Plaza starting tomorrow (June 1). Attendees will get the chance to enjoy music and engaging activities on Saturdays and Sunday through August 25. The program takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parking is free on weekends in the Metro garage.

“Summerbration” concerts, which take place on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. at Reston Station, will continue this year. The concert schedule includes familiar groups like Scott Kurt & Memphis 59 and the band Oasis Island Sounds. Several concerts will also include professional dance instruction. Three hours of validated parking is available in the ParkX garage. The series ends on August 23. RCC presents this series in cooperation with MSE Productions, Inc. and Reston Station, the event’s host.

A Family Fun Entertainment Series in Reston Town Center’s Town Square Park also continues on Saturdays from 10-10:45 a.m. This series is geared toward kids and begins on June 15. The series is presented by RCC in cooperation with MSE Productions, Inc. and is hosted by Reston Town Center Association. Garage parking is free on Saturdays.

On Sundays, Sunday Art in the Park with the Shenandoah Conservatory continues at Town Square Park. The first performance is set for Sunday (June 2) from 7-8 p.m. This series is presented by RCC and Reston Town Center Association in cooperation with Shenandoah University.

All series are free and open to the public.

Photo courtesy Reston Community Center