Art Installed at Former Landmark Macy’s Turned Homeless Shelter
On January 15th, Carpenter’s Shelter and Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association (TFAA) installed the first of multiple artists’ works in their temporary shelter. This installation is the culmination of a months-long collaborative effort involving both organizations and local artists.
Patrick Sargent, local printmaker and president of Printmakers, Inc., used reproductions of Printmakers, Inc. artwork to create a wheatpaste mural for the Carpenter’s Shelter common area. For their next project, TFAA will print and display vinyl reproductions of original works on resident doors at the shelter. The vinyl prints fully cover the doors and the door frames serve as picture frames for the artwork. Artist Lisa Schumaier will lead youth residents in a children’s art project later this winter. Additional contributing artists include TFAA members Jennifer Allevato, Veronica Barker-Barzel, Rachel Collins, Betty Grisham, Guy Jones, Rachel Kerwin, Francine B. Livaditis, Charlene Nield, Marsha Staiger, and Jo Ann Tooley.
In early June 2018, Carpenter’s Shelter temporarily relocated to the former Macy’s at Landmark Mall to make way for their property redevelopment project in Old Town Alexandria. Carpenter’s Shelter and TFAA are partnering to brighten the temporary shelter by creating site-specific art installations and displaying reproductions of original work. Abbey Alison McClain, Executive Director of TFAA, describes TFAA’s motivation to participate, saying, “The TFAA loves the ability to connect the public to the artist and that’s not just through the buying and selling of art. We know that art matters to people in our community at every stage of life and we care about bringing art and the creative spirit to our community in Alexandria and beyond.”
Shannon Steene, Executive Director at Carpenter’s Shelter, says, “Our temporary location in the Macy’s at Landmark Mall has been true gift during our relocation. We’re delighted that our collaboration with TFAA will transform the bare walls of our functional space into virtual galleries.” Carpentersshelter.org
