Fall Into October’s Exciting New Art Events

By Kelly Maconomy

* October 3 is the first Saturday of the month and traditionally the date reserved for Art on the Avenue. This year due to COVID the annual Del Ray mile-long art market and music festival on Mount Vernon Avenue will be an online event. Unlike years past, the activities will extend until the end of the year. Check the website for more details.

* As part of its Art on the Avenue celebration, Del Ray Artisans is bringing the COVID-19 US Honor Quilt H*O*P*E display outside the gallery to kick off Art on the Avenue. Stop by the gallery for photo ops and have your selfies taken.

* The Art League at the Torpedo Factory features the 2020 Open Exhibit juried by Raymond Paxton from October 7~ November 1, 2020. The solo exhibits for October are Rosa Leff’s “Expectation/Reality” and Steve Moen’s “Across the Gorge and Other Spaces Between.”

* Del Ray Artisans Gallery has a new show on exhibit from 10/2~10/31 called “Living In a Mini World.” Curated by Betsy Jones and Howard Hay. Admission is free but hours are limited due to COVID-19: Thursday and Friday 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

* Falls Church Arts is hosting the 2020 Falls Church Art “Scenes In the City” Plein Air Competition Festival from 10/10~ 10/17 and the Quick Draw Competition event October 17 from 8:00 -11:00 a.m. on the Falls Church City Hall grounds. Winners for both competitions will be announced at noon at the farmer’s market on the grounds. A COVID-safer alternative to view local art. For more information or to register as an artist for competitive monetary awards contact www.fallschurcharts.org

* River Farm October 17~ January 6, 2021: Robert Murray and the Von Brahler Gallery Ltd. present “More Moments of Art”: a retrospective of the art work of the late Otari Shiuk. There will be a reception October 17, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with the artist’s family and the curator. This is an opportunity to explore and enjoy the grounds of historic River Farm, one of the original five farms of George Washington set upon 21 splendid acres along the Potomac River, before the property is sold by the American Horticultural Society. Masks are required for the reception and to view the artwork.

* Principle Gallery, 208 King Street, Alexandria is currently showing “From Above” spotlighting landscapes and cityscapes from the air. The next show is “The Memory of Trees” with the opening reception on October 16, 6:30- 9:00 p.m. The Principle Gallery recently loaned works by their gallery artists for the Loudoun Arts Film Festival art show including the timely, compelling work of Mark Lague’s “PPE2“, which will be back at the gallery.

* The Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory has a new show on exhibit titled “Mythos”: September 19 ~ October 25. The show examines the impact of ancient mythologies upon culture, with artists interpreting them in a contemporary context. There will be a virtual reception October 9 at 7:00 p.m. through the Torpedo Factory’s Facebook page.

ICYMI: Coming Sept. 21: Fall Online Art Classes Taught by Art League School