Arlington Public Library

All Library Locations Closed Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day

Art Exhibits

Steve Breighner: Paintings

Clouds

On exhibit at Central Library, August – September 2017

Painting of white clouds on a blue sky

Artist Statement:

Clouds are like dreams, like mountains that exist for a short time.

Never really, as they constantly change a mountain that existed; as a possibility they have a similar shape, the same face and feel as a mountain.

The sun must have contributed to my thinking.

As on a sunny day where thoughts drift.

At the airport there’s a similar feeling, since you’re up in the clouds flying around, who really knows where you are.

There aren’t streets up there.

Want to buy something you see on our walls? Artists contribute 20% of sales made during their exhibit to the Friends of the Arlington County Public Library, to help support Library programming.

Robin Kent: Photographs

The Northwest Passage

On exhibit at the Cherrydale Branch Library, August 2 – October 2, 2017

Photo of a man standing on a glacier

Robin Kent is a fine arts photographer known for his dramatic images of Washington, D.C. and, more recently, remote locations such as the high altitude monarch preserves in central Mexico, night photography of the Milky Way in remote areas of Yosemite National Park, and the frozen landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula as well as the Arctic Circle.

In the last two years, Robin has traveled to both Polar Regions, photographing Iceland in September 2015 and June 2017 and Antarctica in February 2016. In August 2016, he returned to the northern Polar region with a 23-day transit of the Northwest Passage, inside the Arctic Circle.

Robin’s photographs are in the collections of major corporations, local business organizations, and individual collectors. His training has included landscape photography from the late Galen Rowell, founder of Mountain Light Photography and advanced printing techniques from Mac Holbert, a co-founder of Nash Editions. He is former President and a current member of Great Falls Studios, a consortium of 100 plus artists in Great Falls, Virginia. He is represented by Art Matters in Glen Echo, Maryland. More examples of his work can be seen at his website, www.photographybykent.com.

 

Want to buy something you see on our walls? Artists contribute 20% of sales made during their exhibit to the Friends of the Arlington County Public Library, to help support Library programming.

 

Anya Getter: Mixed Media

Dreams… Colors… Thoughts… Feelings

On exhibit at Connection: Crystal City, June 27 – September 30, 2017.

Artist statement:

I use mainly acrylics in my work – they are the most vesratile media I know. And in it’s normal state the paint will dry fast – which is essential for somebody like me who doesn’t have much patience. Besides acrylics I love using charcoal pencil – for some reason outlining images with it and then smudging the lines a bit gives me immense satisfaction. I also use pastels and white ink on occasion. You can also see elements of collage in my work – paper, tissue, dried leaves, various found objects – I like to incorporate all that.

Learn more on Anya’s website.

Want to buy something you see on our walls? Artists contribute 20% of sales made during their exhibit to the Friends of the Arlington County Public Library, to help support Library programming.

 

 

Laura Herring: Paintings

Blue as can be

On exhibit at Central Branch Library, June 2017.

Artist Statement:

Blue speaks to me in a way no other color does. It’s a primary color-an entity in and of itself. There are more shades of blue straight from the tube than any other color. When I don’t have to think about mixing colors, I can focus on knife work, on creating textures worthy of focus themselves, regardless of the color choice.

Laura Herring is selling the small works for $60, medium works for $80 and the large works for $100.

Want to buy something you see on our walls? Artists contribute 20% of sales made during their exhibit to the Friends of the Arlington County Public Library, to help support Library programming.

Henry Gallucio: Mixed Media

“Paintings in my head”

On exhibit at Central Branch Library, June 2017.

Artist Statement:

I. do. a. lot. of. my paintings in my head at the Italian store. where. I work. at the slicer. I like. jasper. johns and van Gogh and Jackson Pollock. I like al held too. I’ve been doing mixed media using wood and wire and newspaper. I like lively paintings. I did a lot of paintings of the poor. I’m on the board of a church homeless program in DC and work with some charities. Prices are. negotiable

Want to buy something you see on our walls? Artists contribute 20% of sales made during their exhibit to the Friends of the Arlington County Public Library, to help support Library programming.

Lisa Katic: Paintings

Abstract Art

On exhibit at Central Branch Library, June 2017.

Artist Statement:

“Quiet the Mind and the Soul Will Speak” – Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati

My path to uncovering my inner artist is rooted in this quote. When I allowed myself to be still and quiet, I tapped into a world that was calming, peaceful and spiritual. I became more aware of what truly feeds the soul; emotion, compassion, nature’s energy and the beauty that surrounds us.  As a result of that deep connection, my creative energy grew and made its way out of the shadows.  I literally felt a physical urge to paint — to put something on a canvas in bold strokes with vivid colors and not care about the outcome or the process. My journey into art continues to evolve, is exhilarating, and liberating. I paint for the joy of it and the shear need for creative expression, experimentation and outlet.  I am humbled when someone reacts strongly or positively to one of my paintings.  Thank you for viewing and taking time to explore my work.

Want to buy something you see on our walls? Artists contribute 20% of sales made during their exhibit to the Friends of the Arlington County Public Library, to help support Library programming.

Johnny Hunt: Masks

PECULI-ART

On exhibit at Central Branch Library, June 2017.

Artist Statement:

Though a resident of the Arlington area, I grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia.

That was long ago when:  The circus elephants would walk down our street on the way to the fairgrounds; the ‘Dogwood Festival Parades’ would begin in the neighborhood (but were required to stop before entering the University of Virginia); radio and televisions weren’t common; phones were on party lines, we spent much of our time catching lightning bugs; played games like ‘Red Light – Green Light’, ‘Tag’, and ‘Swamp Fox’; people heated with coal; had no air conditioning; cars were $500 to $1000 dollars; and many people took the bus or walked.

I suspect my mother, a country school teacher, was my inspiration.  She was the first to notice my interest in art (it certainly wasn’t my father – a taxicab driver).  She also painted a dead tree in her yard.  One summer she gave me some index cards and encouraged me to doodle.  I became enthralled with the beauty of the sunrise and would get up everyday just to ‘paint’ the morning sky on index cards – with colored pencils.

Much later in life, I worked for a Government agency and started a recycling program in our building.  I came home one night and thought ‘what can I do better  – to recycle at home’?  I was intrigued by how much waste we create; and noticed that ‘junk mail’, in particular, was the glut of our ‘throw away material’.  So, about 25 years ago, I started playing around and made paper mache out of the junk mail that I received.  That became my art; and I ‘embellish’ it with other ‘used or throw-away items’.
My friend came home one evening and saw my first creation – the response was not overwhelming:

“I think you’ve been alone too long….”

The comment was funny; and hopefully…keeps me ‘grounded’.   I suppose that is one reason my artwork navigates between the sacred and the profane.  Though some pieces have a more serious meaning, most are capricious – or simply something that struck me as being beautiful, funny, or ‘peculiar’.  So…does that make me an artist – or simply someone who enjoys doing art – (the proverbial ‘two-cents’ observation)?

‘Peculiars’ or ‘trash trolls’ – which I do occasionally; and which basically started in this library – are whimsical pieces that started as ‘kid doodles’ – and probably have something to do with – well, god knows.  I will say simply that my best subject matter is found by looking in the mirror.  However, I must believe there are things – call them ‘Peculiars’ if you want – that cause all of us to have days that seem like we are in ‘three quarters time’.

Johnny Hunt’s favorite artists include: Theodor Kittelsen, Antonio Gaudi, Norman Rockwell, and Andrew Wyeth. His oil painting is titled: “The Peculiar Seventeen Year Dance of the Cicadas”. A percentage of the profits are always donated to a non-profit agency of his choice (For example the ‘Make a Wish Foundation’, ‘Wounded Warriors Project’, or ‘The Nature Conservancy’).

Want to buy something you see on our walls? Artists contribute 20% of sales made during their exhibit to the Friends of the Arlington County Public Library, to help support Library programming.

 

Deborah Jean Choupin: Photographs

Yellowstone National Park

On exhibit at Cherrydale Branch Library, May 3 – August 1, 2017.

Photo of shaggy buffalo herd walking down a snow covered road toward the viewer

Artist Statement:

I grew up in New York City, and enjoyed traveling with my family on many summer camping trips. Later, after moving to Madison, Wisconsin, I took a trip out west to the Jackson Hole / Yellowstone area. On a fluke, I asked about a job at Teton Village (the base area at Jackson Hole) and got the job the following spring! The “love affair” began then, in 1976. My years of working, exploring, and enjoying the area and taking photos continued to grow. Moving east in the 1990s after getting married, I started showing my photos at Artomatic in 2007 and at a fundraiser for the National Maritime Heritage Foundation. I enjoy shooting nature, especially flowers and landscapes. It gives me such pleasure and contentment to just “be” outside.

Deborah Jean Choupin graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Her photographs have been exhibited at Artomatic in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2017; the National Maritime Heritage Foundation; and Artomatic@ Frederick in 2011, 2013, and 2016. Her pictures appear on the sheet music and libretto of A Roadkill Opera.

Want to buy something you see on our walls? Artists contribute 20% of sales made during their exhibit to the Friends of the Arlington County Public Library, to help support Library programming.

 

McLean Art Society

On exhibit at the Westover Branch Library, March – April 2017.

Painting of a ship at sea

 

The McLean Art Society was formed in 1955 by a small group of artists to encourage and facilitate their desire to create visual art. They exchange information, visit galleries, and arranged to use public places to show their work.

Today, society members include working artists, art instructors, art students, and people who just have an interest in art. The club is low-key and friendly, and has members from throughout the Washington area.

Want to buy something you see on our walls? Artists contribute 20% of sales made during their exhibit to the Friends of the Arlington County Public Library, to help support Library programming.

 

Download the Library App