On View: March 30 – April 28, 2024

Reception: April 13, 6 pm – 8 pm.

At The Workhouse Arts Center: McGuireWoods, W-16 2nd Floor

Beyond is a exhibition collaboration featuring artwork submissions from first and second year art students at both, Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University.

This year’s exhibition was hosted by The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA. and takes place in the second floor, McGuireWoods Gallery.

Sarah Berry, the Exhibitions Manager and Rachel Kizielewicz, Interim President and CEO of the Workhouse Arts Center, welcomed everyone to this year’s reception.

The exhibition showcases art that considers play, experimentation, freedom from boundaries, initiates new narratives and transforms artistic experience.

The exhibition was organized by George Mason’s 2-D and 3-D Foundations Faculty Rachel Dubuque and NOVA Alexandria’s 3-D Professor Jessica Gardner.

Our combined exhibition would not be complete without hearing from Rick Davis, Dean of George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts and Jay Steere, Dean of the Liberals Arts at the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community.  They both spoke of the robust character of our fine arts programs and the extraordinary artwork and creative ability of all our students.

Beyond was juried by Joesph Orzal, creative director of NoMüNoMü.  The NoMüNoMü website, explains that Orzal, “is a Filipino-Mexican American painter, sculptor, chess player and writer active in DC, Atlanta, New York, and Toronto. His Works, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting usually explore palpable yet unspoken intricacies of racial, sexual, and class distinctions in Western societies, and their inevitable if unnameable tensions.”

As juror, Joseph picked the final art and determined the winning selections for the awards ceremony which took place the the reception on April 13th.

Everyone was very excited to be able to come to stage and say a few words about their winning artwork.

And the winners are:

• First Place: Alexandra Benson, A Tapestry of Plastic Waste (Mason)

• Second Place: River Temple, Kadın Düşmanlığı (Mason)

• Third Place: Noah Covington, Biblical Angel Rendition (NOVA)

• Fetun Getachew, Market Color (NOVA)

Director’s Award for Best in Show *Sponsored by Zoë Charlton, George Mason University’s School of Art, Director 

•  Gabriela Guitierrez Aramay, Closing Spaces (Mason)

Music was provided by the NOVA Alexandria Jazz Combo Band featuring Oliver Coudert on guitar, Jamie Jackson on bass, and Kurt Steinbacher on drums. The Music was wonderful and everyone had a phenomenal time!

Our 2023 Alexandria Fine Art Student Juried Show was organized by Jessica Gardner, our 3-D instructor.   She chose Russ Mcintosh to be our juror.  Throughout his artistic career, Russ, has exhibited around the country.  He formerly ran the Arlington Arts Gallery and has been a graphic designer for over 25 years.

His current company, Vision Idea Design helps small entrepreneurs in the small business community achieve their goals.  In recent years, he has hosted the SatARtday Artist Showcase which features young artists.  He also hails as a NOVA alumni!

This year’s 2023 Fine Art Student Show, exemplified the exceptionalism of our NOVA student’s talents, creative endeavors and passion for art.  I noticed this year offered a trend toward visual storytelling,  featuring  relationships  between  people,   concepts,  things and re-imagining  them  in  wonderful  new  ways.

Julia Marques created a playful 3-d work titled Relaja La Raja. She incorporated children’s toys and wood to create a 3-D chair representing ideas of early life and growing up.   If you get a chance to visit the gallery, check out the chair leg collections of  toys!

Zee Blair created this epically gestured ode to Michelle Nichols who  portrayed Uhura in Star Trek.  Nichols has been an inspiration to many women over the decades.  The artwork is titled, “Curiosity.” The  glove represents  her  hand  reaching  out  to  the galaxies.   

Another poignant and bold trend  in this show is the art of the painted portrait.  Our art students provided a variety of creative approaches, from stylized to realism.  Each portrait is bold, unique and intriguing!  (L-R)  Pensive by Jennifer Wessmiller, Self Portrait by Julia Marques and Self Portrait by Lilian Tulloss.

The first artwork alcove, predominantly features women portraits and the stories they tell.   Sarah Barakat painted numerous works on women.  Her work, “Sisters,” says so much to anyone who has sisterly relationships.   Yet each person is likely to have a different interpretation to the work depending on our backgrounds.  It’s an example of what we the viewer brings to our experience with art.

“Portrait Knife Calligraphy” (below) by Raghad Elbardicy, helps us think about cultures, women, life, opportunities and togetherness. There are so many ways to interpret the artwork. Out of the grey, the pop of colors draw us immediately into each woman’s world.

Two artists created paintings featuring a pomegranate.   Nicole LaVallee’s Pomegranate visualizes an intriguing surrealistic storyline that uses on and off the canvas elements.  We are given much to consider during our evaluation of potential meaning.  I personally love the physical surface of the work.   The sky provides a rich, landscaped space where life is seemingly possible.  The color divide between the world at large and the inner world of subject matter is both delineated and connected by a single black ribbon on the left-hand side of the canvas.   The ribbon itself circles the entire canvas, acting as both frame and wrapper of the creative effort itself.

Art Tucker’s Pomegranate is technically exceptional.  She beautifully handles water soluble oils.  Not an easy feat.  The piece exudes color as though it’s the very juice of the picture plane.

(Below), The message of Kirsten Ponticelli’s “How’d You Vote?” is clear.  It’s a simple question provided within a direct, visual context.   This one piece illustrates our ongoing societal debate at large countered against a visual of America’s unified student experience today.

We had one portrait of a man, titled, “Random Man Portrait” by Kiara Quinto.  Kiara expertly handled the graphite and charcoal to create a work that prompts the view to consider the drawing process itself.

Every year I look forward to seeing our 3-D student submissions.  They are always highly creative, with ideas that are beautifully brought to fruition. One of my personal favorites this year is “Whale?” by James Davenport.

“Whale?” is a ceramic work featuring the body of a whale with the face of a hippo.  The land/sea package beautifully evokes nature at large.

James’ other work, “Triangles” was constructed from various triangularly-created clay shapes.  The unexpected countering of a natural and green living subject  against the variety of greens seen in the glazing of the man-made ceramic piece allows us to enjoy multiple aspects of contrasting visual elements.   The well-potted opening bring our eyes into an alluded rocky  crevice.  Our eyes are then led along the tendril growth path, ever reaching, outward and into the world.

This year’s show had so many wonderful 3-D works.  Susan Edgington paired two lovely dark ceramic works, “Dark Twist,” on the left and on the  right, Sentinel,”

Brendan Curley’s, “Worship Box” is made of foam core, plasti-dip, acrylic and wax.  The form is modern, austere and yet, with the use of candles dripping down upon the form the box has a human touch to it.

Mona Toukan’s “Left Hand” wonderfully hold’s a delicate flower.

The submissions this year are so creative! Mona also created this wonderful Teapot.

On entering the gallery, Tuvshinbayar Zeveg’s “Mongolian Eagle” powerfully greets visitors to the gallery.

These four charcoal works illustrate the variety and individuality of potential approaches to the the medium.   (L to R) Vinh Ly’s “Glass and Paints”; Fran Alexander’s “Water and Glass”; Giuseppe DeLuca’s “Kitchen and Bath”; and Caroline Haggerty;s “Dirty Dishes.”

It’s always a joy to see how how much time students spend on their creations!  Fran Alexanders, “Water and Glass” exemplifies the beauty of working with a slow layered approach.

“Dirty Dishes” also is 

Dirty Dishes is also a wonderfully creative work.  The assignment incorporates putting kitchen items in inappropriate places.  The bathroom fits this to a T!

Kirsten Ponticelli’s 3-D relief work, titled “Made with Love, Trash” is full of color, texture and story .  She incorporated found items into a swirled galaxy of visual delight.  The more one looks, the more interesting items one finds!

`The reception offered a wonderful evening to learn more about art and our student artists.

Before we knew it, it was time to announce this year’s winners of the 2023 Show!  Russ addressed our gallery attendees with an overview of the show and impressed he was with all of the students efforts and the quality of the art.

Our third place winner is Kirsten Ponticelli.  Her work (below), “How’d You Vote?” is  a clear,  simple question providing a direct, visual context.   This one piece illustrates our ongoing societal debate at large countered against a visual of America’s unified student experience today.

 Our 2nd Place winner is Art Tucker for her work “Overconsumption” Art has  several works in the exhibition, each using different mediums.

Nicole LaVallee, our first prize winner was wonderfully surprised!

Nicole won for her beautiful work,  “Pomegranate”.   I’ve described how much this work has to offer the mind of the viewer (above).  The work is so stylistically deliberative.  The design is integral to the constructed path for our eye movement and the storyline itself.

Russ spoke of what he loved about her work and how powerful the piece is.  He was greatly informative and our students  are so appreciative.

We at the NOVA Alexandria campus would like to give big Congratulations to our three winners and to ALL of the students who applied to this year’s show!  We have so much talent in our midst!  All the students have much to celebrate!

Vinh Ly and our 2-D program teacher, Stacy Slaten at the opening reception of the Juried Exhibition at the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College on April 13th, 2023. Photo by Britt Conley

It was a great night for all and it is no nice to see all the families and friends who come to support everyone.

Along our long wall we have a section for line works. (L-R Below) Ambria Everett’s, “Still Life Contour”

and Kira Wharton’s “Left Foot Front.”  Both are graphite works using contour line with a variety of line widths which help the mind see infer three dimensional depth.

(Left, below) Lilian Tulloss uses line and graphic elements to show, “Henry Savage’s Cat.”  On the right is Karen Wallace’s, “Modern Mansion,” a wonderfully successful perspective work.

Another lovely graphite work is Samantha Seubert’s “Luna with a Pearl Earring.” I just love the idea of incorporating animals into art history!

Thanks to all who came to this year’s opening reception and a special thanks to our Provost, Dr. Annette Haggray, our Liberal Arts Dean, Dr. Jimmie McClellan, Associate Dean Lynette Garret and our division angel, May Kim for all their support!

For those considering applying to next year’s show.  Anything you make for one of our fine art classes, drawing, fundamentals of design, or painting, from this semester to next Spring, may be submitted to next year’s juried show!

After all we’ve been through with the pandemic and all the changes with life and learning, the students artistic talents are shinning strong.  The in person, 2022 Student Fine Art Show is a delight!

This year’s juror is Lynn Goldstein. Lynn has exhibited widely, winning awards, in nationally juried exhibitions and galleries, and her work is enjoyed in private and public collections throughout the United States and Europe, including the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Schar Cancer Institute, and the United States Department of State. Notably, one of her paintings was selected for the permanent collection in the Jean-Haffen Museum in Dinan, France, upon her completion of an artist residency there. Additionally, Lynn was one of fifteen American artists selected to participate in the Caravan multi-cultural and international art project which took place at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC.

Her installation work exploring her Jewish roots was selected for exhibition at the Smithsonian S Dillon Ripley Center in Washington, D.C. in 2015, and a different piece was selected for display there in 2017. Lynn is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and Maryland Pastel Society where she serves as a juror for potential signature members. Lynn is also a juried member of the prestigious Washington Society of Landscape Painters. She is also a juried member of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and a juried resident artist at the Workhouse Arts Center where she has her studio. Lynn has taught many workshops in the mid-Atlantic region, Southern France, and in Tuscany, Italy and she plans to teach a workshop in Cascais, Portugal in 2022. Additionally, Lynn has also taught workshop classes at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, where she volunteered her time as a docent for over two decades. This experience has allowed Lynn to study, understand, and pass on the best of America’s art masterpieces. Clearly, this understanding is embedded in her art as well. https://www.lynngoldstein.com/

We are incredibly fortunate to have college leadership that genuinely support and care about our students and show up to nearly every event where our students are showcased.  Our Dean, Dr. McClellan has come to nearly every Student Fine Art Show since they began.  This year, he and his wife Catherine enjoyed meeting Lynn and seeing, yet again, just how talented our students are.

Lynn was also honored to meet our Provost, Dr. Annette Haggray, and President of NOVA, Dr. Anne Kress.

Nicole Munday, Dr. McClellan and Stacy Slaten enjoying the Student Fine Art Show reception.

Lynn addressed everyone and explained her thoughts on the show and her jurying process.  This offers the students an opportunity to hear about how this all works.

First up were our honorable mention award winners.  Caitlyn Raymond stands proudly with her honorable mentioned work, ‘Fancy Water Time’ in charcoal.

One of the wonderful things about our The Student Fine Art show is that it is often the first exhibition for many of the students and a major point of pride. Often students bring their family and friends to share in celebrating all of their creative efforts and accomplishments! A special shout out to Branden Forman for getting in three works of art!

Ashley was thrilled to find out she has received an honorable mention!

Honorable mention recipient Anna Carey with juror Lynn Goldstein and Professor Stacy Slaten.  Anna won for her wonderful ‘Self Portrait’ in pastel.

Honorable mention recipient Jose Galicia reads his poem, ‘Forgiveness: a Prayer by the Fallen’ which inspired his 3-D wire angel, by the same name, (shown to his right).

Lynn Goldstein describe sthe highlights of Abigail Tucker’s work ‘Autobiography’ made with Prismacolor.

Before we knew it is was onto the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd award winners! Our third place winner Juan Temoche had the opportunity to hear from Lynn and speak to the crowd about his own creative process while making his graphite art titled: ‘Handheld Object.’

One of the wonderful aspects to Lynns job as juror, is her discussing in detail why she picked particular winning works and actually showing us in the art how and why the students was exceptional in their process.  Here she is discussing our 2nd place winner Helen Schwen’s exceptional still life: “Reflection Study” in charcoal.

Lynn speaks to the crowd about the sculpture ‘Fish Food’ by our our first place winner James Davenport. What’s too cool about this work is that it is made entirely from Mike and Ike’s candy!

James Davenport, 1st place winner with his sculpture ‘Fish Food’ The 2022 Student Fine Art Show at the AFA Gallery in The Center for Design, Media and the Arts at the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Photo by Britt Conley

So wonderful when students are inspired!

Jessica Rager with her self portrait in graphite.

Friends, Abigail Tucker and Juan Temoche catching up at the reception.

This year’s show is just wonderful! Take some time and check it out for yourself!  On view until April 11, 2022.

The Student Keepsake Project focuses on the memories we bring with Us!

This Keepsake Project is author of a NOVA ESL Professor, John Kinney who collaborated with NOVA Fine Arts Professor, Stacy Slaten. It was a visual culmination of stories written by NOVA ESL students. The project demonstrates a diverse body of students, one of NOVA’s strengths. It aims to make international students feel welcome and foster better understandings among students from different cultures. John hopes that the project will ease the isolation and culture shock the international students may experience and promote a sense of community within NOVA’s student body. Participants are ESL students from various NOVA campuses.

Years in the making, John Kinney had participating ESL students share a photograph of a special keepsake they carry with them or hold dear and write a composition about these objects and their stories. Once collected, they were sent to commissioned student artist Jum Jirapan, who visually interpreted the keepsakes in a unifying body of digital art to showcase the memories. Over fifty keepsake artistically-rendered memories were created and framed for this exhibition. Each story and art bringing together student stories from around the world.

Faustine Coulibaly take a picture of her creative work in the Memories We Bring with US Exhibition at the opening reception. After a long absence throughout the pandemic, our classes finally began transitioning back to campus and we decided to make this show and combination of both in person and virtual to help accommodate participants.

As an immigrant, a naturalized citizen herself, and a former ESL instructor from Taiwan, Jum connects deeply with the project and the stories the keepsakes bring. She felt honored to be chosen to interpret and translate the student keepsakes and memories into art. Their stories have opened her eyes and heart to the beauty of our similarities and differences. Jum hopes this exhibition will open the eyes and hearts of the audiences the way it does for her. Moreover, she wishes to make the students proud of who they are and where they come from.

Jum, as seen above in her artist talk, is a multidisciplinary artist based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Having experienced the therapeutic power of art firsthand, her career focus grew from artmaking to sharing that creative and self-exploratory experience with others. Jum utilizes art as a tool to open hearts and minds to possibilities and opportunities. She takes great joy in volunteering and engaging with local organizations and communities to empower people through art and education. Jum was a student at NOVA from 2019 to 2020. She studied psychology and studio art en route to a post-graduate program in art therapy. She believes the training and education would help her serve the public better.

The entire exhibition was funded by The NOVA Educational Foundation in cooperation with Northern Virginia Community College, Languages, Arts, and Social Sciences Division, Alexandria.

We were so fortunate to have representatives attend from the Foundation! They have been incredibly supportive of our creative community and this particular project highlights our incredible international students who bring their incredible backgrounds, stories and expertise to all of our community campus members.

Stacy Slaten, our 2-D Fine Art professor helped coordinate the exhibition. She explains, “Collaboration moves beyond the power of one to the power of a team. I was fortunate to have been able to work with Professor John Kinney, artist Jum Jirapan, and Fine Arts Studio Assistant, Britt Conley, to create a project that strongly represents to spirit of NOVA Alexandria campus and our students. I feel that collaborative projects are more powerful in that the social element of collaboration can also improve not only the quality of ideas, but can remove barriers to implementing them. As they say, many hands make the burden light. I was thankful to work with this project and see the cross-disciplinary action. I hope you enjoy the results as much as I do! “

Due to the pandemic, our reception was both in person and virtual!  We were fortunate enough to have our President, Dr. Anne Kress join us and be able to talk to our in person students and virtual community together.

Our Provost Dr. Hagray, also joined in celebrating our student and faculty efforts.  She has been to nearly every art opening we’ve had during her tenure and has an eye for art!

Menal Omer discusses her creative art and story to our virtual audience.

NOVA Psychology Professor, Dominique Hubbard, enjoys the art in the gallery during a rare break in duties at the exhibit reception.

All in all this show was years in the making and had incredible evolution, resulting in framed works that everyone can enjoy.  Empowering students is rewarding. Hearing student stories and seeing their creativity is always  inspiring!

The 2021 NOVA Mason ONLINE Foundations Exhibition

October 25 – November 3, 2021

2020 challenged the global community in unique ways. There was fear, confusion and the loss of human contact and connection. But throughout this global test of humanity there was also inspiration, innovation and the discovery of new ways to connect, new ways to be a community. Rewire acknowledges the many ways our daily lives have changed while celebrating the new discoveries made during turbulent times. From the increased need for digital connection to personal revelations all artwork addressing change or growth was encouraged.

Closing Reception: November 3rd from 5 PM to 7 PM  (Exhibition award winners will be announced)

About our Juror:
Jaynelle Hazard is the Executive Director and Curator of Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) where she builds a critically engaged practice by introducing methods to advance scholarship; extend reach in interdisciplinary experimentation of contemporary art and ideas; and engage audiences of all backgrounds and identities. With a curatorial foundation and leadership style rooted in care, Hazard is a catalyst and generator by being a bridge between the public and innovative art of our time.

To see the ONLINE EXHIBIT  VISIT https://www.masonexhibitions.org/rewire-cover-page