We certainly had no shortage of art events in Old Town, Alexandria this past weekend! On Friday evening our Juried Exhibition with the Washington Society of Landscape Painters (WSLP) officially opened. We celebrated the exhibition with an Opening Reception here in the gallery that was tremendously attended! Artists, friends, families, and supporters filled our space with great energy and enthusiasm.
The Washington Society of Landscape Painters is one of the oldest active art organizations in the Washington metropolitan area. It began in 1913, and was established by Charles Seaton and Winfield Scott Clime. They became known as an unfastened group of artists, who called themselves the “Ramblers.” The WSLP is now 104 years old!
Jack Pardue (left) & Harry L. Jaecks (right) – WSLP Members & Featured Artists
bottom right corner – Edward J. Reed (left) & Andre Lucero (right) – WSLP Members & Featured Artists | middle – David Diaz (striped dress shirt) – WSLP Member & Featured Artist
On Saturday morning, a few of the featured artists hit the streets of Old Town. Each artist set up their easel at a different location and captured various Old Town staples en plein air. Christine Lashley, Nancy Tankersley, David Diaz, Nancy Wallace, Robert Thoren, Jean Schwartz, Jacalyn Beam, Hiu Lai Chong, and Gray Dodson are some of the WSLP members who participated in the demonstrations, below are images of their demo pieces, all of these works are available through us.
Market Square Farmers Market | 12×12, oil on panel by Jean Schwartz
Founders Park | 12×24, oil on panel by Christine Lashley
Dining Al Fresco | 11×14, oil on canvas by David Diaz
Two Flags | 9×12, oil on panel by Jacalyn Beam
Day of the Regatta | 11×14, oil on canvas by Nancy Wallace
Potomac Morning | 12×24, oil on panel by Nancy Tankersley
Viewers | 8×10, oil on panel by Gray Dodson
Potomac Breeze | 9×12, oil on linen by Hiu Lai Chong
Old Town Waterfront | 12×16, oil on canvas by Robert Thoren
Old Town Nocturne | 10×8, oil on panel by Christine Lashley
Christine Lashley created her first piece Founders Park, outside at the break of dawn, and she painted her second piece Old Town Nocturne (above) here in the gallery! Christine worked on this painting from 10:30am until about 12:30pm.
Christine Lashley creating Old Town Nocturne
The finished product
While the other members of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters worked on their paintings outside, inside one of our longest represented artists, GC Myers, presented his annual artist talk!
GC Myers engaging with his audience while surrounded by some of his newest works!
Gary began speaking at 1pm on Saturday afternoon, he shared how his painting career began, inspirations for his work, how his style has developed over time, and answered questions posed by the audience. Throughout the talk visitors had the chance to enter our raffle, which gave everyone an opportunity to win either a free original GC Myers painting or a fun prize!
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- SOLD
The artist surprised his audience by adding two more paintings to the raffle! Instead of bringing one painting, he brought three and three lucky audience members each won a painting. In addition to paintings, Gary also brought gift bags which included a coffee mug, two refrigerator magnet versions of two paintings, and an enamel pin. The 2018 GC Myers Artist Talk had such a wonderful turnout and we couldn’t have been more pleased!
After the talk and raffle wrapped up, guests walked around the gallery, took their opportunity to speak with Gary, and then we sold some paintings!
Concurrently, outside the 16th Annual King Street Art Festival took over king street and art lovers from all over fed their souls. The festival took place on Saturday and Sunday.
The 16th Annual King Street Art Festival (lower King Street)
The 16th Annual King Street Art Festival (upper King Street)
Overall, the entire weekend was sensational! A HUGE thank you to all of the participating members from the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, Jean Schwartz for helping us organize the exhibition, GC Myers for always bringing the sunshine and giving a fantastic talk! We’d also like to thank all of those who attended the reception, sought out the plein air demonstrations, came to support Gary, and all of our delightful clients. We couldn’t do it without you all!
Click here to view all of the works from the WSLP currently being featured. The exhibition will remain on view until Tuesday, October 16th, 2018.
Here is our schedule of events for the rest of the year:
