K R Smith: A Little Local Art News

Monday, September 17, 2018

A Little Local Art News

Just a quick announcement before my blog begins...

Please consider donating to the Zombies Need Brains Sci-fi/fantasy anthologies Kickstarter! There will be three books! Lots of perks and, if funded, there will be an open submission! If you're a writer, that's a good thing! You can reach the Kickstarter by clicking HERE.

I've been an admirer of Deanna Boling's artwork for some time. She's an accomplished artist (award-winning member of the Pastel Society of America) who really has knack for bringing images of birds and other creatures to life. She can often be found at the Loft Art Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia where she shares studio space with other artists including Teresa T. Brunson, another great master of pastels. You can find samples of their work on the Loft Art Gallery website.

From now until the end of November they are both displaying artwork at the Norma Hoffman Visitor Center at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Virginia. The artwork is for sale, too. While large pieces can be expensive (and rightfully so), there are others priced under $100. Marie and I bought a pastel by Teresa of a cluster of green acorns. As a side note - I couldn't help but think of Lisa Shambrook when we bought it. Another one of Teresa's works was already marked as sold, so you might want to check them out soon!. We already have one of Deanna's owls on our wall.

We were lucky enough to have a little extra time this last weekend to visit them at a reception they set up at the center. Even though the turnout was quite good, we were still able to spend a lot of time conversing with Deanna and Teresa. While the artists aren't usually there, the park staff will be happy to assist you should you wish to purchase one (or more) of the works.

If you're a fan of hawks, owls, and deer, it's well worth the trip to visit this show. And if you're lucky, you can take a walk along the trails right outside and see the artist's models! Here's the info for the location:

Norma Hoffman Visitor Center at Huntley Meadows Park
3701 Lockheed Blvd.
Alexandria, Virginia 22306

The visitor center is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays, closed on Tuesdays. Weekend hours through October 31 are also 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. In November, weekend hours will be noon through 5:00 pm.

LINK TO GOOGLE MAPS FOR PARK

While I don't take pictures of artwork, here are a few photos from the surrounding park!