Falls Church News-Press Fall Arts 2023

Falling Into Local Arts: Shows, Festivals, Galleries and Events This Season

Looking for fun things to do this fall season? The City of Falls Church and neighboring areas offer an abundance of fun shows, festivals, art galleries and events for people of all ages!

Shows/Concerts

• “Sweat” at Keegan Theatre: Filled with humor and heart, “Sweat” tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets and laughs while working together on the factory floor. But when layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away their trust, they find themselves pitted against each other. Performed until September 16. More information at keegantheatre.com/

portfolio/sweat/.

• “Monarch: A Mexican American Musical” at Creative Cauldron: With a book and lyrics written by local writers, “Monarch” follows the journey of dreamers and undocumented immigrants who live and work in this country, but still must remain in the shadows. Running from October 5 – 29. More information at creativecauldron.org/monarch. html.

• “The Adventures of Pinocchio” at Creative Cauldron: This inventive adaptation of the classic tale begins with Pinocchio as a real boy having a nightmare. Running from November 3 – 19. More information at creativecauldron.org/pinnochio.html.

• “Deathtrap” by the Providence Players of Fairfax: In this mystery thriller, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway hits, is struggling with a “dry” spell which has resulted in a series of box office flops. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student. Running from October 13 — 28. More information at providenceplayers.org/about-us/production-history/2023-2024-season/.

• “The Tell-Tale Heart” at Synetic Theater: Step into the eerie world of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart,” where madness takes hold and the boundaries of sanity blur. Running from September 29 — November 5. More infor-

mation at synetictheater.org/ events/the-tell-tale-heart/.

• “Young Frankenstein” at the Little Theatre of Alexandria: A monster of a hit musical based on Mel Brooks’ comedic film, this wicked re-imagining of the legend of Frankenstein is the story of a grandson traveling to Transylvania to complete his grandfather’s experiment. Running from October 21 — November 11. More information at thelittletheatre. com/performances/.

• “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” at the Kennedy Center: Welcome to “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” and enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory. Running until

September 24. More information at kennedy-center.org/ whats-on/explore-by-genre/ theater/2022-2023/moulinrouge/.

• “The Pirates of Penzance” at the Alden Theatre: Set sail with this classic comedy that boasts one of the most famous patter songs in musical theater history. A band of tenderhearted pirates celebrates the coming of age of Frederic, who was mistakenly apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday. Performing on October 13. More information at mcleancenter.org/events/newyork-gilbert-and-sullivanplayers-the-pirates-of-penzan ce/?occurrence=2023-10-13.

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FALL ARTS FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

‘STORIES FROM HOME’ at the Hispanic Gala Theatre. (Photo: Dubraska Vale )

‘SELFIES’ by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington. (Courtesty Photo)

“J.A.M. THE 13TH!” by J.A.M. the Revue at The Fredgren Studio Theatre at Ballet Nova. (Photo: Cornerstone Captures)

ART AND FRAME FALLS CHURCH Art Gallery Opening. (Photo: Stuart Hindle)

“SWEAT” at Keegan Theatre. (Photo: Cameron Whitman)

POTUS

OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE

BY SELINA FILLINGER

OCTOBER 13 — NOVEMBER 12

SWEPT AWAY

NOVEMBER 25 — DECEMBER 30

DIRECTED BY MARGOT BORDELON

BOOK BY JOHN LOGAN MUSIC AND LYRICS BY THE AVETT BROTHERS DIRECTED BY MICHAEL MAYER

CHOREOGRAPHED BY DAVID NEUMANN BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH MATTHEW MASTEN, SEAN HUDOCK, AND MADISON WELLS LIVE

Photo of Adrian Blake Enscoe, John Gallagher, Jr., Stark Sands, and Wayne Duvall for Swept Away by Crackerfarm.

Fall is in the Air in the City! Check Out Fun, Upcoming Events!

• “Mrs Doubtfire” at The National Theatre: Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is headed to Washington, D.C. in an internationally acclaimed new hit musical critics call “wonderful, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud funny.”

Running from October 10 — 15. More information at broadwayatthenational.com/ show/mrs-doubtfire/.

• “The Wiz” at The National Theatre: This groundbreaking twist on “The Wizard

of Oz” performs a dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop, bringing a whole new groove to easing down the road. Running from October 24 — 29. More information at broadwayatthenational.com/ show/the-wiz/.

• “King of the Yees” at Signature Theatre: A vibrant, semi-autobiographical comedy about community, culture and the connection between fathers and daughters. Running until October 22. More information at sigtheatre.org/ events/202324/king-of-the-

yees/.

• “Ragtime” at Signature Theatre: The stories of three American families intertwine against the backdrop of a towering slate of historical figures. Running from October 24 — January 7. More information at sigtheatre.org/ events/202324/ragtime/.

• “Romeo and Juliet” at NOVA Nightsky Theater: Shakespeare’s classic tragedy of “two star-crossed lovers,” entrenched in a deadly family feud. Running from September 14 — 30. More informa -

tion at novanightskytheater. com/2023season.

• “Bano de luna (Bathing in Moonlight)” at Gala Hispanic Theatre: Enter a world where love’s forbidden allure leads to a relationship between Father Monroe, a devout Catholic priest, and a beguiling Havana pianist from his parish. Running until October 1. More information at galatheatre.org/ post/bathing-in-moonlight.

• “Picasso” at Gala Hispanic Theatre: From the lush stroke of his paintbrush to the beat of his

heart, the artful canvas of Picasso’s life unfolds through memories of cherished family and friends, his passion for bullfights, the circus, and the stage. Running from October 14 — 21. More information at galatheatre.org/post/picasso.

• “Leyendas de mi tierra (Stories from Home)” at Gala Hispanic Theatre: Montoya’s choreography breathes life into untold Latino stories of the American Southwest. Running from October 28 — 29. More information at galatheatre.org/ post/leyendas-de-mi-tierra.

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19TH ANNUAL APPLE FESTIVAL at Loudon Heritage Farms. (Photo: Denise Mo) TRUCK & TOSS at Grace Christian Academy. (Photo: Julie Crain)

MOSAIC FALL FESTIVAL at the Mosaic District in Fairfax. (Photo: Edens) “ASO AT 80-OH!” by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. (Photo: Melinda Kernc)

FALL GARDEN TOUR at Green Springs in Alexandria. (Photo: Cindy Fortuno) “THE TELL-TALE HEART” at Synetic Theater (Photo: DJ Corey Photography)

John Ballou David Barr

Dave Curtis Julia Bezgacheva

Barbara Greene Meaghan DeCelle

Mara Flynn Stuart Hindle

Zoe Hathaway Jenny Kanzler

Cynthia Miller

Andrea Uravitch

Maureen Minard

Amanda Wood

Saaraliisa Ylitalo

Other Small Businesses and Artists:

BrainStorm Speech Therapy

BiBi Flooring Good Point Embroidery

Kian Furniture Zara González Hoang

Kelsea Hubel Viondette Lopez

Elisa Torres

Molly McCracken

Casey Wait Shaun Van Steyn

Featuring:

Julia Bezgacheva

Dave Curtis

Mara Flynn

Stuart Hindle

Molly McCracken

Andrea Uravitch

Other Small Businesses and Artists:

BiBi Flooring BrainStorm Speech Therapy

David Barr

John Ballou

Kian Furniture Meaghan DeCelle

Barbara Greene Good Point Embroidery

Zoe Hathaway Zara González Hoang

Kelsea Hubel Viondette Lopez

Jenny Kanzler

Cynthia Miller

Casey Wait

Maureen Minard

Elisa Torres

Shaun Van Steyn

Amanda Wood Saaraliisa Ylitalo

FALL ARTS FALLS CHURCH

Fun Autumn Shows, Festivals and Events in the DMV Area

• “J.A.M. the 13th!” by J.A.M the Revue: On October 13 — 15, J.A.M. the Revue will present its brand new Halloweenthemed Revue, “J.A.M. the 13th!,” at The Fredgren Studio Theatre at Ballet Nova. “J.A.M” is a crowdthrilling musical spectacular featuring songs from some of music’s greatest legends while paying trib ute to Halloween films and icons.

andria Symphony Orchestra: ASO’s season opens on September 30 — October 1 with “ASO at 80oh!” with the commissioned piece

“Toast” that is inspired by the 80th anniversary of the orchestra.

• “Selfies” by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington: GMCW’s popular cabaret returns with an all-new edition. Soloists from GMCW will tell hilarious and heartwarming stories about photos of themselves projected onstage

and political posturing, in an endearing homage to the women who keep things running behind the scenes. Showing from October 13 — November 12. More information at arenastage.org/ tickets/2023-24-season/potus/.

• Mason Symphony Orchestra Concert by George Mason Performing Arts: The Mason Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Soo Han, is composed of outstanding string, wind, and percussion players from throughout the School of Music. Held on Oc-

Events/Festivals

• Falls Church Festival: The 47th annual Falls Church Festival returns to The Little City. This family-fun event features The Taste of Falls Church, a beer garden, live music, children’s entertainment, and booths from local crafters, businesses, and civic organizations. Held on September 23.

• Farm Day: The annual Farm Day event returns this year to Cherry Hill Park. Enjoy a day of old fashioned fun and

rides, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making (bring your own long pants and a sleeved shirt), live music, tours of the Cherry Hill Farmhouse and barn, blacksmith demonstrations, and more. Held on October 8.

• Fairfax Fiesta: Fairfax County’s inaugural Hispanic Heritage Celebration, the Fairfax Fiesta, is taking place on September 23. Immerse in an unforgettable celebration that highlights Hispanic culture and embraces the diversity of the community.

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ALEXANDRIA ART FESTIVAL in Alexandria (Photo: Howard Alan Events)

“BETWEEN THE LINES” at ARTfactory in Manassas (Photo: Rene Dickerson)

SAINT ANN FALL FESTIVAL in Arlington

(Photo: Oriana MacGregor)

FALL HERITAGE FESTIVAL in Arlington (Photo: Rachael Tolman)

Pancakes and Booze: Not Your Typical Local Art Show

by

If you’re looking for a deliciously irreverent way to celebrate disruptive newcomers to the art scene, look no further than The Pancakes & Booze Art Show, which comes to D.C. on November 16. The event, held at Hook Hall (3400 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.), runs from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. and features over 100 all-media exhibits from a diverse group of fresh and innovative artists.

“If a fine art exhibit is like an upscale nightclub, we’re the dive bar,” says Pancakes & Booze founder and creator Tom Kirlin, who says the show is a unique offering you can’t find anywhere else.

“It’s the least pretentious thing you can go to,” Kirlin continued.

Pancakes & Booze exploded onto the Los Angeles art scene in May 2009, quickly expanding into other cities, including D.C. for over a decade of now-quarterly return visits to Our Nation’s Capital, which Kirlin says is one of their biggest markets.

Within five years. a “crushed and

exhausted” Kirlin hired his first fulltime staff — and then his second — and then his third. Kirlin’s team of just under ten people, including six ground-level team members, now run 60 of the wildly popular events annually across 40+ cities in North America and Europe.

In total, Kirlin and his team have held over 500 iterations (and counting) of the pop-up over its nearly 14 years in existence.

The Pancakes & Booze website pulls no punches when describing its revolutionary nature. “This ain’t no snoozefest, highfalutin art show for the elite.” the site proclaims, calling for interested artists to “unleash their raw talent in an anything goes, free-for-all environment.” Artists and vendors participating in the event are limited only by space restrictions and legal requirements.

Pancakes & Booze features table vendors and artists showcasing all types of canvas paintings, prints, sculptures, crafts, jewelry, clothing, baked goods, and beyond. Artists are also able to perform live — including full-body painting, canvas painting, caricatures, and more.

“We encourage it.” Kirlin says

&

Art Show serves delicious cocktails and sweet, syrupy pancakes, while also featuring various artists and their work.

of the unique nature of each exhibit. “That’s the thing that’s unique about this event. If you are a wellestablished artist, this is not the show for you.

A platform for young and upand-coming artists to exhibit and be part of a community of artists — that’s the mission.”

The creative energy at Pan-

cakes & Booze may give you as much of a buzz as the sugar and drinks. “You get all walks, all skill levels, hard to find [art]... this great amount of diversity and different styles in one room.” says Kirlin. “It creates an awesome vibe.” The show draws a young, hip, diverse crowd of art-loving individuals wherever it goes, and

D.C. is no exception. Tickets to the 21+ event start at $10 and include free unlimited pancakes (with all the fixin’s) and access to the gallery, which features a live D.J. and cash bar until midnight. Artist/exhibitor registration is now open, as are admission ticket sales — both available at bit.ly/FCNP0923pb.

Brian Reach Falls Church News-Press

PANCAKES

BOOZE

(Courtesy Photo of the Pancakes & Booze Art Show)

FALL ARTS

Fall is Here, With Some Cheer!

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• Taste of Old Town North: Head to Montgomery Park for a celebration of greater Old Town North featuring local businesses and live music. Held on September 23.

• Fall Garden Tour : Enjoy a guided tour of Green Spring’s beautiful demonstration gardens with an Extension Master Gardener docent. Held on September 16.

• Farmers Market Fall Festival : Celebrate the fall harvest at the Fairfax County Park Authority Markets with fun and free activities such as pumpkin painting, live music and more. Held on October 11 — 15.

• Mosaic Fall Festival : Join Mosaic for a weekend of fun-filled activities for the whole family. Mosaic District will transform into a vibrant outdoor festival with over 90 handmade and vintage vendors, special performances, and an array of activities for the entire family. Held on September 23 — 24.

• Saint Ann Fall Festival: The public is invited to the Saint Ann Fall Festival on September 30. This free admission

multicultural family festival is open to the community and will feature rides, food, music, a beer garden, silent auction, raffles and much more.

• 19th Annual Apple Festival : Enjoy cider pressing, apple games, food trucks and cider, wine and a beer garden at Apple Festival at Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum on September 30.

• 17th Annual MPAartfest : McLean Central Park will come to life once again on October 1 when MPAartfest returns with a full day of art, music, food, and fun. MPAartfest transforms McLean Central Park into a lively landscape of mini art galleries showcasing and offering for sale the work of acclaimed artists from the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.

• Rosslyn Jazz Fest: On Saturday, September 9, the Rosslyn BID and Arlington Arts are bringing an exciting lineup to the community’s most popular free outdoor music festival: Galactic, featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, with additional performances from Pedrito Martínez Group, Oh He Dead, and DuPont Brass.

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17TH ANNUAL MPAARTFEST in McLean (Photo: Bethany Nguyen)

ROSSLYN JAZZ FEST in Arlington (Photo: Josh Brick Photography)

Fall In Love With These Fun, Local Events

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• Saint Katherine’s Greek Fall Festival: Authentic Greek dancing, pastries, homemade Greek food and live Greek music will be held on October 6 — 8.

• Lagerfest: Come join Solace Outpost in Falls Church for a fun filled day of lagers, plus a couple of well crafted ciders. Solace Outpost in Falls Church for a fun filled day of lagers, plus a couple of well crafted ciders. Held on September 16.

• Oktoberfest 2023: This year, Settle Down Easy Brewing will order more than 200 sovereign steins to reuse over the 3 week celebration. Held from September 16 — 30.

• 2023 Falls Church Arts Plein Air Festival: On September 30, Falls Church Arts Gallery will hold their annual Plein Air Festival and Quick Draw event, which allows artists to paint outside and win prizes.

• Fall Heritage Festival: Join Arlington for a family-friendly day of fun. Step back into history and try a hand at some old-time games and crafts, make a corn husk doll, churn butter, dip candles and work the cider press. Held on October 14.

• 21st Annual Alexandria Art Festival: The annual art festival features a variety of works exemplifying the gifted artists in regions from all over the country. Held on September 30 — October 1.

• Truck & Toss: Grace Christian Academy will be hosting their 7th annual “Truck & Toss” — a food truck, corn hole, and craft brew tasting festival on Saturday, September 9th.

• The Pancakes and Booze Art Show: Join the biggest pop-up art extravaganza to shake North America in the past decade. The Pancakes and Booze Art Show in Washington D.C. on November 16 is serving up piping hot, free pancakes and unleashing the freshest talent this nation has to offer.

• Pimmit Hills Day: Come celebrate this community at their annual Pimmit Hills Day for all residents, alumni of the Hills, friends, neighbors, as well as local businesses and organizations! Pimmit Hills Day will take place on Saturday, September 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Olney Park. Last year had 30 vendors and sponsors, and an estimated 300-400 attendees.

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FALL FARMERS MARKET FESTIVAL in Fairfax (Photo: Cindy Fortuno)

Bluegrass Fans Can Thank Musician-Fundraiser Barrett

by Charlie Clark

The now-worldwide reach of Washington-area bluegrass music, dear listeners, was made possible by one generous radio station, new digital technology and, in no small part, longtime Falls Church musician Randy Barrett.

The fiddler and banjo player (day job before retirement: journalist), who has released three CDs of original compositions, is today president of the D.C.-based foundation that keeps Bluegrass Country Radio streaming to an astonishing array of fans.

Since its launch in 2017 “on a wing and prayer,” Barrett says, the station that was spun off from WAMUFM has charmed listeners nationwide and in Latin America, Europe and Japan. Its 24/7 offerings expanded from classic bluegrass to current-day artists to “Americana,” or “strong old-time content” with American roots music that, uplifting to Barrett, appears fresh to young people.

The intro was cued up in 2016, when nonprofit public station WAMU, based at American University and a headquarters for bluegrass since 1967, began its shift to the talk radio that in today’s market delivers greater revenue. “They were looking for a new home for bluegrass, an

organization to hand over their intellectual property,” Barrett recalls. “To their credit, they didn’t want to just shut it down.”

That property consisted of 70,000 digitized songs (now up to 100,000), deep archives and unique historical recordings of interviews with luminaries from that soft, percussion-less, harmony-showcasing genre that goes back to the 1930s with such founding acts as Kentucky’s Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys.

Nine local music-lovers, who now make up the foundation board, began raising the donations needed to “upgrade the technology and hire a program director” for the new niche station, now with a “tiny” $150,000 annual budget. “It was clear it needed to be primarily volunteer-run, and we weren’t sure it would work,” Barrett admits. “To their credit, enough deejays stepped up,” and the operation of hosts and engineers is now 90 percent volunteer. The sole paid employee is program director and afternoon on-air host Chris Teskey, of Frederick, Md. The rest employ modern software bandwidth to work remotely, save for a small office in the WAMU building.

“The timing was in our favor,” Barrett adds. Online “streaming was

just beginning to get understood by the world, and if we had tried it a decade earlier, it wouldn’t have worked.”

Bluegrass Country registered its 88.5 HD2 frequency on the highdefinition band. “HD was world’s worst-marketed technology,” Barrett says, agreeing that, though it is now available on most recent cars, “it’s not easy to set. But once you’ve got it, it’s excellent quality.” About a third of Bluegrass Country listeners are on HD, the rest on the app or the website streaming. “Luckily we caught a wave.”

Today’s schedule slots feature WAMU veteran Dick Spottswood (“he’s forgotten more about bluegrass than you or I ever knew,” Barrett says), along with rebroadcasts of the old shows by Eddie Stubbs, Gary Henderson and Lee Michael Demsey. Modern theme shows include its popular Stained Glass Bluegrass, Brad Kolodner’s Old Time Jam and The Celtic Cut with Winifred Horan. Add in syndicated offerings such as Banks of the Ohio, Riders in the Sky, American Routes, Bluegrass on the Bay, Mike Kear’s Music from Foggy Hollow (from Australia), the Thistle and Shamrock, and The Trail Ride. The Bluegrasscountry.org web-

site provides an updated schedule of Bluegrass festivals in the U.S. and Canada, plus an overseas addendum.

A friendly competitor is Bluegrass Junction on Sirius XM Radio, which has advantages in satellite reach, Barrett acknowledges. But that station relies sometimes on computerized programming. “We have more depth and a bench of human deejays we have a strong belief in, though we see any bluegrass radio as good.”

Barrett, whose 2019 album

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

RENÉE ELIS E GOLDSBER RY I N CONCE R T

Saturday, Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m. The award-winning star from the original cast of Broadway's Hamilton

MAL PA SO D ANC E COM PAN Y

“Shake, Rattle and Roar” survived the pandemic to win airplay, still performs live with the group Big Howdy, having won three Washington Area Music Awards. After 25 years in Falls Church, he and his wife downsized last month and moved to Alexandria. He and the team are “gratified at the support we get from young listeners, many of whom are still discovering the niche,” he says. He has fun surviving and proving the initial skeptics wrong, helping Bluegrass Country “pass the baton.”

Friday, Oct 20 at 8 p.m. Expressive contemporary dance from Cuba

Saturday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. Part of Wagner ’s legendary “Ring” cycle

RANDY BARRETT (Courtesy Photo)

A ‘Luminous’ Art Exhibition at Falls Church Arts

BY MARK DREISONSTOK

Falls Church Arts Gallery is offering the all-media exhibition “Luminous” with varied works revolving around the theme of light and emanations.

The digital drawing on canvas “Looking Glass” by Heather Widener, for instance, depicts a rounded mirror with the reflection of a dining room table with red curtains beside it. A slightly distorted perspective is offered and lovers of Flemish art may be reminded of Jan van Eyck’s famous “Arnolfini Portrait” which features a rounded mirror reflecting the room with windows, curtains, and even a chandelier. The approach of “Looking Glass” is a bit in the “macabre” style of Edward Gorey, whose animation is seen at the opening of PBS’ “Mystery!” In this spirit, and with the light theme in mind, we could not help but recall Edgar Allan Poe’s vision of “a waking dream of life and light” from his poem “A Dream.”

Moving through the gallery to Elin Whitney Smith’s “St. Adea, Patron of Unwed Mothers” (digital drawing and text, metallic paint, gold leaf): At first glance, this artwork appears to be an iconography painting depicting a saint dressed in a royal blue robe, surrounded by illuminated gold leaf background with her hands stretched outwards. This is no ordinary saint,

for “St. Adea, Patron of Unwed Mothers,” is “not canonized by any church. Her life and her sacrifice for Augustine of Hippo should glow through the ages.” The traditional and the modern mix in this work bringing forward the illuminated tradition into the modern era.

More modern art movement references were found in Erick Buendla’s “Underground,” an oil portrait which the artist says was “inspired by Neo-Expressionist works” and has a reference to Vincent Van Gogh’s Expressionist “Starry Night.” Andy Warhol-style pop art was also remembered in Michael Sheedy’s pastelcolored “Dolly Aglow.” Here fans of Dolly Parton will be pleased as the country singer is presented in her iconic blonde hair, wearing a jeans jacket with a pink butterfly wallpaper background. Instead of the lithograph medium of Warhol, however, the artist has employed acrylic.

Matt Makara’s “Beach Blur #3” artwork depicts a seascape divided into three horizontal sections. The bottom suggests sand, and then we view the blurry seawater. The top part of the painting is a peach sunset with its last glimpses of light illuminating earth and water. The work appears to be abstract at first glance, not unlike Mark Rothko’s artworks of beaches, although

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Madeline’s Christmas

DREAMERS AND DOERS

2023-24

Season begins Oct. 5 Falls Church, Virginia

“Dreamers and Doers” captures the spirit of our 202324 season at Pearson Square. Filled with compelling stories of hard working immigrants in “Monarch: A Mexican American Musical” to a wooden puppet dreaming of becoming a real boy in “The Adventures of Pinocchio” and our favorite little precious parisian returns in “Madeline’s Christmas” making sure that this season will be a special one.

GUGGLE FUDDLE BOIL AND BOTTLE BY Melanie Kehoss (C������� F���� C����� ����)

Support Local Artists, Musicians and More This Autumn

• Celebrate Virginia: Tysons Corner Center invites the public to a special Celebrate Virginia day on September 16 on The Plaza. Have some fun outdoors celebrating the talent of Virginia while enjoying live music and entertainment, shop local artisans’ wares, indulge in Virginia Beer Tasting, VIP Wine Tasting, mural painting, giveaways, and more.

• Halloween Window Painting Festival: Falls Church

Arts’ Halloween Window Painting Festival returns for its 15th year. Young painters

in the community will join forces with local businesses to paint Halloween-themed designs on storefront windows. Painting dates are October 7, 8, 9, and 14.

Art Exhibits

• “Altar” Exhibit by the Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences: Smriti Keshari intends to provide a visual and emotional understanding of the age of artificial intelligence (AI) in this installation. According to the artist, the artwork “juxtaposes our collective desire for forward progress against our fear

of AI’s capability to shape a society beyond our control. Exhibit open until November 22.

• Contemporary Art by Native Americans at the National Gallery of Art: This exhibition brings together works by an intergenerational group of nearly 50 living Native artists practicing across the United States. Exhibit is from September 22 — January 15

• Photogravures from the Collection, 1840 — 1940 at the National Gallery of Art: Discover an intriguing chapter in the history of photography. “Etched by Light: Photogravures from

the Collection, 1840–1940” tells the story of the first 100 years of this process. Exhibit is from October 15 — February 4.

• “David Amoroso: Belleza Brutal” at the Hylton Performing Arts Center: Drawing from street mythology, “Bellezza Brutal” features artist David Amoroso’s Pop Art inflected paintings of fiercely masculine models enmeshed in vibrant floral motifs and patterning. Exhibit open until November 5.

• “Between the Lines” Solo Exhibit at ARTfactory: The ARTfactory is excited to share their newest art exhibit “Between

the Lines” by Manassas resident René Dickerson on display September 8 – October 21. The influence of Cubism can be seen in many of Rene’s works, as he draws his inspiration from the Old Masters, modern-day artists, and everyday life.

• “The Eileen Levy & Andrzej Żmudzki Art Gallery” at Art and Frame of Falls Church: Art and Frame of Falls Church is holding an Open House on September 17 at its new, expanded location. Come see the shop in this 2-story building, check out the exhibit in “The Eileen Levy & Andrzej Żmudzki Art Gallery,” and tour studiosat307, the 40+ artist studios and small business offices.

PANCAKES & BOOZE Art Show. (Courtesy Photo of the Pancakes & Booze Art Show)

Falls Church Arts Exhibit Open Until October

this is a photograph. To achieve his effect, the photographer Makara has employed “long exposure and intentional camera movement.”

Cutting shapes into silhouettes in a “light box” of mixed media is the ideal device to convey luminescence in a fitting theme for the Falls Church Art Gallery’s show. Our current month of September is, oddly enough, the month of Bavaria’s world-famous Oktoberfest, and so perhaps it is appropriate that artist Melanie Kehoss presents the role of female brewers in history in her “light box” called “Guggle Fuddle Boil and Bottle.”

Framed by a barley motif while employing ancient Egyptian stylistics, four different horizontal levels reflect top to bottom different stages of the brewing process: the ancient world, the medieval era, the late nineteenth-century, and modern times. We were curious about what look like Halloween witches in the medieval panel, and we were fortunate enough to meet the artist

1st

who explained this unique feature of her Juror’s Choice Award-winning work.

Melanie told us: “Until the Middle Ages, most beer was made by women as part of their domestic duties. These ‘alewives’ wore pointed hats so that they would be recognized by travelers on the streets, and they displayed broomsticks outside their homes as an additional indicator of their trade. They kept cats, in order to keep rodents from eating their grain, and they were often stirring cauldrons of boiling brew. These trappings, of course, are also those of the modern image of a witch.”

Apparently, men who opened taverns as lucrative business ventures needed to eliminate the competition, so—according to Melanie—they “accused alewives of trickery, casting spells, and colluding with the devil. The symbols of alewifery remained connected to witchcraft, while the connection to brewing was largely forgotten.”

Art and Frame of Falls Church

Home

over 21 years!

Falls Church, VA

At CreativeCauldron, kids connect with others, explore theater, and actually have FUN! Whether they are ready for the big stage or just need a dose of creative play, there's something for everyone at the Cauldron. ENROLLING NOW!

Learning Theater Studio (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8)

Musical Theater Ensemble (Middle/High School)

Adult Acting & Art classes (Online)

“Luminous” is clearly an intriguing show with many stories such as this, and we encourage readers to visit this exhibition which lasts through October 1. creativecauldron.org/workshops

Bird (Artist: AmandaWoodward).

Horse (Artist: JennyKanzler).

Sunset (Artist: DavidCurtis)

Lizard (Artist: AndreaUravitch)