ArtNews – June/July 2023

OPEN SPACE ARTS OPEN SPACE ARTS

WHERE LEARNING STARTS AND WHERE LEARNING STARTS AND CREATIVITY NEVER ENDS CREATIVITY NEVER ENDS

THE ROLE OF ARTS & ARTIST

Today Art and the role of the artist is no longer solely a solitary pursuit. Today it plays a far greater role in bringing voices together and communicating collectively. Being an artist today is as much about listening to, and reflecting with, your audience as it is about making work. Being able to communicate with people directly and recognizing the importance of being accessible are key to creating more meaning-

ful interactions. We find more and more that the degrees of separation between ourselves and our audience are stripped back. People are in search of richer and deeper connections to art and artists through tangible engagement both in public and commercial arenas in all disciplines. This directness redefines the role of the artist as educator, collaborator and creator, and as a result, art becomes the expression of the artist and society as a whole.

What are your hopes for the future as artists?

As an artist you play a critical role in communicating new ways of seeing, thinking and engaging with our natural resources and the environment. Looking toward the future we hope that art is recognized as having an integral part to play in the building of better relationships between society, people and our planet. By moving away from excessive consumption and re-engaging with questions around materiality in practice, we can look to the tactile knowledge of the past to develop new ways of creating for the future. Out of this, we hope more diverse and sustainable cultures of art practice will thrive, and in turn impact the collective understanding of value within the arts as a whole.

ARTS NEWS

Vol. 2 Number 4 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

June /July 2023

HEAD DESIGNER: KOFI KARIKARI (@Kofis_art_)

EDITIOR-IN-CHIEF: DONNELL TAYLOR (@vaze_haze)

PHOTOGRAPHER: MARCUS SISTOZA (@zeuz.m3dia)

WRITER: HERB WILLIAMS

PHOTOGRAPHER: AARON KIMMEL (@akimmelfilms)

JOURNALIST: LEIGH NORMAN

PHOTOGRAPHER: RANDY REESE JR.

JOURNALIST: NIDA NAWAZ (@doseofnida)

PHOTOGRAPHER: LUCAS DEAN (@deanphotographz)

COMMUNITY ARTS AUDICANCE: ORLEAN PEARSON

EDITOR: KELLY HANEKLAU

WRITER: JOHN WOOTEN

EDITOR: KYRAN MCCANN

“Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.”

- Berthold Brecht-

Cover Photo by: AARON KIMMEL

30th Season Comes to a Close

May 6th marked the final concert of the Manassas Symphony Orchestra’s 30th anniversary season with an All-American Program headlined by Alexander Bernstein, Professor of Piano at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester. The audience was delighted by his skilled rendition of Edward MacDowell’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in A Major. He received two standing ovations and graciously met with patrons in the Hylton lobby after the show.

Alexander Bernstein received his bachelor’s degree in music from Harvard University, his master’s, and doctorate degrees from the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. He also completed an Artist Diploma at Shenandoah Conservatory. He met his wife, Tara McNeil of the popular Irish singing group “Celtic Women” at the Irish Academy.

Local piano students, Chloe Tan, Roy Wulf, Darah Amitabh, and Paul Pascoe were chosen for Professor

Bernstein’s master class on at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. The class is free for the students to attend. Professor Bernstein listened to each student’s piece and provided feedback to improve their skills. Paul Pascoe was interested in learning new techniques and commented: “Mr. Bernstein taught me how to relax my fingers, something I never heard of, or thought of before.” He felt this was valuable information and improve his future performances.

While this is the end of the 2022-23 Hylton series, MSO will be back on October 21st with the return of violist, David Pedraza to play Bartok’s Viola Concerto in A Minor. He will headline a program of classical masterpieces influenced by folk traditions. Maestro Pedraza will hold a viola master class on October 20th.

You can still enjoy MSO this summer. On July 14, 15, and 16th MSO will be performing Lionel Bart’s Oliver with the Prince William Little Theatre. Watch the Oliver cast interact with the symphony musicians and listen to favorite Broadway songs. Tickets are on sale now at HyltonCenter.org.

On Sunday, August 27th you will find MSO at the Harris Pavilion performing out annual pops concert as part of the “Sunday Funday” music series. The concert is free.

For more information about upcoming Manassas Symphony Orchestra programs, please visit our website: www.ManassasSymphony.org.

The State of the Arts in Prince William County

Where do we go from Here?

By Donnell Taylor

Growing up in Prince William County, you experience a shortage of available amenities. There are very few playgrounds or basketball courts completely open to the public instead of gated off with a multi-part HOA approval process for use. What gets built here is commerce. People go to one of two places: home or work. But where do the kids go? Where does the public relax without having to drive for half an hour to get somewhere else for leisure? Where is that third option for people to hangout, explore and enjoy life? These questions should concern a growing populace - people will always make their own means of entertainment, positive or negative.

It’s been a full year since I discovered the hidden arts of Prince William County through the Open Space Arts center. In that year of involvement I joined the county panel for arts funds, worked many hours on the Arts News magazine, developed my art and learned from so many of the other artists who pass through this space. And through it all I’ve gained stellar insight into the state of the arts here. My investigation even landed me in seats across from local government officials and those directly appointed by them to improve the arts in Prince William County. The overwhelming truth about the state of the arts here is that it is barely visible. Those involved in the art space and culture in this county may feel the urge to disagree, but most of these established communities are delightfully close knit, but also closed lipped and closed off to outside engagement. A stereotypical country club, but for elitist artists.

In contrast to some other regions in the country, Prince

William County does not have a dedicated arts department. Instead the Arts Council operates within the Parks and Recreation department where it serves as a unifying force for local arts organizations. The Council plays a critical role promoting the availability and accessibility of the arts to the wider community and advocating for the inclusion of arts-related amenities in any new public works. But despite their efforts, there remains a notable dearth of public art spaces and infrastructure across much of the county, with the majority of local arts organizations concentrated in the city of Manassas. Some organizations have even been criticized for joining the Arts Council solely for the purpose of obtaining grant funding, with little apparent interest in promoting their activities to the wider public.

It seems unlikely that the issues faced by the Arts Council and many of the organizations it supports (which number less than 20 in a county of half a million residents) are intentional. Rather, the primary challenges seem to lie in effectively marketing and engaging younger audiences. Technological advancements and the constant evolution of social media platforms have made effective marketing more complex and ever-changing, presenting a significant hurdle for many organizations and businesses. Another obstacle for the Arts Council is its organizational structure, which sometimes allows disruptive parties to cripple its progress toward achieving broader representation in the community. What does seem intentional is the reluctance to evolve when these hurdles can be easily cleared through the involvement of younger and technosocial adapted parties and a revision to

council organizational structure. In terms of what the arts council does somewhat provide to the community right now?

They host one annual event: Arts Alive at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, showcasing a range of performances from across the local arts

community. But despite the event’s outstanding quality, it remains a secret unless you have already been granted access to this circle of artist communities. The challenges in effectively engaging with the broader public and utilizing public spaces continue to hinder the Council’s progress. I would like to say this is

completely unintentional, but ignoring possible routes of including more capable parties to help the council expand and refusing to eliminate parties that cause disruption to the Council are choices. At a certain point inaction becomes action.

As a county, we still have progress to make in building a robust arts culture. When asked whether the Arts Council would be included in Fairfax’s plans to establish a DMV arts collaboration stretching all the way to Washington DC and Maryland, the response was that, while the Council is known, there are currently no immediate plans for inclusion. This should force us to consider the next steps in advancing the local arts scene and effecting necessary changes. One possible avenue for improvement is through the development of public art spaces and greater community engagement.

The Open Space Arts building in Woodbridge serves as a prime example of how to engage and build interest in the arts by collaborating with local community leaders and hosting topic-driven exhibits designed to connect with different communities. In just one year since opening, the space has reached out to numerous organizations and schools to foster greater support for the arts, become a community gathering space for artists on Sunday evenings, and hosted all kinds of classes, rehearsals, and community events. Its exhibits showcase a diverse range of cultures from across Prince William County, welcoming all to explore

and expand upon what this means. The space is fully open to the public and is a much-needed addition to the east side of the county, where it provides a new outlet for creativity, expression, and joy. As our communities continue to grow and face challenges like traffic congestion, the need for easily accessible enrichment centers becomes increasingly pressing. The Open Space Arts building serves as a model for what can be achieved and there is much to be gained from continuing to explore and expand upon these opportunities for the public’s benefit.

In America, one of the challenges we face is creating vibrant commercial sectors that generate revenue and promote cultural inclusivity. The current zoning laws often lead to the construction of bland, parking-lot-filled commercial areas and can impede progress toward this goal. Additionally, the car-centric nature of American culture often further isolates us from cultural inclusion projects. This is particularly concerning when we consider the economic obstacles faced by younger generations. Instead of prioritizing the expansion of roads and highways, we should focus on creating functional cultural sectors in public spaces like arts facilities,

open sports fields and museums. Unfortunately, we rarely prioritize the creation of these spaces when new developments are built, whether it be a new restaurant or housing development. But we can advocate for the inclusion of public spaces in these contracts to ensure that our communities have access to the amenities and spaces they need to thrive.

During my interviews with county officials, I gained insight into the importance of the arts council’s work providing valuable input on the type of projects that benefit the public. But if the arts council fails to effectively manage itself or lacks visibility, we lose those opportunities. As for the direction of our county? It is up to the community members to be actively involved and dedicated to shaping its future. This includes you, the reader. As tax-paying residents of Prince William, it is important that we take action to ensure our communities remain enriched and that government-run organizations operate at their best for the people. There are various ways to get involved, from reaching out to county officials to simply staying informed about relevant issues. We have to work together to ensure that the arts in our county are headed in the right direction.

Help us bring more creative opportunities to PWC and make a difference by visiting Open Space Arts at 15000 Potomac Town Pl 140 Stonebridge, Woodbridge. Stop by any Sunday and be part of creating a greater arts presence in Prince William County.

EMERGING ARTISTS

By: Nida Nawaz

Ihave garnered a love for art since I had read “The Rough Faced Girl” by Rafe Martin and David Shannon in elementary school. The images in the book had invoked more emotions in me than the eloquent words, as art doesn’t function under the bounds of literacy as it is a universal language of emotion and humanity. The Stone Bridge Open Space Arts showcases a reflection of the community I was raised in and where I learned to become American, I HAD to go.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson –

The Emerging Artists Showcase at the gallery was a phenomenal experience from beginning to end. Upon entrance, I am met with hosts that welcomed the crowd, setting an inviting environment. I was also pleasantly surprised to find a selection of finger foods as I made it deeper into the gallery.

After settling in and having a second to really look around, I’m gratifyingly engulfed in many styles of expression. That day, I was feeling an unshakeable sense of loneliness. Indulging in the art displayed in front of me allowed me to be engaged in the moment and directly combatted the isolation I was experiencing so deeply. Perusing, I lost track of time as the art absorbed my heart in reflection, a break from the outside world. It was time for the event to begin. The event was commenced with words of wisdom and encouragement by prominent community members who supported the arts. As they hearten the upcoming generation of artists, I can clearly see the bright beam of light from the artists as they are proud to be here and share their articulation with us.

“Every Artist Was First An Amateur.”

The artist statements compellingly animated their works. I felt that it united the audience to the artist to further understand the artists’ intimate association to their pieces. Prominent themes included love, growth, strength, sadness and pain.

The artist that tugged onto my heart threads was C. J. Davis. In her artist statement, she highlighted her journey surviving domestic violence, depicted in her 3-part exhibition. The first depicted loving a false representation of love. The second part illustrated finally removing ‘cellophane’ from the eyes to see truly what reality was. Lastly, her piece highlighted her self-love and appreciation of others who truly love her and see her for who she is.

During her statement, I was holding back tears. This isolation I was feeling as I was seeking relief in the art gallery, was rooted in the isolation I had been forced into growing up, planted by my mother. The stages that Davis had demonstrated in her art are what I had unconsciously endured for 25 years. I also loved a false sense of love. Running away from my mother was me lifting

the cellophane from my eyes. Being at the gallery was me, finally loving myself and accepting that it was okay to seek community and leave the isolation I had been so rigorously conditioned into. I felt incomparable relief as the tears left my eyes and onto my cheeks with this more nuanced understanding of myself through C. J. Davis’ expression.

Coming to the ‘Emerging Artist Showcase’ was the healthiest step I had taken for myself in a while. The calming and alluring environment with a tone of positivity uplifts the spirit. I am thankful for the artists that elected to share themselves with the appreciative crowd. It helped me expand my perspective on myself and form new connections. Furthermore, it’s a great way to ground oneself to the local community’s authentic expression.

Omar the Groove

Interview with one half of the rap duo Wombo Combo “Omar the Groove.”

Find out how they are approaching marketability in a new way for rappers in Prince William County through their new music video “Noggin.” A live interview on Painting with Friends here.

SCAN TO WATCH INTERVIEW

ARTWORK BY: LEE ANTHONY

THE ARTS SPACE

THAT IS CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY OF THE ARTS IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

The Art Gallery at Stone Bridge is a premiere open space multi-discipline arts facility that plays a significant role in promoting the value of art appreciation through classes, workshops, exhibitions, performances, cultural and specialty programs. Stone Bridge and JBG Smith, the management company, supports its commitment to serving the public by offering an opportunity for local PWC artists to present creative performance and visual art works of various mediums in their vacant space.

Open Space Arts’ mission through Edutainment Productions and partnership with the Prince William County Arts Council is to provide space and a place for arts to be viewed, created, performed, exposed, and shared throughout Prince William County. This helps to reinforce on a grander scale the County government’s commitment to development and ensures not only that our

district spaces are attractive places but also spaces where people want to go. This also stimulates a wide range of other uses such as community hubs, arts and cultural venues, and informal learning centers which can unlock people’s talent and creativity, strengthening our arts and culture sector as set out in the Community Design plan announced by the Board of County Supervisors in 2017.

Our Open Space Arts project plays a central role in providing access to creative works for the citizens of Prince William County and our visitors. The youth Edutainment Productions staff at OSA, with its focus on culture in the broadest context, looks forward to supporting the Open Space Arts idea as it continues to pursue its mission in the years ahead.

LIME LIGHT VIBES

Limelight Night: My Experience in the Local Arts Scene

by Nida Nawaz Photos by: zeuz.m3dia

When I had found Limelight Vibes, I was searching for a place to experience what the local music scene has to offer and socialize with new people who enjoy artistic expression especially in the community that shaped who I am. I’ve always found music and arts to be a gateway for people to connect, regardless of their worldview and how it was shaped. Turns out, this was the exact place to be to experience the amazing talent I’m surrounded by in the Prince William County area and to meet vibrant individuals who also have a love for their locale.

I found the bright coloured lights inviting me in and help shake off my social anxiety as I walked into Clearbrook Center of the Arts. After a short flight of stairs, I was met with an impressive stage, sound and audio set up, and an actively growing crowd enjoying the lively and warm music. I loved talking to welcoming strangers. The ambiance and audience for the open mic were perfectly married

for a cosmic experience.

The show started with the host and cohost, Leah and W, setting the vibe nice and cozy, welcoming everyone in person and people virtually attending. Then the video of the week is introduced, and it was so

the level of raw talent that resides here. The video kept the audience engaged and enticed with its vivid colours and heartfelt lyrics. Doogie C’s recall of his life in his song with, “can’t count the times I fell to the floor and got right back up and said gimme some mo”, hit the core of my heart because that was exactly why I was there; to build myself up by coming out of my comfort zone and feeding my soul, no matter what. The show proceeded on with various artists from different backgrounds. There were artists that sang original pieces in English and Spanish with Pop, Country, Rock, RnB, Hip Hop and more. Every artist shared what their songs were inspired from and what they intended to express with them which offered a more intimate experience to the audience.

much more than I expected. I was amazed by the high-level sound and production of the video ‘Harder’ by Doogie C. I was unaware of

The headliner of the show was Vex Ghoul. After seeing the high level of raw talent, the opening artists displayed, my expectations were set higher. Vex Ghoul proceeded to blow my mind even after I thought I had adjusted my ex-

pectation levels. The high, positive energy Vex imparts into his audience left me with no choice but to move with the music, for every single song. It didn’t matter if you had a bad day at that time, you can’t help but live in the moment during Vex’s performance. Not only was his appearance exuding powerful self-expression but the lyrics he shared with the audience invoked confidence and love for life, unashamed. When his performance concluded, I was wishing there was more.

Limelight Vibes has left a lasting positive impact on me which will have me coming to enjoy the scene, regularly. I have always been searching for community in which I felt I belonged. I was raised bi-culturally as a Bengali American, so I was never really fully accepted nor fit into American or Bengali society. Limelight Vibes hosts

a crowd of people who are accepting and want to proliferate community and love, unfiltered. If you are seeking a good time, wanting to experience the evocative energy of live music entertainment, and welcoming crowd, come out to support the scene at Limelight Night.

LIMELIGHT PLAYLIST

DRAWING BY: ADONIS DORSEY

WOODBRIDGE DANCE COMPANY

PHOTO BY: LUCAS DEAN

Discovering Local Arts Centers: Clearbrook Center of the Arts

By: John Wooten

Tucked away in the lower side of the quaint Tackett’s Mill Center in Lake Ridge, VA, exists an unlikely space that is on the rise as an incubator for up-and-coming artists in Prince William County. Clearbrook Center of the Arts opened its doors on Friday November 10th 2017 with the intent of supporting the arts in Prince William County. For Lake Ridge natives that have lived in the area in the 80s and 90s, they may recognize the space as the former site of the Tackett’s Mill Movie Theater. For younger residents who are unfamiliar with the building’s history, Clearbrook blends into the landscape of the shopping center,

hiding in plain sight. Everything about Clearbrook is unconventional, from its history, to its architecture which consists of an angled ceiling which gives the building a loft-like essence, down to the operation of the building. In its early inception the resident artist would be the sole creative force shaping the vision of Clearbrook. This has caused Clearbrook to go through multiple visual transformations over the years. Despite the changes, Clearbrook remained dedicated to community engagement. Clearbrook has been the site of the Tackett’s Mill Summerfest and Winterfest (annual family friendly festivals which feature games, live music, and live art).

Clearbrook has also hosted a series of food drives during the pandemic, which resulted in the collection and delivery of over 2000 pounds of food to various food pantries in Prince William County. Arts related organizations such as Write by the Rails and the Prince William Art Society have also called Clearbrook home at various points. Clearbrook was the host of the 2020 Prince William County Poet Laureate Crowning Ceremony. As organizations began to work with Clearbrook it was clear that not just one person could dictate Clearbrook’s vision. Clearbrook is something that an artist, or an arts organization can mold. In the fall

of 2020, Clearbrook expanded its programming to host live concerts. Around this time, the Tema Choir, a Ghanaian nonprofit choir based in Woodbridge, began to utilize Clearbrook as the official rehearsal space for their choir. Clearbrook had dabbled in featuring live music in 2019, after hosting a series of open mics, but they failed to gain significant traction. Equipped with an old mixer and two PA speakers, Clearbrook partnered with Moonlight Booking and started to host concerts. This was an extremely DIY undertaking. Clearbrook had never been a music venue before, and while the Director John Wooten was a musician, thinking in terms of managing a venue requires a different perspective. Needless to say, there was a significant learning curve to take on in a short period of time. Since there was only one

board, doing stage man agement, unclogging a toilet, while Ricky was admitting tick ets, coordinating with bands, and cleaning up a spill from an excited concert goer. This era of Clearbrook felt like everything was going at 200 mph. If one of them got sick, this often meant a show would be canceled or one person would have to take on the other person’s duties in addition to their own if they were unable to find a volunteer to substi tute for them. Shows ran like this for almost a year. It was apparent that this wasn’t a sustainable mod el, but the biggest priority was get ting the word out that Clearbrook was a host for live music. In addition to working with Moon light Booking, Clearbrook also worked with the Virginia Free Music System, a collective of experimental artists based in the DC Metro area. This genre of music often consists of using synthesizers and/ or using common items such as tin cans or washboards to create unconventional instruments. Because of how unorthodox this genre of music is, many of these artists find themselves performing in equally unorthodox settings such as basements or abandoned warehouses since many venues/bars aren’t open to hosting this type of music. Clearbrook welcomed Virginia Free Music System with open arms, and word soon got out that Clearbrook was open to hosting that type of music. Moyogash, an experimental artist based in Philadelphia, hosted a concert in Clearbrook that was live streamed simultaneously in an art Gallery Based in Berlin. While Clearbrook was getting its bear-

Existence” debuted. John also wanted to have something similar to the live open mic series that Clearbrook had in 2019.

John met with Young Creative Culture Entertainment (YCC) founder Nelson Powell, and V20 Records Found “W” Etkins” and asked them about producing a recurring series geared towards musicians. Nelson and W both noticed the obstacles that Clearbrook had at the moment. At that time Clearbrook did not have a stage, nor did it have sound panels ( an essential feature that music venues must have to treat the acoustics of a room), and the mixer was on it’s last leg ( partially battered from rowdy concert goers that knocked the mixer over on a couple of occasions). All of these issues had to be addressed before the series could be produced. In a month’s time Nelson, and Vaze Haze helped garner volunteers to help build sound panels and a stage. Clearbrook was also about to upgrade its sound system and speakers during that time under the guidance of W who is a professional audio engineer.

The series which is titled Lime Light Vibes, debuted in November of 2022. “W” who also hosted the open mic from Jiranni’s Coffeehouse in Manassas, brought in his co-host from Jirani’s (Leah Mari) to also co-host Lime Light Vibes with him. YCC brought in Zeus Media (owned by Marcus, a young rising talented photographer) to help produce Lime Light alongside YCC and V20 Records since this show would be streamed weekly.

What Clearbrook Needs:

• Funding

• Volunteers

• Donations for items such as furniture ( folding tables and chairs)

Just this year alone Clearbrook has

thrown many community events, fundraisers and helped local musicians find their foundations in terms of performing space. It stands as a necessary creative space for all artists in the area surrounding it, as well as a great pitstop to bands traveling on tour. With such great success it seems like Clearbrook is doing very well and can only go up from here. However it requires your support to achieve its best results. Like all arts in the United States, there is a struggle to find funding for basic needs that all businesses need to function. To put it simply, spaces like Clearbrook, need funding and volunteers. To get in contact with a clearbrook representative about volunteering or donating to the space please send email here j.wooten90@gmail.com

“Clearbrook

Future Events”

June 10th Clearbrook is holding a fundraising event that will feature a mini four concert series.

June 30th Devine Femme a oneof-a-kind event featuring live art, music, vendors, and food

Every Wednesday – Limelight Vibes an open stage platform for poets, comedians and musical acts.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL BOARD

THE FOLLOWING WERE ELECTED AND APPOINTED

AS DIRECTORS FOR FY22/23-FY23/24:

CHAIR: ALICE MERGLER

TREASURER: PETER ALTEN

SECRETARY: OPEN

VICE CHAIR FOR MARKETING: VICTOR HARPER

VICE CHAIR FOR PROGRAMMING: SUSAN BARDENHAGEN

VICE CHAIR FOR NOMINATIONS: DEBORA MADSEN

APPOINTEES

RONNIE RIGGER COLES DISTRICT

WANDA SMITH NEABSCO DISTRICT

CATRINA STROMAN POTOMAC DISTRICT

JAY TORRES WOODBRIDGE DISTRICT

KELLY HANEKLAU BRENTSVILLE

DAWN FRANKLIN GAINESVILLE DISTRICT

OPEN OCCOQUAN DISTRICT

BRENDA JOHNSON AT LARGE

“The Arts COUNCIL is more than art it’s an opportunity!”

“How are you inspired?”

Pour Class at OSA

One of the many workshops and classes that take place at Open Space Arts regularly. Scenes from the Pour paint class taught by Anna Gatling at Open Space Arts in March. Stay abreast of our upcoming classes by visiting our website.

The creative and performing arts center held their annual fundraiser at Open Space Arts in the support of the many productions that they do throughout the year. Some of the noteable members in attendance were Delegate Lyke Torian of the 52nd District, CAPAC students, and Board Members. Currently they are preparing for their production of Fences that will be held at the Hylton Performing Arts Center running June 2nd through June 10th.

https://www.capacweb.org/events.php

Give It a Whirl

Swing Dance Workshop at Mansas Art Factory

Leigh Norman

Twirly dress. That was my entire calendar notification. No location, no context. I was just grateful it wasn’t an email pop-up. That notification captured the essence of my afternoon: not knowing anything and spinning anyways.

On Saturday April 17th, I walked into ARTfactory’s ARTful Wellness swing dance class. I did swing in the past, but I stopped having time for it. Time to relearn! In the dance space, instructor Valerie Pyle whirled by in a bright yellow and purple swing skirt. She and Joe Manning, our other teacher, were warming up with a few moves. About 20 other students lingered on the edge of the room, spellbound.

Swing is a fast partner dance from the 40s. Think Lindy Hop and Charleston footwork. Dancers are split into leads, who decide the moves, and follows, who react to the leads’ directions.Traditionally, men are the leads, but anyone can fulfill either role. I was a follow, since follows do all the spinning. Lead Sophia Crooks is usually a follow because she enjoys “being thrown around and having fun.” Exactly!

Before you can spin, you have to step. Rock step, that is. The instructors rounded us up into a big circle. We started with the basic two-step, then moved to the rock step. Swing is a two-person dance, but you don’t need to bring a partner. That’s where the “swing” part comes in. Everyone started with one partner, but the follows switched leads for each new move. We were all clumsy, but our teachers kept us smiling, even when I almost crashed into a guy’s shoulder.

Pyle and Manning teach through Gottaswing, one of the oldest swing dancing organizations in the world. Gottaswing offers classes all over the DMV. Pyle reminisced about Gottaswing supporting Honor Flight veterans. When veterans are flown in, Gottaswing members greet them with a dance. Pyle says, “The most rewarding thing is when you get a vet to stand up - sometimes out of their wheelchair - and dance with you.” From retirement

Photography by Randy Reese Jr.

homes to elementary schools, Manning and Pyle show people how to reconnect with themselves.

Self-connection is exactly what the ARTful Wellness classes are for. The series is funded by a UVA Health grant. The classes are discounted 25% for half of the attendees. For the other half, Talya Conroy, Executive Director at the ARTfactory, explained the grant covers tuition completely for people in undeserved communities or who are in crisis. ARTfactory uses community referral partners to identify those “who are in need of some mental wellness.” ARTfactory also offers ASL and Spanish interpreters. The organization is doing everything to ensure complete accessibility to art. Conroy put it simply: “Art is not a luxury. Art is a necessity.”

Normally, I wouldn’t believe that. Art is decoration or a splurge. Then, Pyle pulled me into the middle of the circle. I was focused on counting the beat until she tossed me past her shoulder and I kicked out of it.

No one showed us how to do that in the class. That was my old “hobby” coming back to me - or coming back for me. “There are no mistakes in swing,” said Manning. I could just exist here without worrying about being right. That wasn’t a luxury: that was joy.

Candace Penders, Creative Director at the ARTfactory, says art is “something that taps into your inner peace.” Art isn’t always on a gallery wall. Visual arts aren’t the only option, either. It’s that box mix cake you made at 3AM. It’s the chainmail shirt you wove for the ren faire. It’s a soundtrack from the fifties that reminds you how much you love to dance.

The class ended with a group rendition of the Charleston Step. I walked back into the Old Town Manassas heat, lightheaded from laughter. My phone immediately dinged. Another calendar notification, now with location and context. The real world was back. Sighing, I logged in to my email. Before it loaded, I did a little twirl - just for me.

Interview With Tina from Unleashed Creative Studios By Painting With Friends

There’s no such thing as waste. Upcycling with the chaotic crafter, Tina from Unleashed Creative Studio

During the month of April we wanted to focus on earth day and the art of upcycling. To do justice to this topic we found Tina and had what I think may be our most mind altering interview yet. The paradigm shift of how you look at everyday trash will be staggering. The technique Tina shows us is a brief introduction into creative Junk Journaling - finding ways to reuse discardable materials and turn them into artistic journals. From shopping bags, old jeans, packaging bubble wrap and even making your own paper, the possibilities for

source material are nearly endless. Tina took us on an eye-opening ride into the many ways everyday items can be used in the most non conventional ways. Here is a brief summary of the interview.

Junk Journaling isn’t a new concept, it’s something that Tina happened to discover in 2008. The idea is to create a journal out of everyday items which make very artistic pieces. However Tina takes it to the next level and has expanded the idea of creative Junk Journaling to a new level. Each piece usually takes Tina ten minutes to an hour to create once she has acquired all the materials she needs. From simple leftover wrapping to package paper. Reduce reuse recycle takes on a new meaning.

Tina

also highlights that her journals are refillable. There are even combinations of different notebooks put into one bind - taking multipurpose to the next level.

For this demonstration Tina brought a shopping bag, some scissors, a stapler and some duct tape with little mustache prints on them. In a brief ten minute step by step Tina presents us a self made journal out of a shopping bag that most people would probably throw away without a thought. She tells us she got into art because of a desire to keep her young daughter creative. She thought she couldn’t be imaginative and creative and decided to remove the word “can’t” from her vocalably. And it’s not just journals - also makes accessories from the same kinds of discardable materials. She showed off her ring made out of pa-

per. Solid and washer safe unrecognizable to paper, paper ring. This interview isn’t just about how we can look differently at items we consider waste but also about how we as humans express ourselves. Our emotions are multifaceted so it’s only right that we express ourselves in multifaceted ways. Creative journaling is about images, songs, text we find and anything visually that tells our story through symbols. Sometimes we can’t buy something that allows all that. Being a part of the process that allows us to create a template that fully explores our boundaries of expression is the whole point of thinking beyond limitations.

Some reducing waste ideas we learned about:

• Bamboo toilet paper (which re-

duces deforestation) is a great alternative to regular toilet paper.

• Plastic reuse centers that turn plastic into bricks or lumbers, Plastic has many functions.

• Prince William county does not recycle glass but we have certain centers for it in Alexandria and Fairfax. Glass can be recycled endlessly.

• Buying recycled paper reduces levels of deforestation. There are paper companies that do make paper stock that has been recycled which is advertised on their product. Get ready to think outside of the box or completely turn it into something else in this interview! You can watch it here:

The Growing Anime and Gaming Community in PWC Conjutsu is Seeking a Home in PWC to Grow With

Last year the PWC native event Conjutsu held its 2nd anime and gaming convention. Relying on a small team of artists looking to bring pop culture, gaming and their love for anime culture to life. They hosted a 1 day event that saw a turn out of over 300 visitors flocking to see their favorite voice actors and cosplayers. The anime pop culture convention started in the mid 1970s and has since grown into a global phenomenon that only increased with the growth of the internet and social media. Conjutsu like many other Anime conventions features stalls with anime related ware, cosplay competitions, anime viewings, pop culture singers and panels from

world renown voice actors. Most notable Billy Kametz and Chuck Huber from cultural sensations Dragon Ball Z and Raise of the Shield Hero. Through astounding support Conjutsu will be able to hold another event this year with a 2 day event at the Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks. Without a doubt this annual event will continue to grow, however Conjutsu would like to do its growing on its home turf in PWC. Conjutsu is looking for a space in PWC that can accommodate its attendance needs and potential growth.

For more information on what Conjutsu is and what its growing scan the QR Code:

Don’t Move

By Nadia

Don’t. 1

Move. 1

Smaller. Become smaller. Take up no space. 10 If you come out of your squalor, the dark you’ll face. 12

Big. Spill. I really wanted that. I’m hungry. I’m sorry. 14

Don’t.

Move.

Shut up. Become silent. It’s coming, brace. Show no emotion. She won’t pick up the pace. For if I do, I best be ready for more. Here’s round two.

Don’t.

Move.

Please. No. I did not mean to wear you thin. I hear the belt now, prepared to meet my soft skin. Take it. It’ll all be over soon. How long can she go?

Don’t.

Move.

Her rage was yet to be satiated. With my blood and her red rage, my face is painted. My plump face filled with rubies. She thought more would be better.

Don’t.

Move.

To her liking, my skin is raw and chafed. I yearn her warmth, but with great glee she grinned.

Flung into the frigid concrete box, I am shunned. This box is warmer than her heart, really, I’m liberated.

Mommy, I love you. What did I do to be so hated?

Sistas the Musical What it Says of Black Women in America

By: Donnell Taylor

Photos By: Aaron Kimmel

Early April, the Arts News Team went to see the play Sistas the Musical, directed by Angela Somers and written by Dorothy Marcic. It was hosted in the Hylton Performing Arts Center at George Mason. Here’s a synopsis: the story focuses on a family going through a moment of grief and covers topics of trauma faced by black women in America. The story is courageous and fun, giving it a juxtaposition to the sometimes heavy topics and moments of grief, but ultimately it shines through as a perfect depiction of a black family comforting one another through tough times in the form of a musical. I didn’t want to miss anything when covering this article, so I decided to bring someone with me who is the target audience of this play, my mother. A black woman who holds similar experiences to the story of Sistas the Musical – this is her account.

Orlean:

I thought it was a great play from beginning to end. The music for women like myself was so relatable. The play dealing with the passing of a grandmother as the head of the family was so tragic because there’s so much loss of years, of teaching, and love. I like how they touched on what the women were struggling with and still struggling to teach younger generations how to avoid that trauma. It was powerful. The song references from the 1930s to the 2000s were cool to explore. It was an amazing and touching story; some parts even gave me chills because the singing was so phenomenal. I loved every minute of it.

The music and timing of the actors was perfect and precise. The characters had such a good tie into their song choice that it really showed their character traits especially Cyntiha Davis who played tameka. The band that plays on the balcony creates the atmosphere and fully packages the piece while staying hidden, until the stage transition comes into play,

then they act as a great center focus. The use of the staging as the attic for the main focus of the trauma/grief the characters face and also must overcome through the task of cleaning, was smart. It’s usually all in the kitchen, but the attic makes it different. The actors were amazing and entirely embodied their roles. Their singing was amazing and captured the essence of the blues that is no longer present in the world of new RNB. Showing the 1930s to now is good because it covers their pain and tells their story - starting from the controversy of Billie Holiday. The use of exploring the attic to explore the past of black struggle and civil rights movement is a great euphemism for exploring black history. They spoke on how the women were beat on, raped,and became silent victims and almost second slaves due to the inequality in rights and pay wage. Black women still suffered even when white women received rights. The black women were often left out of the civil rights movement because men didn’t want them to take on lead roles or participate. The costuming was an excellent allusion to time periods to set the pacing. The use of the music selection to explore the topics of dialogue to blend the transitions was powerful enough to send shivers down your spine. The use of strange fruit as a foreshadowed piece, then confronted later, is almost unsettling as the play captures and drags you to the not-so-distant past that is the Black experience in America. Billie Holiday was one of the most notable black voices back then in terms of artis tic activism. The use of the generational divide motif to show the importance of black women as heads of the tribes in black families, in terms of what empowers and characterizes the youth that follows next, is important in this story. People learn from their history and the young er generation needs to know where they come from to make better decisions and changes to break cycles. The tie that bridges this generational gap is the power of music and its timeless ability to empower and capture emotions. The lighting was amazing and really created the focus for tones and situations along with the use of color to translate certain emotions.

The story does an excellent job of bringing up powerful topics and blending them together. Using a musical to describe the black experience was the best possible way to depict it. The play pays homage to original pioneers of black voices who protested and told the story of black struggle. It’s also a great mechan ic to explore the respect and historic im portance our music has, like “Strange Fruit’’. It’s an oral account of pain and lessons for the next gener

ation and also the biggest export of the black community. Our pop culture has roots stretching back to Africa and it should be more credited as all cultures consume and take from black culture. These things shape movements and generations. It’s great that the story of Sistas touched on generational differences, gender equality and race relations while exploring the history and love of black women in music. It was sad and messed up that black people had so many blockades just to live normal lives in America. Years of generational struggle, segregation and trauma fueled by hate crimes. A sad point in the story focuses on how if black women were being beaten and raped they couldn’t go to family or police, they had no one, they had to bottle it up. Which ties into Christianity and the importance of the grandmother traditionally for the black community as a foundation for support. Grandmothers use faith a lot to create a sense of hope to continue living through struggle. That same support was heavily played on as each character is uplifted whenever they hit a low point in the story, which was greatly needed as the whole play is about grief. The exploration of grief was almost so real it evoked tears to watch the characters struggle through it. Their whole play touched a part of my life and was relatable as a black woman. The play did a good job of exploring love and loss. The fact that there was family support and they could release their years of bottled frustration and still

The story has no male presence and for good reason. There was no man to help them clean up their grief, it was the truth. The play captures perfectly on male violence and the patriarchy that often leaves women, especially black women, more victimized than any other group in the world. This suffering isn’t always physical. Sometimes it’s the expectation - how a woman will change herself for a man. Destroying their own individuality for approval, one of the cultural impacts of the black community being hair. Weave can be a great way of self expression but also a chain to male expectation. My hair has always been my expression for myself. Some women do it to get a man, but I don’t think it’s cool to change yourself for others. Another great focus of the play was on vulnerability, being in a soft girl era vs an independent woman. It’s a crutch and it’s an anchor. You’re either intimidating or a damsel in distress. It’s very stressful and exhausting trying not to push someone away. Through all the stress black women face, no one understands, which is why it’s important we empower and support one another. The use of empowerment and support that we as

black women give each other was a very important topic to be covered. That’s the most important thing in life you need as a black woman.

From my personal account of the play, the story was a fun, two hours long, and broke away from dialogue into song seamlessly. The occasional fourth wall break to entice the audience was amazing. The use of a non black character to explain what music means to the black community - as the icons of the music industry are often our paragons that help us explore our own personal and cultural battles. Some of the topics were hard to see as they explore relatable trauma such as grief and parental abandonment. However there’s a snap back into playful glee to balance it. I love how the play addresses the atrocities that black people have faced in the past while comparing it to the prison industrial complex that now acts as a new terror to the generation today which can only be seen as race-focused given its unsettling majority of black faces. The story is powerful and uplifting and I see why as it focuses on the most marginalized group in America, which is the black

woman. All the music is memorable and relatable even though I’m too young to catch some of the references it was still impactful. The story is compelling in its generational theme - as even in death the grandmother acted as a matriarch and solution to the problems and grievances the characters have. Showing how important these connections we have in black families are. The close out was a crowd interactive that allowed the crowd to join in the musical number and participate in the close. Angela Somers finishes the show by thanking the audience and speaks on the importance of bringing broadway caliber theater to Prince William County.

Some notable figures used or referenced during the play:

Ma Rainey-Billie Holiday-Ginger

Rogers-Josephine Baker-Jill ScottMLK-Rosa Parks-Sidney Poitier-Barbara Davis-Bell hooks-Bobby Seale-Huey P. Newton-Cornel

West-Barack Obama -Tupac-Berry

Gordy-Aretha Franklin-Prince-Beyoncé-Erica Badu.

JUNE

June 2

Manassas Chorale “From Sea to Shining Sea” Spring Concert

JUNE

June 21-July 28

Pride at OSA

JULY

TBA

Lecture - Those Who Have Served – Creative Art from Military and Veterans

JUNE

June 10

Taste of Woodbridge

JUNE

June 23

Pride at OSA Opening Gala

JULY

July 26- August 20

JUNE

June 11

Prince William County Band Community Band Festival

For

AUGUST

August 23-September 17

Strut Your Stuff

AUGUST

September 20- October 15

Hispanic, Indigenous People Culture Heritage [Honor Your Heritage] Find

Those Who Serve (Military and First Responders focus)

Girls Preliminary Dance By Lucas Dean

The girls preliminary dance event was a great success. Amazing hosts at Garfield High School! The team’s hard work and dedication leading up to the event showed them ready. It’s great to see that it paid off with a stunning performance that left the audience amazed, I myself was greatly amazed. The choreography and styles were incredible, diverse and creative. Every member was showing true heart and emotion in every set. Congratulations to the team for a job well done! I had an amazing experience, this was my first dance ever attended. Keep up the hard work girls!

PHOTO BY: LUCAS DEAN

PRINCE WILLIAM NAACP’S SECOND ANNUAL AFRO-ACADEMIC, CULTURAL, TECHNOLOGICAL & SCIENTIFIC OLYMPICS (ACT-SO)

COMPETITION:

Four Students From Prince William, Fairfax, Fauquier and Arlington Counties

Advance To National Competition at the 114th NAACP National Convention In July

Four High School Students from Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties and a 3rd year senior Culinary Arts Program student in Arlington County received gold medals to advance to the national competition to represent the Prince William County NAACP following PWC NAACP’s 2nd Annual Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological & Science Olympics (ACT-SO) Competition recently held at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center and at the Arlington Career Center.

Prince William County Student Nirelle Sitchoa, a senior at Gainesville High School advanced in Drawing; Fairfax County Student Tierra Russell, a senior at Thomas Edison High School moves on in Painting; Fauquier County Homeschooled Student Gabrielle Williams of Culpeper; competes in Poetry Written and Biology and Jade Mitchell a senior at the Arlington Career Center faces off in Culinary Arts at the National Competition during the 114th NAACP National Convention in Boston July 26-29.

All medal winning high school seniors who participated in the inaugural 2022 ACT-SO Competition “are enrolled in 4-year” colleges and universities, Dr. LaTanya McDade Prince William County School Superintendent

proudly announced during competition opening ceremonies at the Leadership Center on April 22, 2023. The institutions of matriculation for the ACT-SO alumni are George Mason University, William and Mary University and Liberty University, all in Virginia.

ACT-SO is a year-long enrichment program culminating in PWC NAACP’s local competition showcasing students’ handwork, academic and artistic talents. ACTSO includes 34 competitions covering STEM, Humanities, Business, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Culinary and Sustainable Building Design.

ACT-SO “provides the opportunity to highlight and celebrate the many gifts and talents of our students,” said Rev. Cozy Bailey Prince William NAACP President. Starting an ACT-SO program was a dream of mine and other local NAACP Freedom Fighters, Bailey recounted displaying emotion. “In order to fight the good fight, we need to rejuvenate (our ranks) with soulful, passionate youth” he added.

Nine Northern Virginia students competed in categories which included drawing, painting, poetry-written, original essay, biology/microbiology, entrepreneurship, and music instrumental contemporary/classical from Gar-

field, Colgan, Woodbridge, Forest Park, and Gainesville High Schools in Prince William County; Wakefield High School in Arlington County; Robinson Secondary School and Thomas Edison High School in Fairfax County.

Students placing as silver and bronze medalists, and honorable mentions, as well as gold medalists were recently announced at the Prince William Freedom Fund Banquet, held for the first time in four years since the pandemic. The Freedom Fund Banquet is the organization’s primary fundraiser supporting programming, activism and outreach, scholarships, as well as voter education and advocacy.

Silver medalists included Dacarri Davis, a senior at Colgan for Poetry-Written; and Sherman Manley, also a senior at Colgan for Music: Instrumental – Classical (piano). Bronze medalists included Gabriella Williams, a homeschooled senior in Culpeper for Original Essay; Eugene Bartholomew, a senior at Colgan for Music: Instrumental – Contemporary (cello); and Natnael Dernelash, a 10th grader at Woodbridge. Honorable Mentions included Markus Albright, a junior at Garfield for Music: Instrumental – Classical (violin); and Brandon Durham, a freshman at Forest Park for Music Instrumental – Contemporary (piano).

“We’re going to continue this rich tradition (of ACT-SO) annually,” said Superintendent McDade. “Now we can say the history of ACT-SO in Prince William County since we have one here,” she added.

ABOUT THE PRINCE WILLIAM NAACP

Founded in 1935, the Prince William branch owes its success and a monumental “Thank You” to its past leaders who worked tirelessly for the citizens of Prince William County and the legacy they left us. Some of those who led the branch include such outstanding leaders as, the Reverend Frederick Ray, Mr. Eddie Stallworth, Mr. Ira Patterson, and Mr. Kenneth Gibson.

For information on current leadership, activities and programs, visit pwnaacp.org.

Pictured front row, left to right: Dr. LaTanya, McDade PWSC Superintendent, Brandon Durham, Forest Park High School freshman; Gabrielle Williams, Culpeper Homeschooled senior; Nirelle Sitchoa, Gainesville High School senior; Sherman Manley, Colgan High School senior; Rev. Cozy Baily, PW NAACP President, and Rita Goss, Associate Superintendent PWCS. Pictured second row, left to right: Dacarri Davis, Colgan High School senior; Tierra Russell, Thomas Edison High School senior in Fairfax; and Eugene Bartholomew, Colgan High School senior; and Markus Albright Garfield High School senior.

PRIDE AT OSA

Open Space Arts Woodbridge, VA