ONLINE: Member Meeting & Benefit Program
2021-05-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Nina Tisara
(Photo: Steven Halperson)
Join fellow Del Ray Artisans members ONLINE for the Member Meeting & Benefit Program on Thursday, May 20 starting at 7pm.
Register Now
We’ll begin with a short meeting, then Nina Tisara and Steven Halperson will tell us about their work creating portraits for Living Legends of Alexandria.
Nina Tisara founded Living Legends of Alexandria, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring and chronicling individuals who have made significant contributions to the quality of life in Alexandria, Virginia. Beginning her career as a part-time photojournalist, Nina has photographed Alexandria people and places since 1980 and started the Living Legends program in 2006. After 30+ years as a professional photographer, Nina Tisara’s primary artistic focus is now mosaics and, in her not-so-spare time, Nina writes a monthly column for the Zebra newspaper.
Steven Halperson manages and is the primary photographer for Tisara Photography in Old Town Alexandria, a family owned and operated business incorporated in 1985. His portraits of Alexandria’s current Living Legends are on permanent display in the Market Square Lobby of Alexandria City Hall. Steven continues to develop the creative aspects of his work and experiments with various forms of expression, copper etching and circuit boards, as well as photography.
PLUS register for the meeting before 5pm on May 18 and attend to also be entered into a drawing for some Del Ray Artisans’ swag! Winners must pick up prizes by June 26.
If you have any questions, please reach out the Membership Director, Beth Richardson, at Membership@DelRayArtisans.org.
Due to the pandemic this meeting will be online. The meeting is open to all members and is free, but you must register before 5pm on May 20 to receive the Zoom meeting connection information in time. You may attend on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Register Now

VIA EMAIL: Partners in Art Evening
2021-05-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2021-06-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
In-person meetings have been cancelled until further notice; however, this program is offering monthly sharing & feedback via EMAIL. Contact Michele Reday Cook (mredaycook@gmail.com) for information.

All local artists, from beginners to professionals, are invited. We discuss the local art scene, exhibit opportunities, share artistic goals, techniques, media, and creative processes. Enjoy the collegiality and support of your fellow artists! Participants may also bring in 1-3 artworks, in any medium, in any stage, to discuss goals, process, and ask for advice.
This program is free, but donations ($1-3) are greatly appreciated. Contact Michele Reday Cook (mredaycook@gmail.com) with questions.
View Upcoming Meetings

ONLINE: Introduction to Animation (8-Week Course)
2021-05-26 19:00 - 20:30, 2021-06-02 19:00 - 20:30, 2021-06-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Sean MacQuinor as Ice King from Adventure Time
Instructor: Sean MacQuinor
Date: Wednesdays, April 21 to June 9 from 7-8:30pm
Class size: 4-12 participants
(Register by April 14)
Learn the basics of animation with former Adult Swim Animation Lead Sean MacQuinor! If you have Adobe Creative Suite, you have Adobe Animate. As one of the animation industry’s chief tools, it is easy to use and learn the basics of professional animation. Whether you’re trying to start in the field of animation or learn the principles of motion that give character to life itself, artists and creators all benefit from developing an aptitude for recognizing those quirks of personality or nature that turn the thousand words a picture tells into a book set across the fourth dimension.
Supplies: Students will need to have a drawing tablet interface, and Adobe Creative Cloud, or at least Adobe Animate. Creative Cloud with all apps is $53/month or $600/year for adults (Adobe Animate alone is $21/month). The student price for all apps is $240 prepaid.
This workshop will be online through the Zoom platform. Registered participants will be sent the connection information via email two days before the workshop and again one hour before the workshop.
Register Now

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

First Thursday (Gallery Open Until 9pm Tonight! Photo shoot at 7pm)
2021-06-03 18:00 - 21:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Unmask Your Inner Superhero – Del Ray Artisans gallery will be open late!
See The Naked and the Newt exhibit; PLUS come dressed as a SUPERHERO (especially reptile- or amphibian- themed ones) for the silly photo shoot outside the gallery at 7pm (June 3 and June 12)!
Don’t have a superhero cape? There will be a “Make a Cape” table outside for kids from 6-9pm on June 12!

Del Ray celebrates First Thursday, a Del Ray community event along Mount Vernon Avenue from 6-9pm on the first Thursday of the month (April through September).
Visit Del Ray Artisans gallery for a sneak peek of the next art exhibit, then order dinner and drinks for carryout from one of Del Ray’s local restaurants, and stroll the neighborhood!
The 2021 First Thursday themes are:

April 1 – Petal Porch Party – This theme is also part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with Del Ray as one of the stops!
May 6 – Dog Days in Del Ray – The gallery will be open until 9pm! Come get a sneak peek of The Art in Nature exhibit.
Rescheduled to June 10 and rescheduled again to June 12 due to weather – Unmask Your Inner Superhero – The gallery will be open until 8pm on June 10th and 9pm on June 12th. See The Naked and the Newt exhibit; PLUS come dressed as a SUPERHERO (especially reptile- or amphibian- themed ones) for the silly photo shoot outside the gallery at 7pm (June 3rd and June 12th)! Don’t have a superhero cape? There will be a “Make a Cape” table outside for kids from 6-9pm on June 12th!
July 1 – TBD
August 5 – TBD
September 2 – TBD

ONLINE: Partners in Art (FULL)
2021-06-07 14:00 - 16:00, 2021-08-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
The ONLINE afternoon program is FULL.
If you would like to join the evening program that is currently sharing feedback via email (resuming in person meeting beginning in September 2021), contact Michele Reday Cook (mredaycook@gmail.com) for information and registration.
Need support reaching your art related goals? Join this collegial group of artists to share your goals and get feedback on artwork. Monthly meetings include discussions on exhibit opportunities, the creative process and the local art scene. Artist can bring 1-3 works – complete or in progress – for feedback. All skill levels and media welcome.
This program is free, but donations ($1-3) are greatly appreciated. Contact Mila Mateu (milaenartes@gmail.com) or Suzanne Tillman (zannet@verizon.net) with questions about the afternoon program.
This event will be an online meeting through the Zoom platform. Current afternoon program participants will receive a reminder of the meeting with the Zoom information in advance of the meeting.
View Upcoming Meetings

Gallery Open Until 8pm Tonight! First Thursday Rescheduled to Saturday, June 12
2021-06-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
This event has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 12, 6-9pm (photo shoot at 7pm). The gallery will be open tonight (Thursday, June 10) until 8pm. Come see the exhibit!
Unmask Your Inner Superhero – Come dressed as a SUPERHERO (especially reptile- or amphibian- themed ones in honor of The Naked and the Newt exhibit) for the silly photo shoot outside the gallery at 7pm (on June 3 and June 12)!
Don’t have a superhero cape? There will be a “Make a Cape” table outside for kids from 6-9pm on June 12!

Del Ray celebrates First Thursday, a Del Ray community event along Mount Vernon Avenue from 6-9pm on the first Thursday of the month (April through September).
Visit Del Ray Artisans gallery for a sneak peek of the next art exhibit, then order dinner and drinks for carryout from one of Del Ray’s local restaurants, and stroll the neighborhood!
The 2021 First Thursday themes are:

April 1 – Petal Porch Party – This theme is also part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with Del Ray as one of the stops!
May 6 – Dog Days in Del Ray – The gallery will be open until 9pm! Come get a sneak peek of The Art in Nature exhibit.
Rescheduled to June 10 and rescheduled again to June 12 due to weather – Unmask Your Inner Superhero – The gallery will be open until 8pm on June 10th and 9pm on June 12th. See The Naked and the Newt exhibit; PLUS come dressed as a SUPERHERO (especially reptile- or amphibian- themed ones) for the silly photo shoot outside the gallery at 7pm (June 3rd and June 12th)! Don’t have a superhero cape? There will be a “Make a Cape” table outside for kids from 6-9pm on June 12th!
July 1 – TBD
August 5 – TBD
September 2 – TBD

ONLINE: Our National Symbol – an evidence based argument for why salamanders should replace the bald eagle (FREE)
2021-06-10 18:30 - 19:30 | Online
Instructor: Erin AnthonyDate: Thursday, June 10 from 6:30-7:30pm
Class size: 1-100 participants
(Register by 4:30pm on June 10)
The bald eagle has long been our national symbol – a species common throughout North America. But I believe that Americans are a more unique breed, and our symbol should reflect that. Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina are blessed with being the global biodiversity hotspot for salamanders. Nowhere in the world has as many. In this talk, I will tell you why Americans are better represented by salamanders than by the bald eagle.
About the Presenter: Erin Anthony is currently serving as Vice President of the Virginia Herpetological Society, a volunteer run non-profit dedicated to the conservation and education of native reptiles and amphibians. She works as a sustainability coordinator and middle school science teacher at a private school on the eastern shore of Virginia.
This presentation is brought to you by the Virginia Herpetological Society (VHS) and Del Ray Artisans, both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, in conjunction with the The Naked and the Newt: Humans and Herpetons art exhibit.
The presentation is FREE; donations are appreciated. You may donate via the registration page (select “Register” and choose donation amount).
This presentation will be online through the Zoom platform. Registered participants will be sent the connection information via email two days before the presentation and again one hour before the presentation. You may attend on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Register Now
.

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

OUTDOOR: Live Animal Drawing – Texture Focus
2021-06-12 11:00 - 17:00 | VA
Flicker (Blue tongue Skink)
Coordinators: Erica Hughes, Larry Mendoza, Bonnie Keller
Date: Saturday, June 12 from 11am-5pm in half-hour shifts ($7 per 30 minutes)
Event size: 6 animals, 1-6 participants per animal
(Drop-ins welcome; Register in advance to reserve your preferred time and model)
Come practice sketching or painting natural textures with live models Persephone (Gila Monster), Flicker (Blue tongue Skink), Pyxel (African Pixie Frog), Cookie (Western Hognose Snake) and two more snakes (a Rat Snake and Timber Rattlesnake). Six socially-distanced chairs will be set up around a critter-containing vivarium under a canopy outdoors near the gallery. Seven dollars for a 30-minute session with one animal.
On the registration page, choose a half-hour time slot, then choose a model. You may register for multiple half-hour time slots (and may select the same or different models for each time slot).
This event will be held outside the gallery, rain or shine. Participants must wear a face mask and maintain 6′ of personal space.
Register Now
.
Pyxel (African Pixie Frog)
Persephone (Gila Monster)

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

First Thursday (Gallery Open Until 9pm Tonight! Photo shoot at 7pm)
2021-06-12 18:00 - 21:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Unmask Your Inner Superhero:
Come dressed as a SUPERHERO (especially reptile- or amphibian- themed ones in honor of The Naked and the Newt exhibit) for the silly photo shoot outside the gallery at 7pm!
Don’t have a superhero cape? There will be a “Make a Cape” table outside for kids from 6-9pm!

Del Ray celebrates First Thursday, a Del Ray community event along Mount Vernon Avenue from 6-9pm on the first Thursday of the month (April through September).
Visit Del Ray Artisans gallery for a sneak peek of the next art exhibit, then order dinner and drinks for carryout from one of Del Ray’s local restaurants, and stroll the neighborhood!
The 2021 First Thursday themes are:

April 1 – Petal Porch Party – This theme is also part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with Del Ray as one of the stops!
May 6 – Dog Days in Del Ray – The gallery will be open until 9pm! Come get a sneak peek of The Art in Nature exhibit.
Rescheduled to June 10 and rescheduled again to June 12 due to weather – Unmask Your Inner Superhero – The gallery will be open until 8pm on June 10th and 9pm on June 12th. See The Naked and the Newt exhibit; PLUS come dressed as a SUPERHERO (especially reptile- or amphibian- themed ones) for the silly photo shoot outside the gallery at 7pm (June 3rd and June 12th)! Don’t have a superhero cape? There will be a “Make a Cape” table outside for kids from 6-9pm on June 12th!
July 1 – TBD
August 5 – TBD
September 2 – TBD

Urban Sketchbooking (Free)
2021-06-13 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub, 2300 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Join us at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub on the second Sunday of the month from 1-3pm!
Urban Sketchbooking emphasizes storytelling that conveys a sense of place or a moment in time through drawings completed from direct observations.
This meetup operates on a drop-in basis during afternoons of the second Sunday of each month, so there is no need to register in advance. Bring your supplies and join us outside at the cafe to produce still life, figure, or architecture subjects in your sketchbook. Participants will spend some time putting their skills into practice and then reconvene for a review of finished works.
“Working Out (St. Elmo’s)” by Cathy Messina
Please wear a face mask and maintain 6′ of personal space. During the pandemic this program is FREE! Donations appreciated.
Meet outside at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub (2300 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301). Contact the organizer, Joan Bickelhaupt (joanbickelhaupt@gmail.com), with any questions.
NOTE: We will not meet in July, August, and December.
View Upcoming Dates

Playing with Resin – Focus on Texture (FULL, Join Waitlist)
2021-06-13 18:00 - 21:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
This workshop is full, but you may join the waitlist.
Workshop: Playing with Resin
Instructor: Tracy Wilkerson
Date/Time: Sunday, June 13 from 6-9pm
Class size: 5-9 participants
(Register in advance; Do not drop-in.)
Learn the ins and outs of mixing resin and using it in your artwork as an adhesive, a covering, or the main medium. There’s lots of creative time during this 3-hour workshop…no need to rush, which is one of the first lessons in using resin! You’ll leave your finished masterpiece(s) to set at the gallery at the end of the workshop, and pick them up during gallery hours later in the week.
All supplies are included in the supplies fee, and you may bring your own items to further customize your work. This workshop will focus on texture and is brought to you in conjunction with the The Naked and the Newt: Humans and Herpetons art exhibit. Please wear a face mask and maintain 6′ of personal space.
Register Now

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

Playing with Resin – Focus on Texture (FULL, Join Waitlist)
2021-06-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
This workshop is full, but you may join the waitlist.
Workshop: Playing with Resin
Instructor: Tracy Wilkerson
Date/Time: Monday, June 14 from 6-9pm
Class size: 5-9 participants
(Register by June 11)
Learn the ins and outs of mixing resin and using it in your artwork as an adhesive, a covering, or the main medium. There’s lots of creative time during this 3-hour workshop…no need to rush, which is one of the first lessons in using resin! You’ll leave your finished masterpiece(s) to set at the gallery at the end of the workshop, and pick them up during gallery hours later in the week.
All supplies are included in the supplies fee, and you may bring your own items to further customize your work. This workshop will focus on texture and is brought to you in conjunction with the The Naked and the Newt: Humans and Herpetons art exhibit. Please wear a face mask and maintain 6′ of personal space.
Register Now

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

ONLINE: Watercolor Painting Dewy Leaves Workshop
2021-06-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Instructor: Marni Maree, www.marnimaree.comDate: Friday, June 18 from 6-8pmCost: $50 Del Ray Artisans member / $55 Non-members
Class size: 10-25 participants
Online workshop
(Register before 4pm on Friday, June 18)
Learn to use watercolor techniques such as wet in wet, salt texture, lifting, and scratching to paint beautiful leaves. After painting leaves you will add realistic dew drops. They are so fun and easy you will soon be adding dew drops to all of your paintings!
Demonstration and hands-on activity, suitable for high school age and adults. For the hands-on activity you will need to have these supplies:

Watercolor paints (3 colors)
Watercolor paper (Instructor prefers 140 lb cold press Arches)
Brushes (round with a nice point, scrubber)
Table salt
Toothpick or other sharp object
Water
Paper towel

This workshop will be online through the Zoom platform. Registered participants will be sent the connection information via email one day before the workshop and approximately one hour before the workshop. You may attend on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Register Now
.

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

ONLINE: Crochet for Beginners
2021-06-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Crochet by Elaine Hood
Online Workshop: Crochet for Beginners
Instructor: Elaine Hood
Date/Time: Saturday, June 19 from 1-3pmCost: $35 Del Ray Artisans member / $45 Non-member; Plus $15 crochet kit or bring your own supplies
Class size: 4-8 participants
(Register by June 12 if ordering the supply kit; If you have your own supplies, register by 11am on Saturday, June 19)
As part of Del Ray Artisans’ exhibit The Naked and The Newt and its focus on texture, instructor Elaine Hood will guide participants through the fundamentals of crochet – chain stitch, single crochet, project planning and more, as time and interests permit. Students will leave the class with the skills to complete their first project – a pot holder, headband, or fingerless gloves – and the resources to continue their journey through the world of fiber arts.
Purchase the $15 crochet kit when registering or bring your own yarn and hook and optional plastic tapestry needle. The crochet kit includes: medium (4) weight acrylic yarn, size H (5mm) aluminum crochet hook with ergonomic handle, and plastic tapestry needles for finishing. Crochet kits will be available to pick up at the gallery during regular hours (Thursdays & Fridays 12-6pm, Saturdays 12-4pm).
If supplying your own materials, choose a medium to light or bright color yarn, and avoid cottons and shiny or textured yarn. Bring:

1 skein Acrylic or wool blend yarn – medium (4) weight (avoid dark colors for stitch visibility), such as Lion Brand® Heartland® Yarn (yellow stone), Red Heart® Super Saver® Yarn (white), or Lion Brand® Wool-Ease® Solid Yarn (canyon sunset)
Size H (5mm) aluminum crochet hook, with or without ergonomic grip, such as Susan Bates® Silvalume® Aluminum Crochet Hook or Anodized Aluminum Crochet Hook by Loops & Threads®
Plastic tapestry needle (optional, for finishing), such as Loops & Threads® Knit Quick™ Plastic Needles

This workshop will be online through the Zoom platform. Registered participants will be sent the connection information via email two days before the workshop and again one hour before the workshop. You may attend on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Register Now

About the instructor: Elaine Hood is a multimedia and fiber artist who employs crochet, knit, needle felting, beading, weaving, and other techniques in her creations. She has been crocheting since she was a young child, making everything from hats to swimwear to non-Euclidean geometric structures. Elaine taught an annual crochet workshop at the Camden County Arts 4 Teens Festival for several years. She holds an Associate degree in Applied Arts and a BA in Clinical/Counseling Psychology. Elaine resides in Maryland with two bearded dragons, her partner, and two cats.

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

Creative Summer Programs Proposal Deadline
2021-06-19 23:50 - 23:59 | Online
Call for Instructors forCreative Summer Programs at Del Ray Artisans
July – August 2021
Second deadline for proposals: Saturday, June 19, 2021
Pastel Painting Workshop at Del Ray Artisans, May 2021
Seeking proposals for creative classes & workshops at Del Ray Artisans to be held in July and August 2021. In-person and online, demonstrations, speaking engagements, free and fee-based programs, hands-on art classes, and more are all welcome. Tailor your program for the experienced artist or the beginner—for adults, children, families, seniors, or all age groups. We are filling the schedule with awesome, artful programs all summer long.
Submit your proposal by midnight on Saturday, June 19 to be included in the second round of program selection and marketing for Del Ray Artisans’ 2021 Creative Summer Programs. Contact Programs@DelRayArtisans.org with any questions.
Proposal Form

CANCELLED: Draw the human figure – anatomical sketching
2021-06-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Drawing by Michael Sherman
This workshop has been cancelled.
Online Workshop: Draw the human figure – anatomical sketching
Instructor: Michael Sherman
Date/Time: Sunday, June 20 from 1-3pm
Class size: 4-16 participants
(Register by midnight on June 13)
The Naked and the Newt art exhibit explores what it means to be in a body. During this course, instructor Michael Sherman will guide students on HOW to draw a body in an environment. Students will observe proportion, positioning, and how the body interacts with the environment.
Recommended materials: drawing pad (11×14″) white/natural tone, drawing pencils (Medium/HB to soft/up to 9B, and one charcoal pencil), white kneaded eraser, manual pencil sharpener, and a ruler (min. 12″). Full body model sources will be provided for study. Students may supply their own for exploration.
This workshop will be online through the Zoom platform. Registered participants will be sent the connection information via email two days before the workshop and again one hour before the workshop. You may attend on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Register Now

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

RESCHEDULED: No Gaps or Overlaps: Learning Tessellation (Ages 8 and up)
2021-06-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
This workshop is being rescheduled. New date coming soon.
Online Workshop: No Gaps or Overlaps: Learning Tessellation
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 22 and Thursday, June 24 from 10-11am
Instructor: Bridget Anthony-Hlioui
Class size: 5-20 participants
(Register by midnight on June 19)
This workshop was developed to teach young students the art of tessellation, integrating measurement and geometric concepts. It addresses the need for online educational art activities that provide meaningful ways for students to connect with their world. Upon the completion of the course, students will have a better understanding of how artists use math and geometry to beautify spaces and communicate ideas.
This workshop will meet online (via Google Meet) in two sessions: Tuesday, June 22 and Thursday, June 24. Each individual session is held for one hour from 10-11am and is structured to accommodate younger attention spans while encouraging independent work after the first session. However, all ages are welcome.
This workshop is taught by Bridget Anthony-Hlioui, a veteran educator, art curriculum developer, Certified Art Therapy Life Coach, and working artist who incorporates her love of geometry in her own artwork.
Parents know their children best; if your child will need assistance or encouragement, Bridget will be happy to work with you so you can stay close during instruction.
Household, on-hands supplies are encouraged with suggested materials below:

Pencils
Eraser
Thick Paper (Instructor prefers Canson XL series Mixed Media)
12-inch ruler
Index cards
Scissors
Scotch tape
Paper towels
Black markers or pens (one Ultra-Fine Point Black Sharpie & one Fine Point Black Sharpie recommended)
An easily controllable medium to add color. (This depends on the student’s skills and availability. Anything from crayons, markers, to watercolor suggested next.)
Watercolor pencils (A basic set) -OR- Watercolors and brush set (Instructor recommends Palitra Brush Set)
Small cup of water
Small hair dryer is not a must but very helpful

Register Now

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

ONLINE: Turtles of Virginia: Life History and Conservation (FREE)
2021-06-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Online
Instructor: JD KleopferDate: Friday, June 25 from 6:30-7:30pm
Class size: 1-100 participants
(Register by 5pm on June 25)
Who doesn’t love turtles? Unlike their reptilian cousins (snakes, crocodilians and lizards), most everyone finds turtles to be appealing. Whether it’s the story of the tortoise and the hare or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, we have appreciated and revered turtles in folklore, culture and religion. Whatever the reason may be as to why we view turtles with such affection and reverence, they will always hold a high level of fascination and enjoyment for us.
Globally, there are over 320 species of turtle with 22 species inhabiting Virginia. Except for Antarctica and its surrounding waters, turtles inhabit every continent and ocean, from arid deserts to tropical jungles and across the vast oceans.
JD Kleopfer, the State Herpetologist of Virginia, will discuss the various species of turtle inhabiting Virginia and their general ecology and conservation.
This presentation is brought to you by the Virginia Herpetological Society (VHS) and Del Ray Artisans, both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, in conjunction with The Naked and the Newt art exhibit.
The presentation is FREE; donations are appreciated. You may donate via the registration page (select “Register” and choose donation amount).
This presentation will be online through the Zoom platform. Registered participants will be sent the connection information via email two days before the presentation and again one hour before the presentation. You may attend on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Register Now
.

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

ONLINE: Say Hello to My Lizard Friend
2021-06-26 15:00 - 17:00 | Online
Workshop: ONLINE: Say Hello to My Lizard FriendDate/Time: Saturday, June 26 from 3-5pm
Instructor: Amy CastineCost: $15 for Del Ray Artisans members and $25 for non-members, plus an optional $15 supply kit
Class size: 4-6 participants
If you have your own supplies, register by 1pm on Saturday 6/26 (2 hours before the workshop!).
Register by 7:30pm on Friday 6/25 if ordering the supply kit and pick up at Del Ray Artisans gallery (2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria VA) between 5-8pm on 6/25.

While making a three dimensional lizard, students will learn the basics of wire weaving. We will use a simple template and medium gauge wire to form the base of the lizard and add beads of each student’s choice woven into the frame with thin gauge wire. Everyone can personalize their creature in natural or fantastical colors. This class is a good introduction for anyone who wants to develop their skills as a wire weaver. Ages 12 and up.
Purchase the $15 supply kit of wire and beads (students will need their own pliers) or make sure you have these supplies to make your lizard friend:

10 yards 18 g wire
30-40 yards 22 g wire
24 grams size 8/0 seed beads
2 fancy beads for eyes
pliers

If you purchase a supply kit, please pick it up at the gallery on Friday, June 25 between 5-8pm.
This workshop will be online through the Zoom platform. Registered participants will be sent the connection information via email two days before the workshop and again one hour before the workshop. You may attend on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Register Now

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

First Thursday (Cancelled, but Gallery Open Until 8pm Tonight!)
2021-07-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
July Theme: Red, White, & Blue
The “Make your own Lady Liberty crown” outdoor activity was cancelled due to the weather.
The gallery will still be open tonight until 8pm. Come see the John W. Hiller Retrospective Photography Exhibit!

Del Ray celebrates First Thursday, a Del Ray community event along Mount Vernon Avenue from 6-9pm on the first Thursday of the month (April through September).
Visit Del Ray Artisans gallery (open 12-6pm on Thursdays) for a sneak peek of the next art exhibit, then order dinner and drinks for carryout from one of Del Ray’s local restaurants, and stroll the neighborhood!
The 2021 First Thursday themes are:

April 1 – Petal Porch Party – This theme is also part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with Del Ray as one of the stops! The gallery closes at 6pm on April 1st.
May 6 – Dog Days in Del Ray – The gallery will be open until 9pm! Come get a sneak peek of The Art in Nature exhibit.
Rescheduled to June 10 and rescheduled again to June 12 due to weather –Unmask Your Inner Superhero – The gallery will be open until 8pm on June 10th and 9pm on June 12th. See The Naked and the Newt exhibit; PLUS come dressed as a SUPERHERO (especially reptile- or amphibian- themed ones) for the silly photo shoot outside the gallery at 7pm (June 3rd and June 12th)! Don’t have a superhero cape? There will be a “Make a Cape” table outside for kids from 6-9pm on June 12th!
Rescheduled to July 8, then cancelled due to weather – Red, White, & Blue – Make your own Lady Liberty crown between 6-9pm outside the gallery, and get a sneak peek of the John W. Hiller Retrospective Photography Exhibit.
August 5 – Aloha Thursday
September 2 – Show Your Spirit

RESCHEDULED: Upcycle Shadow Box Project for Parents and Kids (Outdoors, RAIN or SHINE)
2021-07-17 14:00 - 15:30 | VA
Shadow Boxes by Megan Levanduski
This workshop is being rescheduled.
Workshop: Upcycle Shadow Box Project for Parents and Kids
Date/Time: Saturday, July 17 from 2-3:30pm
Instructor: Megan Levanduski
Class size: 6 participants
(Register by midnight on July 13)
Learn how to make your own mixed media “altered art” project using upcycled materials. Participants will be guided on how to use a variety of found objects, recycled materials, paper, and paint to create one of a kind artwork. Each person will be able to make at least one shadow box or canvas project.
Participants will learn how to mix and incorporate a variety of materials into one cohesive project. They will also learn how to upcycle and reuse materials into something new, gaining ideas for what they may already have at home for future projects.
The cost of the workshop is a supply fee of $10 per person plus the instruction fee:

$50 Del Ray Artisans member + 1 child ($70 total including supplies)
$75 Del Ray Artisans member + 2 children ($105 total including supplies)
$60 Non-member + 1 child ($80 total including supplies)
$85 Non-member + 2 children ($115 total including supplies)

This workshop will be held outside Del Ray Artisans gallery – rain or shine! If there is a chance of rain, canopy tents will be set up.
Register Now

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

OUTDOORS: Native American Pipe Ceremony
2021-07-17 19:00 - 19:30 | VA
Katsura (1984) by John W. Hiller
Del Ray Artisans is honored to showcase over five decades of photography from longtime member, Oscar and Emmy winner John W. Hiller with a special two-week exhibit (July 1-17, 2021). The work ranges from his solitary landscapes of the American West to the tranquility of the gardens of Japan, as well as contemporary experiential imagery. John passed away in 2020 at the age of 84.
Alyssa Pease (John’s wife) and Del Ray Artisans’ Karen Schmitz curated the John W. Hiller Retrospective Photography Exhibit featuring his photographs and additional personal items from his life journey.
To close the exhibit and honor those we have lost, please join us in the garden outside the gallery on Saturday, July 17 at 7pm for a Native American Pipe Ceremony led by Guy Jones.
For more information, contact Karen Schmitz (KSchmitzArt@gmail.com).
.

“Kids Just Want To Have Fun” Summer Art Camp 2021 (FULL)
2021-07-19 - 2021-07-30 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
ART CAMP IS FULL. Register for the Waitlist.
Del Ray Artisans invites young campers ages 8-12 years old for “Kids Just Want To Have Fun!” Summer Art Camp to spend a week (or half days for two weeks) creating art with professional local artist instruction. Students will have an immersive creative journey: painting, sculpting, journaling and other artful planned activities. During nice weather, kids will even have outdoors time to get fresh air, unwind, and replenish their creative energy. All artist supplies are provided. For this special year, there will be a unique online exhibition highlighting the two weeks of art camp available later in August for parents, friends and the community to enjoy.
WEEK ONE – July 19–23:

9am-12pm FUN Session
12pm-1pm Lunch break for Whole Day Campers
1pm-4pm CREATE Session

WEEK TWO – July 26–30:

9am-12pm CREATE Session
12pm-1pm Lunch break for Whole Day Campers
1pm-4pm FUN Session

Choose one FUN Session and one CREATE Session for your art camper! Choose either one whole week (9am-4pm) or half days (9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm) Monday-Friday over two weeks.
For Ages: 8-12 (class size limited to 8 children per week)
Cost: $325 per child
Scholarship support is available; contact Gallery@DelRayArtisans.org for an application.
Instructors have taken the ALX Promise pledge and follow the current pandemic policies in accordance with CDC and the State of Virginia during summer camps. Face masks are required. Students will be 6′ table spaced in the gallery and will have separate art supply bins. Shared supplies will be properly cleaned and hand sanitizers used frequently. Students attending full-day must bring their own lunch; students attending half-day should eat at home.
Art Camp will be at the Del Ray Artisans gallery at the Nicholas A. Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301. The gallery is accessible. For more information, contact Ashley Sowell (Art Camp Administrator) at ArtCamp@DelRayArtisans.org and Anna Sherlock (Office Manager) at Gallery@DelRayArtisans.org.

Registration
Choose one of the following schedule options:

FULL-DAY WEEK ONE: July 19–23, 2021 from 9am-4pm daily (FULL)

FULL-DAY WEEK TWO: July 26–30, 2021 from 9am-4pm daily (FULL, Waitlist Available)

MORNINGS: July 19-30 (excluding July 24-25) from 9am-12pm (FULL)
AFTERNOONS: July 19-30 (excluding July 24-25) from 1pm-4pm (FULL)

Walk-ins are NOT allowed. You must register in advance. Register for either half-days for two weeks or full-time for one week. Cost is $325/child. Your application is not complete until the registration form is filled out, payment is received, and your schedule choice is confirmed by the Art Camp Administrator or Office Manager. You may pay with cash, check, or credit card at the gallery or by credit card online (instructions in the application).
Register Now

Sponsor a Camper
Every year Del Ray Artisans offers scholarships to children who cannot otherwise afford to attend this magical camp. Interested in sponsoring a camper? Your donation will help send a youth to camp. Thank you for your support.
Donate Now
Thank you to Kiwanis Club Alexandria for sponsoring art camp.
Thank you to Community Partners MCD Mateos for sponsoring art camp.

ONLINE: Creative Consciousness: A 7-Week Artist’s Way Program
2021-07-29 18:30 - 20:00, 2021-08-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
Workshop: Creative Consciousness: A 7-Week Artist’s Way Program
Date/Time: Thursdays from 6:30-8pm, starting July 29 through Sept 9 (7 weeks total)
Instructor: Sharon Burton
Cost: $100 Del Ray Artisans member / $125 non-member
Class size: 5-12 participants
(Register by midnight on July 28)
Register now for the Creative Consciousness: A 7-Week Artist’s Way Course based on “The Listening Path: The Creative art of Attention”, the latest book by Julia Cameron. This course, facilitated by Sharon Burton, will meet once a week for seven weeks via Zoom.
Each week we will read a chapter from this new take on the principles of “The Artist’s Way”, complete weekly exercises designed for creative and personal transformation to make you a better listener to your environment, your relationships, and yourself. This course will help students embrace a new world of creativity that will resonate through all aspects of your life. The support of other creatives will assist you on this journey of self discovery. Artists, writers, and other creatives as well are encouraged to participate.
Students must purchase or have access to the book “The Listening Path: The Creative Art of Attention” by Julia Cameron and a dedicated journal for the program. The course will be held online via Zoom on Thursdays from 6:30-8pm, starting July 29 through September 9.
Register Now

About the Instructor: Sharon J. Burton is an artist, art curator, and creative life advisor, and member of Del Ray Artisans. She is a self-taught visual artist whose preferred medium is collage and mixed media and has exhibited her art in galleries, art venues and other settings across the country since 2007. Sharon has curated a number of art exhibitions in the Washington, DC area since 2005 and has served as an art consultant for novice art collectors.
Since 2007, Sharon’s artwork has been shown in juried exhibitions, galleries and alternative art spaces in the following cities: New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Columbia, Maryland, Silver Spring, Maryland, Washington, DC, Lorton, Virginia and Atlanta, Georgia. Her work can be found in private collections in Atlanta, Washington, DC and other places across the country. Learn more via Sharon J. Burton’s website.

View other upcoming workshops, information about the facility, and policies on the Upcoming Workshops page.

First Thursday (Gallery Open 12-9pm)
2021-08-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Come down to Del Ray Artisans’ garden for a Hawaiian tropical background selfie photo opp!
Bring your cell phone or camera and a little imagination. If you can’t actually be in Hawaii you can come to our fantasy island and enjoy a sneak preview of the new Together art exhibit while you visit. The gallery is open until 9pm on First Thursday!
This month Visit Del Ray is featuring the non-profit Friends of Guest House, helping women break the vicious cycle of incarceration, reunite with their families, and reintegrate into their communities. Please donate these items to help support their mission: composition notebooks, colored pencils, Alcoholics Anonymous books, Narcotics Anonymous books, and women’s cotton underwear (sizes small-XL). Donations can be dropped off at the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square (at Oxford & Mt Vernon Avenues) on Thursday, August 5 from 6pm to dusk.

Del Ray celebrates First Thursday, a Del Ray community event along Mount Vernon Avenue from 6-9pm on the first Thursday of the month (April through September).
Visit Del Ray Artisans gallery (open 12-9pm on First Thursdays) for a sneak peek of the next art exhibit, then have dinner at one of Del Ray’s local restaurants!
The 2021 First Thursday themes are:

April 1 – Petal Porch Party – This theme is also part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with Del Ray as one of the stops! The gallery closes at 6pm on April 1st.
May 6 – Dog Days in Del Ray – The gallery will be open until 9pm! Come get a sneak peek of The Art in Nature exhibit.
Rescheduled to June 12 due to weather – Unmask Your Inner Superhero – The gallery will be open until 8pm on June 10th and 9pm on June 12th. See The Naked and the Newt exhibit; PLUS come dressed as a SUPERHERO (especially reptile- or amphibian- themed ones) for the silly photo shoot outside the gallery at 7pm (June 3rd and June 12th)! Don’t have a superhero cape? There will be a “Make a Cape” table outside for kids from 6-9pm on June 12th!
Rescheduled to July 8, then cancelled due to weather – Red, White, & Blue – Make your own Lady Liberty crown between 6-9pm outside the gallery, and get a sneak peek of the John W. Hiller Retrospective Photography Exhibit.
August 5 – Aloha Thursday – Come down to Del Ray Artisans’ garden for a Hawaiian tropical background selfie photo opp, and enjoy a sneak preview of the new Together art exhibit!
September 2 – Show Your Spirit
