For The Artist (3/1-3/31)
2019-03-01 - 2019-03-31 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
For The Artist Art Exhibit
March 1-31, 2019
Opening Reception: Friday, March 1 from 7-9pm
“Blue Green” by Jeff Lodge
The For The Artist art exhibit at Del Ray Artisans gallery features works that the artists have always wanted to create. Curators Jeff Lodge and Jenny Nicholson challenged Del Ray Artisans members to reach into that wish list and create the special piece they’ve dreamed of doing. Two and three-dimensional works, paintings, mixed media, and photography are on exhibit. The creativity and diversity of expression in this exhibit is inspiring to artists and art appreciators alike.
Please join us for the opening reception on Friday, March 1 from 7-9pm and meet the curators and some of the artists.
During the month of March, these special workshops are also offered:

Introduction to Acrylic Painting on Saturday, March 9, 1-4pm
Learn the basic principles for working with acrylic paints, including paint and tool selection, surface preparation, mixing, mediums, and more. (Register by March 6)
Calligraphy and the Creative Stroke on Saturday, March 16, 1-4pm
Learn the basic strokes of script calligraphy using a pointed pen and ink, as well as a brush marker. (Register by March 13)

The For The Artist exhibit runs March 1-31, 2019 at Del Ray Artisans gallery in the Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22301. Gallery hours are: Thursdays 12-6pm, Fridays 12-9pm, Saturdays 12-9pm, and Sundays 12-6pm. The gallery is free, open to the public, and accessible.
For more information, please contact the curators Jeff Lodge (JeffreyLodge@yahoo.com) and Jenny Nicholson (8JLNicholson@gmail.com) or Director of Curating Brittany Gabel (Curating@DelRayArtisans.org).

Life Drawing - Short/Long Poses
2019-03-20 14:00 - 17:00, 2019-04-24 14:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Looking for a chance to hone your figure drawing skills? Del Ray Artisans offers a range of open life drawing sessions for just this purpose. Both nude and clothed models are featured. (Models will be nude unless otherwise noted.) These sessions operate on a drop-in basis so there is no need to register in advance. Bring your supplies and join us at the gallery to draw or paint from our live models. We don’t supply easels but you are welcome to bring your own if you want to use one. Please no acrylics or oils; pastels, watercolor and ink are permissible. All skill levels are welcome.
The fee for each three-hour session is $10 for DRA members and $12 for non-members. Two-hour sessions are $8 for members and $10 for non-members.
Short/Long Pose Sessions
The three-hour short/long pose sessions start with some short 1 to 5-minute warm-up poses and progressively move into longer poses lasting 10 to 45 minutes. These sessions provide a great opportunity to refine your drawing and observation skills.

Artwork credit: Drawing by Linda Lowery

Life Drawing - Long Poses
2019-03-20 18:30 - 21:30, 2019-04-10 18:30 - 21:30, 2019-04-24 18:30 - 21:30 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Artwork by Linda Lowery
Looking for a chance to hone your figure drawing skills? Del Ray Artisans offers a range of open life drawing sessions for just this purpose. Both nude and clothed models are featured. (Models will be nude unless otherwise noted.) These sessions operate on a drop-in basis so there is no need to register in advance. Bring your supplies and join us at the gallery to draw or paint from our live models. We don’t supply easels but you are welcome to bring your own if you want to use one. Please no acrylics or oils; pastels, watercolor and ink are permissible. All skill levels are welcome.
The fee for each three-hour session is $10 for DRA members and $12 for non-members. Two-hour sessions are $8 for members and $10 for non-members.
Long Pose Sessions
If you want to spend an extended amount of time on a pose, come to our long pose sessions. These sessions are generally composed of two long poses with perhaps a few warm-ups at the start.
View Upcoming Sessions

Creative Revival - 12 Weeks to Nurture & Unblock Your Creativity via The Artist's Way
2019-03-23 10:00 - 12:00, 2019-03-30 10:00 - 12:00, 2019-04-06 10:00 - 12:00, 2019-04-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Registration is now closed. You have registered by January 19 to attend this series of workshops. Contact Sharon J. Burton at sjbcreativeventures@gmail.com with questions.
Workshop: Creative Revival – 12 Weeks to Nurture & Unblock Your Creativity via The Artist’s Way
Date/Time: Saturdays from 10 AM to noon, starting January 26 through April 13 (12 weeks total)
Instructor: Sharon Burton
Class size: 5-12 participants
(Register by January 19)
Do you actually believe you are a talented and creative individual capable of creating wonderful things? Do you have creative goals but have difficulty getting started with making things happen? Do you need support to make your creative dreams a reality? Are you already a practicing creative who needs inspiration and encouragement to keep producing?
You are cordially invited to join the Creative Revival Artist’s Way Circle, a facilitated group by artist and curator Sharon Burton that will meet once a week for 12 weeks as we go through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Together, we will share our journey into finding your creative “Muse” whether it expresses itself through art or just finding a new creative career. The program is focused on supporting relationships in removing artistic blocks and fostering confidence. The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path To Higher Creativity is a self-help book by author Julia Cameron. The book was originally produced to assist individuals with artistic creative recovery, by teaches techniques and exercises to assist in gaining self-confidence in harnessing creative talents and skills.
Each week we will meet to discuss each chapter of the book, our daily journaling practice (via “The Morning Pages”), weekly Artist’s Dates that you select to inspire yourself and other insights that you wish to share on this special journey. Each participant will receive The Artist’s Way book and journal for the program, as well as access to a Facebook Group and a group of other artists and creatives moving through the journey with you.
NOTE: Materials fee pays for “The Artist’s Way Starter Kit”, including Cameron’s two most important Artist’s Way tools: “The Artist’s Way” and “The Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal”. Participants may also bring their own copy of the book and a journal and decline the materials fee.

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.

Partners in Art Evening (March 2019)
2019-03-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
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. We use the positive and successful format developed in our afternoon sessions for our feedback procedure. Donations ($1–3) greatly appreciated.
Contact Michele Reday Cook (mredaycook@gmail.com) with questions.
View Upcoming Meetings

Historical Fiction Talk: Using highlights from Icelandic History, 1918-1944
2019-03-30 15:00 - 17:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Sigga of Reykjavikby Solveig Eggerz
Author Solveig Eggerz presents the process of making characters central to a story that is historic in nature—how historic events impact the characters’ lives, as well as how vibrant characters breathe life into a historic period. The instructor will use scenes from her novel Sigga of Reykjavik (2019) as examples.
Topics will include:

The interaction of parallel timelines—how the timelines of fictional characters intersect with “real world” timelines and how they enhance one another.
How the skills of fiction-writing (details, dialogue, scenes) enhance a non-fiction account.
How much history to place on a fictional character’s back before they buckle.

The program is free. Refreshments will be served.
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About the Author:
Solveig Eggerz, a native of Iceland, is a storyteller, writer, and teacher. Her award-winning novel, Seal Woman, based on historical events, is set in Iceland, Germany, and Poland. Solveig teaches creative writing to diverse populations, ranging from the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD, to blind students in Iceland, to incarcerated persons in Northern Virginia. She is a former reporter for the Alexandria Gazette-Packet. Her essays and stories have appeared in The Delmarva Review, Palo Alto Review, and The Northern Virginia Review.
In 2008 Solveig published her first novel, Seal Woman. Her second novel Sigga of Reykjavik was published in March 2019.

"(No) Comfort Zone" Artwork Drop Off
2019-03-31 18:00 - 20:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Time for artists to drop off their accepted artwork and (if applicable) marketplace entries for the upcoming exhibit, (No) Comfort Zone. Artwork drop off is on Sunday and Monday from 6-8pm.
Artwork must be ready to hang (with screw eyes and wire) or ready for display (with mounting and/or a display stand if necessary). Review the standard artwork presentation guidelines and the Call for Entry for show specific information.
Questions? Contact the curators.

"For The Artist" Artwork Pick Up
2019-03-31 18:00 - 20:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Time for artists and buyers to pick up their artwork from the closing show, For The Artist.
Questions? Contact the curators Jeff Lodge (JeffreyLodge@yahoo.com) and Jenny Nicholson (8JLNicholson@gmail.com).

First Thursday (April 2019)
2019-04-04 18:00 - 21:00 | VA
Del Ray Artisans celebrates First Thursday, a Del Ray community event from 6-9pm along Mount Vernon Avenue from April through September. Each month has a different theme.
The 2019 themes are:

April 4 – Hats Along The Avenue
May 2 – Dog Days in Del Ray (Postponed to May 9 due to the weather.)
June 6 – Unmask Your Superhero!
July 11 – Red, White, and Blue (Postponed to July 18 due to the weather. Del Ray Artisans gallery will be open until 9pm on July 11, but the gallery will not be open on July 18.)

August 1 – Aloha Thursday

September 5 – Show Us Your Spirit! Come to the gallery for a sneak peek of the upcoming exhibit and for a FREE Brazilian Zouk Dance Class from 7-8:30pm! Please register in advance to help the instructors plan.

(No) Comfort Zone (4/5-4/28)
2019-04-05 - 2019-04-28 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
(No) Comfort Zone Art Exhibit
April 5-28, 2019
Opening Reception: Friday, April 5 from 7-9pm
“Scribble Scrabble” by Kelli Sincock
The (No) Comfort Zone exhibit reflects people, places and things that are in and out of the artists’ comfort zone. Join us at the opening reception on Friday, April 5 from 7-9pm to meet the curators, Del Ray Artisans members, and local area high school students who have work in the exhibit.
The artwork created from within the comfort zone feels comforting, at ease, and reassuring. The experience was free from anxiety, stress, uncertainty, scarcity and vulnerability. The artist was nourished and felt loved, and the feelings shine through.
The artwork created outside the comfort zone can feel dangerous, but also fun and exciting! Savoring the new, the unknown, the unfamiliar and the uncertain, these artists went to the edge and entered a new zone.
The exhibit runs April 5-28, 2019 at Del Ray Artisans gallery in the Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22301. Gallery hours are: Thursdays 12-6pm, First Thursdays (April-September) 12-9pm, Fridays 12-9pm, Saturdays 12-9pm, and Sundays 12-6pm. The gallery is free, open to the public, and accessible.
For more information, please contact the curators Joe Franklin (franklinjoet@gmail.com) and Kelli Sincock (MsKelliArt@gmail.com) or Director of Curating Brittany Gabel (Curating@DelRayArtisans.org).

"(No) Comfort Zone" Opening Reception
2019-04-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States

Life Drawing - Gesture
2019-04-07 09:30 - 11:30 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Looking for a chance to hone your figure drawing skills? Del Ray Artisans offers a range of open life drawing sessions for just this purpose. Both nude and clothed models are featured. (Models will be nude unless otherwise noted.) These sessions operate on a drop-in basis so there is no need to register in advance. Bring your supplies and join us at the gallery to draw or paint from our live models. We don’t supply easels but you are welcome to bring your own if you want to use one. Please no acrylics or oils; pastels, watercolor and ink are permissible. All skill levels are welcome.
The fee for each three-hour session is $10 for DRA members and $12 for non-members. Two-hour sessions are $8 for members and $10 for non-members.
Gesture Sessions
Come to the gesture sessions to loosen up and participate in a fun, fast-paced drawing experience. These two-hour sessions are composed primarily of dynamic 1 to 5-minute poses. Occasionally different drawing exercises are employed to keep things interesting.

Artwork credit: Gesture drawing by Katherine Rand

Partners in Art (April 2019)
2019-04-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
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. Donations ($1-3) greatly appreciated. Meetings held at the Del Ray Artisans gallery. Members and non-members invited.
Contact Katherine Rand (katherine@katherinerand.com) or Suzanne Tillman (zannet@verizon.net) with questions.
View Upcoming Meetings

An ART-rageous Celebration!
2019-04-08 17:30 - 19:30, 2019-04-09 17:30 - 19:30 | Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, Oxford Ave and Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Due to the rain on Monday, this event is being held on Tuesday, April 9 from 5:30-7:30pm!
Join Del Ray Artisans and QuinTango for an exciting whirlwind of color, splashes of sound and wildly wonderful movement! We will be showcasing our musicians, tango dancers and artists, as they collaborate on this uniquely interactive art performance.
Event address:
Pat Miller Neighborhood Square
Oxford Ave and Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria VA 22301
Event date & time: Monday, April 8, 5:30-7:30pm
Rain Date on Tuesday, April 9, 5:30-7:30pm
Donate now through April 10 via the Spring2ACTion pages:
https://www.spring2action.org/organizations/del-ray-artisans
https://www.spring2action.org/organizations/quintango-inc
Meet the Artists
Thank you to the artists who are sharing their time and talent with us!
Dancers
Analia Centurion and Jeremias Fors
Analia Centurion is an internationally renowned Tango dancer and instructor. From the tender age of 6, her formation included piano and classical ballet. She began to dance Argentine Tango in 1995. Two years later she became stage tango champion in the most prestigious youth competitions in the province of Buenos Aires. Analia is the founder of Centurion Tango Academy in Buenos Aires, where she has taught and directed the school for more than four years. She leads teaching seminars and workshops and performs worldwide.
Jeremias Fors was trained musically by his father since he was seven years old and attended the music programs of New World School of the Arts and Florida International University on full scholarships as a Music Performance Mayor. This training and discipline then carried over into the tango: As a dancer, teacher and choreographer. He co-founded the company Tango Axis LLC. and created the shows “Eras del Tango” (2010) and “Amor Porteño” a.k.a Tango Suites (2016). He teaches and performs worldwide.
Musicians
Joan Singer, violin, is the founder and director of QuinTango. She has performed in concert in England, France, Mexico, Italy, Holland, Germany, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Sikkim, Uruguay and Argentina, as well as throughout the United States. Since founding QuinTango, she has become a record producer, tour director, grant administrator, arts panelist, Master Teaching Artist, and international lecturer on tango, realizing her dreams of combining music performance, travel, and writing.
Emmanuel Trifilio, bandoneon, is a part of Trifilio Tango Trio (TTT) which presents virtuosic performances of original tango music. Formed in 2015, TTT has since produced three albums of original music, a full length music video, and a short film soundtrack, nominated for best original score at Milan’s 2016 MOFF Film Festival. They regularly perform with members of the National Symphony Orchestra and in 2017 directed the first youth tango orchestra program of Washington, D.C. with DCYOP.
Painters
Suzan Ok started painting in early childhood and took classes in a neighborhood teacher’s studio until she was a teenager; she then turned her focus on science and other art forms. After years dedicated to biology research, violin playing, dancing, and creative writing, Suzan took a workshop on acrylic pouring at Del Ray Artisans and has been experimenting with fluid art ever since. She has led pour demos during Art on the Avenue and workshops at the private high school where she currently teaches. Suzan is also currently serving on Del Ray Artisans’ Board as the Director of Youth Programs.
Milagros Mateu creates in acrylics, watercolor and assemblages and exhibits at various venues. She supports other artists through Partners in Arts and other groups she has founded. Milagros is also currently serving on Del Ray Artisans’ Board as the Director of Volunteers.

"Sacred Feminine" Call for Entry Deadline
2019-04-08 23:50 - 23:59 | Online
All area artists must submit their entries via the online entry form by midnight on Monday, April 8, 2019 to be considered for the exhibit.

Board Meeting (April 2019)
2019-04-09 19:45 - 21:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Due to An ART-rageous Celebration event, the April 9th Board meeting will start at 7:45pm.
Active members are welcome to visit any Board meeting. If you wish to address the Board or bring something up to the Board during one of these meetings, contact Kathryn Brown at Secretary@DelRayArtisans.org in advance of the meeting to be included on the agenda.

Spring2ACTion 2019
2019-04-10 | Online
From Wednesday, March 27 through Wednesday, April 10, 2019 (Giving Day) our community comes together to support the amazing work of Alexandria nonprofits through Spring2ACTion, hosted by ACT for Alexandria. Please remember Del Ray Artisans is one of those worthy causes!
Donate March 27 – April 10
During Spring2ACTion 2019, please give your support to these three important, cherished outreach programs which help members of our community grow as individuals and as artists. Donations donated through the campaign links below will be used to directly support that specific program. Donations not designated in the campaigns will support Del Ray Artisans nonprofit directly.

Ms Kelli’s Inspiration Matterz brings art instruction to inmates in the Alexandria Detention Center and to women in transition from prison to a life in our community.
The Ted Eichers Memorial Art Scholarship helps support a T.C. Williams student study art in college.
Scholarships for our Youth Art Camp help youth ages 8-14 attend camp each July.

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Please make your tax-deductible donation between March 27 and April 10 — and spread the word to friends and family. Every donation is appreciated. Thank you for your support!
Donate March 27 – April 10
Also on Wednesday, April 10 from 2-5pm, Del Ray Artisans is offering a FREE, clothed, life drawing session. Bring your drawing supplies and come ready to sketch!

Life Drawing - Short/Long Poses (Clothed Model, FREE Session)
2019-04-10 14:00 - 17:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
This session only: The April 10th afternoon session is FREE in honor of Spring2ACTion 2019. Donations are welcomed and appreciated.
Looking for a chance to hone your figure drawing skills? Del Ray Artisans offers a range of open life drawing sessions for just this purpose. Both nude and clothed models are featured. (Models will be nude unless otherwise noted.) These sessions operate on a drop-in basis so there is no need to register in advance. Bring your supplies and join us at the gallery to draw or paint from our live models. We don’t supply easels but you are welcome to bring your own if you want to use one. Please no acrylics or oils; pastels, watercolor and ink are permissible. All skill levels are welcome.
Short/Long Pose Sessions
The three-hour short/long pose sessions start with some short 1 to 5-minute warm-up poses and progressively move into longer poses lasting 10 to 45 minutes. These sessions provide a great opportunity to refine your drawing and observation skills.
View Upcoming Sessions

Urban Sketchbooking (April 2019)
2019-04-14 15:00 - 17:00 | VA
Meets second Sundays from November-June
Urban Sketchbooking emphasizes storytelling that conveys a sense of place or a moment in time through drawings completed from direct observations. This Del Ray meeting 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 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. The fee for each 2-hour session is $8 for members and $10 for non-members.
The April 14th meetup will be at Nectar Del Ray (106 Hume Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301).

"Sacred Feminine" Call for Entry Deadline Extended
2019-04-14 23:50 - 23:59 | Online
All area artists must submit their entries via the online entry form by midnight on Sunday, April 14, 2019 to be considered for the exhibit.

Spring Art Market Application Deadline
2019-04-14 23:50 - 23:59 | Online
Artists must submit their applications via the online form by 11:59pm on Sunday, April 14, 2019 to be considered for the market.

Partners in Art Evening (April 2019)
2019-04-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States

Del Ray Artisans’ Spirit Night at McDonald’s
2019-04-25 16:00 - 19:00 | McDonald’s, 1000 N Henry Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Support Del Ray Artisans by attending Spirit Night at McDonald’s (1000 N Henry Street, Alexandria VA 22314) from 4-7pm!
MCD Mateos, McDonald’s is generously donating a percentage of sales between 4-7pm to our nonprofit. During this event, you’ll also have the opportunity to see and purchase artwork from Del Ray Artisans at McDonald’s.
For event questions or to volunteer, email Joe Franklin at Fundraising@DelRayArtisans.org and Mila Mateu at milaenartes@gmail.com.
McDonald’s, 1000 N Henry Street, Alexandria VA 22314
2019 Spirit Nights are from 4-7pm on:

Thursday, April 25
Thursday, May 16
Thursday, June 20
Wednesday, October 16
Wednesday, November 20
