“Groovy Movies” Exhibit Opening Day

Groovy Movies: Artwork Inspired by Motion Pictures
Art Exhibit runs November 5 – 28, 2021

Photo Album

Lights! Camera! Art Action! The Film-Fun Groovy Movies: Artwork Inspired by Motion Pictures exhibit features artwork influenced by the movies—from American Film Institute (AFI) classics to cult films like “Abbott & Costello Meets Frankenstein”, “Barbarella” to “Yellow Submarine” and “Zorba the Greek”. This is a curated exhibit showcasing artwork by local artists interpreting the movies and presented in partnership with the Alexandria Film Festival.

Reserve tickets for a half-hour viewing on opening day: Friday, November 5 between 12-9pm. Opening day tickets are not required, but ticket holders have priority entry. The gallery capacity is limited to 15 people at any one time in order to facilitate social distancing.

Opening Day Tickets

Curator Karen Schmitz presents Rosebud Awards, the Alexandria Film Festival presents All Fest Passes (November 11-14) Awards, and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra presents tickets to their “Homegrown: American Stories in Music and Film” concert to select artists for outstanding and groovy artworks. The word “groovy” can mean excellent, exciting, fashionable, wonderful, cool, funky, hip and happening. Artworks are influenced by movie titles, actors, characters, catch phrases, costumes, locations and genres in any medium—ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, paintings, photography, sculpture and more. Represented film genres range from action and adventure, comedy, musical, rom-com to horror, science fiction, and beyond.

Register in advance for these special events:

• Fantasy & Adventure Soap-making workshop on Saturday, November 6 (10am-1pm) – Make your own unicorns, dinosaurs, spaceships, and more! Handcrafted shea butter soaps with premium fragrance oils.
• A Feat of Feet – Free Zoom Talk by Sean MacQuinor on Tuesday, November 16 at 7pm examines Quentin Tarantino’s characterizations in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
• That Shrieking Shrinking – Free Zoom Talk by Dr. Toni Tileva on Thursday, November 18 at 7pm explores the role of psychologists in The Films Suspiria and Midsommar.
• “Saturday Night Fever” Cardmaking Party Benefit on Saturday, November 20 (7-9pm) – A free social disco evening making art cards. “Cardie Host” Karen Schmitz shows art techniques, and all supplies are provided. Cards replenish the gallery card display or may be purchased. Registration required; registration fee is refunded upon attendance. 12-person event limit.
• The Many Faces of Hammer – Free Zoom Talk by Tom Birkhead on Tuesday, November 23 at 7pm covers a variety of work from the classic era of the British studio Hammer Film Productions.
• Euripides and the Rocky Horror Picture Show – Free Zoom Talk by Dr. Erica Hughes on Tuesday, November 30 at 7pm unpacks how the Rocky Horror Picture Show can be considered a modern reworking of an Ancient Greek tragedy.

The exhibit also features a special display of John W. Hiller’s artwork. Proceeds support the new John W. Hiller Photography and Film Scholarship for high school students for photography or film excellence. John W. Hiller (1935-2020) was a longtime Del Ray Artisans member, cinematographer, producer, and an Oscar and Emmy winner. Donations are appreciated to help fund this new scholarship.

Groovy Movies: Artwork Inspired by Motion Pictures runs November 5 – 28, 2021 at Del Ray Artisans gallery in the Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22301. The gallery is free, open to the public, and accessible. Del Ray Artisans is ALX Promise certified and committed to the health and safety of our visitors. Face masks must be worn by all while visiting the gallery.

Gallery hours are Thursdays 12-6pm, Fridays 12-9pm, Saturdays 12-6pm, and Sundays 12-6pm. The gallery is closed on Thanksgiving day (Thursday, November 25). Typically the gallery is closed the last Sunday of the month, but this exhibit is extended through and open on Sunday, November 28 from 12-6pm.

For more information, contact the curator Karen Schmitz (kschmitzart@gmail.com) or Director of Curating Kelly Postula (Curating@DelRayArtisans.org).