Resident artist Rachel Kerwin discusses her mural, Coloring Outside the Lines, with visitors on Thursday. Kara Coleman
Alexandria — On Thursday, June 12, the Torpedo Factory Art Center officially unveiled "Coloring Outside the Lines," the mural that resident artist Rachel Kerwin has been painting in the waterfront entrance. The mural took around 200 hours to complete, according to Kerwin, and is part of the Torpedo Factory's 40th anniversary celebration.
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille spoke at the event and said that the Torpedo Factory is the number one tourist attraction in the city of Alexandria.
"The Factory board has undergone a strategic planning process," said Euille. "They had a joint work session with the City Council a few weeks ago, and it was music to our ears. We look at it as an opportunity to not only attract more visitors and generate more revenue, but more importantly, the be a place for artists to display their talent."
The Torpedo Factory has brought in over a half million visitors and $16.2 million in visitor spending to the city of Alexandria, according to Torpedo Factory CEO Eric Wallner.
"Forty years ago, a group of dedicated artists had a vision to create a laboratory where artists thrive; a place dedicated to igniting the creative spirit in everyone who visits," Wallner said. "Like this mural, they dared to color outside the lines. We've grown and we've changed over 40 years, but our mission and our core values remain the same, and they always will."