New Exhibits
Maria Simonsson's solo art exhibit "Form Over Function" will be featured in the Art League Gallery, 105 N. Union St., Old Town, from March 8-April 1. This exhibit explores the bounds of shape, form and functionality. Visit www.theartleague.org or 703-683-1780.
See "Duets" featuring sculptures by Gwen Lockhart of Alexandria and oil paintings by Susan Norman at The Loft Gallery, 313 Mill St., Occoquan, Va. The exhibit runs through April 1.
Elizabeth Stone Gallery is holding an art exhibit by Katherine Janus Kahn, illustrator of Sammy Spider series from March 25-April 7 at the gallery, 1127 King St., Suite 201, Alexandria. Visit www.elizabethstonegallery.com.
See "Locomotion: View From my Train Window" through April 2 at Multiple Exposures Gallery, in the Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria.
Closing: Last Chance
2007 Communication Design Student Exhibition runs from through March 9 at Tyler Teaching Gallery, Tyler Bldg., Alexandria Campus, 3001 N. Beauregard St. Student exhibition. 703-845-6239.
Ongoing Exhibits
Art in City Hall, a bi-annual juried exhibition, Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and second Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.-noon through March 23, at Alexandria's City Hall, 301 King St.
Todd Sprow will be the featured exhibitionist at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria through March 17. Visit www.schlesingercenter.com for more.
The largest and longest-running open needlework competition in the United States is held through March 31 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Woodlawn Plantation, 9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria. Demonstrations throughout the month will highlight a variety of techniques. "Nelly's Needlers' Tea Room" offers lunch and desserts from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (cash and checks only). Group luncheon reservations for 10 or more are required 703-323-1781. Tickets for Nelly's Needlers' annual quilt raffle will also be available for purchase. Admission $9 for adults and $4.50 for students through 12th grade. All proceeds benefit Woodlawn. 703-780-4000, stacey_hawkins@nthp.org or www.woodlawn1805.org.
The Kiln Club's "61st Annual Juried Show" Is on display through April 1 at the Scope Gallery at the Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St. , Alexandria. Free. Visit www.torpedofactory.org or 703-548-6288.
It's nothing new for the Del Ray Artisans (DRA), 2704 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, to extend Southern hospitality. Through April 1, DRA will host an art exhibit entitled "Southern Surge: Hurricane Force Art from Hancock County, Mississippi." This exhibit will showcase the work of Hancock County's artists, many of whom lost their homes, studios, tools and entire bodies of work during Hurricane Katrina. In addition to fine art, Southern Surge will also feature "Mississippi Market," a collection of Hancock County's arts and crafts. Beginning Saturday, March 3, there will also be free screenings of a fascinating documentary film "The Art of The Storm." The film will be shown 4:30 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday (March 3-April 1). Visit www.TheDelRayArtisans.org.
Barbara Chiminello will be the featured exhibitionist at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria from March 19-April 28. Visit www.schlesingercenter.com for more.
See "Artistic Duo" by Stephen and Carolyn Gawarecki from through April 30 at Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria . Landscape and floral watercolors by Carolyn and photographs by Stephen. Visit www.greenspring.org.
The Alexandria Black History Museum has a new exhibit, "From Morning to Night: Domestic Service in the Gilded Age South." This traveling exhibit, examines the role of African Americans in domestic service in the South. "From Morning to Night: Domestic Service in the Gilded Age South," looks at the lives of the men and women who worked from morning to night, to make a better life for themselves and their families. The free exhibit will be on view from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays – Saturdays, through June 1. The museum is located at 902 Wythe St. in Alexandria. For more information, call the Museum at 703-838-4356.
The F.M. Kirby Foundation Gallery in the newly opened Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center at Mount Vernon is inaugurated by the traveling exhibition "A Son and His Adoptive Father: The Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington." The exhibition commemorates the upcoming 250th anniversary of Lafayette's birth and features more than 125 artifacts drawn from some 20 museums and private collections. The exhibition, showing at Mount Vernon through Aug. 5, is accompanied by an illustrated publication with a foreword by the French Ambassador to the United States. Admission fees, which include access to the entire estate, are $13 for adults; $12 for seniors; $6 for youth ages 6-11; and free for children ages five and younger.
Other Topics
The United Community Ministries Food Pantry is perilously low and we need your help. The Torpedo Factory Art Center is hosting an Emergency Cold Weather Food Drive through March 17. Bring items to the donation box inside the front doors of the art center, 105 N. Union St., and 100 percent of the food will be distributed at no cost to families in need. Items needed include: rice, beans, tomato sauce, pasta, canned meats, fruit and soup and other non-perishable foods. Gift certificates for local grocery stores are also welcome. Cash donations may be made directly to UCM. You may also bring donations to UCM at 7511Fordson Road, Alexandria.