Where: 2411 N. 24th Street, Arlington
When: March 25 to April 1
Presented by Arlington Artists Alliance
<bt>The Arlington Artists Alliance will present a week full of Art at Fort C.F. Smith. In conjunction with an on-going art show and sale in the historic Hendry House, there will be free entertainment, demos, and workshops. Check www.arlingtonartistsalliance.org for an updated schedule. For more information about the ArtFest contact Marie Baumann at snibbortoo@comcast.net or 703-276-1462.
To register for events, email your name and phone number to: sparkerart@yahoo.com
<cl>FRIDAY, MARCH 25
<lst>OPENING RECEPTION, 6 to 8 p.m. Meet the artists and enjoy some refreshments.
<cl>SATURDAY, MARCH 26
<lst>ART SHOW OPEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
DEMO: Making Marbled Paper, noon to 2 p.m. Ages: Adult or child accompanied by an adult. Using a technique reminiscent of Italian masters, artist Liz Macklin demonstrates how to create swirls and patterns of color on paper. Water-based inks and "kitchen chemistry" update the process. Maximum: 10. Free, Registration required, sparkerart@yahoo.com.
WORKSHOP: Sketchbook Journaling in Nature, 1 to 3 p.m. Ages: all ages, children 7 and under accompanied by an adult. Jean Frank Stark leads gardeners and nature lovers as they take their journals on a walk, recording what they see. After gathering sketches and taking notes, participants will discuss how to merge sketches/writings into a work of art. Bring your sketchbook and writing implements or purchase them from the instructor. Min: 4, Max: 12. Free, registration required, sparkerart@yahoo.com.
<cl>SUNDAY, MARCH 27
<lst>ART SHOW OPEN: Noon to 5 p.m.
DEMO: Coil Pots, noon to 2 p.m. Ages: All. Observe Marcia Finnerty while she constructs a clay pot using previously made "machine extruded coils" in lieu of traditional "hand rolled coils". Coils are pressed together to make a pot. Coiling is one of the most basic forms of construction and Marcia will demonstrate this method, using "extruded" coils to form a vessel. Free.
IRISH BREAKFAST BAND: 2 to 3 p.m. This Alexandria-based, multi-generational family-based traditional Irish music and dancing group has been making music together for over 20 years.
<cl>TUESDAY, MARCH 28
<lst>ART SHOW OPEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
DEMO: The Art of Floral Design — "Less Can Be More", 10 a.m. to noon. Ages: Adult. Susan Foulke will show how to take one bunch of grocery store (or garden) flowers and make an eye-catching arrangement with pizzazz and impact. Learn how to make a big statement with only a few flowers. Maximum: 20. FREE, Registration required, sparkerart@yahoo.com.
ARTIST TALK: Pictures of Nothing: Exploring Monochromatic Art. 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Ages: Adult. What is monochromatic art? Who were the 20th-century artists that painted using only one color? How did this impact the development of abstraction and minimalism, as well as the definition of what we define as 'art' ? If a picture makes use of only one color, what is there to look at? Rusty Lynn says, "Come and see." Min: 4 Max:10. Free, Registration required, sparkerart@yahoo.com.
DEMO: Alla Prima in Oils. 2 p.m. Ages: 10 to Adult. Working outdoors in this "all at once" demo, Jackie Afram will finish a painting in one session, starting with canvas painted a neutral color. With mineral spirits and translucent paint she will paint her outline design, remove highlights with paper towel, then using straight paint block these highlights back in. Next she will apply other colors and finally paint the background. FREE.
<cl>WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29
<lst>ART SHOW OPEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
OPEN AIR POETRY, 10 a.m. to noon. Age: All, children under 10 accompanied by and adult. Bring your personal poems to share. Artist and Poet Meg MacKenzie will be sharing hers. Free.
DEMO: Preparing a Textured Painting Surface, 1 to 2 p.m. Ages: Adult. Watch as artist Linda Maldonado creates texture on both paper and canvas with acrylic mediums and pastes, rice paper, and tissue paper. The demo will show what the prepared surfaces look like when dry, as well as how the textures react when paint is applied. Linda will have several finished paintings to show finished results. Min: 3, Max: 10. FREE, Registration required, email: sparkerart@yahoo.com.
ARTIST TALK: A Highlight Tour - The National Gallery of Art, 2 to 3 p.m. Ages: 12-Adult. This PowerPoint presentation by artist and National Gallery docent, Nan Morrison focuses on a wide variety of works in the permanent collection at the National Gallery of Art including 13th c. religious icons, 15th c. Italian Renaissance portrait busts, and modern and contemporary art including the 20th c. drip paintings of Jackson Pollock and 21st c. monumental flagstone Roofs by Andy Goldsworthy. Min: 8, Max: 20. FREE, Registration required, email: sparkerart@yahoo.com.
FORT C.F. SMITH TREASURE HUNT – 2 to 4 p.m. Ages 5-12, accompanied by adult. Come explore Civil War Fort CF Smith on the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Learn about the role of Fort CF Smith during the Civil War by participating in a Treasure Hunt by visiting different parts of historic Fort CF Smith. Each participant will be given a "passport" to find clues, answer questions, and make drawings about the construction and use of the Fort during the Civil War and its connection to other forts in protecting Washington, D.C. Come out and enjoy a spring day outside at historic Fort CF Smith. Min: 2, Max: none. Free, Registration required, email: sparkerart@yahoo.com.
<cl>THURSDAY, MARCH 30
<lst>ART SHOW OPEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
PAINTOUT: Applying the Impressionist Spirit in Plein Air Painting, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ages: Adult. Explore Impressionist techniques as you paint views of Fort C.F. Smith and its environs. Start with an introduction to Impressionist principles and techniques by Tony Neville. The instructor will provide examples of techniques and guidance. Painters must provide their own materials. Min: 4, Max: 10. Free, Registration required, sparkerart@yahoo.com.
ARTIST TALK: Abstract Art: How and Why We do it, 1 to 3 p.m. Ages: Adult. Artist Bud Hensgen, who does both figurative and abstract painting, will provide a one-hour picture tour of western art showing how abstract art evolved from traditional figurative painting. During the second hour, participants will have the chance to express some abstract ideas of their own. Min: 5, Max 15. $2 materials fee payable to the artist onsite, Registration required, sparkerart@yahoo.com.
DEMO: Carving in Clay, 2 to 3 p.m. Ages: All. Working with a vessel already shaped on the wheel, Lieve Dewulf will demonstrate how she uses sharp tools to incise designs in the leather hard clay. This technique has been used for centuries in Chinese, Korean ceramics. Once fired and glazed these incisions will emerge in different shades. Free.
<cl>FRIDAY, APRIL 1
<lst>ART SHOW OPEN: 10 a.m. to noon
LAST CHANCE TO VISIT THE ART SHOW!