There are a lot of things the Vienna Arts Society [VAS] does well: it offers art classes to adults and children; it sponsors and hosts a major art show each fall; it supports a local nonprofit every year with art pieces donated by its artists; it provides children’s activities at community events. Its claim to fame, however, is probably the new exhibitions by local artists it produces every month.
The newest showing, “Winners’ Wall,” open now, runs through Saturday, Feb. 1. Hung pieces include landscapes, portraits and still life.
“The Vienna Arts Society insists that all work on display in its venues is original work created by the hand of the artist,” said Dore’ Skidmore of the arts society. “I suppose this is one of our most important differences from other ‘art galleries’, which often mix giclees and other copies - which are often quite good - among the original artworks.”
VAS hosted a second-Sunday reception featuring award-winning artists on Jan. 12. VAS Artist of the Year Debi Elliott, first-place Treasury of Art Show winner Ursula Nogic and Treasurey of Art Honorable Mention Wei Lu were on-hand. Their works, as are the works of all VAS artists, are for sale.
“Hung’ pieces start at about $250 and go up from there, while bin pieces – unframed – begin at under $50.
This past fall, VAS introduced a gift emporium, a cornucopia of handcrafted art pieces, from dichroic glass jewelry (think Murano jewelry) to hand-painted real-silk scarves to beaded jewelry, hand-painted fabric art and paintings, and just about any other artwork you can think of.
When a visitor comes into the arts center, they will find “ … friendly artists and a vast collection of affordable artwork in a variety of forms, from award winning paintings to unique artistic gift items …” said Elliott.
To learn more about the art classes and workshops presented by the Vienna Arts Society, go to http://viennaartssociety.org. A schedule of events at the arts center on Pleasant Street, as well as events open to Northern Virginia artists throughout the region, is listed on the art society’s website.
The Vienna Arts Society Art Center is located at 115 Pleasant Street NW, Vienna. Phone 703-319-3971 for information or e-mail artcenter@viennaartssociety.org. The VAS Art Center is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
— Donna Manz