Talib Aleem, of Reston, has taken photographs from all over the world, from different vantage points, too, including the inside of life-threatening waves. Photo by Ken Moore.
Talib Aleem of Reston brings his camera into waves big enough for him to get in. “If you want your images to be more, ‘Wow,’ you have to go where you can get more ‘Wow’ pictures,” said Aleem.
Last year, Aleem took more than 30,000 photos. He travels to as many as 11 different countries each year, “no less than three,” he said.
In December, he’ll travel to Antarctica; in July he’s scheduled to go to Turks and Caicos.
“I’ve met so many wonderful people all over the world,” he said. “From Buenos Aires, to Hawaii, to Osaka, to Munich, all over, New York, Manhattan, Long Island, even people from New Jersey and Reston.”
Aleem, who has a Ph.D. in computer science, was one of 200 artists who showcased their work at the 2016 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival at Reston Town Center on May 21 and May 22.
Although more than 40,000 people attended last year’s event, rain both days of this year’s festival dampened the tally for this year’s Silver Anniversary event.
“Open for business. People may buy or may not buy regardless of the weather,” said Aleem.
THE FESTIVAL SPANNED 11 Reston blocks.
Artists came from California, Florida, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Canada and points in between.
Aleem was one of four Reston artists to show his talent.
After 25 years, Connie Slack, showed her work at the Reston annual event for what is perhaps the last time.
“This is the only outdoor festival that I do,” said Slack, who is moving to Colorado in the next few weeks.
The event helps pay for GRACE’s annual budget. GRACE (Greater Reston Arts Center) provides year round programs including exhibitions, education programs for youth and adults including summer camp sessions, and special events.
“The first show — I’ve probably told this story 1,000 times — we went out and begged artists to come and show just for one day,” said Slack. “We didn’t have any tents, we just came out and hung our pieces on whatever we could find, panels or cloths lines or whatever.
“From there it just exploded. It was very successful, people loved it,” she said.
Grace Art program, formerly known as Art in the Schools, reaches 20,000 students in more than 40 schools each year and supports and supplements local children’s art experiences in schools.
38 ARTISTS were showing their work at the Reston event for the first time. Ten artists came back after receiving Award of Excellence at last year’s festival.
Artists from across the nation exhibited and sold original paintings, photography, mixed-media, sculpture, jewelry, furniture and fine craft.
“There are a few people that are missing out because of the rain, but I think we’re maxed out at 200. I think that’s a big enough show,” said Slack. “It doesn’t need to be any bigger. The quality of the work is fantastic, I love the artists here,” she said.
Ann Barbieri tried to talk about her appreciation having the festival in Reston’s backyard, but every moment she began a sentence another person she knew greeted her.
“I love seeing the people I have known over the years in Reston,” said Barbieri. “I say I get a lot of psychic income from people coming by and loving my work.”