WHAT: Minds Wide Open Regional Launch Event
The Torpedo Factory Art Center hosts the Regional Launch Event for Minds Wide Open, a statewide celebration honoring women in arts and culture.
WHEN: Thursday, March 11, 6 to 9pm
WHERE: Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. Alexandria, VA 22314
INFO: 703-838-4565, www.torpedofactory.org
ADMISSION: Free
The Torpedo Factory Art Center invites visitors to celebrate the launch of Minds Wide Open, a statewide celebration honoring contributions by women to arts and culture. The Torpedo Factory will host the regional launch event for Northern Virginia, and the evening will feature special speakers, receptions for exhibitions featuring women artists, and modern dance performances. This event will take place during the Torpedo Factory’s Second Thursday Art Night. Studios and galleries will be open until 9pm and visitors are invited to mingle with artists as they enjoy refreshments.
Guest Speakers
At 6:30pm, Marian Van Landingham, Torpedo Factory founder and resident artist, will welcome visitors and provide opening remarks. A special Minds Wide Open speaker will discuss this first statewide celebration of women in the arts.
Target Gallery Reception
From 6-8pm, Target Gallery hosts the reception for Past Forward, an exhibition featuring artwork from four former Torpedo Factory resident artists, Barbara Rachko, Kathleen Dustin, Anne Laddon, and Joyce Zipperer. The artists will be on hand at the reception to briefly discuss their work.
The Art League Gallery Reception
From 6:30-8pm, The Art League Gallery hosts the reception for Herstory, an exhibition honoring and exploring personal experiences of women throughout history. The Art League Gallery also hosts Rosemary Covey’s solo show exploring voyeurism and obsession, Peep and Strip Show.
Modern Dance Performances
The Art League Gallery’s reception will include modern dance performances throughout the evening inspired by Rosemary Covey’s work.
MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts will include thousands of special events and programs offered between March and June of 2010. Events include plays, choreography, compositions, and exhibitions of paintings, photography or films that have been created by women or feature women as the primary focus. This celebration is an unprecedented collaboration of hundreds of participating artists and cultural organizations and is a demonstration of the breadth and diversity of arts and culture across the Commonwealth. It is the first of what the cultural community hopes will be an ongoing series of statewide collaborations shedding light on topics of interest to the people of Virginia.
For more information about this event and other Minds Wide Open events happening at the Torpedo Factory, visit www.torpedofactory.org/mindswideopen.