Second Fridays through October 

The Art Center’s signature evening series returns with eclectic art and activities. In among three floors of open artists’ studios, find gallery receptions, stimulating artist talks, pop-up performances, hands-on projects, lively music, and more.

Celebrate the growing tech, DIY and makerspace movement happening in Alexandria and beyond, with music, drinks, and demonstrations. Plus, welcome the Solo Exhibition artist in Target Gallery with a reception at 8 p.m. 

Hands-on art projects and visual-striking tech installations across the Grand Hall with NOVA Labs and Building Momentum. Reception for the Alexandria Library’s Teen Winter Creative Art Project in Site 2. Collaborative tech project in the New Project Studio with the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. Meet the new Spring Post Grad artist Julia O’Bryan in the Post Grad Studio. Welcome the new 2022 Solo Exhibition Artist Blu Murphy in the Target Gallery with a reception and talk at 8pm. Plus: Live DJ music all night long.

Pre-registration Requested 

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Exhibitions & Receptions  

Target Gallery (Studio 2)

LE DRIP: The Uncontainable Sauce of Black Essence Opening Reception
Artist Talk:  8 pm
Target Gallery’s 2022 solo exhibition recipient. The LE DRIP series is a group of mixed media portraits created by 2022 Solo artist Blu Murphy as a tribute to the black community and celebrates the essence, beauty, and magic of this resilient and often undervalued group of people.

Post-Grad Studio (Studio 319)

Welcome Julia O’Bryan
Julia O’Bryan (BFA 2019) is a graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX. Her work stems from her childhood growing up in southwest Missouri as well as from her struggle with an aggressive auto-immune disease. Her work is an accumulation of her experiences; from her childhood, from her struggle with an aggressive autoimmune disease, all of the things that have made her who she is. Based on the destroying and scarring found throughout her lungs and body from her struggle with her autoimmune disease, the coral is a reflection of the beauty that can be seen through decay. The wide range of color throughout the coral on her work is meant to reflect the passage of time through the “bleaching” effect it creates. Gold accents throughout the work is meant to draw attention to the beauty in the human body over time and the beauty through brokenness that can occur throughout life.

New Project Studio (Studio 9)

Mini Forklift Hydraulics with Alexandria Archaeology Museum
Harness the power of hydraulics! Help archaeologists from the Alexandria Archaeology Museum move three excavated historic ships to their new home in Ben Brenman Pond. Use hydraulics to build and operate a mini forklift to move tiny ships from the excavation site to their new preservation home in the pond.

Site 2

Alexandria Library’s Teen Winter Art Exhibition
Juried by two of Torpedo Factory Art Center’s very own resident artists, Saya Behnam and Jenny Nordstrom, come to the second floor Site 2 Gallery to enjoy the winner’s of Alexandria Library‘s annual competition for local Alexandria-based artists from local schools. Be the first to see the next generation of artists in our area! 
 

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Hands-On “Art & Technology” Activities
Grand Hall

 

NOVA Labs

Located in Fairfax, VA, just outside Washington, DC, Nova Labs is a membership-driven, all-volunteer makerspace, founded in 2011 with the purpose of empowering our community to Rediscover the Joy of Making Things!

Nova Labs is a community full of makers who never stop learning. We share what we know, and learn from one another. From STEM to safety classes, arts and beyond, our schedule is consistently full of ways for children and adults to challenge themselves and stretch their minds.

Building Momentum

Building Momentum is a problem-solving organization based in Alexandria, Virginia that pushes the boundaries of what people can learn and build.

Innovation and creativity are at the core of everything we do at Building Momentum. Services we provide include corporate training and events, military training, research & development, and small-business support. We reach people of all ages and from all walks of life, including children and teens, service members, entrepreneurs and more.

Through our services, we carry out our mission to teach the lessons of today using the tools of the future. While carrying out our work, we never forget who we are: passionate, kind, honest, flexible, helpful, respectful, problem solvers.

 

George Mason University’s Mason Innovation Exchange (The MIX)

The MIX is an initiative of Mason’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

We foster an interdisciplinary environment where Mason’s students, faculty, and staff have a chance to collide, collaborate, and create.

We support a community of trailblazers by providing access to centralized resources. We strive to foster a culture of innovation, creativity, risk-taking, and entrepreneurial thinking. Our team works to make the path easier for collaborations, ventures, and creative discoveries that allow the Mason community to make an impact in the world.

The Playful City Lab

The future of cities depends on participation and engagement. The Playful City Lab in Washington, DC, investigates the power of playful tactics to advance equity, strengthen the sense of place, and build strong communities. Our team is led by Dr. Benjamin Stokes and based at American University in Washington, DC. Our work takes place within the AU Game Center,

 often using the Humanities Truck, with research based at the Center for Media and Social Impact (CMSI) and the Metropolitan Policy Center (MCP), and in design collaboration with the Leimert Phone Company.

 

The Forensic Science Program at George Mason University

GMU’s Forensic Science Program provides strong theoretical and operational foundations and outstanding scholarship to undergraduate and graduate students seeking forensic science careers. These programs address the growing national and regional demand for trained forensic scientists and technicians. They combine a solid foundation in legal and technical crime scene investigation with scientific skills relevant to forensics, and are especially relevant for students involved in the high-technology law enforcement workplace in Northern Virginia. Join us in the Grand Hall for a demonstration with forensic artist at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and GMU’s College of Science professor Joe Mullins.

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Live DJ Music by DJ Jaybo

DJ Jaybo is a DMV native from Silver Spring with music embedded in his soul. Jaybo is not new to this, he grew up under the same roof with the neighborhood’s favorite DJ…his dad. It was his dad’s massive vinyl and CD collection that sparked his love & passion for music. He quickly became the “go to guy” for radio recording mixtapes in the 90’s, to CD downloads and mixes in the early 2000’s and later interning with local radio stations to help fulfill his love for the art of music.

With 10 years (and counting) of experience, Dj Jaybo is known to bring the party to wherever you are. Jaybo believes music is universal and brings people together from all walks of life. He loves playing music of all genres & enjoys the reaction of being able to take a crowd on a musical journey with 2 turntables. Ranging from kids parties and banquets to clubs and the cookout- you are sure to leave your event with good vibes and an ongoing question…”Who’s the DJ”?

All of his creative work can be found on Mixcloud, Twitch, Instagram and an event near you.