Celebrate PRIDE in all colors with this local celebration along the Potomac. ALX Pride was developed by Torpedo Factory Art Center in 2018 as a community-focused event to celebrate LGBTQ+-identifying creatives in the Alexandria area and beyond. Join us for a night of arts projects along the Waterfront and the Union Street entrances as well as throughout the building in a myriad of styles and celebrations. The Target Gallery Solo Exhibition artist provides a project for visitors as part of their 3-month exhibition through July. Art Projects by Torpedo Factory Art Center Studio Artists and up-and-coming artists from the area. Live DJ set by DJ Kalo.
Exhibitions
Target Gallery (Studio 2)
Target Gallery LE DRIP: The Uncontainable Sauce of Black Essence Opening
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.
Studio 9
Through These Eyes Opening Reception
Artist Talk: 8 pm
As an extension of Target Gallery the Torpedo Factory Art Center is hosting the pop-up video exhibition, Through These Eyes, in Studio 9 of the Art Center during the summer of 2022. This exhibition features a series of videos that focuses on perspectives of underrepresented identities, including BIPOC identity, LGBTQ+ identity, and physical or mental disabilities in the form of film shorts, documentaries, and animations.
Site 2
Alexandria Library’s Teen Winter Art Exhibition (Extended through June)
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!
ALX Pride Activities and Exhibitions
Safe Space NOVA
Safe Space NOVALearn more about supporting LGBTQ+ friends and family through the local efforts of Safe Space NoVA.
Safe Space NOVA is dedicated to providing a safe, accepting, and supportive environment to combat social stigmas, bullying, and other challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth.
“I AM ART” Project with Blu Murphy
“I AM ART” Project with Blu Murphy
In honor of PRIDE, an interactive art installation will be added to Blu Murphy’s exhibition LE DRIP: The Uncontainable Sauce of Black Essence Opening.
LGBTQIA+ community members are often placed in social situations where they feel the need to dim their light and hide who they are. This installation was designed by the artist to provide her visitors with an opportunity to celebrate their uniqueness, individuality and above all the colorful elements that make them a masterpiece.
Participants will be instructed to write on a small piece of paper with a graphic image of a picture frame and answer the writing prompt “Why are you a work of art?” The visitors will then boldly place/adhere it to the two large pillars directly in front of the Target Gallery.
Projects by Torpedo Factory Art Center Studio Artists
Saya Behnam
Natural Rainbow Project
North Hall – 1st Floor
Interactive project to create a rainbow by using natural, minerals and handmade colors. The artists will provide paints while visitors color strips of papers with different colors of the rainbow for a community masterpiece!
Jennifer Noda
Pronoun Pin Crafting Station
3rd Floor Smokestack outside Studio 307
Join the artist for a pronoun pin crafting station on the 3rd floor outside her studio 307 and offer a 10% discount on her artwork. One night only!
Tracie Griffith Tso
Rainbow Swirling Twirler
South Hall near Studio 22
Embrace pride by creating a hanging twirler! Handmade and painted, add personal flair to this colorful brightener making a shooting star, loving heart or anything you can imagine! Start with a paper plate, leave with a sassy, kaleidoscopic masterpiece. With Tracie Griffith Tso in Studios 22.
Rainbow Glass Project by Alexandria Archaeology Museum
3rd Floor Landing
Why do old glass bottles have a rainbow patina? Staff from Alexandria Archaeology will show how glass weathering and diffraction come together to create colorful bottles! Remember the night by making your own button to take home.
ALX Pride Artists Row
South Hall
Meet some of the up-and-coming artists in the community, and get inspired with works celebrating the DMV’s LGBTQ+ experience.
LIVE MUSIC: DJ KALO
7 – 10 P.M.
LIVE MUSIC: DJ KALOKarl-Eric Lerebours aka DJ Kalo was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. As a boy, he used to listen to the local DJs mixing on the radio, he was captivated by their abilities to mash 2-3 songs at the same time. Karl-Eric began his DJ dream mixing reggae, hip hop, reggaeton and rap for friends that used to come to his house. He has landed various shows in places such as Port-au-Prince, Washington D.C. & New York City. Aside from DJing at various DC clubs and parties, he also makes bootlegs and launched a monthly podcast on his Soundcloud account.
