Celebrate the work of some of the region’s best up-and-coming talent during the opening for Target Gallery’s Emerging Artists exhibition. Meet the exhibition jurors and featured artists and hear them talk about their artwork. Mix and mingle with the Factory Society young-patrons group.
Friday, April 13
7 – 11 pm
Torpedo Factory Art Center
RSVP here
What is Art?
The question of “What is Art?” has been asked for ages. Find answers with us tonight during several activities and receptions:
7 – 9 pm: Opening Reception: 2018 Emerging Artists – Target Gallery (Studio 2)
Target Gallery, contemporary exhibition space of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, presents a new yearly exhibition featuring the work of four regional emerging artists. This exhibition spotlights new talent and the up-and-coming artistic innovators of the D.C. metropolitan area.
The selected artists for 2018 Emerging Artists are:
Katie Barrie
Ronald Jackson
Hollis McCracken
Holly Trout
The jury panel features: Ksenia Grishkova, Director of Touchstone Gallery; Blair Murphy, Independent Curator; and Jack Rasmussen, Director and Curator at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center.
7 – 9pm: Meet the Factory Society – Grand Hall
The Factory Society is an independent young-patrons group that supports the Torpedo Factory’s mission of igniting the creative spirit. Mingle with Factory Society members, hear about their upcoming events and projects, and find out how you can become a member.
Gallery Receptions, Open Studios, and Special Activities
7 – 9 pm: Meet the Artist: Alexis Gomez – Post Grad Studio (Studio 319)
Welcome the Spring 2018 Post-Grad artist, Alexis Gomez, as he begins his residency at the Torpedo Factory. space, he creates settings that induce an inner and outer body experience, reflective of the constant transition that our consciousness undergoes. During his residency, Gomez will continue to integrate the virtual and physical realms as he experiments with new-media including VR/3D animation in conjunction with figural sculpture. Originally from Fairfax, Virginia, Gomez received his bachelor’s of fine arts from the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at the George Washington University. Gomez is an interdisciplinary artist with a focus in figural sculpture, painting, and animation. He is a Sparkplug member at the District of Columbia Arts Center and Flatfile artist at Transformer Gallery. He is currently living and working in Virginia.
7 – 9 pm: Final Weeks: Shade Renee – New Project Studio (Studio 8)
Shade Renee is the local emerging artist selected by Jessica Kallista of Olly Olly, a new alternative artist-driven space located in Fairfax. Shadé Reneé, a graduate of Parsons School of Design, specializes in couture, fashion that is custom and made-to-measure. Her work is treated with opulence, love, and fierceness. She’s best known for hand-embroidery and bead work, dedicating more than 3,000 hours to this talent. Shade completes her two-month residency at the Torpedo Factory at the end of April. Stop by to meet the artist and take part in a hands-on workshop called “The Artist’s Way.”
7 – 10 pm: Artist Demonstrations
Join us for artist demonstrations with Factory artists all evening. Times and studio locations will be posted shortly.
7 – 10 pm: Scrap City with AIA (3rd Floor Landing)
Celebrate Architecture Week with our friends at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Northern Virginia Chapter. Join us on the third floor for a family-friendly activity where visitors can build their own miniature city out of scrap parts. Part of an entire week of Architecture-related programs from April 8 – 14 at AIA and participating locations.
Live Acrobatic Performances by Circus Siren Entertainment – Various Locations
Throughout the night, catch members of Circus Siren Entertainment as they engage in pop-up performances both on the waterfront and inside the Torpedo Factory. Whether it’s a stilt walker or a hula hoop artist, there will be plenty of fun to be had as you enjoy the night.
Hands-on Art Making with the Mobile Art Lab
Featuring 
a screen-printing project with artist Sardar Aziz.
Sardar Aziz is an impressionist painter who’s work includes figurative and cityscape subjects, mostly on large scale life size canvases. Join him in making a project dedicated to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of King’s death. www.facebook.com/Sardar.Artwork
Face and Body Painting with Rebecca Rose
Rebecca Rose is a fine artist, body painter and make-up artist. She has a distinct style and fondness for painting bright, bold images. In her teen years she explored stained glass art, and the raw elements of the medium still echo through her paintings today.
Music all Night by DJ Vico Vibez
DJ Vico Vibez is the local affiliate DJ with D.C.-based Words Beats and Life Inc., official DJ for muralist duo MASPAZ and CHELOVE, and DJ for the D.C. to Standing Rock Movement.
Artist Projects and Displays
Check out artworks and live demonstrations all night by local DC/Maryland/Virginia artists!
Rockeats Alcoreza
Alexia Costa
Marcelo Medrano
Ja’Mon Jackson
Sugar Shack Donuts and Coffee Pop-Up Space
Enjoy a variety of sweet donuts and delicious coffee at Sugar Shack’s Pop-Up Space during our Late Shift Art Night, as well as peak times on Saturdays and Sundays through the month of April at Torpedo Factory.
Wine and Beer Bar provided by the Factory Society
(artwork: Katie Barrie, Kink/Whim, Highload Acrylic on Canvas. 2017)
