ECA News Briefs

WPA has announced the election of co-chairs to its board of directors. They are curator and academic Ashley Givens and television producer and director Jocelyn Sigue . As the WPA bylaws require a period of overlap between the current chair and the future chair(s), they will assume their responsibilities in January 2021. They succeed Jim Ritter, a finance attorney who has served as Board Chair since 2015. He has led the organization through a capital campaign, the hiring of an executive director, a relocation, and a strategic repositioning. He has been on the board since 2009.

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The Phillips Collection will reopen its doors to the public on Thursday, October 15, with new safety measures in place in accordance with health guidelines and in response to the covid-19 pandemic. As a thank you for continued support, early access will be offered to members and community partners from October 8-11.

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Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) presents The Buoyant Oracle, a playful interactive feature that provides the opportunity to chat with Buoyant Force, the 50-ft tall sculpture by artist Sue Wrbican located in Reston Town Square Park. The installation, created by the Playful City Lab at American University led by Benjamin Stokes, Hazel Arroyo, Chris Karr, and Mitchell Loewen, in collaboration with Sue Wrbican and GRACE, will feature an evolving cast of guest oracles and narratives over the next five years.

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Halcyon has received a $1.5 million grant award from the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the single largest award in the organization’s history.

According to Halycon, the three-year grant will allow for the expansion of its Opportunity Intensive program, which provides a year-long fellowship for social entrepreneurs in Washington DC, whose businesses are based in or serve designated Opportunity Zones located in economically challenged communities where the Federal Government has identified potential for growth.

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Inspired by the vibrancy and symbolism of flowers, Floral Sky by artist Michael Kalish is coming to the new plaza at Market Common Clarendon, 2801 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, Va 22201. The nationally-known artist was commissioned to create a multi-dimensional sculpture of larger-than-life native blooms sprouting up from the ground.

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The National Portrait Gallery will be open Wednesdays through Sundays 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m. beginning September 18 at Eighth and G streets NW.

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ArtsFairfax announces two new directors, Deirdre Johnson and Dr. Maurice “Mo” B. Springer, to its Board of Directors. 

 “ArtsFairfax is pleased to welcome Deirdre and Mo to our Board of Directors,” said ArtsFairfax President & CEO, Linda S. Sullivan. “Both Deirdre and Mo bring traits and experiences to ArtsFairfax that support our mission. They join a strong and thoughtful Board whose leadership is committed to assisting our arts community at this challenging time.” 

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Eva Hesse (1936–1970) produced an extraordinarily inventive, influential body of work in her short career. Pioneering the use of unusual materials—including textiles, latex, and fiberglass—and individual sculptural forms, she ushered in a new conceptual era of sculpture and installation art in the 1960s. (more…)

After viewing the performance piece, Identify, by artist Sheldon Scott at the National Portrait Gallery, light artist Craig Kraft was reminded that the gallery considers all media in its exhibitions and collection. He decided that a neon and painting portrait of president Donald Trump would be a grand subject for a collaborative piece. He asked his friend Luis Del Valle, esteemed portrait and muralist, if he wanted to work on the project together.

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