This weekend the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival returns to Reston Town Center on Saturday and Sunday. This festival is a Modern Reston favorite, and one that you don’t want to miss.
The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival at Reston Town Center
This event is a nationally top-ranked fine art and craft festival that attracts over 30,000 visitors each year, and it is also the primary fundraiser for the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE). It will take place on May 16-17, 2015 on the streets of Reston Town Center, rain or shine. More than 200 artists from across the nation and Canada will present original paintings, photography, mixed-media, sculpture, jewelry and fine crafts. Also featured will be live music performances and hands-on art activities for children.
Necklace by Michael Stephens and Reston Town Center print by Joseph Craig English
Admission to the festival is a suggested donation of $5 per person. Profits support GRACE’s art exhibits and educational outreach programs.
I love this festival each year, and always end up buying a treasured art piece to add to my home. Even if you don’t intend to purchase anything, it’s worth a visit just to see the vast array of talent displayed over six city blocks. I guarantee there will be an artist who will catch your eye.
The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival
NORTHERN VIRGINIA FINE ARTS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Friday, May 15, 2015: Launch Party
6:00-8:30pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
Celebrate the opening night of the annual Fine Arts Festival at a private party with the festival artists. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and live entertainment. Creative cocktail attire. Tickets are $75 each. Call GRACE at 703-471-9242 to purchase tickets.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
10:00am-6:00pm: Reston Town Center
More than 200 artists will display their work. Hands-on activities for children will be available at the free Family Art Park in the Pavilion.
11:00am: Hyatt Park – performance by Ravel Dance Company
1:00pm: Town Square Park – performance by Gin Dance Company
2:00pm: Town Square Park – performance by Classical Ballet Theatre
4:00pm: Hyatt Park – performance by GroundWorks
Sunday, May 17, 2015
10:00am-6:00pm: Reston Town Center
More than 200 artists will display their work. Hands-on activities for children will be available at the free Family Art Park in the Pavilion.
11:00am: Town Square Park – performance by Gin Dance Company
12:30pm: Hyatt Park – performance by GroundWorks
2:00pm: Town Square Park – performance by Classical Ballet Theatre
3:30pm: Hyatt Park – performance by Ravel Dance Company
Woodcut by Kent Ambler and watercolor of Reston Town Center by Dana Scheurer
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Juried Art Show
The 200 finalists selected for this festival are chosen by experts, a panel of jurors. It’s not easy for artists to get into this show, which means you get to see the best and enjoy a high quality and huge range of art.
Family Art Park in the Pavilion
Kids and their families can make two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, free with the cost of festival admission. Create festival hats, foil drawings, sticky prints, and community dream flags. Toddlers will enjoy the Small Hands Creation Station. There will also be a collaborative community art project and face painting.
Live Dance Performances
Four dance companies have been commissioned by the Reston Community Center to to perform during the festival. They will dance at two of the prominent art installations at Reston Town Center:
- The Patrick Dougherty sculpture, “A Bird in the Hand,” in Town Square Park
- The Mary Anne Mears sculpture, “Reston Rondo,” in Hyatt Park
Free Shuttle from the Wiehle-Reston Metro
Reston Limousine is providing free shuttle services to the festival from Reston’s Silver Line Metro Stop.
Support for the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) and Independent Artists
GRACE is a local treasure here in the Reston community. Let’s go support GRACE and the featured artists whose creations are their livelihood.
Photograph by Andrew Sovjani and sculpture by Nnambdi Okonknwo
All images are provided courtesy of Reston Town Center and the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival.
Related stories:
Ten Fun Facts About Patrick Dougherty’s Monumental New Sculpture at Reston Town Center
From Taiwan to Reston in Pursuit of a Dream: Get to Know Shu-Chen Cuff of Gin Dance Company
BEAD: The Latest Exhibit at the Greater Reston Arts Center
“The HeART of Reston”: Artists Reveal Their Thoughts About Reston in Words and Images