Exhibit brings art to Annandale’s daily life

Next time you drop by George Mason Regional Library, or Beanetics Coffee Roasters, or a few other locations in Annandale, check out the art.

Art in Daily Spaces, now underway, is a temporary exhibit featuring works by 21 artists in places where people tend to congregate during their daily lives.

In addition to the library and coffee shop, artworks are displayed at the Mason Government Center, St. Albans Episcopal Church, John Calvin Presbyterian Church, and RAMP Optimal Performance and Wellness.

Art in Daily Spaces was organized by Community Art for Everyone (CAFE) with support from ArtsFairfax. The exhibit includes landscape paintings, abstract paintings, pop art, photography, fiber art, glass art, and more.

At the Art in Daily Spaces opening reception on April 5, some of the artists spoke about their art and what inspired them.

Tarik Gill, one of the artists whose works are on display in a meeting room at the library, said he hopes people who view his nature photography will “share the feeling of awe and sense of wonderment I felt looking at a sunset or lightning strike.”

Leslie Byrne, a former member of Congress (2002-04) and the Virginia General Assembly, also has paintings in the library.

Byrne had been painting on and off throughout her life, but got more into it during the pandemic. “Covid gave me time to develop an eye for art,” she said. She views painting as “a way to see the beauty in common things.”

Susan Trivers described her paintings in the library as “interpretative expressionism.” She calls painting “the ultimate magic trick, turning a spark in the mind into a tangible object for everyone to see.”

The library also has works by Rockets Alcoreza, Liza Uddin, Shailaja Khanal, and Quiet Storm Art.

The exhibit at St. Albans features fiber art by Jan Barrett and landscapes in watercolor and pastels by Mairi Thorne. “I always loved fabric,” said Barrett, who paints and dyes fabric to make landscapes and abstracts.

Phil Kemelor’s works – hand-colored black and white photos embellished with colored pencils or pastels – are on view at John Calvin Presbyterian Church. He was inspired by his collection of antique postcards. The result, he said, “is kind of realistic, kind of dreamy.”

Anne Meagher-Cook’s landscapes featuring local scenes painted outdoors at Green Spring Gardens and Riverbend Park are also at John Calvin, along with mosaics and fused glass creations by Shona D’Cruz.

David Goldstein’s paintings at the Mason District Government Center also include Annandale scenes, such as the Little White Church and the local farmers market.

“I’m inspired by nature, but I try to tweak nature to make it more beautiful,” said Goldstein, who serves on the Mason District Arts Advisory Committee.

“I want to put light and hope out into the world,” said Asia Anderson of her watercolors depicting the innocence and joy of childhood at the Mason Government Center. “I hope people feel nostalgia and peace when they look at my work.”

Photographs by Maureen Howell at the government center “celebrate the light, reflection, and texture found in nature.” Some of Howell’s works incorporate a crystal orb to produce a reflection and offer a contrasting texture.

Artworks at Beanetics include abstracts by Isa Merlos and Sheryl Rakestraw and whimsical birds by Beth Baldwin.

This is the second year for Art in Daily Space and has twice as many artists as the 2024 exhibit. All the artworks are available for purchase.

The Mason District Arts Advisory Committee is planning an art show at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space in Annandale this fall. Committee chair James Albright said the event will give local artists another opportunity to showcase their work.