In this collection, Maya Gorrez illustrates the freedom of creating outside of the traditional artistic box. “Unbound” seeks to understand the inner machinations of an artist driven by the compulsions and fixations of ADHD rather than the safety of repetition and practice. In this way, Maya aims to evoke dialogue about artistic stasis and the idea of constant evolution.
Maya Gorrez shared: “In the span of my artistic career, I may never be known for a style or a technique. But when someone experiences my work, I want them to be drawn into that moment and that moment alone, knowing that it is fleeting.”
Maya Gorrez is a painter and photographer based in Fairfax, VA. Her art aims to highlight the value of life and the beauty that we can find in ordinary things. She uses bold embellishments and abstract representations of truth to encourage the audience to interact with her work actively. She said: “My goal is to create a space where there is no right or wrong interpretation of my paintings.” Maya uses different colors, textures, and movement to elicit unique and personal emotions from each viewer.
Kara Aledort is a photographer who loves capturing nature, architecture, and human expressions. She enjoys improvising with her art form and takes inspiration from life’s candid moments. Her portfolio features photos taken in Charleston, SC, where she used to live, and in Washington, DC, where she currently resides. Kara loves to take images on road trips as they present endless opportunities to capture unique photographs that tell a story. She believes images can fill many possibilities, emotions, and characters that reflect her optimistic outlook. She said: ” I use digital editing to control my process of telling a story within an unscripted frame. I enjoy experimenting with non-structure, balance, storyline, movement, and lighting within my photos, allowing my craft to evolve continuously.”
One of Ithiar’s series, “Evanescence of Memory,” explores how memories disappear over time. She explained: “Objects, people, and activities form the foundation of our memories. However, we will forget them when they are out of sight. As time passes, we remember things differently. Some memories may fade away entirely. Ithiar’s project is a preliminary exploration of this phenomenon. It raises questions such as where forgotten memories go and why we remember things differently if we remember them at all.”
Ithiar loves working with analog photos as they evoke emotions and ignite memories. Her photographs aim to document what inspires her and reflect her view of the world. She wants her art to be memorable and meaningful. For Ithiar, photography is a way of communicating and is the driving force in her life. Ithiar Bertholet del Barrio is a photographer who lives and works in Fairfax, Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in photography from George Mason University.
Karen captures the beauty of nature by cherishing special moments. She finds inspiration in peaceful moments during her sunrise walks along the beaches of Florida’s Treasure Coast. Her photos capture beautiful moments in time.
Karen, a retiree on Florida’s East Coast, enjoys creating lasting memories by taking photos of sun rises and nature. “We were standing there looking at the boat, and all of a sudden I saw that gorgeous reflection in the water, and just snapped a photo. That’s what started it all,” she shared.
Matt Makara is a versatile photographer who uses various techniques, including digital, film, and historic photographic processes, to capture the beauty of nature. He enjoys winter hiking and believes that black and white photography is the best way to showcase the coldness and overall feel of the season before the more colorful and warmer seasons begin. Matt shared: “Photographing in black and white allows me to simplify the image and highlight and enhance the more dramatic aspects of the scene.”
Matt often captures images of trees and water while hiking in national parks and the Swiss/German Alps. He loves experimenting with techniques like long exposure and intentional camera movement to enhance the dramatic aspects of the scene and expand his creative process.
James Jung is a multi-disciplinary creative based in Northern Virginia. He loves to mix a variety of artistic mediums including photography, fashion, dance, and software. As a photographer, he loves to spend hours exploring new areas and going on adventures. James mainly shoots street photography and portraits, but enjoys landscape photography as an escape into nature. Find more of his photography work at https://jung.camera.
“Over the past few years, I’ve found myself less focused on the technical aspect of photography. Instead, the act of taking photos has become a meditative experience of mental awareness. Appreciating the present. That’s why I do most of my photography in solitude. This series of photos is from the woods of Virginia where I grew up. A white forest that made me feel like I was walking through an abstract painting. Trees brushed with black ink, set against an empty canvas. Footsteps muffled in the fresh snow. A sudden spring shower turning a vibrant green forest into a gentle instrument. Rain falling onto streams, painting the water like oil on canvas. The sun still shining bright.
From my eyes to yours, I hope you enjoy these moments that brought me much peace.”
Kathleen is a local photographer who is always drawn to the outdoors. “Photography pulls me into the details of what I see outside–forces me to look critically at those details–particularly the light, the changing light. Then I look for movement, and sometimes I’m lucky.” Time outside with her camera keeps her active and in touch with the seasons (what’s in bloom), the length of days, the phases of the moon, Time out with her camera is needed and happy time alone for her.
“When creating pieces that are aesthetically self-sufficient and true to my visual language, my hope is to also challenge viewers to think beyond what is immediately perceptible.” Each of her artworks tell a story as Mari Calai approaches her craft with a life-long learning lens and open senses. While making cyanotypes, silver gelatin, platinum palladium prints, and collages, she uses different mediums, from vintage film cameras to digital cameras, handmade papers, canvases, wood, and gold leaf. The media and techniques often change based on her project, but her curiosity and passion to create remain the same. Mari welcome experimentation, especially in alternative photographic processes, since imperfection plays an integral part in her work. Her latest work embodies kintsugi, the Japanese art of putting pieces together using gold emphasizing the beauty of imperfection.
Mari Calai was born and raised in Romania, but she has lived in Italy, S. Korea, and now reside in Falls Church, VA. She have an inherent curiosity about life and cultures that she utilizes in her art, and mostly the unseen magic around us. Learn more about her work at www.maricalai.com
Michael is a photographer and graphic designer based in Alexandria, VA. Whether photographing in the neighborhood or while traveling, capturing what the eye and heart encounter creates moments of beauty. The simplest of things can hold a well of amazement. He is drawn to both the natural and the man made as well as how each one affects the other. Mike shared: “After growing up with a film camera, switching to digital photography released a reservoir of creativity I would not have known otherwise. I enjoy exploring elements I encounter in my travels. If something strikes me I work to capture that feeling through my photography, finding the best expression of that feeling in the moment. I love getting up close and personal with a subject.”
Painting Series
Painting Series
Painting Series
2D and 3D, Mixed-media
MosaicARTs Gallery is presenting “Dream Big—Work Small”, an annual exhibition featuring small artworks in various styles and media created by artist members. All original 2D and 3D work is limited to under one foot in all directions including frames, but there’s no limit on creativity.
Photography
Sara Allen lives and works in her home studio in PA. For the past three years, Sara has been using her camera to explore ways of showing the natural aging of her nude body with its creases, folds, and rough textures and discovering the strangeness and beauty of familiar but unexamined subject matter. Sara shares: “Focusing on parts of my body from different angles and cropping in unexpected ways has forced me and the viewer to look anew at the ordinary subject matter: the neck, the brow, the back, hands and feet, legs and rear end, dark arms next to pale abdomen. I hope the images encourage viewers to look anew at what is beautiful and fascinating about the human body.”
Solo Show—Onsite Gallery
Metal Sculptures and Monoprints
Group Show—Onsite Gallery
virtual Gallery
International Artist
Our artists have been participating in the Art Giving Program each month, offering exclusive discounts ranging from 30% to 50% on all artworks. Visit the exhibition to support the local artist and benefit from owning exceptional artwork.
Marsha Brown’s creative talent is nothing short of inspirational. Her ability to blend different techniques and materials to create unique and awe-inspiring pieces of art is truly remarkable. Marsha’s passion for self-expression shines through in each of her creations, which are inspired by the world around her. From the organic shapes she works with to her figurative and portraiture pieces, Marsha’s art tells a story that captivates the viewer.
Her dedication to her craft has earned her a reputation as an active member of many established artistic societies, including The Art League Society in Alexandria, Virginia, the Potomac Valley Watercolor Society, the Arlington Artist Society, and the Kiln Club of Washington, D.C. She is a committed working member of the Alexandria Clay Co-op and has received numerous accolades for her work, such as The Art League’s Bertha G. Harrison Memorial Award and the CCC Montgomery Potters Award. Marsha is truly an inspiration for aspiring artists everywhere.
Helix is an ongoing, site-specific installation based on a love of forts and line drawings. Forts are a universal childhood game, where children take known objects and use them to make a space they can call theirs. Line drawings are gesture and communication, they live on paper, in sculpture, in petroglyphs, in paintings. How can you take a known and expected place, and change things in it to see the space in a new way? Each time, the artist sets the rope pattern and then, invites participants to take up the provided fabric and tie it to the growing structure. At the end of the event, it comes down and fits in a suitcase. Ashe cuts off the knots — the evidence of participants and gesture — and re-uses the fabric and rope for a next installation. This is Helix’s fourteenth incarnation.
To participate in the installation, visit the gallery, and follow these instructions: Take up a piece of fabric. Use a simple knot and tie it to the rope structure.
Elizabeth Ashe is highly accomplished in her field of art, holding a Master of Fine Arts from the prestigious Maryland Institute College of Art and Chatham University. She has demonstrated a great deal of expertise in creating and directing art exhibitions for a variety of high-profile organizations, including TEDx Adams Morgan and Mavi Contemporary Art. Ashe’s vast body of work has been featured on her website and in several exhibitions, further cementing her reputation as a skilled and talented artist. Furthermore, she has a strong literary background, having been published in numerous magazines, art anthologies, and literary journals for her poetry and creative writing.
Ashe’s dedication and hard work have earned her numerous grants and awards for her artistic and curatorial accomplishments. She is an active member of various art organizations and has participated in several art residency programs, making her an exceptional addition to the art world. To view more of Ashe’s impressive work, please visit www.elizabethashe.com.
Andrea Salzman invites you to embark on a visual and intellectual journey of creative visions and imagination. Come with her and enjoy this captivating display of colors and artistic narrative that guides you into a world of wonders. Andrea shares, “Since my childhood, colors have always fascinated me. I discovered this colorful fluid art style called acrylic pouring. It encompasses an intensive knowledge of the density, viscosity, and transparency of the paints and pigments. The paints interact with each other to form amazing “cells” which can be further enhanced by silicone. The mesmerizing patterns, fantastic color combinations, and various pouring techniques create a breathtaking effect.”.
With this art style and a multitude of pouring techniques, Andrea has created a body of work including cosmic dreamscapes with layers of emotional depth, landscapes that prompt viewers to reflect upon their own identities and paths, and marvels of the sea that invite the viewer to dive into their own introspective realm.
Reema Ameer was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and lives and works in Washington, D.C. Her artistic practice focuses on freedom, equality, and women empowerment. Reema’s work is inspired by her personal experiences expressed through the woman’s body which is often shown as an object and subject with the perspective of self-portraiture and layers of history and color. She expresses her work through various media and materials such as acrylic, oil, silk flower, beads, and resin molds. Reema works primarily with canvas and wood panels to create dramatic, 3-D mixed media immersive pieces that tell the story of the struggle and redemption of women in all spheres of society.
Reema is a graduate of Baghdad College of Fine Arts and is a designer in real estate construction. Her paintings have been exhibited nationally and acquired by private collectors in the United States, England, and Jordan.
Explore our latest virtual gallery exhibitions through the link below.
See you at the virtual gallery!
https://mosaicarts.site/virtual-gallery/
Photography by Nancy Rubin
and
Photography by Samuel Fountain
The “Thousand of Moments in Your Life” series by Songmi Heart is a captivating collection of artwork that takes you on a journey through the ups and downs of daily life. It invites you to explore emotions and experiences that many of us can relate to. Each piece captures a specific moment in time, making it a great way to connect with yourself and others. Songmi Heart clearly worked very hard on each piece, using different colors and materials with great skill and creativity. They are amazing to look at and definitely deserve recognition.
Michele’s “Dream States” collection is a remarkable exploration of her internal realm of images, ideas, and sensations. Her paintings are based on sleeping dreams, daydreams, and imaginative states of consciousness. Each piece expresses a unique story through vivid colors and fluid composition. The artwork is a visual treat that captivates the audience’s imagination and transports them to the dream world.
Celebrate the power of youthful creativity with an extraordinary exhibition featuring the works of skilled young artists aged 6 to 20. Embrace the vision of tomorrow, as these artists explore the boundaries of traditional art forms through their unique expression, innovation, and dedication to their craft. Art lovers will be inspired by the creativity and imagination of the young artists while supporting the next generation of artists.
Alexa Lloyd, An Nguyen, Anna Lyngholm, Atlas Davies, Caroline Selby,
Catherine Gray Tomassian, Clark H Yap, Gautham Balraj, Han Nguyen, Hanlin Zhang,
Henry Blaine, Isabel Angulo, John Yohan Park, Kaitlynn Chan, Kelena Le,
Kiet Nguyen, Lesley Chang, Lisa Lloyd, Lynette Chang, Rebecca Lee,
Poppy Jane Gormley, Saanjana Akunuri, Tain Yu, Trinity So, Yalini Kathamutha.
NCOA Photography Award Contest
Celebrating the Strength and Wisdom of Women
1st Award: Kevin Rose Schultz, ID, In Her Garden
2nd Award: Leslie Cieplechowicz, MI, Flower Seller
Jury Choice Award: Nancy Rubin, CA, Julia Montrond 90 Years Old
Merit Awards:
Aimee McCrory, TX, Celestial Beings
Al Wasco, OH, Triumph
Cynthia Abatt, MA, Chris Rebuilds Puerto Rico
Lothar Troeller, NJ, Linda Blue Wall
Michael Paras, NJ, Commencement
Michael Paras, NJ, Farm Life
Honorable Mention Awards:
Arash Afshar, CA, Phoenix Syndrome
Colleen Hennessy, CO, Vicky at Van Gogh
Cynthia Abatt, MA, Commissioner Elow Reflects
David Cohen, FL, String Of My Heart
Lisa Link, MA, Josie at Her Easel
Marissa Stewart, OH, Daughter–Mother–Daughter
Mikhail Gubin, FL, Two Loving Hearts
Rory Hejtmanek, TX, Omi And Abbie
Sara Allen, PA, Self Before Self Portrait
Yin Li Ting, NY, With Friend
Date: Art Opening Reception on Saturday, June 24th, 2023.
Time: 4 pm — 6 pm
Live Music: Jim Gormley
Poetry Reading: Susan Stiles and Maureen Mills
Artist Talks: Onsite and Virtual
Location: mosaicARTs Onsite Gallery and Virtual Gallery
mosaicARTs gallery is pleased to present the new photography series Aging Well for All—Celebrating the Strength and Wisdom of Women to support NCOA’s mission. The National Council on Aging invited photographers and visual artists to share stories of older women who continue to embrace their lives and contribute to their families and communities as they age. Women live longer than men, but often face unique challenges related to health and financial security. NCOA is working to ensure all women have the resources they need to age well. This contest provide a platform for artistic expression to foster dialogue and drive innovation in the photographic arts toward the goal of aging well for all.
“True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows; the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows.” —Audrey Hepburn
The exhibition includes the top 19 awarded photos and hundreds of empower images of women. The exhibition presents many distinguished photographers who celebrate and highlight the beauty and strength of women growing old gracefully.
It’s time to vote for your favorite photo and decide which ones deserve to be the best in the 2023 People’s Choice
Sculptures
by Members from Washington Sculptors Group
Carol Morgan
Jonathan Ottke
Kirsty Little
Larry Currence
Ruth Lozner
Van Hong Nguyen
April Exhibition
Abstract Paintings
by Arlington Artist Alliance Members
Deborah Taylor
Ginnie Luster
Ingrid Matuszewski
Joseph Kieffer
Randa Fakes LoGerfo
Rex Pace
Sandi Parker
Suzanne Murphy
March Exhibition
Encaustic Portraits by
Linda Lowery
Ms Lowery’s larger-than-life portraits are close-up paintings of the face. She paints using hot, liquid wax directly on raw wood panels. While realistic, the portraits are painted in an expressionistic style and focus as much on color as facial characteristics. The surface of the encaustic has a polished sheen which highlights the translucency of the wax medium. Her hope is that the viewer will be able to identify with the people of different nationalities and ethnicities that she paints and connect with them on an intimate level.
Ms Lowery is a native of the Washington, DC area. She currently resides and has a studio in the city of Alexandria. She earned her B.F.A. from Ohio Wesleyan University and her M.F.A. from George Washington University. She shows extensively in the metropolitan area and is included in many private collections as well as the Museum of Encaustic Art in New Mexico.
February Exhibition
New Works from Arlington Artist
Alliance Members
Andrea Schellman
Bruce Williams
Elisabeth Hudgins
Jane Coonce
Marsha Brown
Renee Fisher
Steena Fullmer
Tom Mulczynski
Victor M. Deleon
Passive and Active
by The Sisters
From December 2022 to January 20th 2023
We express what people have been experiencing grief and profoundly changed our lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Passive and Active responding to healing during and after this traumatic event—people still remain connected to others in some way to keep us going.
“One thing you have to realize from now on is that it doesn’t matter if this is a dream or not. Survival depends on what you do, not what you think.” — Rebecca McKinsey
We each have our own special place, somewhere deep within us, that is all our own. It develops from the world where we are born — it’s images, smells, languages, sounds, and rhythms. This place is always within us.
Who am I? The essential question of identity that is at the heart of a life’s quest. To where do I belong? The question of belonging in place — The root. . . My root gives me firm ground to walk on; It is the place that I come from, and It shapes my character, my soul, and my wishes; It informs my destiny, my life purpose and my dream path. Understanding where I come from helps me get a better sense of direction, toward where I am going in the world. Through my growth I see a connection of my root with who I am now. Learn More!
Nostalgia
Echo Marks
Mix-media, painting and mono-print on mylar, wood, and natural rope, sizes: W6″ x H24″ x D4″
Nature Destiny
By Artist Lynh N
Using abstract languages through colors, lines, shapes, and textures to interpret the complexion of natural tragedy.
Mix-media, recycle materials on hand-make paper
Painting Series
Painting Series
Painting Series
2D and 3D, Mixed-media
MosaicARTs Gallery is presenting “Dream Big—Work Small”, an annual exhibition featuring small artworks in various styles and media created by artist members. All original 2D and 3D work is limited to under one foot in all directions including frames, but there’s no limit on creativity.
Photography
Sara Allen lives and works in her home studio in PA. For the past three years, Sara has been using her camera to explore ways of showing the natural aging of her nude body with its creases, folds, and rough textures and discovering the strangeness and beauty of familiar but unexamined subject matter. Sara shares: “Focusing on parts of my body from different angles and cropping in unexpected ways has forced me and the viewer to look anew at the ordinary subject matter: the neck, the brow, the back, hands and feet, legs and rear end, dark arms next to pale abdomen. I hope the images encourage viewers to look anew at what is beautiful and fascinating about the human body.”
