May 2–August 27, 2019
Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) presents A Purposeful Manner Towards a Vague Destination, a solo exhibition featuring work by painter Douglas Moulden, on view May 2–August 27, 2019 at Greater Reston Arts Center at Signature, an innovative satellite gallery that presents a year-round schedule of exhibitions of local artists selected by GRACE’s curatorial staff. A Curator’s Talk will be held on August 8, 12pm–1pm.
Maryland based painter Douglas Moulden exhibits a series of large-scale acrylic on panel paintings developed from photographs and memory inspired by exploration of the woods near his Frederick, Maryland, home and the outskirts of the metropolitan DC area. Calling on his expertise as a sculptor he makes his plywood panels, often utilizing non-traditional shapes, and then applies his paint in a unique fashion. His approach to research could be referred to as coddiwomple (v.), an obscure English slang word that gained popularity with globetrotters, meaning to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination.
This is not the first time Greater Reston Arts Center has featured Moulden’s work. In the 2009 exhibition The Empty Landscape, curated by Joanne Bauer, Moulden presented a large body of paintings and sculptures, different from the ones seen here. Since then, he has lost the ability to use his signature technique of using a paint-filled syringe to draw, similar to pointillism, and build up the painting’s complex surface. This set-back has affected the way in which Moulden creates his work but his deep appreciation for nature and the joy found in making beautifully crafted objects is still his driving force. In this exhibition, GRACE presents three new works, Things Are Looking Up, Puzzle, and Globe Thistle, the first of this artist’s transition from one method to another to capture the abstract and mysterious beauty in our area landscapes.
Born in Washington, D.C., Moulden began making art at an early age under the tutelage of his mother, a nationally recognized quilter and primitive painter. He followed with studies at the Corcoran College of Art and graduated with a degree in sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the recipient of a Maryland State Arts Grant and has exhibited his work throughout the metropolitan area.
EVENTS AND PROGRAMS:
Lunchtime Curator’s Talk
August 8, 12pm–1pm
Greater Reston Arts Center at Signature is an innovative satellite gallery that presents a year-round schedule of exhibitions of local artists selected by GRACE’s curatorial staff. This partnership between Boston Properties, Bozzuto Management, and GRACE merges the vision of the Signature building, which is focused on creating distinctive and personal spaces for residents, and GRACE’s mission in engaging the community through excellence in contemporary visual art. Select local artists are given the opportunity to present a distinct body of work in the space off the grand lobby.
All exhibitions and opening receptions are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 11am–5pm, Tuesday–Saturday. The Signature at Reston Town Center is located at 11850 Freedom Drive, Reston, VA 20190.
Gallery hours: Tues–Sat, 11am–5pm
For more information please visit restonarts.org
Pictured at top: Douglas Moulden, Garden of Remorse (detail), 2015
