Reception: Wednesday, September 1, 5-7pm
At an iconic Reston landmark, artists are hosting an event to support a global cause. A special show of more than fifty works by international artists will be presented by retired U.S. Ambassador Scott DeLisi and his organization, Engage Nepal, at Reston Art Gallery and Studios (RAGS). All are welcome to attend the two-day show, open Wednesday, September 1 and Thursday, September 2 from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., and invited to the reception on Wednesday, September 1 at 5:00 p.m. Proceeds from purchases of these distinctive paintings and photography, all donated by the artists, will go directly to the Covid Crisis Relief fund to create a pediatric intensive care unit at one of Engage Nepal’s partner hospitals. Monetary donations will also be gratefully received to assist Nepal, which is highly impacted by the pandemic.
“Nepal has been devastated, so we are doing all we can to help. This includes the sale of these wonderful paintings and photos donated by a variety of artists, including many from Uganda who truly wanted to help the people in Nepal in a time of need,” said DeLisi. “I met those artists when I served as Ambassador in Uganda and was so touched by their kindness and concern.” Engage Nepal works directly with the local citizens to deliver health services, to offer entrepreneurial training, to work with communities in protecting their environment, and to create new opportunities for the future. See below for additional information from Scott DeLisi, and learn more on Facebook @engagenepal and with a visit to EngageNepal.org.
“All artists are world artists, and we are honored to host this event and help raise awareness of this global concern,” said Pat Macintyre, artist and director of Reston Art Gallery and Studios. “We hope that our community of Reston and beyond will enjoy Engage Nepal’s art show and support the work of this important organization.”
This special event is a precursor to the month-long “Illuminations” show by Rosemarie Forsythe, who was instrumental in bringing Engage Nepal to RAGS. “I learned about Engage Nepal through a former Foreign Service colleague who is on the board of directors,” explains Forsythe. “I spent over a decade as a Foreign Service officer in the late 1980s to late 1990s. I like to think that this event is my way of showing appreciation for the time I enjoyed traveling, hiking and mountain climbing in Nepal.” Her mixed-media works, influenced by her global travels and her ongoing celebration of nature and the power of ideas, will be a featured display open on weekends from September 3 until October 3 at Reston Art Gallery and Studios. For more information about the artist, visit RosemarieForsythe.com.
The glass-front lakeside entrance of Reston Art Gallery and Studios is located at the “ART” sign, 11400 Washington Plaza West, Reston, VA 20190 at historic, scenic Lake Anne Plaza. For GPS directions and parking, search “Lake Anne Plaza.” Follow @RAGSReston on Facebook, @RestonArtGallery on Instagram, and get more information at RestonArtGallery.com.
Pictured at top:
Pinjada ra Panchi by Bidhata KC of Nepal – acrylic on canvas, 17.75” x 24”
About Engage Nepal – from Executive Director Scott DeLisi, former U.S. Ambassador
“We were founded in 2015 shortly before the devastating earthquakes that hit Nepal in April and May of that year. I joined the effort later that year. As a former Ambassador to Nepal and having just retired from a 35-year career in the Foreign Service, remaining engaged in the world mattered and Nepal needs all the assistance it can get. We have been dedicated to working in partnership with the people of Nepal to offer a future of hope. Part of that has come in the form of a committed engagement to working on disaster preparedness because we know that the next quake, or flood, or pandemic, waits just around the corner. But we know it’s not enough to build a strong school or a safe home if you can’t feed your family, if you don’t have access to care, or your children are not able to know the transformational power of education. We have dedicated ourselves as well to working hand-in-hand with communities to ensure that they have access to food, to offer livelihood training and opportunities, to address basic health needs and to keep kids in school. The challenges are all the greater because of the pandemic.” Find full information and donate to the organization at EngageNepal.org.
About Reston Art Gallery and Studios (RAGS)
This cooperative gallery of eight artists – Gail Axtell, Dorothy Donahey, Sandra Dovberg, Rosemarie Forsythe, Pat Macintyre, Julia Tova Malakoff, Marthe McGrath, and Wayne Schiffelbein – offers different perspectives, mediums, and techniques to intrigue and inspire the viewer. The artists work on site or at their home studios preparing commissions, new works, and special exhibits for shows every weekend afternoon at RAGS. Artist and gallery director Pat Macintyre continues her tradition of offering art enrichment for children with free, themed Crafts for Kids from 10am until noon every Saturday. The “ART” sign at historic, scenic Lake Anne Plaza leads to the glass-front entrance of Reston Art Gallery and Studios, a privately-owned Reston landmark established in 1987, located on the lakeside at 11400 Washington Plaza West, Reston, VA 20190. GPS: “Lake Anne Plaza” for directions to the parking area. Follow @RAGSReston on Facebook, @RestonArtGallery on Instagram, and get more information at RestonArtGallery.com.
