Mary B. Howard Invitational: An Excellent Thought About a Quality Idea

On view now through February 6

Guest Curated by Zoë Charlton and Tim Doud of ‘sindikit and Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE)

Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) presents the Mary B. Howard Invitational: An Excellent Thought About a Quality Idea, a group exhibition featuring new work by Rahne Alexander, Matthew Mann, Omolara Williams McCallister, Zia Palmer, and Mojdeh Rezaeipour. The artists were selected by Guest Curators Zoë Charlton and Tim Doud, co-founders of | ‘sindikit |, and Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) Associate Curator Erica Harrison to revisit an older artwork and to redevelop the work into a new project. The exhibition’s online viewing room is currently available, and a video-walkthrough and public programs will be announced soon. 

In alignment with the ‘sindikit project’s commitment to supporting studio research and experimentation with an emphasis on gender, sexuality, and race, artists were invited to submit a proposal for the exhibition using the title, An Excellent Thought About a Quality Idea, as a prompt. Based on the prompt, the artists have investigated, explored, and developed concepts, receiving feedback from the curators along the way, to expand their genre and materials or explore their ideas in a completely new medium.

The ‘sindikit project is a creative, self-funded endeavor that emphasizes and extends collaborative practices as artists and educators. It is a platform that includes artist projects, creative community conversations between cultural activators, visual artists, and their co-conspirators. The ‘sindikit project was founded with an interest in discussing socio-political and cultural issues that affect art and artists.

The exhibition is named in memory of Mary B. Howard, an artist, long-time board member, and staunch supporter of GRACE. 

For more information please visit restonarts.org.

Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) is supported in part by ARTSFAIRFAX, Reston Community Center, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Pictured at top:
Mojdeh Rezaeipour
not yet titled, 2020
Mixed media and video installation
Variable dimensions
Photo credit: Greg Staley