December 15, 2018–February 9, 2019
The Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) presents the Mary B. Howard Invitational: STRETCH, a group exhibition featuring new work by James Huckenpahler, Monroe Isenberg, Katie Kehoe, Melanie Kehoss, and Harry Mayer, on view at the gallery located at the Reston Town Center.
This year, GRACE updated the concept of the biannual Mary B. Howard Artist Member Exhibition–named in honor of our former Board Member and Reston artist Mary Howard in recognition of her bequest to GRACE to support local artists–with STRETCH. Out of over fifty proposals five local artists were selected by Guest Curator Don Russell, university curator and director of the Provisions Research Center for Art & Social Change at George Mason University and GRACE Associate Curator and Festival Director Erica Harrison to create new work based on their proposals responding to the prompt, “If you could do anything, what would that be?”
James Huckenpahler: open letter, 2018; Digital print on Dibond; 45 x 60 inches; Courtesy of the artist
“Winnowing down over fifty proposals to select just five for exhibition was challenging, to say the least. Working together with Don, we are pleased to present an exhibition that explores themes of endurance, humor, and intellectual curiosity with work by artists at all stages in their careers from pursuing a BFA to having committed gallery representation,” says Erica Harrison. “Artists James Huckenpahler, Monroe Isenberg, Katie Kehoe, Melanie Kehoss, and Harry Mayer have all participated in laborious processes devised through their own motivation to stretch the boundaries of their practices.”
STRETCH is on view December 15, 2018–February 9, 2019 and will be accompanied by a range of related programming.
EVENTS AND PROGRAMS:
Opening Reception: December 15, 5–7pm
Creative Response: Abby Wendle, Producer of NPR’s Invisibilia, January 17, 7pm
In Their Own Words Artist Panel: January 26, 3pm
In Their Own Words Curator’s Talk: February 9, 3pm
All programs are free and open to the public.
Gallery hours: Tues–Sat, 11am–5pm
For more information please visit restonarts.org
Pictured at top: Monroe Isenberg; Stone, 2018; Stone, light, and wood; 60 x 40 x 40 inches; Courtesy of the artist
The Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) serves 80,000 people annually, providing Virginia, Maryland, and DC’s diverse communities with abundant opportunities to experience and explore contemporary art through exhibitions, education programming, and the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. Greater Reston Arts Center strives to increase understanding of different cultures through art, brings diverse audiences together around a common interest, and ensures access and opportunity for engagement in the arts to all residents, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or income. Admission to the GRACE gallery is always FREE, as are most programs.
The Greater Reston Arts Center gratefully acknowledges the leadership of its Board of Directors and the support of its sponsors, members, and patrons. GRACE programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Arts Council of Fairfax County, and the Reston Community Center.
