On The Plaza
May 5 through May 30
Artist Reception: Sunday, May 21, 2 – 4 pm
Artist Jennifer Duncan, a new member at Reston Art Gallery and Studios, is introduced with a featured exhibit of her colorful, abstract paintings, On the Plaza, May 5 through 30. The show features Duncan’s newest prismatic interpretations, inspired by Gonzalo Fonseca’s mid-century sculptures installed in and around historic Lake Anne Plaza. “Using Fonseca’s forms as a jumping off place allowed me to view the sculptures in a non-traditional manner – exploring line, shape and colors to transform his subject into my geometric abstractions,” states Duncan. “In a way, intertwining Fonseca’s imagination and my own.”
Everyone is invited to a reception for Duncan’s first solo exhibit at Reston Art Gallery and Studios on Sunday, May 21 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. On the Plaza can be viewed through May 30 on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. or by appointment by contacting the artist at jdduncan59@gmail.com.
About On the Plaza, from Jennifer Duncan
In 1965, Uruguayan artist Gonzalo Fonseca was engaged to create a number of public art sculptures around the original plaza at Lake Anne in Reston, Virginia. Poured from concrete, the sculptures are both industrial and whimsical. They were designed to encourage human interaction and incorporate various textural elements and alluring niches and peek holes.
The Lake Anne sculptures call out for intimate interactions. The closer you look, the more small, obscure carvings and niches you discover. The hand-drawn geometric lines and ladders and carved concrete niches and stairways form a universal language. Despite the cold, tan concrete, you experience the playfulness that must have been his intention when building forms for children.
My paintings explore these geometric play environments using muted colors and chromatic greys to signify the brick and concrete “brutalist” feel of the architectural configurations in the landscape. Using the universal symbols sculpted by Fonseca (including the sun, moon, a boat and stairways/ladders), I infused more bright prismatic color to signify the imagination of the children who are found joyfully playing in these spaces.
Learn more about Jennifer Duncan and see more of her work on Instagram: jenniferduncanart, Facebook: @jduncart, and at JenniferDuncanArt.com.
While viewingthe On the Plaza exhibit visitors can also enjoy works by six more artists at Reston Art Gallery and Studios, 11400 Washington Plaza West, Reston, VA 20190, located on the lakeside by the orange “ART” sign at historic Lake Anne Plaza. For GPS directions and parking, search “Lake Anne Plaza.” Follow @RAGSReston on Facebook, @RestonArtGallery on Instagram, and for more information visit RestonArtGallery.com.
Pictured at top: On the Plaza by Jennifer Duncan – May 2023 at RAGS
About Reston Art Gallery and Studios (RAGS)
This artists’ collective is an inspiring source of beauty and creativity with new shows each month featuring the latest works created by the seven artists of RAGS – Pat Macintyre, Jennifer Duncan, Sandra Dovberg, Rosemarie Forsythe, Julia Tova Malakoff, Marthe McGrath, and Wayne Schiffelbein. On weekdays the artists are preparing commissions, new works, and their next special exhibits, and those working on site can be viewed through the gallery’s expansive glass façade. The unique variety of works displayed at RAGS – paintings in watercolor, acrylic and oil, mixed media collage, mobiles, photography, original prints, art objects, artist-made jewelry, and more – are available for purchase. Furthering its nurture of art, RAGS offers free, themed Crafts for Kids every Saturday morning at the gallery, April through December, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. RAGS is open to the public every weekend afternoon from 12:00 until 5:00 p.m. and also by appointment. The orange “ART” sign at historic, scenic Lake Anne Plaza leads to the entrance of Reston Art Gallery and Studios, a Reston landmark established in 1987, located on the lakeside of 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.
