Art Show By Arlington Career Center Students Opens In Crystal City

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington Career Center students are putting on an art exhibition at the Gallery Underground in Crystal City that will run through the end of June.

The exhibition, titled "Un | Natural," is sponsored by the nonprofit Arlington Artists Alliance. A variety of mediums are featured in the exhibition, including photography, digital art, painting, sculpture and mixed media on canvas.

The works of more than 50 Arlington Career Center high school students will be on exhibit through June 30 at Gallery Underground. The Arlington Career Center, part of the Arlington Public School system, serves as the technical education center for the county and lets students get a jumpstart on earning college credits.

Harper Shattuck, an Arlington Career Center student, entered a photo into the exhibition that she took on a trip to Ireland. "I really enjoy the UN | Natural theme. I've defined it as the natural reclaiming the unnatural and I find that it brings me so much peace to view things in a sense of being reclaimed and taken back," Shattuck said.

Arlington Career Center teacher Christina Ascani, along with Arlington Artists Alliance volunteers, mentored the students. Students received career and technical education development in all aspects of being a professional artist, from selecting the theme to framing, pricing art, curating and exhibition.

All proceeds from art commissions at the student show will be donated to the Arlington Career Center to purchase art supplies.

“This is a unique opportunity for the community to purchase a piece of art from a young artist and support future artists at the high school,” said Anna Radjou, Gallery Underground’s gallery director.

The exhibit’s opening reception will take place on Friday, June 2 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Gallery Underground, located at The Shops at 2100 Crystal Drive in Arlington.

The reception will include food from We The Pizza and drinks served by Arlington Artists Alliance volunteers. Guests will get to meet the students, along with volunteer mentors from the Arlington Artists Alliance.

The Arlington Artists Alliance works with local businesses, county offices, churches and educational institutions by exhibiting works of art in their spaces. Along with the "Un | Natural" exhibition, the main gallery at Gallery Underground features new works by gallery members in various media, including oil, acrylic, pastel, sculpture and ceramics.