Bits and Pieces Art Show Opening With Reception At Falls Church Arts

FALLS CHURCH, VA — A new all-media show featuring 41 artists will open Saturday at the Falls Church Arts gallery.

The show, titled Bits and Pieces, features 50 pieces of art showing how disparate articles can be combined to make innovative art work. Featured pieces represent various art forms, including collage, assemblage, upcycled art, fiber art, jewelry and more. The show will be on display Saturday through Jan. 8 at the Falls Church Arts gallery, 700-B West Broad St., Falls Church, VA.

The display will debut with an opening reception Saturday at 7:30 p.m. A Juror’s Choice Award and honorable mentions will be announced at the event, and participating artists will be present to answer questions. Admission is free. Masks are optional, but attendees are asked to stay home if they are feeling sick.

The Juror’s Choice Award comes with a $150 prize. In addition, a $50 People’s Choice Award will be announced on Dec. 24 following votes by gallery visitors. The prizes are provided by a donation from DuBro Architects + Builders.

The juror who selected art for the show is Sherry Trachtman, an art faculty member who begin her art career as a painter and printmaker. She has juried shows at the Art League Gallery in Alexandria; Northern Virginia Community College, The Arlington Artists Alliance, Falls Church Community Arts, and Capitol Hill Arts League in Washington, DC.

"Overall, the work was strong with several stand out pieces," said Trachtman in a statement. "Submissions were made by artists at all levels: beginners; those entering shows regularly as they learn and grow; and seasoned professional artists. Besides these varying stages of accomplishment, my consideration also included the size and shape of the gallery itself, and the huge differences in the scale, materials and techniques of the entries."

Participating artists include: John Allen, Tammy Barnes, Maria Brito, Rhys Conlon, Pamela Crockett, Astrid De Vachon, Steph DeHart, Vicky Dorn-Fontana, Michele Frantz, Bob Friedman, Doug Fuller, Steena Fullmer-Anderson, Paula Grossman, James Hengst, Pamela Huffman, Chris Kagy, Maggie Kerrigan, Mallory Kimmel, JoAnn Laboy, Susan Lapham, Naomi Lipsky, Joyce McCarten, Molly McCracken, Jane McElvany Coonce, David Merrell, Rashad Ali Muhammad, Jennifer Murphy, Kathryn Nelson, Adam Odomore, Helen Power, Andrea Salzman, Cynthia Schoeppel, Todd Schvaneveldt, Bryan Sieling, Joan Slottow, Darren Smith, Maria Temoltzin, Suzanne Updike, Casey Wait, Robert Wiener, and Amanda Wood.

The Falls Church Arts gallery is open Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and
Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Artwork may also be viewed online at www.fallschurcharts.org. Artwork may be purchased at the gallery or online.