Music-Inspired Art Exhibit Open For Free Visits, Purchases In Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH, VA — How would you describe the impact of music on your life? Dozens of artists took music as inspiration for a new art exhibit opening at the Falls Church Arts gallery on Saturday.

The "Music to My Eyes" exhibit will kick off Falls Church Arts' 2024 season Saturday at 700-B West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA, A free opening reception with the artists will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The exhibit, open from Jan. 13 to Feb. 25, will showcase art inspired by music. Participating artists created artwork using different forms, including ink on paper, hand-carved stone sculpture, acrylic and aerosol paint, giclee, photography, textiles, silkscreen, mixed media and linoleum cut prints. Some artwork has 3D components like vintage flute parts, metal chain, a custom wood hanging rod, puzzle pieces and guitar strings.

"Through texture, sculpture and the politics of representation, artists in 'Music to My Eyes' explore the possibility of sound in the visual arts," said Stephanie Mercedes, the juror who selected artwork for the exhibit. "Many artworks in the exhibition allude to, deconstruct, or alienate sonic thinking, breaking free of the confines of traditional musical instruments."

Mercedes, an artist who had exhibited at the Bronx Museum, the Queens Museum, the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center and produced an opera in with CultureDC, will share insights into the exhibit during a presentation at the opening reception Saturday. Participating artists will be on hand to answer questions from attendees and discuss the inspiration behind their artwork.

The Juror's Choice Award winner will also be announced at the opening reception. The People's Choice Award winner will be announced on Feb. 3, as gallery visitors can vote for their favorite. Both awards are funded by Falls Church business Foxes Music Company.

Artists participating in the "Music to My Eyes" exhibit are Ken Beerbohm, Bob Biedrzycki, Claudia Blackburn, Electra Bolotas, Beth Nogay Carenbauer, Kathleen Conklin, Rosemary Gallick, Julia Glatfelter, James Hengst, Kelsey Joyce, JoAnn Laboy, Erika Lozano, Erasto Curtis Matthews, Carol Morgan, David Moss, Jennifer Murphy, Jenny Newberry, Jonathan Ottke, William Rollins, Carol Rowan, Renée Ruggles, Cynthia Schoeppel, Todd Schvaneveldt, Joan Slottow, Yemonja Smalls, Carrie Spence, Eric Stewart, Chelsea Tinklenberg and Nicole Tobin.

Beyond the opening reception, the exhibit will be on display through Feb. 25. All artworks can viewed and purchased in the gallery or online at www.fallschurcharts.org.

The gallery is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Masks are optional, but visitors are asked to delay their visit when they are feeling sick.