Art Envisioned As Key To Branding For Growing Tysons

TYSONS, VA — As a Tysons resident, the businessman-turned artist who goes by able6 enjoyed seeing the community grow and develop. Now he believes Tysons should get some new branding — and art should be a key part of it.

Able6, is a former businessman who worked in consulting and went on to start and sell businesses. He previously told Patch his perspective changed when he suffered a heart attack while running. That led him to change his life perspective and start creating art.

Since then, he's set up an Etsy shop and has growing interest in orders of prints and tote bags. The aim of the shop isn't simply about selling bags but to "spread love and joy," according to able6. Tote bags can even be designed for specific nonprofits, or any bags for sale can be customized for fundraisers or other events. A few examples of the localized tote bags able6 created are the Falls Church Farmers Market tote bag and Arlington County Fair tote bag.

All while growing his art business, able6 wants to make something for his home.

"I never really saw anyone do cityscapes of Tysons," able6 told Patch. "Actually I got contacted buy a real estate broker from New York City that wanted a large format canvas cityscape of Brooklyn New York for one of his listings. His intent was to use my canvas in staging the condo that he wanted to sell. So that got me thinking, how come we don't have art for [Tysons]? That got me started on a path, and that's what led to this."

Over the course of a month, able6 spent several hours each day to walk around Tysons and take in the view as inspiration for the art. A few of the places featured in the art are Tysons West, Tysons. Corner Center, Leesburg Pike, Spring Hill Metro and Capital One Center.

Rather than take pictures and use them to create art, able6 prefers to recreate the settings from memory. The details may not all be perfect, but he tries to take a feeling from the settings and portray it in the art.

"When I talk to other artists they think I'm freaking crazy," said able6. "What do you mean you don't take pictures? What do you mean you don't stand there and do your work? It seems impossible to some people. But it's really not. It's about focus. It's about intent."

When able6 first moved to Tysons over a decade ago, it was largely a "nine to five worker city" and destination for shopping and car buying. But not many people lived there.

Today, more development has brought more residents into the city. In addition, the Tysons Partnership rebranded into the Tysons Community Alliance focused on turning Tysons into a "a vibrant, inclusive, globally attractive urban center." The nonprofit recently gained Katie Cristol, a former Arlington County board member, as its CEO.

"I like the fact that there's now a [Tysons Community Alliance] that was formerly the [Tysons Partnership,] said able6. "We need people at the helm that want to think about the Big ideas to help this city grow develop and become a viable urban center that's walkable and quite honestly just a place that people want to live in."

But with branding, able6 says places like New York City and San Francisco have a clear "feel." With Tysons, he is certain the feel of the urban community can be improved.

With Cristol at the helm of the organization, able6 sees an opportunity for his art to be part of Tysons branding. The artist will soon have a discussion with Cristol about branding and art.

"I know I'm going to be apart of seeing [Tysons] grow and develop fully into the city that she needs to be," he said. "I know my art is going to be part of this success story and I'm working diligently every day so that I can make it happen."

Along with advocating for art branding for Tysons, able6 is participating in Falls Church Arts' "Luminous" art exhibit from Aug. 19 to Oct. 1. In addition, able6 is creating holiday bags requested by customers including a Halloween Bag, Christmas Tote and Thanksgiving bag. The artist is encouraging customers to buy the Thanksgiving bag, fill it up with groceries and give it to someone in need or a local nonprofit providing food assistance.