Falls Church Arts (FCA) has launched the ArtWORKS series, an annual educational program focusing on FCA
members who earn their living as full-time artists.  In addition to art exhibits, the ArtWORKS series includes field trips that will bring local art students to ArtSpace Falls Church to interact with accomplished professional artists and learn about their various pathways to success and to a life of working in art.

In October, there will be two ArtWORKS exhibits featuring sculptor Jeff Rechin and cartoonist Kevin Rechin.

The Rechin brothers were born in Washington, DC and grew up in the suburbs of Springfield, VA. They both enjoyed childhoods shaped by the larger-than-life influence of their cartoonist father, Bill Rechin, creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip, “Crock.”  Art and humor were a constant in the lives of Jeff
and Kevin and their five siblings. The creativity of their father was matched by their mother, who met Bill while studying art at the Albright Academy of Art  in Buffalo, NY.

Although all seven children are artistic in one way or another, Kevin and Jeff are the only ones who pursued art with a passion and ultimately made it their chosen careers. Jeff, who was enamored with the outdoors and wildlife at a very young age, began to carve and sculpt when he was eleven years old.  Kevin was always fascinated with the world of cartoons and began doodling characters from the time he could hold a pencil.

Both brothers have achieved great success in their chosen fields and continue to grow as artists. Jeff Rechin is recognized as one of the preeminent sculptors of wildfowl art in the United States. Specializing in bird sculpture and honing these skills, he began to compete in the early 1970’s. Entering “world class” level for the first time in 1998, Jeff won the “Best in World” title and earned this title again in 2000. Jeff later contracted with the Danbury Mint where he worked creating the original masters for reproduction which were marketed throughout the US and Great Britain. He is regularly called on to judge the annual Ward World Championship. Both his original and reproductions of Jeff’s work can be found in private collections throughout the country as well as original work in the permanent collection of the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury MD.

Brother Kevin Rechin received his degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1989 and then worked at several small daily newspapers.  Kevin was eventually hired as a staff artist at USA TODAY where he created cover illustrations, weekly caricatures and complex informational graphics. During those years he indulged many freelance projects, eventually building a substantial clientele.

Kevin struck out on his own in 1999 and his work has since appeared in most major American publications including Time, Smithsonian, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and National Geographic.  In addition to editorial work, Kevin has pursued more commercial projects with Hasbro, Disney, DreamWorks and Fox
Sports.  In 2009, he was chosen to create and design a mural and all the artwork for a superhero-themed children’s room on an episode of Extreme Home Makeover. The National Cartoonist Society
recognized Kevin’s work in 1999 with a Reuben Award for magazine illustration.

In May of 2011, the brothers lost their greatest inspiration and mentor when their father passed away after a
long battle with cancer. Since then, Kevin has taken over the drawing duties of the beloved “Crock” comic strip and creates it along with his brother-in-law, Bob Morgan, who writes the strip.

Kevin now works out of a studio shared with fellow cartoonist and friend, Nick Galifianakis in Falls Church
City. Jeff lives and works out of his studio in Amissville, VA.

The “Wildfowl in Wood” exhibit of Jeff Rechin’s sculpture will be at ArtSpace October 6 – 16.  Meet the artist at a reception and discussion on Thursday, October 13 from 7 to 9 pm.

Kevin Rechin’s cartoon art will be on display at ArtSpace October 19 – 30.  Meet Kevin at a reception and discussion on Thursday, October 20 from 7 to 9 pm.  Learn to cartoon at a free cartooning workshop with Kevin on October 27 from 7 to 9:30 pm.

ArtSpace Falls Church is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue in what is known as the Pearson Square building.  Free parking is available in the garages at 400 and 410 S. Maple Avenue.

For more information about the ArtWORKS series, go to www.FallsChurchArts.org

Tales from the Andes will be presented in a Story Theater on Sunday, February 6 at 2 pm as part of Creative Cauldron's Passport to the World Festival.

The Tales from the Andes Story Theater on Sunday, February 6 at 2 pm is part of Creative Cauldron’s Passport to the World: A Festival of Music, Dance, Art and Story at ArtSpace Falls Church.

The Story Theater is a fun way to introduce children to live performance and to other cultures and traditions.

Tickets are $5 general admission and can be reserved at www.creativecauldron.org

ArtSpace Falls Church is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue in the Pearson Square building.  Free parking is available in the garages at 410 and 400 S. Maple Avenue.  The Passport to the World Festival continues every weekend through March 6.

Start the "last weekend before school starts"at FIRSTfriday of Falls Church on September 3

Meet featured artist, oil painter Kathie Rogers, at a celebration of the kids going back to school at Stifel and Capra: Art and Ornament for your Wonderful Life (260 W. Broad Street). Meet resident artists at a reception from 5 until 8 p.m.

Musical performances are both indoors and outdoors at the September FIRSTfriday.  At Art-A-Lot (in the parking lot at 111 Park Avenue), take in the performance by Doug Parks and the Lone Wolves on the outdoor stage from 6 until 8 p.m.  Indoors, enjoy Celtic music at Ireland’s Four Provinces Restaurant (105 W. Broad Street) starting at 8 p.m.

You can start the holiday weekend with a bit of yoga at an all-levels class for charity at Sacred Well Yoga Studio (450 W. Broad Street, Suite 320) from 6 – 7:15 p.m. Pay what you like.  All donations will go to Creative Cauldron, a Falls Church non-profit organization that provides innovative educational programs and affordable access to the performing and visual arts across the generations in northern Virginia.

For more information about other events, dining and retail specials throughout The Little City on Friday, September 3, see www.FIRSTfridayofFallsChurch.com.

The last performance of this summer’s The Fourth Wall Cabaret Series presented by Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace Falls Church (410 S. Maple Avenue) is at 8 pm on Saturday, August 28.  Save the Last Dance for Me features Stephen Gregory Smith and Karissa Lynn Swanigan, both veteran musical theater artists who perform at venues such as Signature Theatre in the Washington DC area.

Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Avenue, presented The Fourth Wall Cabaret Series this summer. The final show in the series is Saturday, August 28 at 8 pm

Tickets are $15 for Adults and $10 for Students & Seniors, and can be purchased at the box office at ArtSpace Falls Church or in advance online at www.creativecauldron.org.  Refreshments will be available a half-hour prior to curtain.  Free parking for ArtSpace Falls Church is available in the garages at 410 and 400 South Maple Avenue.

The Fourth Wall Cabaret Series presented by Creative Cauldron @ ArtSpace Falls Church continues on Saturday, August 21 with “The Kid Inside” featuring Stephen Gregory Smith.  Smith is no kid.  Rather, he is a Helen Hayes Award-winning actor who has performed recently in Signature Theatre and Creative Cauldron productions.

Only two cabaret shows remain in the summer series at ArtSpace Falls Church

Cabaret tickets are $15 for Adults and $10 for Students/Seniors and can be purchased at the door or at www.CreativeCauldron.org.  Show starts at 8 pm.  ArtSpace is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue.  Free parking in the garages at 400 and 410 S. Maple Avenue.

Falls Church Arts has put out a call for artists for a juried show titled “Abstract Expressions” to be held in September.  FCA invites member artists to explore abstraction in all media and submit their entry forms and $15 fee by Friday, September 10.  Completed forms can be mailed to FCA (P.O. Box 6912, ZIP 22040) or dropped off at either Art and Frame of Falls Church (111 Park Avenue) or Stifel & Capra (260 W. Broad Street).

The show’s juror is Karen J. Schmitz, an award-winning painter and printmaker from Alexandria, Virginia.  An opening reception will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 17, at the Falls Church Arts Gallery at ArtSpace (410 S. Maple Avenue).  The exhibit will run through October 3.

For information about becoming a member of FCA and more details about the show, including an entry form, go to www.FallsChurchArts.org.

August 4, 2010

The Fourth Wall Cabaret Series presented by Creative Cauldron @ ArtSpace Falls Church continues on Friday, August 6, with “Questionable Plots by 3 Sensible Divas” featuring Bligh Voth, Shayna Blass and Karissa Lynn Swanigan.  These three accomplished musical theatre professionals offer an evening of songs and perhaps some “sin-sible” fun.

The Fourth Wall Cabaret Series continues weekends through August 28 at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Avenue

Cabaret tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors and can be purchased at the door.   Show starts at 8 p.m.  ArtSpace is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue.  Free parking in the garages at 400 and 410 S. Maple Avenue.  For more information about the Cabaret Series, or to purchase tickets online, go to www.CreativeCauldron.org

August 3, 2010

Thursday, August 5 is the last of the very popular summer concerts at Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Avenue).   Start the evening off at 6:30 p.m. viewing the paintings and photographs by Bev Rocco and Justine Spilman on exhibit under the Falls Church Arts canopy.  The concert, featuring Judo Chop and their ’80s music, starts at 7 p.m.  For more information, go to www.vpis.org or call the Falls Church Recreation and Parks department at 703-248-5199.

On FIRSTfriday, August 6, stroll a couple of blocks down Park Avenue from Cherry Hill Park and check out “Hat Innovation” at Art and Frame of Falls Church (111 Park Avenue), an exhibit featuring graffiti art on hats!  Meet the artist, Adriel Perkins, at as reception from 6 until 8 p.m.

Also that evening on Park Avenue, take a turn through ArtALot in the parking lot at 111 Park Avenue.  Groove to music by The Style Masters, pause for the paws at “Doggie Yappie Hour,” check out the classic cars in competition for “best in show” and enjoy several art exhibits showcasing jewelry, handmade books, paintings, photographs and more.  For more information about other FIRSTfriday events elsewhere in The Little City, go to www.firstfridayoffallschurch.com

New To You, a unique women’s clothing store in the heart of Falls Church, is hosting an open house Thursday, July 29, from 4 until 8 p.m.

In addition to showcasing great, affordable clothing for the fall, New To You will also be showing jewelry by designer Debra Fabian.

In the windows of the store are some of owner Christina Novak’s favorite fashion icons painted by NTY’s very own Shelby Rolla.  The display features Twiggy, Princess Diana, Kate Moss, Mrs. Obama, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn.  In addition to great fashion, there will be some nibbles and a bit of bubbly.

New To You is located at 108 West Broad Street, right next to Brown’s Hardware.  For more information, check out www.newtoyou.net.

As Musical Director and Assistant to the Musical Director for some of the DC region’s most prestigious theaters, Ms. Cartney brings her extensive musical background to Creative Cauldron for a night of fun, flirtation and frivolity.

Cabaret tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors and can be purchased at the door or at www.CreativeCauldron.org.  Show starts at 8 p.m.  ArtSpace is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue.  Free parking in the garages at 400 and 410 S. Maple Avenue.