Author Archives: dearsuburbia

Learning to Let Go

By Posted in Art, Community, Fairfax Virginia, Free Art Friday, Free Art Friday NoVA, Gratitude, Jessica Kallista, Transformation Tagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

This week marks the one year anniversary of my very first Free Art Friday drop. Letting go of that first piece was an anxiety filled experience. I honestly did not believe I would ever put another piece of free art out into the world. The entire process stirred up so many questions and debates within myself (and a bit of debate outside of myself as well). Would this helpless little piece of art be safe? Would it find a happy art loving home? Am I crazy to keep giving away art? Who owns art? What is ownership? How are artists connected to the communities in which they live and work? Can the surprise of finding a piece of free art on a sidewalk or a park bench disrupt the isolation experienced by many people living in suburbia? Soon enough, however, the second piece was out there in the world, and then the third. I kept making the pieces. I remained determined and dedicated to placing these pieces out in the world for anyone to find. Through the year my world changed in ways that I never could have imagined. With more than 50 art drops over the past year, I am grateful for all of the love and art, for the amazing friends I’ve met along the way, and for the incredible opportunity to learn about chance, interconnectivity, love, and surrender.

To celebrate my one year Free Art Friday anniversary, today in Fairfax I’ll be placing three of my little lovelies out in the world for anyone to find. Keep a look out! Happy Free Art Finding!

 

Free Art Friday One Year Anniversary Drop

 

And I also have to say, I have immense love and gratitude for all of the awesome Free Art Finders. Here are a few of them. Please post photos if you find a Free Art Friday piece. Here’s to another year of Free Art Friday NoVA! xoxo

 

Awesome Free Art Finders Awesome Free Art Finders

 

“Wake Up Call” Opening Reception at Epicure Café Saturday August 9

By Posted in Art, Bliss, Community, Epicure Cafe, Events, Exhibit Opening, Fairfax Art, The Bunnyman Bridge Collective, Wake Up Call Tagged , , , , Leave a comment

Wake Up Call by Javier Padilla 72dpi

 

Epicure Café is pleased to present Wake Up Call, a new collection of contemporary art curated by The Bunnyman Bridge Collective. Epicure Café and The Bunnyman Bridge Collective nurture a growing community of artists and creatives in Northern Virginia.

Art and bliss surround us in our everyday lives. It is time to for a Wake Up Call! For all of us to open our eyes, hearts, and minds to the art and bliss that are available to us if we simply open our eyes and attend to our surroundings. For their latest exhibition, Epicure Café and The Bunnyman Bridge Collective want you to know that art is here for all of us to create and share.

Wake Up Call sounds an alarm for the discovery of local art and artists in the wilds of Suburbia. Saturday, August 9, from 8pm to midnight, spend an evening with artists Abner De Jesus, Michael Fischerkeller, Jessica Kallista, Javier Padilla, Jorge Vascano, and Nadya Warthen-Gibson. Music for the evening will be provided by the intensely vibrant and energetic Earth’s Music Project.

Epicure Café, located at 11104 Lee Highway in Fairfax, VA, is open 7 days a week from 5 – midnight. Wake Up Call will be on view at Epicure Café from August 9 through October 4.

 

2014 Artist Member Exhibition at Greater Reston Arts Center

By Posted in Art, Art Studio, Exhibit Opening, Gratitude, Greater Reston Arts Center, Jessica Kallista Tagged , , , , Leave a comment

This Thursday, July 17 from 6-8 pm Greater Reston Arts Center, one of my favorite spots for dynamic contemporary visual arts, will host an opening reception for their 2014 Artist Member Exhibition. I’m pleased and excited that two of my recent collages have been selected by juror Helen Frederick for inclusion in this new exhibition. Please join me this Thursday, July 17 at Greater Reston Arts Center from 6-8 pm for the opening reception of this gorgeous exhibition. For more information about this exhibition and for a full list of featured artists you can read the press release here.

I hope to see you there! In the meantime, here’s a recent photo of summer fun with friends in my Fairfax art studio. Summer is under way, and I’m feeling blessed and lucky for all of the warmth and sunshine. I’m also feeling an abundance of gratitude for all of the art, community, family, friendship, and creativity that fill my life. Play, experimentation, collaboration, and interconnectivity are vital elements of creativity. I hope you enjoy some playful creativity today!

 

Fun with Friends in the Studio

Back Yard Studio Time

By Posted in Art, Art Studio, Jessica Kallista, Mixed Media Art, Mosaic District, Work in Progress Tagged , , , , , Leave a comment

I started this hot summer day early in the morning in my Old Town Fairfax studio, but also wanted to get some outdoor creative time in before the rain hits. I’m currently working on a set of 36″ x 36″ panels for the Mosaic District in Fairfax. Can’t wait to show you the finished pieces. Here’s a look at the work in progress so far.

Plus, summer back yard studio time requires the perfect summer music. Here’s my latest favorite for summer song of 2014. Rain or shine, I hope you enjoy this day!

 

“Panoplia” Opening Night at Epicure Café Saturday June 14

By Posted in Art, Epicure Cafe, Exhibit Opening, Fairfax Art, Jason Davis, Javier Padilla, Jessica Kallista, Panoplia, The Bunnyman Bridge Collective Tagged , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

 

Epicure Café is pleased to present Panoplia, an eclectic and groundbreaking collection of paintings and mixed media work by local artists, and curated by The Bunnyman Bridge Collective (aka artists/curators Jason Davis, Jessica Kallista, and Javier Padilla).

On the heels of the successful and irreverent Tell Me Something, Epicure Café and The Bunnyman Bridge Collective continue to redefine art in suburbia, as well as art audience experiences. For their latest exhibition, Epicure Café and The Bunnyman Bridge Collective bring together an impressive array of talented and playfully jaw-dropping artists.

Combining lush, large format oil paintings that evoke a chaotic surrealist nostalgia, complex geometric elements of precise and well-wrought abstract work, fantastically detailed mixed media dreamscapes, provocative color drenched street art, and more, Panoplia delivers an intoxicating blend of exciting local art.

Saturday, June 14, from 7pm to midnight, spend an evening with The Bunnyman Bridge Collective and artists Diana Adams, Alex Beck, Abner De Jesus, Ricardo “Gogue” De Jesus, Jeff Duka (including collaborative work with Jason Davis and Brian Legan), Vanessa Glick, Karen Mullarkey, and Allison Ries.

Music for the evening will be provided by the always entertaining Charlie Bare Quartet.

Epicure Café, located at 11104 Lee Highway in Fairfax, VA, is open 7 days a week from 5 – midnight. Panoplia will be on view at Epicure Café from June 14 through August 2.