Tag Archives: Jessica Kallista

Make Local Art Happen with Olly Olly

By Posted in Art, Art Collecting, Art Gym, Art Studio, Collaboration, Crowdfunding, David Barr, Diana Adams, Eames Armstrong, Fairfax Art, Fairfax Virginia, Jackie Hoysted, Jessica Kallista, Mojdeh Rezaeipour, Olly Olly Tagged , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Big, big love and gratitude to everyone who helped make our first month at Olly Olly such a huge success! Thank you! Together we can make local art happen in really big ways!

Olly Olly opened on January 1, 2015. We hit the ground running by hosting Art Gym Studio Nights and providing full time studio spaces for three local artists – Diana Adams, David Barr, and myself. Seeing all of the art being created at Olly Olly is a constant inspiration. The open collaborative atmosphere is often electric and overflowing with ideas, and with artists spurring each other on towards new projects and creations.

Our first major event of the year, the opening reception for the art exhibition Bodylore on January 24, 2015 was packed with amazing art, artists, and art lovers. I am so very grateful for everyone’s support, encouragement, enthusiasm, and generosity! Olly Olly is a dream being realized with every artist and art lover who comes through the door!

For more opportunities to support local art and Olly Olly, from purchasing Art Gym memberships, jumpstarting your art collection with incredible local art bundles, to booking private dinner party events hosted by local artists, or even if you’re just feeling particularly philanthropic, please visit the Support Olly Olly page on our website. Thank you! xoxo

“Bodylore” Opening Reception at Olly Olly January 24

By Posted in art exhibit, Carolina Seth, Eames Armstrong, Embodiment, Events, Exhibit Opening, Fairfax Art, Fairfax Virginia, Jackie Hoysted, Olly Olly, Robert C. Yi Tagged , , , , 4 Comments

Olly Olly, a new alternative art space in Fairfax, VA, is pleased to present its inaugural pop-up art exhibition, Bodylore, an exploration of the human figure and an investigation into the body as social construct, tradition, myth, and fairytale.  On Saturday, January 24, 2015, from 7pm to 10pm, spend an evening with the artists:

Eames Armstrong

Jackie Hoysted

Carolina Seth

Robert C. Yi

Bodylore features a variety of work dealing with the body, the interaction of bodies, embodiment, the folklore of bodies, play, and the role of the body in our everyday experience, dream-life, and cultural imagination.

Olly Olly wants to nourish the body and the community as well. We will be collecting healthy non-perishable food items for the Food Bridge Program at Our Daily Bread, which provides short-term emergency food assistance to Fairfax County area residents who are in crisis. We encourage you to bring a healthy non-perishable food item to donate. The Food Bridge Program is most in need of cooking oil, brown rice, dried beans, canned fruit in its own juices, and pasta sauce.

Olly Olly Logo

Olly Olly, located at 10417 Main Street, 2nd Floor in Fairfax, VA, is open Mondays from 10am-4pm, Tuesdays from 6pm-9pm, Saturdays 11am-4pm, and by appointment. Bodylore will be on view at Olly Olly from January 24, 2015 through February 6, 2015.

Sneak Peek of Bodylore. Image Credit: Javier Padilla

Olly Olly Curator and Art Instigator, Jessica Kallista, with a sneak peek of Bodylore. Image Credit: Javier Padilla

Gratitude for an Art Filled Life

By Posted in Art, art exhibit, Collage, Community, Events, Exhibit Opening, Fairfax Virginia, Gratitude, Jessica Kallista, Mixed Media Art, Olly Olly, The Bunnyman Bridge Collective Tagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I’m blessed to be surrounded by incredible artists and gorgeous art. This past year has been filled with nonstop art and constant love, and I’m truly grateful. Creating art continues to teach me that, with a solid set of supplies, imagination, community, collaboration, love, persistence, patience, and dedication, magic can be made. We have the power to co-create our lives and our world.

Every day I’m meeting talented local artists. Opportunities to experience and create art are overflowing everywhere–including right here in suburbia. I’m grateful to be making and showing more art than ever before. Coming up just this week my work will be included in two exhibitions.

Thursday, December 11, from 6-8 pm join me for the opening reception of 5 x 5 x (5), an all media exhibition featuring small works, at Target Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia. I love little pieces of art that leave an impression far beyond their size. The exhibition features the work of over 30 artists from the U.S. and abroad.

Bunnyman by Jessica Kallista

On Saturday, December 13, from 8 pm-midnight, join me for a night of art and music at Epicure Café in Fairfax, VA for the opening reception of Divine. Curated by The Bunnyman Bridge Collective, Divine brings together 11 local artists, from across the DMV, working in a variety of media from stencil art, calligraphy, poetry, painting, drawing, mixed media, textiles, and more. Spend an evening with artists Jason Davis, Abner De Jesus, Michael Fischerkeller, John Grunwell, Matin Haji, Toni Hitchcock, Hks181, Joseph Nicolia, Javier Padilla, Mojgan Yaghmaei and me. Music for the opening reception will include the ever so transcendent and intoxicating jazz sounds of Dreamsville. You’ll want to be a part of this art and music filled event!

Heartmind by Jessica Kallista

Before you know it the new year will be here, and with it even more art. In January 2015 I will be opening a new alternative art space in Fairfax, VA called Olly Olly. Stay tuned for more news about exhibitions, open studios, and art events–all right here in suburbia.

Olly Olly

Total love and gratitude to all of the artists and art lovers who fill my life with art, love, and magic. So many awesome people. Thank you!

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

 

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