Spring Break
The Scene
Factory displays diverse media, artists
By Anne Godlasky on 9/22/03
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The 83 open studios of sculptors, painters, photographers, jewelers and other artists infuse life and color into the gray cement gut of the World War II naval torpedo station. As visitors wander through this three-story artist village in Old Town Alexandria, Va. they can experience unique interaction with the artists and question them about their work.
"The artists were definitely friendly and open to talking, not just so they could sell their stuff, but to tell you about what they did and how they did it," said Lindsay Blampied, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, who visited the factory last weekend. "It was wonderful."
The gratification can work both ways, as some artists say they benefit and even attain inspiration from talking with visitors.
"I'm so used to people coming in now ... I think there are many layers in ourselves and sometimes people who come in tell me about where they come from and I have this vision. I connect with something in them, so I paint it," said 84-year-old Dot Woodall from behind a table dotted with colorful palettes, spilt watercolors and 50 years of experience. "But they never know that if they don't come back."
However, some artists say that a constant flow of visitors can create distractions.
"The main drawback is that there are a lot of interruptions when you need to work. There are a lot of times when I really need to concentrate and that's very difficult here," said Rosemary Covey, a wood engraver who works within the purple-stained walls of her second-floor studio, a space that she frequently shares with her Siberian Huskie, Nikki.
"We have to be open to the public a certain amount, but sometimes when I really need to work I'll pull my blinds down on my door and put up a note saying no interruptions, because otherwise interruptions can just be endless. You have to work around the situation." Covey said, explaining that she sometimes works at night and on public holidays when the factory is closed to visitors.
Still, Covey said that "the connection to the people buying [the work] and getting their reactions" is a benefit to renting space in the Torpedo Factory. Covey credits her "connections" with visitors in helping her sell her art, which some call "dark."
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