New ArtBeat Exhibit Highlights Local Historic Treasures

Many area historic treasures and Civil War vistas will be depicted in works by artists at ArtBeat Gallery in Manassas during Journey Through Hallowed Ground, an exhibit opening January 4, 2011.

 The exhibit, mounted in coordination with The Manassas Museum, involves local artists in the city’s commemoration of the Sesquicentennial, or 150^th anniversary of the Civil War. Exhibit coordinator Alice Long says artists who heard about plans for the commemoration in Manassas wanted to play a part in the Sesquicentennial by sharing the beauty of historic sites and by reimagining that time of conflict in their paintings.

 On a crisp fall day, several ArtBeat artists set up their easels at the city’s historic 1825 house, Liberia Plantation, for a day of plein air painting. “It’s such a beautiful place,” Long says. “It’s like a big oasis of calm and almost a rural scene right in the middle of town. And the house itself has some nice architectural details.”

 The Liberia paintings will be included in the exhibit, along with Civil War-related still life works, paintings of soldiers and battle scenes, landscapes, and depictions of objects in the museum’s collection. The exhibit runs through February 27, 2011.

Other ArtBeat shows in 2011 will also focus on the Civil War. Civil War History, which runs from May 3 to July 3, 2011, will highlight the works of noted local artist Richard Guy. Native Virginia, which runs from August 30 through October 30, 2011, will showcase historically themed paintings and photographs.

 ArtBeat is an artists’ cooperative gallery at 9407 Main Street in Manassas, where a diverse range of works are for sale. ArtBeat is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m., and Sundays from 12 noon till 6 p.m. Although usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, ArtBeat will be open on December 20 and 21 from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m. Call 703-365-8558 or visit www.artbeatgallery.org for more information.

 The museum is open Tuesday through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Monday Federal holidays, and on Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m.. Call 703-368-1873 or visit www.manassasmuseum.org for more information.

I completely slept on this conference this year but Cindy B was good enough to offer this summary.  I’ve been to this event every year and it is always very encouraging to see all of the hardworking folks there who believe in their neighborhood and are willing to get involved….

Residents of Sumner Lake Honored at City Conference

The City of Manassas honored five neighborhoods with “Neighborhood of the Year” awards at its annual Neighborhood Conference, November 13, at the Boys & Girls Club.

Sumner Lake Homeowners Association was honored with the “Best Neighborhood Communication/Involvement” award for their response to the Sept. 23 fire that destroyed three homes, damaged five others and displaced 11 residents on Tillet Loop.  Residents turned the neighborhood’s website into a vital communications link to identify victim needs and spread the word to meet those needs.  They opened their community center to shelter fire victims and collected more than $10,000 in cash, clothes, food, household items and furniture.  Donations are still being collected through the holidays.

Point of Woods 1 & 2 and Point of Woods 3 Homeowners Associations were honored with a joint “Best Neighborhood Group Effort” Award.  They pooled resources to launch a Neighborhood Watch and host activities such as a Fall Festival to build community, despite the financial hardship of last winter’s snow removal.

Cannon Ridge Homeowners Association won the “Best Back Yard/Storage Area” award for staging a community walk-through to identify issues such as fallen trees and exposed wires, and then addressing those issues.  They also organized a creek cleanup.

Wildwood Condominium Association won the “Best Curb Appeal” award for modeling a clean community and adding a beautiful new entrance sign and playground.

Other highlights of the day-long conference included:

• Free private consultations with housing counselors from Fannie Mae and the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service for homeowners with mortgages in distress.
• Tips on how to use social networking to increase communication among neighbors.
• The opportunity for youth to explore “My Defining Moment” and create T-shirts for non-toxic bears to be donated to patients at Children’s Hospital in memory of Sey-J Landsdowne, a Boys & Girls club member who died of leukemia this past summer.

The City’s Neighborhood Conference was sponsored by KIA of Manassas, the Boys & Girls Club of Manassas, Dominion Towing, Lucky Dog Grooming, Virginia Housing Development Authority, Yard by Yard Landscaping and many other community partners.

As a follow-up to the conference, the Neighborhoods Work Group meets Tues., Nov. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center, 9700 Wellington Road in Manassas.  All City residents who what to work to improve their neighborhoods are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact Neighborhood Services Coordinator Christen Zenich at 703-257-8315.