Visual Expressions
A Timeless Perspective
On exhibit: June 13 – July 13
Visual Expressions is an “over 55” community art group that
originated in Prince William County, Virginia. It was established in
2014 to promote creative endeavors to stimulate the mind, reduce the
effects of stress-related diseases, and slow cognitive decline. The art
group consists of graphic artists, art educators, and self-taught
hobbyists. Soothing landscapes, realistic animal portraits, and vibrant
abstract compositions make up their eclectic oeuvre and reflect a
lifetime of learning, traveling, and exploring new techniques and
mediums. Meet the artists at the opening reception, June 23, 6-8 pm.
********* Greater Manassas/Prince William County sponsors theatrical
productions for children and adults, teaches arts classes, promotes
visual arts and provides community outreach programs for local youth.
Founded in 1984 by a group of artists and art lovers, the Center aims to
enrich the quality of life in the Northern Virginia suburbs through
arts performance and education. A theater, an art gallery and classrooms
are located in the historic Candy Factory building in Old Town
Manassas, at 9419 Battle Street.
Colleen Ganey, Crazy Flowers, Acrylic, 5×7, $25
Paralyzed from the neck down, Colleen paints with a mouth stick to create her artwork. Self-taught, her work is inspired by the time she spent during her childhood in the mountains of Virginia. Colleen’s work has been purchased by the Kennedy Center for Very Special Arts and Evan Kemp Associates, who were instrumental in passing the American with Disabilities Act.
Diana Mihaltse, Maine Coast, Oil, 30 x 24, $800.00
Diana is a certified art teacher with a Master’s degree in Fine Art Education. She has taken courses at the Landis Valley Pennsylvania Cultural and Rural Life Institute and the Museum of American Folk Art in New York City. In addition to her oil paintings, Diana creates whimsies and folk art using new tin-plated sheet metal and old, rusted barn roof tin as a medium. Her craft work has been featured in several national magazines and displayed at shops in Williamsburg, VA, Houston, TX , the Museum of Folk Art in New York City and other specialty and craft shops across the United States.
Joan Wysong, From the Maine Train, Acrylic, 20 x 24, $300.00
Joan became interested in art later in her life, as her children were growing up. She began to take many art courses, and ended up in fine art at Ventura College in California. Joan experiences painting as a meditation, an in-depth searching for soul. Abstract art, therefore, is her direction. “It frees me from the boundaries of realism, and besides – it’s fun!” Joan often uses heavy texture in her painting to add another dimension to her work.
Joanne Gelfand, Natural Bridge. Pastels. 16.5 x 19, NFS
Joanne is a Washingtonian who graduated from the University of Maryland and taught art to elementary students in several DC schools. Later she created arrangements at her flower shop in Bethesda. After relocating to VA in 1984 she began working as an administrative assistant. Currently happily retired and, as always, enjoying “Art as an Experience.”
Liane Reiher Nash, Washington Monument, Acrylic, 18 x 15, $150.00
Liane was born and raised in Germany and, although self-taught, was inspired by her father who painted with oil and watercolor. Unfortunately, his life was ended in the war when she was just 7 years of age. After moving to this community, Liane picked up painting more seriously and moved from painting small subjects onto dried tree mushrooms to slightly larger ones on canvas. In past years, she has also made many dried flower pictures and creatures from natural stones and seashells.
Lynne Aleknavage, Florette, Oil, 22 x 28, $299.00
A self-taught artist is a member of the Prince William Art Society and the Visual Expressions Group of Four Seasons Community. Lynne’s art has been exhibited at the Hylton Center for the Arts in Manassas and at the Four Seasons Community Clubhouse.
Marlene Rideout, Tropical Trio, Watercolor, 17 x 20, NFS
Marlene has enjoyed Watercolor painting in the NC “Triangle” for a number of years. She participated with the Sertoma Park Artists and studied under Lelia Brigham at Vance-Henderson Community College. Her art was recognized at the NC State Fair art exhibits show where she won Honorable Mention for her “Peaches” painting. Classes have also been taken at an annual Artarama in Raleigh with instructors including Rocky Alexander, Tom Lynch, and Jeanne Carbonetti.
Mona Phillips, Mom’s Kitchen, Watercolor, 12 x 10, NFS
Mona has always been interested and active in the arts, particularly oil painting. She has also enjoyed working with stained glass. She began painting as an adult when she did an oil painting of an old barn that had served as the first church building for Whitehall Baptist Church in Accokeek, MD, where she attended at the time. That painting is still hanging in the current church building.
Pamela Newberry, Cat, Acrylic, 13 x 17, NFS
Pam, a long time crafter, recently decided it was time to move on to learning to paint. She has begun to paint in oil, acrylic and watercolor and find that it brings joy and calmness to her soul.
Sandra McClelland Lewin, Forest Cathedral, Acrylic, 24 x 12 $600.00
Sandra is primarily a representational artist, but occasionally dabbles in acrylic abstracts. She received a BA in Advertising Design and spent her career doing computer graphics for the Central Intelligence Agency. Upon retirement she gravitated to the fine arts, working primarily in watercolor, acrylics, and colored pencil. She is a member of the Arches Gallery at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton and the Prince William Arts Society.
Sheri Herrick, Night Vision, Acrylic, 16 x 13, $125.00
Sheri has an art degree from JMU, and worked in Display Art, as well as Liturgical Art. Primarily an acrylic painter, she likes to explore special effects in her work. Other interests include jewelry making from found objects, such as rocks, shells and seaglass.