The Torpedo Factory Alexandria Virginia

The Torpedo Factory Alexandria Virginia is one of the coolest art co-ops we have ever visited.

The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria Virginia

Way back when we were in the Outer Banks our friend Barbara Powell, who is an amazing ceramic artist, happened to mention that if we were anywhere near Alexandria, Virginia, that we  absolutely MUST visit the Torpedo Factory Arts Center. We never would have even known about this place had a good friend not told us about it.

History

To give you a bit of background, The Torpedo Factory Art Center is a naval munitions factory that was converted into an art center on the banks of the Potomac River in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.

The Torpedo Factory Alexandria Virginia is home to the largest number of working artist studios in the America. Each year, more than a half-million visitors interact with its community of artists. There are more than 82 artists’ studios, seven galleries and two workshops, with some 165 professional visual artists who work in a variety of media, including painting, ceramics, photography, jewelry, stained glass, fiber, printmaking, and sculpture.

According to Wikipedia, after months of planning, on November 12, 1918, ironically the day after Armistice Day marked the end of World War I, the U.S. Navy began construction of the U.S. Naval Torpedo Station. The factory built torpedoes for five years before becoming munitions storage. With the onset of World War II, the factory produced Mark III torpedoes for aircraft and Mark XIV torpedoes for submarines.

When the second World War ended in 1945, the complex was converted to government storage for things such as congressional documents, artifacts from the Smithsonian, and Nazi trial records. The City of Alexandria eventually bought the building in 1969.

Art League

Then in 1974, Marian Van Landingham, as president of The Art League, made a proposal to renovate part of the factory into studio spaces for the Alexandria Bicentennial Project. Major renovation began in May 1974 and the new center formally opened on September 15, 1974. From 1982 to 1983, the building underwent further renovation in compliance with the City’s waterfront development plan and was entirely gutted and rebuilt with a new ventilation system and central heating. the formal reopening was on May 20, 1983.

Sometime in the 1990s, the Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association began managing the Art Center with support from the Friends of the Torpedo Factory. The Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association is the Torpedo Factory’s professional artist community of more than 275 juried visual artists.

As of 2018, the City of Alexandria controls all operations of the Torpedo Factory, despite opposition from some artists.

Cherry Hill Park

We were staying in College Park, Maryland at Cherry Hill Park campgrounds, which was very centrally located to all of the attractions we wanted to visit. It was only about a half hour drive for us to get to The Torpedo Factory Alexandria Virginia. We spend a wonderful couple of hours exploring the studios that were open. Sadly many, about half, of them were closed because of Covid-19. But those that we were able to visit were amazing. It was so much fun to watch the artists at work.

Our favorite artist there

There were three artists in particular that we were most impressed with. Two of them we got to talk with. The third artist, who we did not meet, had work on display that was so meaningful and offered such an important message that I feel she is worth highlighting.

Barbara Muth

Barbara Muth’s series of pieces in her collection titled My Body, Shamed is a depiction of her journey from self loathing to self acceptance. This painter documents her experience living in a “fat shaming” world. In her paintings she demonstrates the effects of a patriarchal society on the representation, acceptance and rejection of women’s bodies, including her own.

Lisa Schumaier

The first of the artists that we enjoyed meeting was Lisa Schumaier. Lisa is a ceramic artist whose whimsical pieces really made us giggle inside. She was at her bench working on some new pieces when we walked in. But she was gracious enough to stop what she was doing to chat with us. Nothing is more inspiring than talking with someone who is so creative and talented!

Alison Sigethy

The other artist that we met at The Torpedo Factory Alexandria Virginia was Alison Sigethy. Alison creates kinetic glass sculptures that are totally unique. Her work is a tribute to the beauty and mystery of the sea. Each piece is hand crafted by Alison to capture the movement, variety and complexity of deep ocean life. Her work is truly mesmerizing.

If you are ever anywhere close to here you absolutely must plan a visit. Hopefully by the time you come all of the studios will be opened. And Covid-19 will be just an awful memory.

It was a glorious day so after enjoying all of the enriching art, we took a stroll behind the building along the beautiful waterfront.