Documenting history...

Frank Thorp recently released a photo book, After the Riot, documenting the events and reflections of January 6th Insurrection at the Capitol. He interviewed a range of people who were there on that day and created stunning environmental portraits of them in and around the Capitol grounds. It was a pleasure to hear him discuss this at Politics and Prose with Pete Williams about the photographs, the individuals featured, and the process of making the work.

What stood out to me was the care with which he described making the photographs and spending time listening to the firsthand accounts of that day. These environmental portraits taken with a 4 x 5 camera are simply stunning. And just thinking about the time on task required to develop and print these works, makes it all the more special. He shared that his darkroom is no bigger than a capitol hill elevator. It is clear Frank has a passion for history and the craft of analog photography. 

ARTiFAX

I am very proud to share that Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has launched ARTiFAX, a new art recognition program created exclusively for FCPS teen artists in grades 7–12 enrolled in visual art programs. Designed to honor artistic excellence, creative growth, and student voice, ARTiFAX highlights the depth and diversity of visual arts education across the school division.

This new recognition program was imagined, designed, and produced by the visual arts team in the fine arts office and middle school and high school art department chairs. We could not have done this without the incredible support of our art faculty across grade levels. They served as judges, digital asset processors, installation teams,  members of the ceremony workforce and most importantly facilitators assisting and encouraging students as they submitted their artwork. It was a monumental undertaking that began in August.

The ARTiFAX Awards recognizes exceptional achievement to student-submitted artworks. Submissions were reviewed and judged across a range of categories, including Artistry, Authentic Voice, Collaborative Artwork, Creative Process, Cultural Context, Emerging Artist, Reflective Voice, Senior Portfolios, and Thematic Concept, ensuring that both technical skill and meaningful artistic intent were celebrated.

In addition to category awards, every participating school selected a “Best In School” honoree, further emphasizing the program’s commitment to recognizing excellence at the school level while elevating student artists countywide.

An exhibition featuring award-winning ARTiFAX artworks will be on view at Northern Virginia Community College’s Ernst Community Cultural Center in Annandale from February 12 through March 13. The ARTiFAX Awards Ceremony and reception was held this past  Wednesday, February 25. It was graciously supported by our community! Standing room only left in the auditorium during the ceremony. 

ARTiFAX affirms Fairfax County Public Schools’ ongoing commitment to arts education and to providing meaningful platforms that recognize, support, and amplify the creative voices of young artists.

Life in the City

I am so proud to be part of the Capitol Hill Art League’s 15th Annual Open Call exhibition, Living in the City, a group show featuring artwork and photographs by local artists—and I’m especially thrilled that my son, also an artist, will have a piece included in the exhibition as well. The reception will be held at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop on February 7. Juror and curator Barbara Januszkiewicz will discuss the theme and selected works. Join us for an evening of art and community!

Living in the City celebrates the vibrancy and many facets of urban life through a carefully curated exhibition that includes painting, photography, sculpture, works on paper, and multimedia pieces.

FEBRUARY 2 – APRIL 3, 2026

Where: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop

545 7th St SE, Washington DC 20003

Opening Reception: Saturday February 7th from 5:30-7:00 pm

Webinar this Week! Convention 101: Navigating the NAEA26 Experience

This year, the National Art Education Association’s national convention is in Chicago, bringing together art educators from across the country for three inspiring days, March 5–7. Teachers, artists, leaders, and advocates will converge to share ideas, celebrate creative practice, and engage in meaningful professional learning that strengthens art education nationwide. 

The convention will also feature a remarkable trifecta of keynote artists—Bisa Butler, Yvette Mayorga, and Jeffrey Gibson—alongside so many incredible presentations, workshops, meetings, and museum events. The local artist series is chalk full of the finest contemporary artists in the Chicago area: Shannon Downey, Riva Lehrer, Faheem Majeed, Damon Lamar Reed, and Tonika Lewis Johnson. 

I am so honored to have served as a co-coordinator with my friend and colleague, Libya Doman, for this year’s convention. We are looking forward to discussing all the exciting happenings both during the conference and around the city alongside our IAEA colleagues. Join us this Thursday afternoon online as we share all things NAEA convention and Chicago!

Register Here : NAEA Open Studio Conversation | Convention 101: Navigating the NAEA26 Experience

Pink Ambition

 As 2025 came to a close, NAEA announced its annual Member Art Exhibition. I am so tickled to have been selected to exhibit alongside such an inspiring group of art educators whose creative practices continue to shape classrooms and communities across the country. NAEA received 356 entries, with just 70 artworks jury selected for inclusion, making this opportunity feel especially meaningful. Being part of this exhibition is a celebration of both personal studio practice and a shared commitment to artmaking, teaching, and continuous creative growth.

Pink Ambition 

This work is inspired by the vision of feminine leadership: bold yet compassionate. The pink bullseye on the Capitol symbolizes hope for a future where women uplift women, and power is guided by empathy. Art matters because it imagines possibilities, challenges systems, and points us toward a kinder world.

To enjoy the exhibition, visit the newly designed NAEA website. 

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center Annual 10 x 10!

What a fabulous opportunity! I’m so delighted to be part of this season’s 10 x 10 Exhibition and Sale. With 300 artists participating, the show is wonderfully dynamic — and the best part is that you can purchase these artworks at an incredible value.

I have two pieces in the exhibition. Orange You Worried? is a collage originally created for the Orange Monster show at the Kolaj Institute in New Orleans earlier this fall. I also contributed Queen’s Catacomb, a piece inspired by my exhilarating week as a studio assistant at the John C. Campbell Folk School. This curio is built from a squash blossom container structure, one of the forms we taught during the workshop.

Check out all the details here! 

Making Things...

I recently had the privilege of spending a week at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina, serving as the studio assistant for a dear friend as she taught a weeklong Creative Containers course. We arrived not quite knowing what to expect, but fully energized by the promise of a new adventure.

What we discovered was a remarkable experience. The Folk School’s guiding tenets—joy, kindness, stewardship, and a non-competitive spirit—shaped every part of our week. These values foster a nurturing atmosphere where creativity flourishes, and the sense of community is resounding. It may have rained everyday we were there (except the last day) but that did not impact the level of joy for making! The artists in our class were incredibly prolific, often returning to the studio after dinner to continue their work. 

It was an honor to be part of such a meaningful, collaborative space, and I left invigorated with appreciation for the way art-making can bring people together.