This style, free and spontaneous, was complimentary to the way I had been taught to think about art: that art came from the purest, truest and most spontaneous part of ourselves. sissysfolkart.com Sissy Cutchen I started folk art painting while living in the Deep South. Southern folk artists like Mose T. who painted on what I call “reckless mediums (old wood, and fallen house shingles) inspired me. This style, free and spontaneous, was complimentary to the way I had been taught to think about art: that art came from the purest, truest and most spontaneous part of ourselves. So on the eve of my fortieth birthday I was sitting in a dental chair in Montgomery, Alabama and I hated what they were doing to me. The equipment was outdated and the whole thing made me think that I couldn’t possibly turn forty betraying my inner voice. So, I leapt out of the dental chair and went home and started painting. And while I did in fact return to a better dentist, I never stopped painting. I studied science, but have always been an artist. I am from the San Francisco Bay Area. My Bachelor’s Degree is in biology. I married a naval aviator and traveled extensively. In our travels I have been inspired to create. My creations are in collections all over the world. I have had a recent solo show at the Children’s Museum of Virginia; exhibited at the National Museum for Women in the Arts; I am a lifetime member of the Torpedo Factory in the Washington D.C. area; I have pieces in notable collections. Even First Lady Laura Bush has received a Sissy Painting as a birthday gift.

Saya Behnam is an Iranian-American artist with more than 20 years of experience in fine art. She lives in Virginia, and her studio is at Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. Seya Behnam https://www.sbehnam.com/ Saya Behnam is an Iranian-American artist with more than 20 years of experience in fine art. She lives in Virginia, and her studio is at Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. Her art practice is inspired by nature. She believes in and practices Biophilic Design, which recognizes how much human physical and mental well-being relies on the quality of our relationships with the natural world. By using natural elements and inspiration from nature, she likes to juxtapose time and space, birth and death, and sacred or fractal geometry patterns observed in natural forms for the structures of growth, energy, decay, chaos, and order. By creating her handmade colors and inks from minerals, fresh or dried flowers, spices, plants, earth stones, and other pigments —the medium intelligence, an essential aspect of her creative process—they aren't just mediums. Those are parts of places and time. Furthermore, they produce different colors in response to weather, soil, and location. Since they are specific to the moment, time, and environment they were created, each is unique and can never be replicated. They become singular visual aesthetic records of that unique location and time. Collections : Her artworks are in the following collections: The US Embassy in Nicosia / Cyprus The Martin Luther King Jr Library in Washington, DC -The Department of Public Works The DC Commission on the Art and Humanities -The office of Councilmember Brooke Pinto, The law firm of Wiley Rein LLP, Washington DC And many other private collectors. Awards : She was the Global Art Awards finalist in 2017 and 2018 by the Middle East Art Collector Association (MACA) and the Wall Street Journal in Dubai, Honorable mention at Hermes Creative Awards 2015 Bronze Spotlight award. LACP (League of American Communications Professionals) Highlighted Exhibitions: To name some of her recent shows in the last ten years are; Commission of the Art and Humanities in Washington DC (2021 and 2022, 2023) Hilton Alexandria, through Torpedo Factory Art Center (2022) The Mansion at Strathmore (2021) Art Basel Miami (2017) Artist's Proof Gallery in Georgetown (from 2014- 2021) Hill Center in Washington DC 2015 The Fantasy of Light and Life Minerals and botanical, 48 x 48 Entering Cosmic Consciousness Minerals and Botanical, 40 x 40 Blue Meditation Paper Minerals, 30 x 30 Explosion of Light 60x35_Minerals and botanical, 60 x 35

Her interest lies in exploring the unique nature of different shapes and their relation to one another—and the feelings that conveys. suecanutesonart.com Sue Canuteson Sue Canuteson is a non-objective mixed media artist. Organic shapes and lines as well as her innate marks are her primary inspiration. Her interest lies in exploring the unique nature of different shapes and their relation to one another—and the feelings that conveys. She is also fascinated by all kinds of lines and the impactful way they contribute to a composition. She is particularly drawn to the colors, marks and patterns in early African art and sees that influence in some of her work. To see Sue's work in person, please stop by Studio 340 in the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Vessels Mems Marks Symbols 11 In My Travels The Ladder Home

TFAA Art Patron Membership Donate and Join! Support the arts by donating and joining TFAA as an Art Patron. Any member of the public who donates $50 or more is eligible to become an Art Patron of TFAA. Art Patron Memberships offer the opportunity to engage in the vibrant Alexandria art community through public exhibitions, community programming, art demonstrations, and special events. Join now! Bronze Members Bronze Patron Members are those who donate between $50 and $250 to support TFAA. Bronze members will receive invitations to members only events; Receive 10% off of all TFAA Gift Shop Purchases for one year; and Free registration for one year to submit work for TFAA's annual "Amateur Art Open," a juried exhibition opportunity in TFAA's Virtualis Online Gallery. June Y un Donate Now Silver Members Delna Dastur Donate Now Silver Patron Members are those who donate between $251 and $500 to support TFAA. Silver members will receive invitations to members only events; Receive 10% off of all TFAA Gift Shop Purchases for one year; Free registration for one year to submit work for TFAA's annual "Amateur Art Open," a juried exhibition opportunity in TFAA's Virtualis Online Gallery; and Free Access to TFAA Subscriber-only video content for one year. Gold Members are those who donate over $500 to support TFAA. Gold members will receive invitations to members only events; Receive 10% off of all TFAA Gift Shop Purchases for one year; Free registration for one year to submit work for TFAA's annual "Amateur Art Open," a juried exhibition opportunity in TFAA's Virtualis Online Gallery; Receive free access to TFAA Subscriber-only video content for one year; and Free attendance at a TFAA "Sip and Paint Art Workshop" led by TFAA Artists. Gold Members Karen Tyler Donate Now

June seeks to understand how communication in all its forms, with strangers and loved ones, across different timelines and mechanisms, shape our identities and understanding of the world.  artistjuneyun.com June Yun June Yun started her career as a fashion designer and has been exhibiting her work globally over the past decade, showcasing her art in locations such as Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago, Singapore, and Seoul. June currently has a permanent exhibit at Neiman Marcus in Tysons Galleria VA, the LG headquarters, and Ewha University Woman’s Cancer Center in Seoul. Her recent “LOVE - A Message in a Bottle” series explores how we use communication as a survival mechanism during challenging times. Using mixed media such as magazines, newspapers, poetry, real gold and silver, copper leaves, and paint on wooden canvases. June seeks to understand how communication in all its forms, with strangers and loved ones, across different timelines and mechanisms, shape our identities and understanding of the world. Climate change, and our generation’s emotions surrounding it, are also themes of June’s work. She wishes all the negative vibes would fade individually and globally. “We must work together to find healing and welcome a radiant citrus Spring. A new beginning for us all.”

Welcome to the Torpedo Factory Artists Association! Working Artists! Open Studio! Art in Progress and Person Experience Art Being Made Visit the Torpedo Factory Art Center to meet artists and enjoy the creation of art in the largest collection of open studios in the country. Torpedo Factory Artist Association includes painters, potters, glass artists, weavers, fiber artists, print makers, jewelers, sculptors, photographers and so much more! We will show you how we create our work. Come see live art demonstrations seven days a week 10 am-6 pm. Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, Virginia. About TFAA Meet Artists TFAA Programs

My seascapes and landscapes are semi-abstract, extemporaneous and expressionistic. A certain amount of ambivalence invites viewers to interact with their own imaginations, while being grounded in an expression of nature. LomanginoArt.com Donna Lomangino My seascapes and landscapes are semi-abstract, extemporaneous and expressionistic. A certain amount of ambivalence invites viewers to interact with their own imaginations, while being grounded in an expression of nature. Having a studio in the Torpedo Factory has allowed me to achieve a lifetime dream of being a full-time artist, and the opportunity to meet many art lovers. Please visit me in Studio 322, my website is: www.LomanginoArt.com .

Volunteer as a Docent with TFAA As a docent, you will serve as a vital ambassador for the Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association, helping visitors feel welcomed, informed, and engaged. Your role is to enhance the public’s experience by offering insights into the art, artists, and history of the Torpedo Factory. Responsibilities include: Greeting Visitors: Offer a warm welcome and orient guests to the space. Sharing Information: Provide details about TFAA artists, current exhibitions, and special programs. Giving Context: Share the history and mission of the Torpedo Factory and its role in the local art scene. Answering Questions: Be a helpful and friendly resource for guests with inquiries. Event Support: Assist with special events and tours as needed. Maintaining Presence: Help ensure the space feels vibrant, safe, and accessible to all visitors. Time Commitment: Flexible scheduling based on your availability; even a few hours a month can make a big impact. Ideal Candidates: Friendly, dependable individuals who enjoy interacting with the public and have an interest in the arts (no formal art background required). Training and resources will be provided—just bring your enthusiasm! If interested, please fill out this Google Form!

I hope my work allows feelings or emotions to surface without instruction. I usually start with questions, but they never really resolve into clear answers. The work is nothing or everything. For me, it’s therapeutic, a way to externalize and tuck small pieces away in the world. Teyo I'm an acrylic painter based at Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria. I hope my work allows feelings or emotions to surface without instruction. I usually start with questions, but they never really resolve into clear answers. The work is nothing or everything. For me, it’s therapeutic, a way to externalize and tuck small pieces away in the world.

Living in the Washington, D.C. area since 1992, Abol Bahadori was born in Tabriz, the capital city of Iranian Azerbaijan and the historical cradle of motifs and miniatures, his childhood inspirations. Abol Bahadori abolart.com Living in the Washington, D.C. area since 1992, Abol Bahadori was born in Tabriz, the capital city of Iranian Azerbaijan and the historical cradle of motifs and miniatures, his childhood inspirations. He started painting at a very early age and won the “Best Young Artist” prize presented by the local schools at age nine. He studied art in his hometown and later in Manchester, U.K. His childhood colors and memories still show up in his paintings and always as elements of surprise to his own eyes. Abol obtained his bachelor’s in fine arts and master’s in Textile Design from the University of Manchester, U.K. He is a full-time artist and creative consultant recognized with many local and international awards for his innovative work. “I explore the space between the recognizable and unfamiliar, serving as a medium to unveil the unknown or forgotten. Success in my art lies in viewers finding their unique stories within, forging a profound connection to self and the universe. Color, prioritized over shape and form, is paramount, shaping space and dimension and evoking deep emotions.” Oldtown Portal 36 x 24 Mixed media on wood Mise-en-scene 20 x 24 Mixed media on wood Undercurrent 20 x 20 Mixed media on wood Hall to Balcony 20 x 20 Mixed media on canvas

Heasoon is a textile artist known for blending culture, nature, and craftsmanship into her art. Originally from Korea, she moved to the U.S. in 1980 to study textile chemistry. bettlehouse.com Heasoon Rhee Heasoon is a textile artist known for blending culture, nature, and craftsmanship into her art. Originally from Korea, she moved to the U.S. in 1980 to study textile chemistry. At first, she worked in research labs and chemical manufacturing, but her true passion was always textile design. Since 1995, Heasoon has been creating unique wearable art. A major turning point in her career came when she wove her mother's shroud out of silk, which shifted her focus from cotton to silk. The delicate, slippery nature of silk posed a challenge, but it became a perfect metaphor for the deeper stories she wanted to tell through her work. Using a digital Jacquard loom, Heasoon creates decorative wall hangings that combine tradition with modern technology. Jacquard weaving has a long history, but recent advancements in small-scale, hand-operated looms have made it accessible to artists like her. With the help of software like Photoshop, she designs intricate weaving patterns. However, the real magic happens when the design comes to life through the loom, turning digital ideas into tactile art. In Korea, tapestry art wasn’t as prominent as embroidery, which inspired Heasoon to use Jacquard weaving to reinterpret traditional Korean paintings. She creates vivid, figurative tapestries that bring new life to old cultural stories. Her work has been showcased at major events like the Smithsonian Craft Show and the Philadelphia Art Museum Craft Show. She’s known for the complexity and cultural depth of her pieces. One of her standout works, which uses the Jacquard loom to create dual images, even earned her the Complex Weavers Award from the Handweavers Guild of America. Infinity Scarf Decorative 2 Jacket Scarf

I work in both woven fiber and kiln formed glass, and color, color interaction, pattern, texture and optical effects are the most important aspects of my work. .ruthgowell.com Ruth Gowell My work is influenced by Op Art, Washington Color School artists and Scandinavian design. I work in both woven fiber and kiln formed glass, and color, color interaction, pattern, texture and optical effects are the most important aspects of my work. The weaving preceded the glass by 30 years so it was a huge influence on the glass, but as I have worked with the glass I have found that it has changed my work in fiber and now I am working to unify the two bodies of work in a number of ways. I am interested in color that moves (Leon Berkowitz is my favorite of the Washington Color School artists). I dye the yarn in color progressions and layer the warps so that I can produce many color interactions. I'm drawn to Op Art because of the movement and my work uses the bubbles in the glass to distort pattern both in fiber and glass. The simplicity of Scandinavian design is important to me (I learned to weave as an apprentice in Denmark) and I strive to create well designed yet complex work. I am in Studio #6 at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Striped Series,#18 10"w x 15"h x 1"d Hand-dyed and hand-woven fabric with Kiln-formed glass (2024) Optical Study #23 9.5"w x 9.5"h x 4.25"d, Kiln-formed glass (2023) Series II, #14 14"w x 15"h x 1"d, Kiln-formed glass combined with a collaged weaving hung behind the glass (2024) Optical Study in Fiber and Glass,#15 14"w x 17"h x 2"d, Woven hand-dyed rayon yarn in a 5 layer warp face weave with incorporated glass, Framed (2024)