Art on the Block event highlights Occoquan's local talent

Occoquan might be a small town, but it's bursting with art and creativ­ity.

The community's four art galleries — Kelly's Artbox, Art a la Carte, The Loft Gallery and the Artists' Undertak­ing Gallery — welcome the public to their creative enclaves with Art on the Block from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Each merchant can be found on the 300 block of Mill Street.

"Occoquan really is an artists' com­munity," said Kelly Campbell, shop owner and artist at Kelly's Artbox. "Even with the Workhouse [Arts Cen­ter] right around the corner in Lorton, it's all a part of who we are. We're all so different. It might seem like a com­petition, but this gives us a chance to show off our work collectively."

Art on the Block was developed by David and Jane Ernst, two local artists currently featured at the Artists' Un­dertaking Gallery who created a col­lective event to showcase the work at Occoquan's galleries. More than 60 lo­cal artists will be on display in several different mediums.

Each gallery will host a reception with several artists to discuss their work and answer questions.

"When you think of an art gallery, you might think of these pristine plac­es where it's very quiet and no one's talking," said Elisabeth Hudgins, one of 15 member artists at the Artists' Undertaking Gallery. "Here, we love to talk. We love the chance to talk about our work and what we do."

Hudgins is one of the newest mem­bers of the gallery and said the variety of what can be found not only at that location, but in Occoquan in general, makes her happy to be a part of this unique art community.

"Occoquan isn't a place where you'll find a bunch of chain stores selling the same thing," she said.

"You can come here and find something unique and different. You get something here, and you know you won't see the exact same thing in a neighbor's home.

"What I love about our gallery is you have all the two-dimensional pieces — the paintings, the photography — but you also have these amazing three-dimensional pieces as well, with pottery, wood, jewelry and cop­per works," Hudgins continued.

Kelly's Artbox is equally diverse, made up of a variety of Campbell's different creations – a hodgepodge of jewelry, photographs, murals and more. Initially, she tried to sign on with a local cooperative art gallery but found that she could do what she wanted in her own space. 

“I do it all. I’ve got no real niche,” she said. “People come here and see a little bit of everything. It’s so different because I get bored so easily.” 

Campbell says she seldom sells her pieces off the wall. She refers to her work as a living portfolio that shows off her work. Interested patrons can view her work in a and work with her to develop personalized creations instead. 

Scarfmaker Anne Alden is one of the featured artists at Art a la Carte, a gallery also runs the gamut in its offerings from woodworks to jewelry and photography. Alden learned to knit as a Girl Scout, then rediscovered the hobby after retirement. She later took her scarf-making to the next level by joining a craft show, then joining the Northern Virginia Handcrafter’s Guild. 

“Most of us [at the gallery] are members, and the other half are probably across the street [at other galleries],” Alden said with a laugh. “We’re all very friendly about it.”

The uniqueness of each gallery is a collective boon for the town, and Art on the Block is a way to show what’s available should they choose to venture through the town. 

“It’s not just for [the galleries], but all the shops here in Occoquan,” Campbell said. “This will showcase how much local talent we have. But we’re also very social here, and this is a way to bring new people into our town.” 

Staff writer Tamika Matthews can be reached at 703-530-3909.