SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
Washington, DC
Adams Davidson Galleries
American and European art, by appointment
2727 29th Street, NW, Suite 504;
202-965-3800; www.adgal.com
Carroll Square Gallery
Contemporary art curated by Hemphill Fine Arts
975 F Street, NW; 202-638-3000; www.carrollsquare.com
September 10-November 19:
City of Trees: Photographs by Allen Russ. A portion of the proceeds benefits The Trust for the National Mall.
Conner Contemporary Art
Abstract art and Realism
1358 Florida Avenue, NE; 202-588-8750; www.connercontemporary.com
September 11-October 23:
John Kirchner; John Stark and Susan MacWilliam solo exhibitions
Foxhall Gallery
A variety of contemporary works
3301 New Mexico Avenue, NW;
202-966-7144; www.foxhallgallery.com
September: Joe Fitzgerald
October-early November: Dede Caughman, De Beard Dean
Guarisco Gallery
19th- and early 20th-century European
and American paintings and sculpture
1120 22nd Street, NW; 202-333-8533; www.guariscogallery.com
Hemphill Fine Arts
Works of emerging and established artists
1515 14th Street, NW; 202-234-5601; www.hemphillfinearts.com
September 11-October 30: Renée Stout: The House of Chance and Mischief
Irvine Contemporary
Contemporary art from early and mid-career artists
1412 14th Street, NW; 202-332-8767; www.irvinecontemporary.com
September 11-October 16: Bruno Perillo – New paintings
September 11-October 16: Phil Nesmith – Flow
Touchstone Gallery
Artist-owned gallery of contemporary works
901 New York Avenue, NW; 202-347-2787; www.touchstonegallery.com
Through September 26:Member show: Presenting work from 50 gallery artists
September 10, 6-8:30 pm: Grand opening of new exhibition space
Through October 3: Carol Lopatin, Limpia Canyon, East
Zenith Gallery
Paintings, sculptures, tapestries and more
available in person and online
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW;
202-783-2963; www.zenithgallery.com
Through September 30: Transparency glass sculptures by Jackie L. Braitman
Dupont Circle
Gallery 10, Ltd.
Artist-owned gallery of both member and non-member works
1519 Connecticut Avenue, NW; 202-232-3326; www.gallery10dc.com
September 1-25: George Iso and Judith Richelieu
September 29-October 30: Margaret Paris and Group
Kathleen Ewing Gallery
Vintage and contemporary photographs; Saturdays 12 to 5 or by appointment
3615 Ordway Street, NW; 202-328-0955; www.kathleenewinggallery.com
Georgetown
Addison/Ripley Fine Art
Contemporary works of local and national artists
1670 Wisconsin Avenue, NW; 202-338-5180; www.addisonripleyfineart.com
September 11-October 23: Nancy Sansom Reynolds: Sculpture – the 2nd element: stratus series
October 30-December 4: Frank Hallam Day: Photography – RV
Cross MacKenzie Ceramic Arts
Local and national ceramic artists, painters, photographers, potters and sculptors
1054 31st Street, NW (Canal Square);
202-333-7970;
www.crossmackenzieceramicarts.com
September 17: Opening – Kathy Erteman, sculpture, vessels, tiles
October 15: Sarah Lindley, ceramic furniture
October 22: Book signing for architect Dhiru Thadani
November 19: Opening – Serve it Forth: Group show of serving platters
Georgetown Frame Shoppe
Lithographs, etchings and lithocuts from contemporary and modern artists
29021⁄2 M Street, NW; 202-338-1097; www.georgetownframeshoppe.com
Parish Gallery
Contemporary visual arts by African-American and local artists
1054 31st Street, NW (Canal Square);
202-944-2310; www.parishgallery.com
September 17-October 12: Under Surveillance, Harriet Laser and Cleve Overton paintings and sculptures
The Ralls Collection
Contemporary photography, painting, works on paper and sculpture
1516 31st Street, NW; 202-342-1754;
www.rallscollection.com
September: Group show
October-November: Trojan War Years, David Richardson
Virginia
Applegate Gallery and Custom Framing
Paintings, photographs and glass
101 Church Street, Suite C, Vienna;
703-281-1364; www.applegateframing.com
Through September 22: Catherine Hillis watercolors
October 23-November 17: Mary Louise Ravese, new photographs
Art First Gallery
Variety of genres and media in Fredericksburg’s first established artists’ cooperative
824 Carolina Street, Fredericksburg;
540-371-7107; www.artfirstgallery.com
ArtSquare
Combines Gallery 222, King Street Studios and the Loudoun Academy of the Arts to showcase local art
12 Cardinal Park Drive SE, Leesburg;
703-777-8043; www.loudounacademy.org
September: French suite paintings by
Sherry Zvares Sanabria; The Figure in the Landscape, paintings by Michael Beckner
Berkley Gallery
Traditional American sculpture and paintings
31 and 40 Main Street, Warrenton;
540-341-7367; www.berkleygallery.com
Chasen Galleries
Rotating collection of sculpture, art books, glass art and paintings
3554 West Cary Street, Richmond;
800-524-2736; www.chasengalleries.com
Alexandria
Amy K. Tubbs Studio
Murals and custom painting
703-587-2610; www.amytubbs-studio.com
Gallery West
Paintings, photographs, jewelry and digital art
1213 King Street; 703-549-6006; www.gallery-west.com
The Torpedo Factory Art Center
Three floors of galleries and open studios
105 North Union Street; 703-838-4565;
www.torpedofactory.org
October 2-31: Shaun Richards: 2010 Open Exhibition winner
November 4-21: Small works in photography
David Cochran – Commissioned family portraits and murals. Studio 317; 703-684-7855; www.davidcochran.com
Tory Cowles – Large abstract paintings
on canvas. Studio 7; 301-983-2167; www.torycowles.com
Carol Lopatin – Specializing in landscape paintings. Studio 301; 703-683-3535;
www.carollopatin.com
Maryland
Gallery 44
International artwork and an extensive framing selection of more than 3,000 moldings
9469 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City;
410-465-5200; www.gallery44.com
October 9: Aubrey Nibert
South Street Art Gallery
Contemporary artwork emphasizing the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern
Shore regions
5 South Street, Easton; 410-770-8350; www.southstreetartgallery.com
September 4-27: One Thousand Glances, solo exhibit by Louis Escobedo
October 1-November 8: Tenth anniversary celebration featuring gallery artists
November 13-29: Mastery of the landscape, Tim Bell and Ed Cooper
Troika Gallery
Artwork by the owners and other regional, national and international artists
9 South Harrison Street, Easton;
410-770-9190; www.troikagallery.com
October 1-November 8: Matt Zoll
November 12: Gala anniversary group show: Champagne reception 5-9 pm
Wow! Effects
Hand-painted murals and decorative
finishes by Tom Taylor Services throughout Maryland, DC and Virginia;
410-903-7696; www.woweffects.com
Annapolis
American Craftworks Collection
Fine crafts handmade in Maryland and nationally
189B Main Street; 410-626-1583;
www.americancraftworkscollection.com
Throughout October: A glass exhibit by the National Capital Art Glass Guild
McBride Gallery
Paintings, bronze sculpture, original graphics and sepia photography
215 Main Street; 410-267-7077;
www.mcbridegallery.com
September 12-October 3: Third annual “The Best of the Chesapeake” group show
October 24-November 14: Autumn Celebration of Art
For more information on galleries in Annapolis, visit www.artinannapolis.com.
Baltimore
Baltimore Clayworks
A non-profit ceramic art center
5707 Smith Avenue; 410-578-1919;
www.baltimoreclayworks.org
October 2-November 13: Body and Soul
Meredith Gallery
Emerging and established American artists
805 N. Charles Street; 410-837-3575; www.meredithgallery.com
Renaissance Fine Arts
Traditional and contemporary works on canvas, paper and in sculpture
1848 Reisterstown Road; 410-484-8900; www.renaissancefinearts.com
October 7-12: Original works by Craig Alan
October 22-November 1: Fall 2010 Vintage Poster Show
November 4-9: Original works by Jennifer Hollack
Bethesda
Discovery Galleries
Limited-edition prints, paintings, sculptures, art books and custom framing
4840 Bethesda Avenue; 301-913-9199; www.discoverygalleries.com
September: Jay Scott Nicol
October: Rob Gonsalves
November: John Payne
Discovery Too
Additional location for Discovery Galleries
7247 Woodmont Avenue; 301-913-9101; www.discoverygalleries.com
Fraser Gallery
Photography and contemporary Realism from local, national and international artists
7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E;
301-718-9651; www.thefrasergallery.com
Through November 6, 2010: Maxwell MacKenzie – New work: aerial photographs of Vermont, Virginia and Minnesota, made from his self-piloted powered-parachute ultra-light aircraft
Gallery Neptune
Artwork from the mid-Atlantic region
5001 Wilson Lane; 301-718-0809; www.galleryneptune.com
Renaissance Fine Arts
Traditional and contemporary works on canvas, paper and in sculpture
10307 Old Georgetown Road; 301-564-4447
www.renaissancefinearts.com
September 23-27: Original works by Craig Alan
October 8-18: Fall 2010 Vintage Poster Show
October 21-26: Original works by Jennifer Hollack
Waverly Street Gallery
Contemporary and traditional art
4600 East-West Highway; 301-951-9441; www.waverlystreetgallery.com
September 7-October 2: Passing Visions: Paintings by Pat Silbert
October 5-November 6: Western Landscape: Abstraction Squared,
Mina Oka Hanig Paintings
November 9-December 4: Photographs by Dick Lasner
December 7-January 1: Multimedia members holiday exhibition
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
With summer drawing to a close, thoughts of the al fresco life will soon be replaced by falling leaves and temperatures. But while the summer mindset may be gone, your outdoor living space isn’t: Fall is a great time to think about redesigning the landscape. From picturesque pools to ultra-cool kitchens, the possibilities are endless—and with proper planning, you can realize them all by the time summer rolls around. In case inspiration provides incentive, we profile four recently completed backyard transformations below, along with the landscape plans for seven other projects. We also include tips from landscape designers on how to proceed—food for thought as autumn leaves begin to fall.
Family Friendly
Inspired by warm memories of childhood gatherings poolside, a McLean, Virginia, couple wanted to create an outdoor space that would bring their family together. Unfortunately, poor drainage was an obstacle; the site was flat except for upward slopes on the property lines, which caused the water from two neighboring lots to pour into the yard whenever it rained. The homeowners turned to landscape architect Anthony Cusat of McHale Landscape, Inc. in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to improve the space.
Cusat’s first step was to work with the couple to discover their overall vision for the project. He emphasizes the importance of a master plan for people looking to transform their outdoor spaces. “Make a plan—everything you really want to do,” he says.
“When evaluating budget opportunities, a landscape architect can recommend what needs to be done first while keeping the ultimate goal in mind.”
Once the main goals were established, Cusat broke the project into phases, the first of which was the construction of a large-scale stucco retaining wall around the property—part of the drainage solution. Phase two: the addition of a gunite pool with a pea-gravel deck and a patio hardscape of two-by-two-foot flagstones separated by organic joints and mondo grass. A pergola offers an elegant outdoor room, complete with fireplace, furniture, accessories and even a chandelier. “[The clients] were really into the ornamentation of the project,” says Cusat. “I was able to showcase some of their favorite heirloom pieces within the design.”
One of the challenges of the project was that the main access point was just six feet wide, so workers had trouble bringing materials and machinery into the yard. According to Cusat, having as much information as possible is crucial in avoiding similar issues. Providing grading plans, residential plats and documentation of previous work can speed up the design process, make primary measuring faster and give the designer a clearer picture of what will and will not work in the area. “If you have information, work can be expedited,” says Cusat.
Backyard Bonanza
After moving to a new home in Leesburg, Pennsylvania, the homeowners found their backyard a little stark. The neighborhood had been a hayfield, so the land was flat and—post construction—bare. The clients hired landscape designer Josh Kane, head designer of Kane Landscapes, Inc., in Potomac Falls, Virginia, to inject some life into the dull three-acre expanse. The result was a brand new outdoor living space featuring a porch, swimming pool, pavilion, flower and fruit gardens and a spacious lawn.
According to Kane, the first meeting is crucial in creating clear communication for the project. “Be prepared for the level of detail wanted and [to explain] how the space will be used,” he advises. Homeowners should bring in pictures that show the look they desire, in order to avoid any miscommunication about expectations.
In this case, the homeowners did not create a budget, but Kane recommends at least having one in mind. If there’s a budget, he says, “your designer won’t over-design and exceed it or under-design and leave the client with less than they imagined.”
During construction, Kane ran into several unexpected obstacles. The proposed area for the pool turned out to contain filler soil from construction, which meant it was too soft; Kane’s team had to dig deeper than previously planned in order to reach ground firm enough for the pool foundation. There was also a septic field that they had to work around to ensure no lines were ruptured. Kane’s advice for homeowners planning to install a swimming pool? “Make sure you have a copy of the home plat so you can see if a pool can actually be built in the space.”
The completed area begins with the upper patio, which has been outfitted as a formal entertaining area; here, dining furniture and a Viking grill sit atop a floor of broken bluestone. The lower patio is paved in broken bluestone, and an adjacent îpe-floored pavilion offers space to relax or entertain. Pennsylvania boulders guide the way to the swimming pool, decked with Techo-Bloc Athena pavers. Myriad plants, including crape myrtles, Yoshino cherry trees and dozens of perennials, adorn the property.
A Room with a View
While the owners of a Prince William County home were happy with their existing pool, they had issues with just about every other aspect of their property, which was inconveniently sloped and—with woods all around—allowed the local deer population free reign. They hired Howard Cohen of Surrounds Landscaping in Sterling, Virginia, to tackle the task of designing a landscape they could fully enjoy.
“Because of the sloped land, the patio and pool area were not really connected,” Cohen recalls. “A big part of the job was to improve the connection.” Cohen and his team began by replacing a perilously steep stairway that led from the patio, at house level, down to the pool below. The new stairway is far less steep, and wider to accommodate a more comfortable passage down.
The other major component of the project was the construction of a spacious, outdoor covered area for entertaining. Cohen designed this structure as a focal point of the property, erecting it on the spot where the patio had been. “We built it 10 feet off the ground,” he says. “It’s sited to overlook everything—the pool area, the woods and the house.” At 450 square feet, the space includes a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area and separate seating by a stone fireplace. In the area between the outdoor room and the house, a concrete patio with a water feature connects the spaces.
The solution to the deer problem was dramatic: a 10-foot wall around the perimeter of the yard—and deer-resistant plantings everywhere for good measure. To further integrate the property, Cohen matched the stone veneer on the side of the house, using it for the new pool coping as well as for the outdoor room. “Work with a landscape architect on custom projects,” he advises. “He’ll be able to put together a homogeneous design.” —Julie Sanders
Open Season
A St. Margaret’s, Maryland, couple had landscaped their backyard, but were not satisfied with the results. Four years later, they decided to revisit the project, this time under the auspices of Annapolis-based Walnut Hill Landscapes, Inc. The goal was to add some drama to the space and to create flow between areas.
Walnut Hill principal Mike Prokopchak began by replacing the old wooden deck with a new, gracefully curved version made of a synthetic, wood-like material that is maintenance-free. He topped it with a loggia—thereby creating a focal point to the yard.
“You need a designer who’s creative,” Prokopchak says. “A good listener who can take what you say and turn it into something special.”
The deck now contains an outdoor kitchen and bar, plus dining and sitting areas; a fire pit was installed nearby. Prokopchak’s team widened the stairs from the deck down to the existing pool and replaced white picket deck rails with glass ones to create a sense of openness.
“It was a challenge to make the property feel large enough to entertain in—which the clients wanted—but not overwhelming,” Prokopchak says. “It’s important to make sure your space is well-planned beforehand so that it accommodates your life the way you want it to.” A good rule of thumb, he adds, is to visit a landscape company’s previous jobs to get a feel for each space; this will help you decide what will work for you.
The other challenge was to match the new materials to the existing ones, so that the design felt seamless, “as if it was all done at once.” For example, the stone on the bar matches the fire pit, and both match the existing spa portion of the swimming pool. Finally, large-scale plantings such as crape myrtle enhance the sense of timelessness in what is now a fully integrated design. —J.S.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and landscape design ideas. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas, and outdoor spaces to life.