<lst>Saks Fifth Avenue at Tysons Galleria is sponsoring a cocktail reception and art event featuring Virginia and Maryland artists to benefit the Save the Children Asia Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Fund. The event will takes place from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb 24, on the store's third floor. Featured artists include the Creative Edge, an artists' colony on Maryland's Eastern Shore, and honored guests include former Washington Redskin Darrell Green; diplomats from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Tanzania; and Washington-area state and local government officials. Indonesian and Thai dancers will entertain. Refreshments donated by various local establishments.
The $100 ticket price is tax-deductible and goes directly to the Save the Children fund. Also, 25 percent of art sales and 10 percent of store sales made during the event will be donated to the fund.
"Child prodigy" artist, 19-year-old Alexandra Nechita brings her newest paintings and her message of peace to McLean Saturday, Feb 26 from 6-9 p.m. at Tyson's Galleria II in the Wentworth Gallery, 1731 N. International Drive. Nechita's work has been displayed throughout the world, including exhibitions in Romania, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, France, England, Singapore, Japan and New Zealand. Her art is in the collections of dozens of museums worldwide, including the Vatican Collection in Rome and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
Art Classes. The Great Falls Art Center provides weekly classes in drawing, oil painting, pottery, sculpture and art history for children over 6, teenagers, adults and seniors at its Walker Road studio in Great Falls. All teachers are well-trained, experienced, professional art teachers. For a class schedule, call 703-759-3867 or e-mail greatfallsart@yahoo.com. Activities of the GFAC are supported, in part, by the Arts Council of Fairfax County.
"Red Clay Blues," sculptures from domestic implements and other found objects that reflect the history of the Middle Passage and its effect on ensuing generations, by Marianetta Porter; "Army Life in a Black Regiment," illustrations by Avel deKnight completed between 1969 and 1974, based on the book "Army Life in a Black Regiment"; and "The Riches of Family: An American Journey from Slavery to Prosperity," paintings by Rick Hyman; are on display, through March 5, at the McLean Project for the Arts, located in the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. For more information, call 703-790-1953 or visit www.mpaart.org. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, 1-5 p.m.
"Meditations on Nature," an exhibit of paintings by Cynthia Young of McLean, is on display, through March 5, at Ozmosis Gallery, 7908 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. A percentage from the proceeds of her sales will benefit the Red Cross for disaster relief for victims of the recent tsunami in Asia. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.ozmosisgallery.com or call 301-664-9662.
"Embrace the Sun," featuring pottery by David Cowdrill of Great Falls and etching collage by Patricia Smith of Woodbridge continues through March 7, at the Artists' Undertaking Gallery, 309 Mill St., Occoquan, Va. The gallery is open Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For gallery information, call 703-494-0584.
The Artisans United Craft Gallery is featuring the work of the Waterford Weavers in a fine craft sale and exhibition through March at the gallery, 4022 Hummer Road, Annandale. In addition to the weavers’ hand-woven pieces, artisans will also be offering pottery, baskets, glass, porcelain, wearables, photography, cards, polymer clay and watercolors. Free. Call 703-941-0202. Visit www.artisansunited.org.