Send announcements or events, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail <a href="mailto:loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com">loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call 703-917-6454.
Art exhibitions at local libraries throughout September and October include at Ashburn Library, world photography by Dean Villanueva and at Cascades Library, photography by Mary Kaye Mason.
George Washington University Virginia Campus Gallery Lounge, 20101 Academic Way, Ashburn, will hold an artist reception for Michael Beckner, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. RSVP by Sept. 2 to reservations@va.gwu.edu or call 703-726-3650. Free and open to the public.
Bridges, roads, buildings, overpasses and construction sites are artist Michael Beckner's favorite subjects. Beckner's exhibit of acrylic paintings, titled Under Construction, is presented by The George Washington University Virginia Campus in partnership with Gallery 222/Loudoun Academy of the Arts. The exhibit is open to the public through Sept. 30. Visit http://www.gwvirginia.gwu.edu/ or contact Gallery 222 at 703-777-5498.
The Sterling Playmakers is holding auditions for its season opener, "Flowers for Algernon," Friday, Sept. 5, 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 6, 1-4 p.m., at the Sterling Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, Sterling. Roles for eight men and 17 women ages 17-65 are available. Visit www.sterlingplaymakers.com or e-mail terrypuppet@att.net.
Get Real!, a show of realism featuring original paintings and drawings by Loudoun artists opens Friday, Sept. 5, at Gallery 222, 222 South King St., Leesburg, during Leesburg's First Friday Gallery Walk, from 6-9 p.m. The exhibit continues through Sept. 27.
Get Real! showcases artwork by Conor Backman, Tim Chambers, Michael Davis, Jonathan Linton, Sarita Moffat, Ann Noel, Sherry Sanabria Kurt Schwarz, Libby Stevens, Jeffery Stockberger, Dana Thompson and Dan Williams.
Gallery 222 is open Mondays-Saturdays, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment. The gallery is a component of the Loudoun Academy of the Arts Foundation, a 501(c)3 visual arts center offering fine art instruction, gallery exhibitions and studio space for working artists. Visit www.gallery222.com or call 703-777-5498.
Gallery Two at 222 will host a special exhibit of paintings by artist Helen Wiegand titled Spiritual Relatives. An opening reception will be hold Friday, Sept. 5, during Leesburg's First Friday Gallery Walk, from 6-9 p.m. The exhibit continues through Sept. 26.
Wiegand's work focuses on figurative forms and their relationships to one another.
Gallery two is co-located with Gallery 222 at 222 South King St., Leesburg. Both galleries are components of the Loudoun Academy of the Arts Foundation, a 501(c) 3 Visual Arts Center which offers fine art instruction, gallery exhibitions and studio space for working artists. The galleries are open Mondays-Saturdays, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment. Visit www.gallery222.com or call 703-777-5498.
The Loudoun Symphony Youth Orchestra is holding auditions for the 2008-2009 season. The youth orchestra is open to young musicians age 10-18 years who have had a minimum of three years of private instruction or who have participated in a school band or orchestra program for three years. The orchestra meets weekly in Leesburg and performs two-three times per year. Auditions will be held Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7, at Loudoun Country Day School in Leesburg. There is no audition fee, however, individuals must preregister to arrange an audition.
The audition requirements are a short prepared solo, scales up to four flats and four sharps, two or three octaves and sight-reading. Students must provide their own instrument. Tuition for the season is $300 per student, payable in two installments in September and January. A limited number of financial aid scholarships are available. To schedule an audition, send an e-mail to youthaudition@loudounsymphony.org or call Heather Coffey at 703-779-9925.
2nd Flight Theatre Company presents "Bare: A Pop Opera," weekends through Sept. 6, at the Waddell Theater, Loudoun campus of Northern Virginia Communty College, 1000 Harry Byrd Highway, Sterling. Directed by Debbie Niezgoda and based on the book by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo with music by Intrabartolo and lyrics by Hartmere. Show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, at 7 p.m. Cost: $15 general addmission, $10 students with valid ID. Visit www.CCT2FT.com.
Medlin Art Gallery in Leesburg will host its 8th Annual "Students of Margaret Meade" Art Show, from Sept. 6-13. Forty-two students had their artwork chosen for this year's show. Mediums include watercolor, acrylic, pastel, colored pencil, charcoal and pen & ink.
Among the many students is Terra Chapman, 18, whose mixed media painting, "Angelica," was selected as Best of Show.
A reception will be held Sept. 6, from 3-5 p.m. where the students will be available to discuss their art.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesdays-Saturdays.
Faculty at the Loudoun campus of Northern Virginia Community College will be displaying their artwork in Waddell Art Gallery through Sept. 12. The campus is located at 1000 Harry Flood Byrd Highway, Sterling, and the gallery is open 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Mondays-Fridays.
The exhibitors, representing programs in communication design and fine arts, include Matthew Best, Patti Chisholm, Donald Depuydt, Rebecca Freeman, Jackie Gage, Lauren Jacobs, Brian Kirk, Veronica Morrison, Joan Petro, Shelley Stevens, Dwayne Treadway, Julia Turner, David Whipple and Cathy Wilkin.
The exhibit will feature examples of ceramics, painting, printmaking, digital photography, graphic design, sculpture and stained glass.