Artists from All Over to Show at New Gallery

David Weadon is a local business owner, a photographer and an innovator. His career in Fredericksburg began with his own studio – focusing on families, special occasions and senior portraits. Weadon’s portraits were a way of life until recently. When the economy turned, families and seniors couldn’t always afford Weadon’s professional, high quality photographs.

“We’re living in an Instagram era,” Weadon says. “It’s hard to compete with that.”

With a tanking economy and a large studio space that goes mostly unused, David Weadon and local artist J. Coleman had an idea - turn the empty studio into a modern art gallery. Both men realized that Fredericksburg is growing, and full of art. The downtown galleries are numerous, and the city does a good job of promoting the art, making Fredericksburg a cultural center. 

“The trend in Fredericksburg, is that the art is all local,” Weadon remarks. “You see the same artists, again and again showing in different galleries around Fredericksburg. I want to bring in something different.”

Weadon Studios and Fine Art is set to open Oct. 5. The gallery will host modern artwork from artists across the country, in several mediums. 

“I have so many clients that drive to Richmond for a variety of art,” Weadon says. “We can have that variety right here in Fredericksburg.”

At the debut of the gallery, work from both local and outside artists will be shown. The first show will be a representation of all the artists and their work. Paintings, photographs, sculptures and even a short film shot by J. Coleman in the studio will be shown.

Weadon hopes to complete a piece in time for the show.

“We still have a lot to get done, but I’ve always done portrait work as a living, I’d like to try some fine art. I’ll get to be creative, and explore what that means,” Weadon says.

Weadon hopes that the gallery will help to build relationships between local and outside artists. His goal is to do a show every first Friday, as well as a mid-month event for more exposure for the artists.  Currently, the first show will consist of 23 different artists – both local and others from Brooklyn, Boston and DC.

“The opening will, hopefully, have the reverence of a gallery, but the feel of a party.”

Weadon Studios and Fine Art is located on 305 Hanson Ave. in Fredericksburg. 

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