The Art Station Opens at the Village at Leesburg

Gigi Toth, of Falls Church, and Julie Lele, of Reston, held the grand opening ceremony for their new business, The Art Station, Saturday at the Village at Leesburg.

Councilwoman Kelly Burk and Mayor Kristen Umstattd turned out for a ribbon-cutting event and presented a plaque to one the many news businesses popping up around Leesburg.

“We just love the community here,” Lele said, adding that the Village was developing into a family-oriented shopping center. She said they decided to open the business to provide “something that met the busy lifestyles of families.”

The Art Station offers family art classes, adult classes and summer camps. It also sells art supplies. Burgeoning artists can register for classes online at www.theartstation.com.

“We love that people can walk out with their creative work of art,” Lele said, adding that they come from creative backgrounds. “Gigi is a natural artist and I had a candle-making business.

Toth said one of the ideas she likes to emphasize is that everyone has artistic talent, so the business provides an outlet for anyone seeking that inner artist.

“It’s just a matter of helping them bring that out,” she said.

Pratt Institute graduate Jennifer Dodson is the Art Station’s creative director and is in charge of children’s programming.

For more information, call 703-777-3737, email info@theartstation.com or visit www.theartstation.com. Or just swing by the Village; the Art Station is across the street from King Pinz, near the Cobb 12 Theater.