Torpedo Factory Artist of the Year Tory Cowles Goes BIG with Solo Exhibition

Tory Cowles: Living LARGE!

Exhibition Dates: July 2 – August 14

Reception: July 14, 6-8pm; awards ceremony @ 7pm with juror, Harry Cooper, Curator and Head of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Gallery of Art

Special Programming: July 28, 6-8pm; Art Panel: Why does art move you?
July 30, 11am -1pm; Kids Art Activity – painting inspired by Tory Cowles exhibition

Location: Target Gallery, Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria

Info: Entire exhibition will be online beginning July 2 at www.torpedofactory.org/target

The Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery will present this year’s Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s (Friends) Artist of the Year, Tory Cowles, with a solo exhibition in the gallery. The exhibition, which runs from July 2 – August 14, will have a special reception and awards ceremony to celebrate the artist on July 14 from 6-8pm. At 7pm, the Friends will present the artist with a $1000 award for being selected as this year’s artist of the year.  Juror, Harry Cooper will say a few words during the ceremony about his selection. All events are free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

An abstract painter, Ms. Cowles’ background was in three-dimensional work such as stonewall building, woodworking, interior design, architecture, and carpentry, and her paintings were representational landscapes and portraits. When she started painting abstracts, she was able to incorporate the challenges and appeal of her previous 3D work onto the 2D canvas.

For her exhibit, Ms. Cowles will present a series of abstract paintings as large as 60” by 72” and diptychs, which are 48” by 120”.  These sizes excite her because they encourage looseness and make a huge impact.   A recurring theme in Cowles’ work is strong bright colors, which give energy and joy tempered by serious darks and subdued grays. Complex movement draws the eye throughout and around the painting as tension is created between spontaneity and discipline.   Tory incorporates boldness and subtlety within the painting while allowing each quality to hold its own.

Cowles’ paintings combine stream of consciousness, abstract expressionism, and disciplined critical analysis.  She paints from the heart and hopes that viewers are moved to respond from the heart.

Her 2010 shows included: Longview Gallery, Washington, DC; plan b Gallery, Washington, DC; Blueberry Gallery, Alexandria, VA; Touchstone Gallery, Washington, DC; and the Art Barn Gallery, Gaithersburg, MD.

Gallery Information:
The Target Gallery, national exhibition space of the Torpedo Factory, promotes high standards of art by continuously exploring new ideas through the visual media in a schedule of national and international exhibitions.  We are located on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, VA.  The gallery is open daily from 10-6pm and until 9pm on Thursdays.

Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center:
The Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center (Friends) is a nonprofit membership organization presenting a variety of arts-related programs and events in collaboration with the Torpedo Factory Art Center, one of Alexandria’s best resources for the arts. The Friends’ programs and events are underwritten in part through operating assistance from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.