The Torpedo Factory Art Center will be welcoming new artists to its ranks and saying goodbye to several veteran artists this fall.
The art center has completed a jury processes to evaluate artists — both those who have held studios for decades and those who want to join. The artists who were evaluated in this year's process had most recently juried into the arts center between 1975 and 2003.
This Friday, the 15 new and 11 renewing Torpedo Factory artists will debut works at The Principle Gallery, 208 King St. The opening reception is 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and the exhibition will last for two weeks.
The jury that evaluated the artists included Zoe Charlton, MFA, an art professor at American University; Jaynelle Hazard, MFA, the executive director and curator of Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art; Jakc Rasmussen, Ph.D., director and curator of the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center; and John Ruppert, MFA, a longtime professor of art at the University of Maryland, College Park.
78 artists applied for spots in the Torpedo Factory in 63 applications (some artists applied as a group). This included 24 "incumbent" artists, of whom just 11 were offered studio space. The 13 who were not offered space may consider being an "artist pro tem," eligible to sublease studio space from an accepted artist, and are invited to participate in programming. They also could get a studio is one becomes available, depending on their juried ranking. There will be two more evaluations of other artists over the next two years.
According to the jury report, "65% of an application’s score was based on artwork. The remaining 35% of the application was scored on time honored professional artist presentation skills including artist statements, process statements, and artist talks, as well as the artists interest in engaging with the public and working within a community."
In addition, the jurists evaluated the artistic talent, and "jurors looked for artists who could explain their art and who wanted to engage and interact with the public through their work," according to the jury report.
Almost one-quarter of the artists offered a studio are beginning-level artists and about half are under age 50.
The full jury report is available here with information on demographics and more about the artist selection process is available here.
The Torpedo Factory itself is also undergoing changes. The building is in need of significant upgrades and repairs and several studies have looked at various ways the building can be an even more vibrant, lively space. The most recent report "recommended more changes to the governance, the management, and vision of the Factory," according to Mayor Justin Wilson.
"Candidly, the future of the Torpedo Factory has been studied to death. We have used the divisiveness of this issue as an excuse to avoid making a decision on its future. Unfortunately, inaction is a decision in and of itself," Wilson noted in his most recent newsletter to residents. "I am pleased we are now making decisions and creating a sustainable structure for the governance of the Factory so that it can flourish in the future."
