At Gallery West

I swung by a quick visit to Alexandria's Gallery West, one of the DMV's oldest and most consistent artist cooperatives.

Like most coops, Gallery West goes through a constant, sometimes fast, sometimes slow ebb and flow of new artists, and it had been a while since I had visited them. In fact this was my first visit since they moved from their old flood-prone space on Union Street, one block up from the river.

In their group show currently on display, on the second floor I was particularly caught by the strong painting skills and superb use of space and texture of Francesca Creo, who brings watercolor splatter techniques to a new level with her treatment of sand.

I also liked the classical and elegant pieces by Rachel Estrada and the quick, painterly pieces by Parisa Tirnaz.