This Weekend: Tephra ICA Arts Festival Takes Over Reston Town Center

Tephra ICA Arts Festival Takes Over Reston Town Center This Weekend | May 20–21, 2023

Now in its 32nd year, the Tephra ICA Arts Festival (formerly titled the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival) will take place this weekend at Reston Town Center. Over 200 contemporary artists and artisans will travel from across the country to present original handmade artwork to share with Festival audiences.

See the 2023 artists here.

My picks:

Painting: There is not a single bad painter in this festival -- to get in, you have to be good! And that has been a Reston high standard for decades! From among this group I like Kathryn Maher in booth 310, Arte Original in 900 block, Karina Llergo in booth 944-945, Greg Stones in booth 425 (he notes: My basic process is this: Paint a landscape. Then add weird stuff), and Jill Banks.

Rabbit Finds Carrot
Gouache on paper 6" x 4" 2018 by Greg Stone

Digital & Multi-Media Art / Drawing / Mixed Media 2D: Loads of great artwork in this category as well! Blake Gore's tiny drawings in booth 928 are worth the trip, as are Kristin Moger super-detailed drawings in booth 901 and the collages of Kate Norris in booth 225. Hannah Wave Flower in booth 948 says that "my work is my offer. An ice-breaker; an invitation to an exchange of perspective and unhampered self-expression." It is that and more - go see her work!

Photography: WOW! Every photog here is a gem! Anne Knife in booth 111, James M Cole in booth 406, Scanlan Photography in booth 622-623, and Kyle Wilson in booth 203.

During the Festival, Baltimore-based interdisciplinary artist Hoesy Corona will present Hacia la Vida, a site-specific performance that explores migration and displacement caused by climate change. Performers will process through the Festival streets adorned in intricate sculptural costumes created by the artist that simultaneously make their bodies anonymous and hyper visible. Using the archetype of the traveler and the anthropomorphic representation of mother nature, this performance humanizes the figure of the immigrant and celebrates the power and beauty of nature.