My Solo Show at 1st Stage, Tysons Corner, VA

A Piggy Bank's Dream
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This week, I hung a show of 20 of my paintings at 1st Stage Theatre.  The show will be there from August 25 until October 9, 2016.  One way to see my show is to also buy tickets to their first play of the season, "Lobby Hero."

I will also have a reception on Sunday, September 11 and would like to invite all of my fans to come.  The reception will be from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.  Please feel free to drop by.  You don't need tickets to come to the reception.

If you haven't heard of 1st Stage before, please feel free to check them out on their website.
They are located at Tyson's Corner and there is plenty of parking.

The address for 1st Stage is:

1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, Va. 22102.

The theatre is right off Route 7.  When you see the Container Store, turn at that corner and the theatre is located about a block up on the left in a small shopping center.  Hope to see you at the reception.

The Audition
by Jane McElvany Coonce

A Sculpture Named Sheila

Sheila
Terra Cotta by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Art League, located in the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, is having 2  juried shows this month.  One is the landscape show that they have every August and the other is a sculpture show called "Taking Shape."  I was thrilled when my sculpture, "Sheila," was accepted.

I started doing sculpture when my youngest son was just born.  I needed a break from motherhood, so once a week I hired a babysitter and would go to The Art League and take a sculpture class.

One thing about sculpture is that you really need to work from a model.  A photograph doesn't show you the person except from one view point.  In sculpture, ever view point is important.

I captured a woman who had beautiful features, and I put her in a simple garment and head scarf.  She reminded me of a woman from my childhood.  Elnora was a cleaning lady who cleaned many of the houses in my neighborhood.  Although, she didn't clean my parent's house, I knew her because she was always at one of the neighborhood kids' houses.  She was like a 2nd mother, always fussing at us and fixing us food.  I know everyone in our neighborhood had a special place in our hearts for Elnora.  Even in her simple clothes, Elnora was memoriable. This sculpture celebrates all those special people who touch our lives in some small way but who have a special quality that makes them last in our memories until the day we die.  Sometimes, it's just a little incident that triggers a memory and makes you remember someone who made a lasting impression in your life.