In an area better known for technology, GRACE is the prime jewel in Reston's cultural tapestry…read more Not only does this beautiful art space at the lower end of the Reston Town Center bring the best in cutting edge contemporary art and artists to Reston, but their annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival is one of the most respected and best fine arts and crafts outdoor arts festivals in the nation. For that event GRACE brings several hundred artists and craftspeople from all over the nation for a two day art extravaganza in May. This is the perfect family outing for the art lover. The Center also offers all kinds of classes, talks and events designed to bring a powerful art presence to Restonians.

I went to the 2014 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival in Reston. This is an annual event held…read moreevery year in mid-May. The Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) sponsors the event. Over 200 artists from around the country participate and set up booths in the Reston Town Center to display and sell their works. The items displayed are very professional and generally very attractive. The items range from traditional to the unusual. However, the items for sale tend to be very expensive. I'd recommend this festival; it is unique and has creative art.

If you care about your art, run (don't walk) to Art Frame Solutions! After considering multiple…read moreframing shops, we walked into this gem and instantly knew we were in the right place. Leslie was juggling another customer when we arrived, but instead of being annoyed, I was fascinated--watching her expertly guide someone through the framing process was like witnessing a masterclass. By the time it was our turn, I had zero doubts we were in great hands. We brought in a gold-on-cowhide Garuda from Thailand and had a vision: two panes of glass with a sleek, minimal frame. Leslie was meticulous, explaining every step, recommending plexiglass over glass, and even hunting down a hard-to-find frame to complete the look. When my husband spotted a small area that needed repair, she reassured us that Omer, the conservator, would handle it with care. Fast forward 1.5 months--Garuda is back, beautifully repaired, mounted, and framed to perfection. They went above and beyond, and we couldn't be happier. Forget those big-box stores with their clueless student workers--if your art matters, Art Frame Solutions is the only place to go!

They did a fantastic job with a very valuable print and I will go back every time I need something…read moreto be framed.

Holy concrete, glass and art! Glenstone is a canvas for adults' imagination. This retreat is if a…read moreminimalist billionaire and Mother Nature had a serene art child. Every turn of concrete and glass leads to a magical surprise. My favorite was the Alex Da Corte exhibits which were full of color and textures.

Glenstone is one of the country's most well-respected and influential modern art galleries. The…read moreRales' have amassed a private post-War art collection worth more than $2 billion, and they have built a private museum to showcase their collection, spending more than $200 million to build the structures over the years. The property encompasses 360 acres and includes not only the two buildings housing the art, there's also an arrival center, a cafe/cafeteria, a patio cafe/coffee shop, and a beautiful woodland walking path, along which one can experience many outdoor sculptures and pieces of art. And all of this is open to the public for free. You are advised to schedule your visit in advance via the website, but walk-ups are accommodated during the winter months. If you arrive via the Ride-On bus (the Rales' worked with Montgomery County to ensure that a bus would be routed right to the front door of the arrival center), you are guaranteed entry. Students 12 and older (including college and graduate students), educators, active-duty military members, veterans, and museum professionals enjoy guaranteed entry for themselves plus one guest, 12 or older. You might read articles about Glenstone that disparage what the Rales' have created, but the reality is that they are doing good in the world: they are making world-class art available to the public for free. I've visited Glenstone about a half dozen times over the years. There are some permanent exhibits but the majority of the galleries rotate art from their massive collection. The cafe has great food. The grounds are quiet and beautiful. The staff are all unbelievably knowledgeable and helpful. A visit to Glenstone is a gift to yourself.

The Vienna Arts Center hosts exhibits of mostly local artists and also serves as a community…read morecultural center. There's art classes for children and adults as a "Sundays at the Art Center" program. That particular event is fun. And free. Every Sunday, you can go to the center and have free drinks (coffee or a soft drink) and cookies and see whatever exhibit is there that particular week, as well as listen to guest artists talk about their works. There is an exhibit going on here now that I loved! It is called "International Cocktail Collection" and is a series of pastel paintings that incorporate drink glasses (mostly of the martini kind) used in unusual ways.

I have signed on to teach a number of workshops at the Vienna Arts Center, and am hosting three…read moreVisiting Artists who will be teaching master classes. This space is one of the area's best kept secrets. Spacious, professionally run and wonderfully creative atmosphere. Bonnie Fitzgerald, Maverick Mosaics

My friends and I signed up for a one day pottery workshop and it couldn't have been a better…read moreexperience!! The three of us joined three others on a Saturday morning for a class using the pottery wheel. Rezgar Mamandi was our teacher- he was patient, kind and I learned so much! He has a wonderful rhythm to his teaching that allows all to find success - he demonstrates each step while thoroughly explaining, gives you time to try it while supervising and supporting, then allowing all to try and answering any and all question. out pieces were fired and we came back a few weeks later to paint our pieces. I picked them up today and I just feel so proud of the three pieces I made...and I can't wait to take more classes!

Very cute spot for a date! My boyfriend and I went and got matching mugs to paint. It was a very…read morepeaceful place. Seating was rather limited, so I would go early or reserve a spot (which I believe you can do). There is a variety of colors to choose from and have samples to know how the paint will look when fired. Some people have already mentioned it, but I highly recommend doing multiple layers. Our mugs ended up streaky in some spots. The paint dries fairly quickly, so it wasn't too bad applying layers. There were a lot of pottery pieces to choose from. I wish there were more like basic pieces though to have a more blank canvas. The prices were reasonable for each piece! The prices were written on the bottom. The firing process took about a week. My boyfriend and I have been using our mugs almost every day and they have held up well! Paint on mine did chip on the side, but my boyfriend's mug has been completely fine.

Gallery featuring local artists, engaging small-sized art classes. What's not to love about this…read moreplace? I found this place when taking watercolor classes with my family with Rajendra. He is a wonderful teacher with all of us despite the wide range of experience we all had a relaxing, successful experience. Highly recommend for an enjoyable family activity! I included some of the art I painted from photos I've taken. You do one painting per visit - or bring it back next time to continue working on it. He taught us technique and really engaged us to be creative!! We loved it!!

Cyndy's Bottom Line: Falls Church Arts Gallery is a hidden gem in plain sight…read more *Located in The Kensington building on Route 7 *Walk ins welcomed *Free admission *www.FallsChurchArts.org *Studio Art classes and workshops available for all age groups. *Membership available *Volunteer opportunities Outstanding art work by local artist displayed with their concept or process statements. These statements provide a fascinating and intimate look into their art work. Highly recommend a visit.

Tracy was super-helpful, professional and careful in hanging our newest (and largest) metal art…read morepiece, as well as a couple of other pieces in our family room, and provided recommendations throughout the process in how and where to best place our art. We will definitely call again with any hanging/installation needs, and keep Broadway Gallery in mind for help with framing in the future as well.

Caron and her team are ultra talented, creative and most important, very courteous and professional…read morehuman beings. I've been going to them for all my framing needs for the past few years. They complete the look of your art and make it look like a gem. Always recommended, also recommend their installation services. Absolutely brilliant.

If you love movies this is the only place to buy art. They have amazing pieces by the people that…read moreactually work in film and animation. The Star Wars art alone takes my breath away, being a fan since I was child seeing these John Alvin posters, etc take me back to that exact time in my life. If you have not been in you really should go by just check it out. I am sure you will start your own collection after one visit.

After searching online, I found the collector's piece I was looking for. I called the store…read moredirectly to ask a few questions prior to purchasing. Michael, one of the owners, was very professional and followed up with me immediately. I purchased the item with Michael over the phone and he assured me he would take every precaution shipping the item. It arrived today from VA to CA in one piece and it's gorgeous! The customer service was amazing and I can't recommend these guys enough.

I started to go to J Art in 6th grade. I'm now a senior in college (at my dream school, Rhode…read moreIsland School of Design!) and I can say for a fact that I would not have gotten to this point without J Art. I came here for 6-7 years constantly; I even moved to Florida for a couple years for my mom's job and I visited VA during my breaks just to attend J Art and work on my art. If it matters to the parents reading, J Art also helped me apply to (and win) lots of art competitions that I otherwise would not have known about. I also think the strictness level varies for each student, as every teacher I worked with were talented and kind in their own unique ways. I'll keep my review short but I can say that I'm truly grateful for everything I've learned from here and that I miss it very much! Easily the easiest 5 stars I can give to any establishment. I would give 10 if I could!

Contrary to Grace's opinion, I believe J art is a great place to study art. I don't want to waste…read moreanyone's time so I'll keep this short. J art has taught me all I know, and I am more than grateful to this studio and its teachers. Under their guidance I truly believe I have blossomed as an artist. Not everyone is naturally creative, and with age, a lot of creativity is lost... But everyone can be taught to think out of the ordinary, and that is what j art has taught me. Cheers!

I was a reliable customer for Wentworth and spent more than six figures here. Unfortunately, I had…read moresuch a terrible experience at one of their shows featuring an artist that I will never return. I was personally invited by my sales associate, but once I was there, I was told to leave unless I purchased a piece. And, it was done rudely. I left. My SA did not apologize and has the audacity to call and invite me to another show! I have a new gallery that treats me with respect.

While surfing the web, I was looking into Kiss's Paul Stanley's art pieces being a Kiss fan. I…read moreinquired with Wentworth about his artwork from Prints to Original 1/1 paintings. The person I was working with, Mike, was such a nice guy! He was very quick to answer questions from pricing to what the description meant. I didnt know what MM/Canvas meant. We went back and forth numerous times on any questions that I had without feeling I was wasting his time. Even in the email exchange, he was great from the time I wanted to purchase to the time of delivery. Wentworth was top notch and I would buy from them again. Wentworth was soo professional and wasnt pushy at all. I love my painting by Paul Stanley. I have purchase 2 original paintings. I am sooo glad to have purchase from Wentworth Gallery online. I cant wait to visit one of their locations to buy or just to see what they have. It is like doing to a museum with wonderful artpieces! You should visit them or buy them online. I am so glad did and I will again! Thank you Wentworth Gallery! Looking forward to our next purchase!