HR 792 — Commending the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

SPECIAL SESSION I INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24200340D I HOUSE OfferedRESOLUTION JulyNO. 15, 2024 N Commending the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

––––––––––792 TE Patrons––Bennett-ParkerCommending and Lopez R –––––––––– O WHEREAS, the Torpedo Factory Art Center,Center. a preeminent cultural institution serving the Alexandria arts community and beyond, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024;

andN DR Agreed to by Thethe ArtHouse Leagueof toDelegates, installJuly artist18, studios2024 inWHEREAS, athe formerTorpedo navalFactory munitionsArt factoryCenter, alonga thepreeminent Alexandriacultural waterfront,institution anserving endeavorthe thatAlexandria wouldO comearts tocommunity beand knownbeyond, ascelebrates theits Torpedo50th Factoryanniversary Artin Center;2024;

and L WHEREAS, initiallyon ledMay by7, The1974, ArtAlexandria League'sCity president,Council Marianapproved Vana Landingham,three-year thepilot Torpedoprogram Cproposed FactoryL Artwaterfront, Centeran wasendeavor subsequentlythat helmedwould bycome itsto longest-servingbe director,known Margaretas Alderson, Eho guided the institutionTorpedo throughFactory itsArt firstCenter; decade and oversaw its major renovation in the early 1980s;

andandAlexandria E WHEREAS, initially led by The Art League's president, Marian Van Landingham, the Torpedo Factory Art Center haswas grownsubsequently overhelmed theby yearsits tolongest-serving becomedirector, theMargaret nation'sAlderson, largestwho acrossD variousguiWHEREAS, mediums,the includingTorpedo painting,Factory ceramics,Art photography,Center jewelry,has stainedgrown glass,over fiber,the artistsyears printmaking,to andbecome sculpture;the nation's largests;

and WHEREAS,collection of working artists' open studios under one roof, with more than 70 studios occupied by artists across various mediums, including painting, ceramics, photography, jewelry, stained glass, fiber, priWHEREAS, with its open studio format, the Torpedo Factory Art Center provides members of the public with the unique opportunity to engage with artists and observe the creative process first hand;

andaHd WHEREAS, since 1987, Target Gallery has served as the Torpedo Factory Art Center's contemporary 7 exhibition space, enabling the institution to support artists outside of its studios and to broaden its 2 impWHEREAS, formerly overseen by the City of Alexandria and then by the Torpedo Factory ArtistsRArtists R Association and the Torpedo Factory Art Center Board, the Torpedo Factory Art Center has been 9 officially managed by the City of Alexandria's Office of the Arts since 2018;

and 2 WHEREAS, the Torpedo Factory Art Center was founded on a principle of providing low-cost studio space to artists to enable them to thrive, a commitment that the institution continues to uphold to this day;

and ArtWHEREAS, Centerthrough hasits becomeartist theresidencies, crownexhibitions, jewel of the Alexandria arts scene and another importantprogramming, partthe ofTorpedo whatoryFactory makes the city a wonderful place to live, work, and be creative;

now, therefore, be ititrt of what RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Torpedo Factory Art Center of Alexandria hereby be commended on the occasion of its 50th anniversary;

and, be it RESOLVEDfor FURTHER,presentation Thatto the ClerkTorpedo Factory Art Center as an expression of the House of DelegatesDelegates' preparerespect afor copythe institution's legacy of thisservice resolutionand :best wishes for its continued success.

35 for presentation to the Torpedo Factory Art Center as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect 36 for the institution's legacy of service and best wishes for its continued success.

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