Happy Birthday to GRACE!

In 1974,  the Greater Reston Arts Center was born to educate and celebrate the arts in the new and growing community of Reston.

Forty years later, Reston is still growing and so is GRACE.

GRACE will celebrate its 40th year and look towards the next 40 beginning Thursday at the opening reception of the new exhibit, 40 for 40: Celebrating Four Decades of GRACE.

The reception (6 to 9 p.m.) kicks off 2013-2014 exhibition season. The exhibit will feature 40 artists who have exhibited at GRACE, or have been closely involved with the organization, over the course of the past four decades. 

Curator Holly McCullough said choosing 40 artists was not an easy task.

"We have been around for 40 years," she said. "We have had a lot more than 40 artists."

However, McCullough said the exhibit represents many facets of art in Reston - from some of the founders of GRACE in 1970s to artists who have displayed many times over the years and many in between that exemplify a variety of mediums.
 
A good number of the 40 artists will be present at Thursday's reception, she said. 

GRACE Executive Director Damian Sinclair said the 40-year mark is an exciting time for the organization.

"It's pretty amazing that an organization can last this long and still have such an impact in the community," he said. "We are all really excited. And we are excited about the next phase too."
Sinclair said the next phase will mark the launch of 40Forward, an initiative that will help grow GRACE as Reston prepares for the changes Metro will bring after 2014.

"The Center at 40 is at a unique crossroads," say 40Forward materials. "Planning experts and developers envision a Reston Town Center that, capitalizing on Metro, becomes a dynamic, urban, regional destination with a rich array of live, work, and play options. Re-imagining the Greater Reston Arts Center as a regional center for fine art and culture perfectly aligns with this bold vision. The challenge before us: grow anew and be a vibrant part of the new Town Center that is coming."

Along with raising more money, 40Forward will concentrate on growing the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, held each May; enhance gallery exhibitions; and expand education programs.

For more information, visit www.restonarts.org.