'The Art of Community' in Reston

Theand the Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) will debut a new exhibition on Reston's public art history this weekend.

The exhibit "Reston: The Art of Community" opens Saturday and will run through Nov. 11 at the Reston Museum.

Opening night festivities begin with the showing of a 12-minute film produced by Reston filmmaker Rebekah Wingert-Jabi. The film, which will be shown at 4 p.m. at highlights Reston's long public art history. The segment may be used as part of a bigger project as Wingert-Jabi is working on a longer film to honor Reston's 50th anniversary in 2014.

The film will be  followed by a panel discussion featuring Reston founder Robert E. Simon, exhibit curator Mary Konsoulis, original Reston architect Bill Conklin and IPAR president Joe Ritchey.

There will be a reception and more discussion beginning at 5 p.m. at the museum. 

The exhibit, which is also sponsored by the Reston Community Center, examines public art, which was a goal of Reston since its founding.

"Public art has been a vital element in the planning, design and experience of Reston for nearly 50 years," Konsoulis says in the exhibit materials. "The community's visionary creator, Robert E. Simon, saw public art not as a decoration but as an essential element of placemaking and memory."

The founding of Lake Anne Village Center, with its fountain and nearby underpass sculptures, is the original example of public art in Reston.

The exhibit guides you through other examples throughout the years, including the book sculpture outside of several examples at and upcoming works commissioned at the renovated Dogwood Pool and at Reston Station.

Calendar of Events for "Reston: The Art of Community"

Opening Reception

Reston: The Art of Community, Saturday, Sept. 15, 5 p.m.

 “Reston: The Art of Community” is an exhibition about the history of public art in Reston. The reception will follow the launch of a short documentary film about Reston’s public art directed by Rebekah Wingert-Jabi, and panel discussion at 4:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center.

IPAR Walk to Public Art

Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, 1:30 p.m.

Meet at the Museum for IPAR Exhibit

Carpool to Reston Town Center Walk

IPAR Walk to Public Art

Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, 1:30 p.m.

Meet at the Museum for IPAR Exhibit Lake Anne Walk

Special Program – Public Art – “Reston: The Art of Community” 

Thursday, Oct.  25, 2012, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Reston Community Center 1609A Washington Plaza, Reston VA 20190

To see a map of public art in Reston, see the PDF attatched to this article.