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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Mayor Alyia Gaskins brought her Art in Every Space pilot to the West End Wednesday evening, hosting the initiative's second launch event at AV Actions, 3905 Wheeler Ave., where submitted artwork from local artists was displayed across the venue's floor-to-ceiling screens. Several dozen residents, business owners, arts commission members, and representatives from arts organizations across the city attended.
The setting offered a deliberate contrast to Tuesday's kickoff at Corcoran McEnearney in Old Town, where paintings and prints lined the walls of a real estate office. At AV Actions, Gaskins counted down from three before the screens switched simultaneously to a rotating display of artwork submitted through the program — a fitting backdrop for a city marking both the 250th anniversary of American independence and its own 277th year.
"Every time I walk into AV Actions, I always tell Mo, I feel like I'm in this hidden gem," Gaskins said. "This place that nobody seems to know about yet has so much technology, so much power, so many opportunities for innovation that can show us new ways that we can display and connect across our community."
Mohamed Elhaijam, owner of AV Actions, said the opportunity to host the event was deeply personal. Originally from Morocco, Elhaijam has lived and worked in Alexandria for 26 years.
"This is my home," he said. "It's a big deal for me." Elhaijam also extended an open invitation to artists beyond the launch event, pledging his space for future displays.
Robin Jordan, the initiative's task force lead, emphasized the program's potential to draw residents into corners of the city they might not otherwise visit.
"What excites me the most about this program is the connection that it's creating between artists and businesses who may have never crossed paths and between residents and neighborhoods they may have never visited," Jordan said. "Maybe you're walking into a business for the first time because a friend's art is on the wall there."
Gaskins said she envisions AV Actions as a model for how technology can expand the initiative's footprint, noting the venue has previously hosted World Cup screenings on its screens. She said her office is exploring ways to partner with artists on video and interactive experiences that could be taken to spaces across Alexandria.
A map of all participating businesses and their matched artists is currently being developed with the help of mayoral interns and is expected to be released soon. The pilot runs through Sept. 30.
Artists and businesses interested in participating can apply at https://forms.gle/FHsXcVKZtmmqcAkD8 or contact Jordan at RobinJordanArt@gmail.com.
Ryan Belmore
