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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Mayor Alyia Gaskins launched her Art in Every Space initiative Tuesday afternoon with a reception at Corcoran McEnearney's Old Town office, filling the 109 Pitt St. real estate firm's walls with original work by local artists and drawing roughly 60 residents, business owners, and artists for the kickoff.
The pilot program, which runs through Sept. 30, places original artwork by Alexandria-based artists inside local businesses at no cost to the artist, the business, or the city. Participating venues so far include WineGallery108 and Cameron Cafe, with a map of all locations expected to be released soon.
Gaskins traced the initiative to a resident's email and credited Robin Jordan, the program's task force lead, with turning the idea into reality.
"Robin reached out to me and said, 'I've got an idea and it's called Art in Every Space,'" Gaskins said. "And I said, 'I love this idea, but I can't do it by myself.' And Robin said, 'I think you just need a few good people who care about this city and will roll up their sleeves and figure it out.'"
Jordan said the program has already created connections that wouldn't have happened otherwise.
"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 to a business for the first time because a friend's art is there."
Maureen McEnearney, President of Corcoran McEnearney, welcomed the partnership at the firm's 46th anniversary in Alexandria. "We're happy to display some of the artwork through our office, and hopefully people will come in off the street anytime and take a look and buy some of it," she said.
Evan Lacopo, Executive Vice President and Managing Broker at Corcoran McEnearney, called the initiative "a match made in heaven." "Alexandria values creativity and community," he said, "and Mayor Gaskins wanted to bring our vibrant art community into everyday places that our residents work, shop, and gather in."
Artist Trena Raines, an architect and fine art photographer who lives on the West End, spoke about what the program means for artists showing their work for the first time.
"It's a chance to share our work, build confidence, and connect with the community," Raines said. "For Alexandria, it means people can encounter original art in places they might not expect, making everyday experiences a little richer."
The program's youngest participating artist is four-year-old Lily, whose photographs are on display at the Camera Cafe. Alexandria Poet Laureate Maria Cristina (Cristi) Donoso was scheduled to perform an original work later in the reception.
Artists and businesses interested in participating can apply at https://forms.gle/FHsXcVKZtmmqcAkD8 or contact Jordan at RobinJordanArt@gmail.com. A second launch event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at AV Actions, 3905 Wheeler Ave.
