Public Art Reston History
Click the timeline below to expand details of important moments in the history of our organization.
2020
April 1, 2020 – Launch of #PublicArtFromAtoZ on social media. Activities inspired by the permanent public art collection featured on Public Art Reston’s website.
May 4, 2020 – Launch of virtual Stay-at-Home Chalk Art on social media. Presented in collaboration with Reston Community Center, Reston Association, Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, Reston Town Center Association, and Reston Historic Trust & Museum.
June 19, 2020 – 2020 CODAawards jury panel selected Thoreau’s Ensemble Thoreau’s Ensemble by Ben Volta in the Top 100 Finalists.
June 23, 2020 – Launch of Public Art Explorer activity pages designed for the whole family to enjoy together to do at home or while “exploring” the public artworks.
July 13, 2020 – Public Art Reston published updated Public Art Tour Series – Lake Anne booklet, a self-guided tour of the public art at Lake Anne Village Center.
July 13, 2020 – Public Art Reston, in collaboration with the Reston Historic & Museum, holds its first Live Virtual Guided Tour of the public art at Lake Anne Village Center.
2019
April 6, 2019 – Artist Talk with Marco Rando at Founder’s Day at Lake Anne Village Center.
April 27, 2019 – Pup Social at Reston Rondo at the Hyatt Park, Reston Town Center.
June 4, 2019 – Celebration of Spectrum by South Lakes High School STEAM Public Art Club. The temporary artwork was installed on the Lake Thoreau spillway in July 2019.
September 2019 – Public Art Reston publishes Public Art Tour Series – Reston Town Center booklet, a self-guided tour of the public art at Reston Town Center.
September 14, 2019 – ChalkFest at Reston Town Center.
October 16, 2019 – Unveiling of Thoreau’s Ensemble by Ben Volta.
October 17, 2019 – Annual Fundraising Party at Hunters Woods at Trails Edge.
October 29, 2019 – Board Matter – Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins, Hunter Mill District Supervisor, moved that the Board of Supervisors congratulate Public Art Reston on its many accomplishments.
2018
May 31, 2018 – Artist talk with sculptor and public artist Zachary Artist, the creator of two public artworks in Reston including Untold Stories (2004) and Convergence (2017).
April 14, 2018 – Artist Talk with Zachary Oxman at Founder’s Day at Lake Anne Village Center.
June 9 – 10, 2018 – Chalk on the Water at Lake Anne.
June 14, 2018 – Celebration of Connie’s Quilt by South Lakes High School STEAM Public Art Club. The temporary artwork was installed on the Lake Thoreau spillway in July 2018.
October 18, 2018 – Celebration of 30, 60, 90 by Marco Rando. Temporary site-specific public art installation on the windows of the Jahn Building at Reston Station. The project was commissioned for the organization’s annual fundraising party in October 2018.
October 18, 2018 – Annual Fundraising Party.
2017
January 2017 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston name changes to Public Art Reston and new branding announced in March 2017.
April 2017 – Reston’s public art collection added to the national database Public Art Archive.
June 2017 – Public Art Reston launches new website.
August, 8, 2017 – Unveiling and reception for the temporary public artwork, Althea, by the South Lakes High School STEAM Team and installed on the Lake Thoreau Spillway.
October 2017 – Public Art Reston publishes Public Art Tour Series: Lake Anne booklet, a self-guided tour of the public art at Lake Anne Village Center.
October 11 – November 28, 2017 – Public Art Reston presented, in partnership with the Reston Historic Trust & Museum, the exhibit Reston: The Art of Community and booklet, updated in honor of the 10th Anniversary of Public Art Reston’s founding.
October 23, 2017 – Public Art Reston leads a public art walk for developers.
October 24, 2017 – Fairfax County Board of Supervisors presents Public Art Reston with a Resolution to recognize the organization’s 10th Anniversary.
November 9, 2017 – Public Art Reston 10th Anniversary Party at the Aperture building.
2016
April 9, 2016 – Unveiling of Wooden Horse by Marco Rando inspired by Gonzalo Fonseca’s original Wooden Horse realized in 1965.
June 18, 2016 – Unveiling of Mutual Understanding/Mutual Respect by m.l. duffy at the North County Governmental Center.
July 25, 2016 – Unveiling of Simon realized by South Lakes High School STEAM Team for the Lake Thoreau spillway.
September 10, 2016 – ChalkFest at Reston Town Center.
2015
July, 13, 2015 – Unveiling of Nothing Twice realized by South Lakes High School STEAM Team for the Lake Thoreau spillway.
August 10, 2015 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston co-hosted with Americans for the Arts and Reston Association a Public Art Network meeting with Virginia and Regional Public Art Managers.
September 26, 2015 – Unveiling of We Make Reston, An Inside Out Project. Created by the people of Reston and coordinated by Initiative for Public Art – Reston and Reston Community Center.
2014
June 2014 – First annual Chalk on the Water at Lake Anne.
September 2014 – First annual ChalkFest at Reston Town Center.
December 15, 2014 – Dedication of Reston Rondo by Mary Ann Mears at Hyatt Park, Reston Town Center.
2013
January 25, 2013 – Reston: The Art of Community, exhibition about Reston’s public art presented at University of Maryland Kibel & Linear Galleries, School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation. Exhibition was on view until May 10, 2013.
January 29, 2013 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston and Reston Historic Trust received recognition from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for their vision and effort to celebrate the story of community through art. The recognition was received for the development and presentation of the exhibition Reston: The Art of Community.
May 11, 2013 – Dedication of the second Initiative for Public Art – Reston permanent public art project Flux by mosaic artist Valerie Theberge. The public art project includes a mosaic fountain and mosaic squares on three walls. Five of the squares were created by Dogwood Elementary School students. The project was co-sponsored by Reston Association, Initiative for Public Art – Reston and Reston Community Center.
June 26, 2013 – Site visit at the Hyatt Park followed by a presentation by sculptor Mary Ann Mears and a video presentation about her work at the Hyatt Regency Reston.
October 2013 – Reston: The Art of Community, exhibition about Reston’s public art presented at Dulles International Airport.
October 22, 2013 – Launch of third season of Public Art Film and Speaker Series presented in collaboration with Reston Community Center (RCC) at RCC Hunters Woods’ CenterStage.
2012
September 15, 2012 – Reston: The Art of Community, exhibition about Reston’s public art opens at the Reston Museum. Film premiere of Fun, Beauty, Fantasy: Reston’s Public Art, documentary film directed by Rebekah Wingert-Jabi.
October 12, 2012 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston received the Arts Impact Award at the Arts Council of Fairfax County’ s inaugural Arts Awards Luncheon.
October 23, 2012 – Launch of second season of Public Art Film and Speaker Series presented in collaboration with Reston Community Center (RCC) and presented at RCC Hunters Woods’ CenterStage.
November 15, 2012 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston Annual Fundraising Reception held at Midtown, Reston Town Center.
2011
November 10, 2011 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston Annual Fundraising Reception held at Midtown Reston Town Center.
December 2011 – Launch of Initiative for Public Art – Reston first limited edition artist series puzzle featuring an up-close detail of the mosaic public artwork, Emerge, created by artist Valerie Theberge at the Glade Drive Underpass in collaboration with students from Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts & Science in 2010.
2010
June 24 – July 31, 2010 – Exhibition gaps presented by Greater Reston Arts Center, Initiative for Public Art – Reston, and the Washington Sculptors Group. Juror Vesela Stretenovic chose twenty-three artists for inclusion in the exhibition. gaps included three sculptures by Mike Shaffer installed in Reston Town Square Park. July 22: Panel discussion about public art.
September 15, 2010 – Dedication of the first Initiative for Public Art – Reston permanent public art project Emerge by mosaic artist Valerie Theberge with the collaboration of Hunters Woods Elementary School students at the Glade Drive underpass. The project was co-sponsored by Initiative for Public Art – Reston, Reston Association, Reston Community Center, and Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts & Sciences.
December 8, 2010 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston First Annual Reception held at the Sheraton Reston and premiere of short documentary by Rebekah Wingert-Jabi on the Glade Drive underpass public art project Emerge.
2009
August 2009 – First Initiative for Public Art – Reston Public Art Manager hired.
2008
April 2008 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston sponsored four Art in the Pages artworks. Spearheaded by the Fairfax Library Foundation, Art in the Pages sculptures can currently be found at Fairfax County libraries and other locations throughout the County.
May 29, 2008 – The Initiative for Public Art – Reston Community Forum engaged and energized all parts of the community, with nearly 200 people attending an evening discussion of the potential for public art in Reston.
May 31, 2008 – Imagine Art Here Charrette initiated the visioning of public art throughout Reston.
September 30, 2008 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston board approval of Public Art Master Plan for Reston.
October 10 – November 15, 2008 – Sleeping Tree exhibit at Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) was presented with financial support from Initiative for Public Art – Reston.
December 2, 2008 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston constituent organizations completed endorsement of the Public Art Master Plan for Reston; all organization Boards approved it unanimously.
December 5, 2008 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston Public Art Master Plan for Reston Launch Party at GRACE.
December 4-6, 2008 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston co-hosted a “Knowledge Exchange” program with Americans for the Arts Public Art Network. Click on this link to view Frequently Asked Questions about IPAR.
2007
November 8, 2007 – Initiative for Public Art – Reston formal organizational meeting.