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Before Banksy’s “Girl with Red Balloon” was being sold, and shredded, at Sotheby’s in London, they were just a graffiti artist creating on the streets of their hometown. Before Hip Hop was toping the charts and dominating at award shows, there were just DJs at block parties in New York City experimenting to get the next new sound. Before Dvorak wrote his most famous “New World Symphony”, he was inspired by the music he encountered during his travels around the United States. These are just a few examples of how art doesn’t just belong to the concert halls and fancy galleries but can be found everywhere! That is why, for the 2023 Spotlight on the Arts Festival, we are “taking it to the streets” to celebrate all the fantastic art opportunities for everyone in Fairfax. The streets of Fairfax are buzzing with creativity everywhere you look. From April 21 – May 7, let Spotlight be your guide. Take a walk down Main Street to meet local artists creating their next masterpiece. Attend a theatre performance in a historical building! Experience dance in Van Dyck Park or enjoy a glass of wine and some jazz at Blenheim.
Saturday, May 6, 3:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Historic Blenheim
As a part of the annual Spotlight on the Arts Festival, this event will highlight the amazing talent of our Mason Jazz musicians while participants enjoy the fine fruits of local Virginia Wineries. There will be food available for purchase on site, so please do NOT bring any additional food or alcohol to the event. Feel free to bring your blankets and lawn chairs!
City of Fairfax residents are invited again to turn their front yard and neighborhood in to a drive-by art gallery.
From April 22 – May 8 residents of Fairfax will be invited to create art displays in their front yard. The displays can be made of whatever you like. Create a sculpture out of your recycling for the week, turn your driveway into a work of art with sidewalk chalk, or buy some plywood and paint a mural! The options are endless.
Since we do not want the price of buying art supplies to be a hindrance, Spotlight on the Arts, City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts and Twins Ace Hardware will provide art kits to those who need them. If you did not receive a kit in 2021, you can pick one up on Saturday April 30 at Old Town Square from 10am – 2pm. Each kit will contain, a 2×4’ piece of plywood and rainbow chalk. If you want, you can turn your plywood into a chalk board and paint your boards with chalk board paint at pick up.
Sign up for your kits here.
If your art work is sensitive to the weather, the Drive by Day for the Neighborhood Art Celebration will be May 14. Enter you address here to get on the map so people can find your art! We will have yard signs for those participating in this year’s celebration! Make sure to sign up by April 22 to get your sign.
If you don’t have a yard to display in, we will have a location for you to display your work. Location is TBD.
Rules