Pictured above: How long will it take for the sea level to rise two feet? I mean, think about it, if your ice cube melts in your glass it doesn’t overflow; it’s displacement. I mean, this is some of the things they’re talking about mathematically and scientifically… by Mark Armbruster

By F. Lennox Campello

Locals at The Phillips

The current exhibition “Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise” at The Phillips Collection continues the refreshing two show newish approach by the Phillips to become a local museum who looks in its own backyard to showcase our area’s artists. Other than the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, that now makes The Phillips Collection the second DMV museum which actually exhibits our area artists! I applaud the initiative and wish some of our other museums would follow suit!

The show was done via a call for artists, and this call for artists received about 1,500 entries, which is more than enough proof for the hunger that area artists have for this kind of call. And I am about to confess that until a few days ago, I had no idea that this call for artists existed, and I suspect that had I received a news release or any indication that the call was active, once announced more widely by yours truly, they would have probably received 3,000 entries!

Of the 1,500 entries, 56 works were selected by the jurors, and it includes a refreshing number of “new” artists – and when I say “new”, I mean new to me, which counts for something after almost 40 years of being around the DMV visual art scene and curating over 200 exhibitions. On the other hand, there are a lot of “out of town” artists from Baltimore, which is technically not the DMV, and so….

Anyway, back to the “new” artists: This is GOOD and my kudos to the Phillips and the jurors and curators for being able to reach deep into the local area and giving these new artists a showcase at one of the planet’s most distinguished venues!

Also, I noted that the jurors, when they liked someone’s work, opted for including more than one work by that artist, which is unusual, as jurors often opt for adding more artists, rather than multiple works from one.

There are also some well-known DMV area artists such as Alexandra Silverthorne, Mary Early, Cianne Fragione, Leslie Holt, Joey Mánlapaz, Gail Shaw-Clemons and others, but the vast majority are refreshing new names.

I was especially taken in by Baltimore’s Mark Armbruster’s entry titled “How long will it take for the sea level to rise two feet? I mean, think about it, if your ice cube melts in your glass it doesn’t overflow; it’s displacement. I mean, this is some of the things they’re talking about mathematically and scientifically…”

I love it when artists flex their mind’s muscles to come up with interesting titles that shape the way that you now see the art! I gotta admit that I am a sucker for artists who not only create great art, but also take the time to come up with great titles that transport the art from the visual to the mentally sublime… well done Mr. Armbruster!

I was also very impressed by Aishwariya Chandrasekar’s small but packed with visual action embroideries on cotton cloth.

Lastly, Paloma Vianey from DC – who quite a well-known artist – has a couple of pieces in the show, both of which showcase not only well-honed painting skills, but also intelligent presentation. She is a Mexican-born interdisciplinary artist, painter, and educator whose work uses powerful and skilled visual art as a visual language for social justice. Originally from the border city of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, she is currently based in Washington, DC and a lot of her work focuses on her ancestral city.

Voices Through Visuals

The Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Voices Through Visuals art exhibit (September 4-26, 2026) at Del Ray Artisans, honors Hispanic culture, traditions, resilience, and its artistic contributions through a range of media and perspectives.

Organized and juried by the human tornado known as Laura Ramirez-Drain – who is also an exceptionally gifted and highly successful artist – the show honors “the rich culture, traditions, resilience, and artistic contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Through a diverse range of media and perspectives, the exhibit explores themes such as heritage, migration, family, cultural pride, and transformation. Each work contributes to a visual dialogue that connects past and present while highlighting the evolving narratives of Hispanic communities.”

The show runs September 4-26, 2026, with an opening reception and awards presentation (juried by yours truly) on Friday, September 4 from 7-9pm. If you are a Frida Kahlo fan – DO NOT MISS this show! You will be glad that you went to see several modern interpretations of the Mexican icon!

You can also register in advance at http://www.delrayartisans.org for their family-friendly cultural workshops held in conjunction with the art exhibit:

Create Your Own Piñata: A Celebration of Color & Culture on Sept. 13, 10am-12pm

Flowers, Identity & Art: A Frida Kahlo–Inspired Headband on Sept. 20, 6-8pm (ages 10 to adult)

Colors of Latin America: Hispanic Folk Art on Sept. 23, 6-8pm (ages 12 to adult)

The Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Voices Through Visuals exhibit runs September 4-26, 2026 at Del Ray Artisans gallery in the Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22301. Gallery hours are Thursday 12-6pm, Friday 12-9pm, Saturday 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-6pm (closed on September 27).

The gallery is free, open to the public, and accessible. For more information, please visit DelRayArtisans.org/exhibits.

About the Author: F. Lennox Campello’s art news, information, gallery openings, commentary, criticism, happenings, opportunities, and everything associated with the global visual arts scene with a special focus on the Greater Washington, DC area has been a premier source for the art community for over 20 years. Since 2003, his blog has been the 11th highest ranked art blog on the planet with over SIX million visitors.