Enjoy a day in Old Town Alexandria, VA, starting with the adventure of exploring the artist studios and galleries within the historic Torpedo Factory Art Center on Alexandria’s riverfront.
YES, the Torpedo Factory Art Center once was an actual torpedo factory!
Founded in 1974 in an old munitions plant on the Potomac River, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is now home to the nation’s largest collection of working-artists’ open studios under one roof. An Alexandria landmark for nearly 50 years, it’s the highlight of the Potomac Riverfront, attracting approximately 500,000 visitors annually.
Find artists actively creating work in a wide variety of media–including painting, ceramics, photography, jewelry, stained glass, fiber, printmaking, and sculpture–in 71 artists’ studios. Observe the creative process and ask questions. Purchase original work for your own collection. Stop into Target Gallery, the contemporary exhibition space for Torpedo Factory Art Center, to see a regular rotation of compelling and thought-provoking exhibitions that push the envelope and spur conversations.
The mission of the Torpedo Factory Art Center is to foster connections among artists and the public that ignite the creative spirit. They provide dynamic interactions with the arts through our community of visual artists, exhibitions, and programs. They offer art up close, in person, and in progress.
We will leave Easton in time to get there close to opening time (10am) and depart at 3pm, giving everyone nearly 5 hrs of fun time to explore the galleries, find lunch, and wander around old town Alexandria.
What to Expect:
The Art Center is home to the nation’s oldest continuously operated community of working artists’ studios under one roof. With more than 74 studios and 165 artists, it’s easy to wonder where to start. The largest number of studios are concentrated on the 3rd floor. It’s recommended that first-time visitors start at the top and work back down to the 1st floor. An elevator is near the waterfront entrance.
There are a number of fun shops to explore and restaurants to visit for lunch in nearby Alexandria, but to be on the safe side for lunch it is advisable to make a reservation: click here for reservations.
We will depart from the Easton Fire House, 315 Leonard Rieck Drive, Easton, MD at 8 am. Be sure to arrive a little early to get your preferred seating. Expect to return to Easton by 5 pm depending on traffic. Prior to leaving Easton, we will double-check to make sure we have your cell phone number and that of someone to call in case of emergency.
*Please note: Seats for this field trip are giftable but not refundable unless there is someone on the waitlist who can take the seat.*
Monday | Mon | May 5 | 8am – 5pm | FIELD TRIP by executive bus (from the Easton Fire House, 315 Leonard Rieck Drive, Easton, MD) | $85
