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SUMMARY:"Beyond the Frame" Exhibit\, Dion Pollard & Levi Robinson
DESCRIPTION:“Beyond the Frame”: Levi Robinson and Dion J. Pollard \nOn display: August 15 – September 19\, 2026\nOpening Reception: Saturday\, August 15 | 6:00–8:00 PM\nExhibition programming sponsored by Micron. \nExhibit Summary\nThe ARTfactory\, in partnership with The Black Art Today Foundation\, is pleased to present “Beyond the Frame\,” a compelling exhibition featuring the work of Levi Robinson and Dion J. Pollard. On view from August 15 through September 19\, 2026\, the exhibition brings together two accomplished artists whose distinct visual languages converge in a shared exploration of Black identity\, cultural memory\, resilience\, and the power of narratives to shape how we understand ourselves\, our communities\, and our histories. \nWhile a frame traditionally defines the physical boundaries of a work of art\, this exhibition asks viewers to consider what exists beyond those edges: the histories that shape us\, the stories that remain untold\, and the lived experiences that continue long after we leave the gallery. Through richly textured surfaces\, layered symbolism\, and emotionally resonant portraiture\, Robinson and Pollard invite audiences into conversations that transcend the canvas and challenge us to reconsider how identity\, memory\, and hope are constructed. \nLevi Robinson’s multidisciplinary practice investigates the intersections of history\, mythology\, and contemporary culture through painting\, collage\, and mixed media. Drawing inspiration from the improvisational traditions of jazz and the sampling culture of hip-hop\, Robinson layers imagery\, symbolism\, and historical references to create portraits that function as acts of preservation and reimagination. His work reclaims overlooked narratives while honoring ancestral memory\, offering viewers spaces for reflection on resilience\, dignity\, and the enduring complexity of the Black experience. \nComplementing Robinson’s historical lens\, DionJa’Y approaches storytelling through vibrant color\, sculptural texture\, and expressive optimism. His paintings celebrate Black life by highlighting joy\, family\, spirituality\, perseverance\, and triumph over adversity. Working across acrylic\, oil\, pastel\, ink\, watercolor\, and dimensional mixed media\, Pollard creates tactile works that encourage viewers not only to see but to feel each composition. His portraits and figurative works elevate everyday moments into visual affirmations of strength\, humanity\, and hope. \nThough their artistic practices differ\, both artists are united by a commitment to expanding how Black stories are seen and understood. Robinson excavates memory to reveal hidden histories and imagined futures\, while Pollard reshapes lived experience through affirmation and celebration. Together\, their works move beyond portraiture as mere representation\, becoming vessels for conversation\, connection\, and cultural reflection. \n“Beyond the Frame” ultimately asks viewers to consider the unseen narratives\, inherited histories\, and shared humanity that exist beneath every surface. The exhibition celebrates the enduring capacity of art to preserve memory\, inspire dialogue\, and imagine new possibilities for understanding ourselves and one another. \nFor additional information\, please visit the ARTfactory or contact the gallery for exhibition details. \nPress Inquiries\nJordan Exum\, Gallery Director\nARTfactory | Caton Merchant Gallery\n703.330.2787 | jexum@virginiaARTfactory.org\nhttps://virginiaartfactory.org/\nGallery hours: Tuesday-Saturday\, 10 am-5 pm\, Sunday\, 12-5 pm
URL:https://virginiaartfactory.org/event/beyond-the-frame-exhibition/
LOCATION:ARTfactory\, 9419 Battle Street\, Manassas\, VA\, 20110\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gallery,Homepage Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T213000
DTSTAMP:20260714T205713Z
CREATED:20260714T205620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260714T205713Z
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SUMMARY:Hairspray
DESCRIPTION:It’s big hair and even bigger dreams in Hairspray the Musical! Set in 1960s Baltimore\, this high-energy show follows Tracy Turnblad\, a spirited teen with a passion for dance\, as she fights for love\, equality\, and a spot on The Corny Collins Show. Bursting with catchy tunes\, dazzling dances\, and plenty of heart\, Hairspray is a joyful celebration of acceptance and the power of being yourself! \nDirected by Chris Maulden \nShowtimes on September 18\, 19\, 25\, 26 at 7PM\, September 20 & 27 at 2PM in the Gregory Family Theater at Hylton Performing Arts Center \nHAIRSPRAY is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
URL:https://virginiaartfactory.org/event/hairspray-2/2026-09-19/
LOCATION:Hylton Performing Arts Center\, 10960 George Mason Circle\, Manassas\, VA\, 20110\, United States
CATEGORIES:Pied Piper Theatre,Ticketed Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://virginiaartfactory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Hairspray-Ticket-Graphic-.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T220000
DTSTAMP:20260609T203539Z
CREATED:20260609T203516Z
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SUMMARY:No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre
DESCRIPTION:September 11-20\, 2026\n\n\n\n\nDark\, unsettling\, and endlessly thought-provoking\, No Exit is one of the most famous works of existential drama ever written. First performed in 1944\, Jean-Paul Sartre’s groundbreaking play confronts audiences with urgent questions about identity\, responsibility\, and the ways we define ourselves through others. \nThe play takes place in a stark\, windowless room in the afterlife\, where three strangers—Garcin\, Inès\, and Estelle—are brought together with no mirrors\, no escape\, and no explanation of their punishment. As they wait for the expected physical tortures of hell to begin\, they instead find themselves trapped in an eternal psychological standoff. With nothing to do but talk\, observe\, and judge one another\, their past actions and deepest insecurities are slowly revealed. \nAs the characters attempt to justify their lives and seek validation\, it becomes clear that each is both victim and tormentor. Sartre’s famously chilling conclusion—that “hell is other people”—emerges not as a casual provocation\, but as a devastating insight into how self-deception\, dependency\, and the need for approval can become forms of punishment. The characters are condemned to see themselves reflected endlessly in the eyes of others\, with no possibility of escape or redemption. \nNo Exit is a defining expression of Sartre’s existential philosophy\, dramatizing the idea that individuals are responsible for who they are\, and that avoidance of that responsibility leads to anguish and entrapment. The play explores themes of freedom\, choice\, guilt\, and bad faith\, challenging audiences to consider how much of their identity is shaped—or distorted—by the perceptions of others. \nPerformances will be held in the Wind River Theater at the ARTfactory.
URL:https://virginiaartfactory.org/event/no-exit-by-jean-paul-sartre-2/2026-09-19/
LOCATION:ARTfactory\, 9419 Battle Street\, Manassas\, VA\, 20110\, United States
CATEGORIES:Actors Theatre,Ticketed Event
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