The Fred Schnider Investment Group strives to provide deluxe, innovative spaces in which the Northern Virginia community can live and flourish. Amid the upscale retail options and prime amenities available at the Residences at Liberty Center, the Fred Schnider Art Gallery opened May 12 to add a touch of creative flair to the mixed-use property.
The president of the investment and development firm, Marty Schnider, wanted to use the space in a way that would be unique but still beneficial to their mission. “[My team and I] thought about what would really enhance the experience for the people who live and work at Liberty Center—what would bring everybody together, and really serve the ‘urban feel’ the area has,” says Schnider. “We thought about the great urban areas we’ve experienced, and some of them have art galleries on every block. Here we had the opportunity to build a quality art gallery that featured quality art.”
The 850-square-foot gallery features tall ceilings, high-level finishes on the walls, and gallery lighting for an optimal art-viewing experience. The space is also acoustically enhanced, creating an ideal sound environment for viewers without disturbing residents in close proximity. The advanced sound system can also be used to host live musicians.
Showcasing local art was of the utmost importance to Schnider in the gallery’s conception. “There’s a rich art community in the area,” Schnider says, “and we’d like to collaborate, in one way or another, with that talent.”
Gallery developers reach out to artists in the area and invite submissions via e-mail ([email protected]). The art styles showcased will be dependent upon the artist, so media could range from photography to sculpture.
The gallery’s first exhibit features the works of award-winning artist David Carlson, a longtime art professor at Marymount University. His abstract paintings and drawings, titled “Out of My Mind,” were taken from his Fields and Transformation Series. Carlson was also a key consultant in the opening and operating of the gallery, and is set to serve on a committee that will assist in the artist selection process. His exhibit will end July 8.
The gallery will feature six to seven artists a year for four to six weeks each. The art on display can be purchased and will be available for pick-up at the end of its exhibition. Artists are currently booked for showings through mid-November, so the gallery is guaranteed to display a variety of works for months to come.
Regular hours for the Fred Schnider Art Gallery are currently 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. from Thursday through Sunday. // Fred Schnider Art Gallery: 888 N. Quincy St., Arlington
