About PWAS - A History of a Prince William County Art Group
Prince William Art Society (PWAS) for Artists and Art Lovers
I found the answer to "What is PWAS" for the first time through Facebook, probably like many others. I saw a post about a local PWAS art event at Clearbrook Center of the Arts located at Tackett’s Mill shopping center here in Lake Ridge – Woodbridge, Virginia. Local artists, displaying their art, why can’t I do that??? So, the search began to find out more...
What is PWAS?
PWAS, which we pronounce as "P-WHAZZ", is the acronym we use for the Prince William Art Society which is based in Prince William County, Virginia. The group is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization composed of local artists of wildly various backgrounds, styles, and medium use.
From emerging artists to established art makers, art enthusiasts and art dabblers, fine arts, photographers and sculptors, PWAS members are interested in creating and presenting the visual arts, paintings and mixed media, with many of the artists residing in Prince William County in Northern Virginia, south of Washington DC about 17 miles down 95.
How Did PWAS Get Its Start?
The Prince William Art Society didn't start with that name nor its acronym. It began 50 years ago (as of this writing) in February of 1971 with the name of Woodbridge Art Guild (WAG) and the art group kept that name for many years. They started with 60 charter members with one big issue: they did not have an official "home".
The group met in various locations in and around the Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, and Dale City areas. In 1973, the membership expanded making larger accommodations necessary, which meant meeting at Marumsco Creek Park (Veterans Park) and occasionally in local churches including Our Lady of Angels Church on Marys Way, Woodbridge. Other locations for meetings included the Dale City Civic Center.
The WAG members took part in demonstrations, critiques, sketch outs, workshops, art tours and exhibitions...while offering art shows and exhibits, quite often outdoors, including in a small building on the corner of Old Bridge and Minnieville Road - where the Exxon station is now. That was a sort of "Woodbridge Welcome Center" for a time that gave their artwork "cover" from the weather for shows.
Members also set up art shows in front of the local stores at the upper part of Tackett's Mill, until as things tend to happen, potential insurance issues were raised and those pop-up shows had to be stopped. Viva La ART! Art will find a way!!
There was even a monthly newsletter in years past keeping members informed on their area's art events!
In 1972, an artist bio-resume was developed which provided an interest/reference file for requests from the community, for art judges, teachers and special commissions for art work. - From a Woodbridge Art Guild's Edgewater Gallery announcement page.
In 1975, the guild joined the Eastern Prince William Chamber of Commerce, with an average of 125 members. The membership expansion meant lots of great art shows all over the county throughout the year and in December, PWAS would finish the year with a Holiday Reception and member art show.
The Woodbridge Art Guild was officially incorporated in the state of Virginia as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which has a board of governors, directors, meeting minutes - all of the paperwork and rules that necessitate that status in 1976.
Tackett's Mill Expansion
The WAG members longed for a permanent home for their art activities and for the community to enjoy, learn, and for purchase.
The Officers and Board of Governors at that time were Diane Angell, President and co-director, Fuller Brown, co-director Helen Turner, Jewell Burns, Kathy O'Day, Rick Alt, Jean Beamer, Sherry Smith, and Wanda Lin, along with the help of other artist members worked hard to fulfill a dream that was about to come true...
Tackett's Mill had built out the lower section of the shopping center with the Mill and pond - a beautiful area with paths and waterfall and new retail shops spaces waiting to be filled.
On November 23, 1984, the Woodbridge Art Guild Board and members (listed above) were instrumental in opening the Edgewater Gallery at Tackett's Mill in the lower level where the Mill is and there was a major celebration. The "water-front" space was a lovely location with a view inside and out, displaying the waterfall and nature outside and beautiful artwork inside. As many art locations do, the membership volunteers their time in "manning the store".
Then, unfortunately, after about 2 and 1/2 years, with time, space and rent changes, the Edgewater Gallery had to close and WAG was again, without a home. So once more, the artists were longing and looking for a permanent space for a gallery, classrooms and arts learning space - a real place to call home.
Interestingly, the original Tackett's Mill shopping area buried a time capsule on March 29, 1985. But more on that later...
WAG even had a brief stint in a store front location across from Lowe's on Minnieville Road in Woodbridge, VA. A non-profit small business often has difficulty using a spot rent-free when those shopping areas obviously want those spaces to make a profit. Meetings again took place wherever they could.
At that time many members were military spouses, and/or quite a few worked in DC or were deployed. As is true with this area of Northern Virginia, military families come and go annually, and the membership fluctuated along with it.
The artist membership had always created many types of art and sold it at their various pop-up shows and events. Their art ranged from paintings in acrylic, oils, watercolors, alkyds, mixed media, ceramics, pottery and more.
An occasional member "hit it big" with respectable sales success and moved on to bigger and better things in their own studios in the NOVA area and sometimes across the world. Lena Liu was one of those members that has had a very successful artistic journey.
The Change to PWAS
Prince William County is a very large county with well-known cities across it including Bristow, Gainesville, Manassas, Haymarket, Nokesville, Quantico, Dumfries, and Occoquan along with Woodbridge. Some discussion occurred with members feeling in (YEAR) that the name "Woodbridge Art Guild" was probably not inclusive enough to describe the entire county and perhaps draw (pun intended) more artists in. The membership changed the name to the Prince William Art Society representing that all artists residing in county are welcome to join (age 18 and up) and not just "Woodbridge".
Often, PWAS members are and have been members of other local art groups and art galleries and shops. The Loft Gallery in Occoquan, the Lorton Workhouse, PWCAC - Prince William County Arts Council, Manassas Art Guild, and the several other galleries in Occoquan are a few other local art organizations in the area are where many of the membership have earned local recognition for their talent and hard work in those spaces as well as with PWAS.
In 2008, Alice La Bier, President of PWAS at the time, suggested a Scholarship Program that would work with PWC high schools and the program was begun. The program awards scholarships to up to two 12th grade students graduating and preparing to pursue a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts or Art Education. The program was named in honor of Jewell Pratt Burns, a founding member of WAG and PWAS.
Clearbrook Center of the Arts
In more recent years, Clearbrook has gratefully enabled the PWAS group to house and display their art - considering them to be the current "artist in residence". Clearbrook Center of the Arts is a space in the lower side area of Tackett's Mill Shopping Center located at 2230 B Tackett's Mill Drive, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 - near the Bee Store.
You are cordially invited to come by and visit, there is no fee to have a look around at the artwork. One room also displays the Tackett's Mill Time Capsule that was opened on May 29th, 2019, on its 50th anniversary of the founding of Lake Ridge. The Time Capsule it self may be moved at some point, so come see it now!
Read the history of Tackett's Mill at https://tackettsmill.com/history/
PWAS Today, Member Meetings and More
The Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 is where PWAS meets once a month on the fourth Monday of the month. Visitors are welcome and discussion is on the latest and upcoming events and activities that artists may choose to participate in. Often there is a guest artist speaker or demonstration, periodically there is "show and tell" by members to show what they are working on now.
Prior to the 2020 COVID restrictions, PWAS members participated in many wonderful workshops, museum field trips, art shows and other art events. 2020 tossed the art events into the air in PWC and those restrictions also meant that the Scholarship program was put on hold and the members went to Zoom meetings like much of the rest of the world.
In the spring of 2021, PWAS started meeting in person once again at the Tall Oaks Community Center and the Spring Tall Oaks Art Show took place in May 1, 2021. The gallery at Clearbrook is once again open every weekend, and the art events and shows are definitely on the calendar going forward. (See the section for Upcoming Events)
On Saturday, June 5, 2021, the PWAS membership gathered at The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm in Gainesville and celebrated the 50th anniversary of PWAS. Members, their spouses, and guests enjoyed celebrating the long history of art in Prince William County and presented a bouquet to Jewell Pratt Burns for her 50 years and dedication to PWAS and its Scholarship Program. For the month of June, PWAS members displayed artwork at the winery, which was juried in.
And as far as the Scholarship Program, which works in conjunction with the PWC school systems - we are looking forward to once again being able to award up to two 12th grade students graduating and preparing to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts or Art Education with a scholarship award in 2022.
With our current "home" at Clearbrook, PWAS is currently displaying artwork for sale by its members of PWAS ever weekend from 1 to 4pm. The artwork ranges from acrylics, watercolors, photographs, pastels, landscapes, abstracts, etc. The gallery also features a Theme Wall, and all of the artwork, including the theme, is changed every other month. Come by and meet the attending artists and say hi and that you read about us!
In Closing
Much of this PWAS history was gathered from Jewell Pratt Burns, a charter member from the original Woodbridge Art Guild group. This blog will periodically present artist interviews of our members and the first one will be my interview with Jewell, so be sure and watch for that post coming VERY soon!
Also, a big thank you to Ken Meardon and Sandra McClelland who were a great help with proof-reading and tweaks.
I have learned a LOT about PWAS since February of 2021 - (I joined in March 21) and as Jewell has pointed out, being a PWAS member is teaching me a ton I did not know about presenting art, hanging art, different styles and techniques and so much more. Besides that, I have made some great new friends! I have benefited tremendously as an artist and becoming a PWAS member, and YOU can too.
Your comments, sharing, and likes are welcome and appreciated!
Additional History Added July 13, 2024
In November 2021, PWAS opened an art show at the Stonebridge Shopping Center (15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA.) for a temporary popup show that was to run right after Thanksgiving, Black Friday and through that weekend. The management of the shopping center so enjoyed the popup show that they asked us to extend the art show into the first few weeks of December of that year.
Open Space Arts Gallery
In early 2022, the Prince William Art Society was asked to help with a new gallery in the same space, now called "Open Space Arts". OSA opened with PWAS managing the art gallery space, PWC local calls for art and managing the desk in April 2022 to much success. Many artists throughout Prince William County had the opportunity to showcase and feature their art in the monthly art shows with various art themes and mediums.
The Prince William Art Society managed the art gallery of OSA until September 2023. And the Open Space Arts gallery officially closed under the new management in late 2024.
2024 Prince William Art Society
PWAS continues to hold various art shows and popup art events all around Prince William County, including some new locations, events, and festivals. New events included the Bee Festival in Manassas, the Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farms in Nokesville, the Artist Inventory Sale in Manassas, PW Native Plant Symposium in Manassas, and another show at the Sunshine Ridge Winery in Gainesville.
PWAS Plein Air Posse
A new PWAS group called the Plein Air Posse was also started in early 2024 for artists that want to get out of doors. PWAS applied for and was awarded an art grant that is being used to fund art classes and art educational events for the group and community. Monthly meetings at the Tall Oaks Community Center on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30pm with various programs are a part of what we do.
Online PWAS Art Store
Also added in 2024 was an online Art Store on the PWAS website. With some art shows that the group displays their work, such as in libraries, the ability for viewers to purchase the artwork on display needed to be addressed. The library itself does not handle the sale so PWAS created an online Art Store to manage the purchase.
PWAS Board of Directors
A new Board of Directors is voted in every 2 years and new opportunities continue to be researched, planned, and promoted. One big goal of this new 2024 BOD is the search for a permanent Prince William Art Society home gallery of our own. Another big goal is to continue the growth of the membership in all things art in our community, so if you love art and want to be a part of the oldest art group in PWC, check out https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
The PWAS future is looking VERY colorful!
@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission
Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.
Of note: This article was recovered using Wayback Machine Internet Archive after the Artistry Spin Blog was deleted.
Donna Liguria and Ana Quispe
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