Category: Art Scene

For sculptor and woodworker Patrick Burns, it’s all about listening to the wood. Burns has been quietly running his studio west of Leesburg for several years. But last month, Burns caught the attention of the county’s arts community with a mesmerizing large-scale aquatic-themed sculpture.

A new center for the arts has arrived in downtown Leesburg amid the vintage shops and lively bars. The Ordinary Art Gallery and Studio, opened in July by Sharon Virts and her son, Lucas Mason, is illuminated by bright white walls and wide windows that stretch to the ceiling. It is filled with artwork of all kinds—from vibrant canvases of nature scenes to small graphite sketches depicting historical figures and moments. 

The past eight months have meant plenty of thinking outside the box for Loudoun’s small businesses. And no one has mastered the pandemic pivot better than working artists. Many local creatives are coming into the holiday season with a sense of optimism, bolstered by community support.