Reston’s Tephra Institute selects artists for bi-annual exhibition

Five regional contemporary artists will highlight Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art‘s bi-annual Mary B. Howard Invitational.

The group exhibition — slated to take place at the institute’s Reston Town Center gallery from Dec. 10 through Feb. 26 — features the work of regional artists selected through a months-long application process.

“In acknowledge of the many traumas that have been endured individually and collectively over the past two years, this exhibition will explore the concepts of rest and reprise as a starting point for the artistic process,” event organizers said.

Guest curator Dierdre Darden will work with the selected artists to develop their work.

Holly Bass — a visual artist, writer and director — will explore unspoken social codes surrounding gender, class and race. Adjoa Burrowes, a county resident, works with sculptures, prints and paintings to explore themes of personal and cultural identity.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Deborah Grayson uses photographs from the early 20th century as source material. Katie O’Keefe, who lives in Baltimore and has been combating chronic lyme chronic disease, uses threads to explore her own dexterity.

Finally, the exhibit will feature the work of Britt Sankofa, a filmmaker and installation artist from the District who uses film and video to explore her African American heritage, according to Tephra.