Torpedo Factory

Page curated by Kai Okai-Brown and Jill Preston

What first began as an abandoned warehouse where artists could come freely to express themselves at their leisure, has since grown into an organized space where artists can display their artistic process to the audience, and them the space to make a profit off their work. However, recently the community of the Torpedo Factory is in danger. Pressured with the greedy hands of big capitalism, the government owners are pushing to completely disrupt the artistry of the Torpedo Museum in pushing to place a high end restaurant on the lower level of the exhibit. Artists have begun to join together to try resist this disruptive change, and preserve the beauty and uniqueness of the Torpedo Museum.

If you would like to contribute to the effort of preserving this fine institution, please see the resources to the left.

(Jill Preston)

It's so interesting that this former factory could function as a space for artists to work individually and together. I went to a store on the first floor, which sells products from different artists. They all separately have an introduction and website. I see a vivid lifestyle of art here. They could do what they want to do and collectively try to sell the products to make a living. The existnece of Torpedo factory exposes them to more chance, more possibilities. For both the artists and visitors, it opens a space for more findings.

(Xiwen Liu)

Marcel Artes Deolazo

My Favorite Artist

This man changed my life. Marcel Artes Deolazo (@the_horny_potter on Instagram) may be an artist but he is the true art. Deolazo elevated the experience of the Torpedo Factory by making it an amicable experience. I've visited the Torpedo Factory twice and it has never felt more alive. Deolazo not only spoke words of encouragement but he also spoke words of enlightenment.(Kai Okai-Brown)

Marcel Artes Deolazo by Kai Okai-Brown

Reacting to the tension facing the future of the artists of the Torpedo Factory, Deolazo told us his unfiltered opinions on the governments involvement, the state of artistry today, and the future of art in America as he sees it. Providing in insiders view in hopes of changing the way we view art.

"This is a unique place where people can come see the artists entire process from start to finish...changing this environment solely for the government profit will completely take away from that."

(Jill Preston)

Deolazo, having grown up in Old Town Alexandria, recounted stories of the earlier forms of the towns historic waterfront. He revealed an extremely perplexing slowmoving change to his home town that he found extremely unsettling. The area is increasingly growing more corporate which has resulted in strains on the torpedo factory's authenticity. City council is proposing a new restaurant open on the first floor of the building which would not only displace multiple artist but ruin the atmosphere. The waterfront already is congested with places to eat and adding another one would not add to Alexandria's collective culture.

(Kai Okai-Brown)

Our Favorite Deolazo Quotes:

"Who are your experimental Artists? They're not American" [Describing the implicit censorship in Art Instituions]

"If you wanna be an artist you better F***ing love it"

"The city is not helping small businesses"... You used to walk in [To the abandoned Torpedo Factory] and smell weed and to to that studio, I used to take classes here, I grew up here"

Quotes On Our End:

"He was so woke it was offensive"
"His art made me feel alive"

Larry Morris

My favorite piece from the Torpedo Factory was by sculptor Larry Morris. I was drawn to its simplistic yet vibrant design. It reminded me of the infinite power and possibility of basic geometric shapes and lines.

I am not sure if the artist was intentional about the physical space he chose to place his work, but to me it was the light and shadow that made the piece complete. The lights coming from different angles projected multiple shadows on top of each other, which created a special configuration of the original sculpture.

It was also fascinating to see the artist’s rendition of Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending Staircase. I wish the artist was here so I can ask him about his thought process while creating this piece.

(Gujie S.)

alison sigethy

This "Fantastical Glass" display by Alison Sigethy, caught me eye on the way out of the Torpedo Factory. The glass pressed up against the sides of the tubes really draws you in, and almost looks like jellyfish to me. One piece I was not able to capture on camera had gorgeous butterflies with moving wings! The vibrancy of the colors are incredible. Getting to see the artists in their studio spaces adds a personal element to art. (Grace Lyons)

View from the second floor balcony (Meghan Smith)

With the suite style organization of the Torpedo Factory, each artist's suite provides a glimpse into not just their artistic style but the way they like to work. This suite attracted me initially not because of the art, as beautiful as it turned out to be, but because of the warm colors and comfortable atmosphere. Some artists' suits looked like classic galleries with art hanging on bare white walls while others had plants growing among their pieces or their desks and easels covered in current projects. (Meghan Smith)

Matthew Johnston

A personal favorite from the artist Matthew Johnston - find him online here! (Evan Wollerton)

Lisa Schumaier's Goodnight Moon

The Torpedo Factory has a "Goodnight Moon" room, on view until February 20, 2022, constructed by one of their resident artists, Lisa Schumaier. She pays homage to, and recreates the cover of, the classic children's book, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. My mom used to read me this book when I was a kid, so seeing this brings back warm memories... (Justin Oei)

Michele Hoben

Michele Hoben stretching a canvas at her gallery/studio space in the Torpedo Factory

Upon starting a conversation with one of the Torpedo Factory artists while she was working in her studio/gallery, I learned that she has been pivoting a great deal in order to continue her artistry throughout the pandemic. The canvas supplier and stretcher (a family-run business) with whom she had been working for years had to close during the pandemic. Wielding a stapler and a gripper, she explained to me that she was reteaching herself to stretch her own canvases onto frames, and that there was definitely a re-learning curve! I was impressed by her perseverance, but since meeting her, I keep thinking about all of the small businesses, many family run for generations, that have had to close their doors since the pandemic.

(Alice Baughman)

Janae Michelle

I was able to have a conversation with Janae Michelle, a textile specialist for Adorn as she invited me into her artistic process to create her adorable felt accessories

Janae explaining how she is able to get different textures depending on the types of fibers she is using and how much she chooses to press into it.

(Jill Preston)

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