Save the Lee Art Center

Printing press

Not many things make me happier than to walk into the light filled printmaking studio on Langston Boulevard in Arlington, VA. The sun gleams off the glass counter tops, the metal presses sparkle and the vast horizontal surfaces wait to be covered in paper and ink. There are so many possibilities as I set out to create art in that space.

For the past several years I’ve been a member of the LAC (Lee Arts Center) a former school that was converted into a print and ceramics studio as well as a senior center and preschool coop. All programs shared the building peacefully until Covid-19 interfered. Then like most places, the building was shut down and we were all shut out.

Eventually the Senior Center and the preschool coop were moved to a brand new building that had been under construction before the pandemic. But what about the artists, some of whom used the studios to produce art for their businesses? What about all that unused equipment languishing in an empty building for almost two years?

Well, the County said the space couldn’t re-open because of Covid restrictions, although County run gyms and public schools all returned to operation. Many, many Zoom meetings, and letters to County Board members later, the center was open again thanks to the persistence of LAC members.

But there are limitations. We lost many members, for various reasons, but we aren’t allowed to take on new members - although there are people who are interested in joining. We also have less hours to use the space, but really, any time is better than no time. There is also the constant danger of failure of the HVAC system and parts of the building itself because of years of deferred maintenance.

Now we are in danger of being wiped out of existence because of County budgetary constraints. The current option is to raise our fees to cover costs of running the center. Okay, Okay, I can live with that if we could make use of the entire building (since we’d be paying for it). Let’s consider making it an real Arts Space. Use the empty downstairs as rent producing art studios; upstairs rooms could be used to provide classes and workshops. The big downstairs room could be available for neighborhood meetings, rehearsal space, and or even exercise classes. The upstairs Gallery could once again have art exhibits that bring people in so they can see what is happening right here in Arlington. It could be a vibrant and contributing part of the community.

We need to stop thinking about bulldozing old buildings and giving developers free reign to homogenize our neighborhoods. It’s time to consider how the Arts give a community the flavor that makes it a desirable place to live.

You can support the LAC through this website: Save LAC.org

Printmaking process with ink and stencils