Smithfield Retreat

Written by WPA on December 19, 2014. Posted in New Construction, Rendering, Residential, Smithfield, Structures.

WPA was hired to work with a local family to design a retreat house on the James River in Smithfield, Virginia. The Clients came to us with an idea for a modern barn and a desire for a place where family and friends could gather, read books, play games, and get away from the hustle and bustle of the work-week. The above drawings reflect our first-pass at a schematic design for a house that invites guests to gather in one open room, relax in front of the fire, and hang out on a bluff above the James River.

Dominion Enterprises Device Lab

Written by WPA on December 18, 2014. Posted in Device Lab, Norfolk, Rendering, Tennant Buildout, Uncategorized.

Dominion Enterprises hired WPA to conduct a one-day charrette to help design a new Device Lab—a place where developers, help desk, audio/visual, creative, and administrative staff could come together to work on testing and development of mobile apps.

Tim Bearse “Bed Nappings and Fruit Off the Vine”

Written by WPA on December 1, 2014. Posted in Downtown Norfolk, Educational, Event, Exhibit, Public Art, Video, WPA Studio.

Tim Bearse

Bed Nappings and Fruit Off the Vine

Opening Reception: Friday December 5th 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Tim Bearse’s sculptures and mixed-media artwork reference the composition, form, and velocity of skateboarding videos. His objects, which at first glance appear to be modernist abstractions, borrow their shape from concrete swimming pools and community-built ramps. The referents, and their larger culture, are specific, though they ultimately point toward something larger: the built environment’s capacity for intervention, collectivization and empathy; the creative potential of kinesthetic awareness; the complexities of tactile, modular forms; and speed as a method of non-lingual communication.

Commune Crepes

Written by WPA on November 24, 2014. Posted in Educational, Event, Farming, Greenhouse, New Construction, New Earth Farm, Norfolk, Uncategorized, Virginia Beach.

We are very excited for our friend Kevin Jamison and his new restaurant in development, Commune Crepes. We know from our experience working with him on the Teaching Pavilion at New Earth Farm that the restaurant will be a powerful example of sustainability on multiple levels: food, design, and community.

Duplex at Chick’s Beach Nearing Completion

Written by WPA on November 5, 2014. Posted in New Construction, Residential, Structures, Virginia Beach.

Paul Simmons “Situation Comedy”

Written by WPA on September 30, 2014. Posted in Educational, Event, Exhibit, Public Art, WPA Studio.

Paul Simmons

“Situation Comedy”

Opening Reception: Friday October 10th 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Paul Simmons approaches his paintings like a handyman plying his trade. His work imagines a dialogue between crafted objects and fragmented forms, embracing experimentation. Paintings and drywall objects reference the architecture of the viewing space by treating them both as conceptual and concrete terrain to be explored.

His work has been shown at numerous venues including Sculpture Center, Cleveland OH; Golden Parachutes, Berlin DE; Moscow Biennale for Young Art, Moscow RU; and recently at Parallel Art Space, Brooklyn NY. Simmons received his BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA from The Ohio State University. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

paulsimmonsstudio.com

Renovations to a Residence in Western Branch

Written by WPA on September 26, 2014. Posted in Chesapeake, New Construction, Rendering, Renovation, Residential.

WPA is proud to continue to work with our Clients in Western Branch on small renovations and interventions in their home. This new covered entry sets the stage for procession into the recently renovated entry foyer, music room, living room, dining room and kitchen. Custom glass and steel elements match profiles used on the interior of the house, and solid wood columns are reminiscent of heavy timber columns on the interior, recycled from the now demolished Norfolk Boat House concert venue.

Downtown Arts & Design District Charrette

Written by WPA on September 22, 2014. Posted in Arts & Design District, Downtown Norfolk, Event, Norfolk, Public Art, Uncategorized.

Pure Barre Coming Soon!

Written by WPA on September 12, 2014. Posted in Chesapeake, Commercial, Hampton Roads, Pure Barre, Renovation, Tenant Buildout.

Congratulations to our friends at Pure Barre! We can’t wait to try out your classes at your 9/15/14 Grand Opening. Thank you for a wonderful experience helping you to design your new space.

John Edward Welch “I Cannot Accept This Wonderful Gift…”

Written by WPA on August 26, 2014. Posted in Event, Exhibit, Norfolk, Public Art, WPA Studio.

John Edward Welch

“I cannot Accept This Wonderful Gift…”

Opening Reception: Friday September 5th, 6:00 – 9:00 PM

John Edward Welch (1918-2011) was a self-taught sign painter and artist, and longtime resident of Newport News, Virginia. His mixed-media paintings combine African-American history, biographical portrayals of cultural figures, and social commentary. Working in obscurity until 2010, Mr. Welch garnered the art world’s attention at age 93 when his artwork was exhibited at the Ricco/Maresca Gallery in New York City.

This exhibition was co-curated by Thomas Moore, who is an artist, and Senior Curator of Photography at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia.

Special thanks to Michelle Erhardt, Anna Holloway, Thomas Moore and Elaine Viel for loaning artwork for this exhibition.

Learn more: History, Art and Experience Collide | Mark St. John Erickson, Daily Press

Author: WPA