The Argyll Motor Works, currently known as Lomond Galleries, is a former car factory in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.It was opened in 1906 by Argyll Motors Ltd, at the time the largest producer of cars in Scotland.After the Argyll company folded it was used as a torpedo factory, subsequently lying empty for many years, and is now a shopping centre. Had a lovely chat with the artists and store keepers. In 1973, The Art League had a lease at 315 Cameron Street that was expiring. Torpedo-like weapons were first proposed many centuries before they were successfully developed. The Art League Gallery, located on the first floor of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, provides exhibit opportunities to more than 1,000 artists of all media and skill levels. Exhibits in the gallery rotate on a monthly basis. This year, the Torpedo Factory celebrates the 100th anniversary of its official opening in 1919 and the 45th anniversary of its designation as an art center in 1974. Today the Art Center welcomes more than a half million national andinternational visitors each year who visit Alexandria’s waterfront. The U.S. (at TFG we're passionate about improving outcomes for our customers) It's not just a catchy name for a building bursting with art studios. Each exhibit is juried by an outside professional not associated with The Art League. Throughout its 45-year history, Torpedo Factory ArtCenter (Art Center) has enjoyed a long and distinguished history culminating inthe 70s and 80s as a model for placemaking and a never seen before way for thepublic to experience an artist at work. The factory built torpedoes for five years before becoming munitions storage. Over the last 6 decades we’ve grown through word of mouth and acquisitions, including: After months of planning, on November 12, 1918—ironically the day after Armistice Day marked the end of World War I—the U.S. Navy began construction of the U.S. After World War II it was used for Federal records storage. We can't wait for you to come and explore. Every single person is polite and helpful and their workmanship is very good. A Brush with History: The Torpedo Factory Art Center from Istrico Productions on Vimeo. Any third-party trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. hello@tfg.com It wasn't actually completed until after the war ended (as coincidence would have it, the doors opened just one day after the Armistice). By degrees production was moved to the Alexandria factory which then became RNTF, a process completed by 1947, thus allowing TEE to expand considerably, so that it eventually covered all aspects of torpedo technology, except launching gear. Send an email to torpedofactory@alexandriava.gov and Art Center staff will do some research to make connections where possible. With the onset of World War II, the factory produced Mark III torpedoes for aircraft and Mark XIV torpedoes for submarines. The Torpedo Factory Art Center was an actual torpedo factory. Includes galleries and studios, and is open to the public. In 1974, the Art League and a group of dedicated artists won the City's permission to convert the abandoned building into an art center. Over the next five years it was responsible for the manufacture and maintenance of torpedoes, and it subsequently served as a munitions storage area until World War II . Work began that spring. History No kidding! THE U.S. NAVY TORPEDO FACTORY About 1906, Admiral N. E. Mason, then Chief of BuOrd, requested an appropriation of $500,000 from Congress of which $150,000 was for the purpose of establishing a U.S. Navy Torpedo Factory at Newport, R.I. Torpedo Factory Art Center: History with amazing art - See 1,201 traveler reviews, 431 candid photos, and great deals for Alexandria, VA, at Tripadvisor. 201 reviews of Torpedo Factory Art Center "Art studio/gallery located in Old Town Alexandria right near the water. It was painted bright green so that the Navy could find it in the water when it was tested at Piney Point, MD. Posted by Leigh Goessl at 6:00 AM. City workers used fire hoses to power-wash the building’s interior, which had been neglected since 1969. Accounts. After an illustrious history as a pioneer in artist workspace and in using artist spaces as an element in community redevelopment, the Torpedo Factory Art Center finds itself at a juncture in redefining its operating model and examining its role in the community. The City of Alexandria hired Van Landingham to be the first director. The Torpedo Factory Art Center, founded in 1974, was the result of the “sweat equity” of local residents who largely converted the vacant and deteriorated building into art studios with their own hands. “Optical Curve #20 (detail),” Ruth Gowell, Glass, 2020 (Photo courtesy Alison Sigethy) ALEXANDRIA, VA-Ruth Gowell and Alison Sigethy are two glass artists who have studios at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.A new museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, Imagine Museum, showcases works made of glass. By the re-opening celebrations on May 21, 1983, there were 225 artists at the Art Center, including a harppsichord maker. Naval Torpedo Station. Entrance and exit are via sliding doors on the Waterfront and Union Street only. She pitched the idea as a three-year pilot to Mayor Charles Beatley Jr. and it passed City Council on May 7, 1974. In 1969, the City of Alexandria bought the buildings from the Federal Government for $1.6 million. Membership is open to any emerging or professional artist. Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 11 December 2020. Torpedo Factory celebrates 100 years as building, 45 years as art center. Once fully operational, it was responsible for the manufacture and maintenance of Mark III torpedoes for the next five years. Gemerkt von: Wikimedia Foundation. It wasn't just us. He believed in the promise of the Art Center and was a fixture from its earliest days, spending hours volunteering and worked part-time starting in the 1980s. Visit Torpedo Factory Art Center's profile on Pinterest. The Torpedo Factory Art Center is located in Alexandria Virginia. Torpedo's factory.Germany May 1942. There is a little cafe on the atrium. The Torpedo Factory, a former World War I munitions plant, officially became an art center in the early 1970s. By 1950, it was converted to the Federal Records Center in Alexandria. The Torpedo Factory is crammed with the most amazing artists of all styles producing pictures, jewellery, clothes and all sorts. The Art Center’s café is operated by Bread & Water Company While the City of Alexandria has owned the building since then, it was previously managed by a nonprofit called the Torpedo Factory Art Center Board. The Torpedo Factory Group launched in London in 1960 when we opened the doors of a glamorous shop at 45 High Street Kensington in London. A Brush with History: The Torpedo Factory Art Center. The work of two artists at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Ruth Gowell and Alison Sigethy, will be featured in an upcoming exhibition at the Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, according to a news release. (The silver torpedo by the Riverfront Entrance is a Mark III, but it was not manufactured in Alexandria.). TORPEDO FACTORY LTD - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity It was built as a munitions plant in 1918. The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria is a visual arts center located in an old Department of Defense munitions facility. It stands as one of the nation’s earliest examples of the adaptive reuse of a historic building. From its early days as a munitions factory during WWI and WWII, to its transformation into an art center in the 1970s, the building is a prominent fixture along the Alexandria waterfront and draws approximately 500,000 visitors in most years. This limited edition first printing is complete with a detailed history of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, colorful stories about the artists who contributed to making the Torpedo Factory Art Center a cornerstone of arts and education in our community, and beautifully photographed works of … History On November 12, 1918, the U.S. Navy began constructing a torpedo factory in Alexandria, named the U.S. Torpedo Factory Art Center: Local creativity and history - See 1,200 traveler reviews, 431 candid photos, and great deals for Alexandria, VA, at Tripadvisor. Filing history for TORPEDO FACTORY LTD (00650255) People for TORPEDO FACTORY LTD (00650255) Charges for TORPEDO FACTORY LTD (00650255) More for TORPEDO FACTORY LTD (00650255) Registered office address The Old Torpedo Factory, St Leonard's Road, London, NW10 6ST . The Mark XIV green torpedo, currently displayed in the main hall, was produced here in 1945. Visual arts center located at the historic torpedo factory. Check Today’s Hours for expanded information. Over the last 6 decades we’ve grown through word of mouth and acquisitions, including: Our experience with the Torpedo team has been excellent. For example, in 1275, Arab engineer Hasan al-Rammah – who worked as a military scientist for the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt – wrote that it might be possible to create a projectile resembling "an egg", which propelled itself through water, whilst carrying "fire". He started his working career helping in a family grocery store and ice cream shop and went on to … The Torpedo Factory in the 1920s (left) and in 2019 (right). The building was renovated in 1982 and 1983. The U.S. General Services Administration agreed to a five-year deadline to empty all of the contents. … YES, the Torpedo Factory Art Center once was an actual torpedo factory! It all began the day after Armistice Day, November 12, 1918, marking the official end of World War I. Ironically, on that day, the U.S. Navy began construction on the original building, the U.S. We wanted to honor both the artists and its military history, as the Art Center continues to serve its community, and the nation, to this day. The goods are of a very high quality. YES, the Torpedo Factory Art Center once was an actual torpedo factory! Naval Torpedo Station was built during World War I on old lumber dock known as "The Strand". The Torpedo Factory Group launched in London in 1960 when we opened the doors of a glamorous shop at 45 High Street Kensington in London. After the War ended in 1945, the complex briefly manufactured parts for rocket engines before shuttering permanently in 1946. There is no question that the Torpedo Factory Art Center is an Alexandria landmark. Its got such a pretty location too, right on the Potomac Riverfront. All rights reserved. It was multiple location. I happened to go last night and found out that they hold an after hours event every 2nd Thursday evening of the month. More than 165 artists work, exhibit, and sell their art across three floors. The Art Center creates a welcoming and engaging experience with interactiveevents that attract new, diverse audiences which is … In 1959, however, TEE closed and torpedo research, development and design were concentrated at the newly formed Admiralty Underwater Weapons … Artists maintain their own studio hours. Torpedo Factory Art Center: Interesting History - See 1,201 traveler reviews, 431 candid photos, and great deals for Alexandria, VA, at Tripadvisor. Company status Active Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on 23 February 1960. It's best to confirm availability before your visit. How do I find an artist who is no longer at the Torpedo Factory Art Center? It stored congressional documents, dinosaur bones, German war films and Nuremberg War Crimes trial records. Where can I grab a bite to eat? Workers were not segregated, which was uncommon in Virginia at this time. Work stopped in 1923 and the facility served as a munitions storage area until 1937 when production on the Mark XIV began leading up to WWII. 5. There is a small area where they give the history of the Torpedo factory. There were 40 dump trucks of debris. Some where to buy a special present. Over time, the complex grew to 16 buildings and 5,000 employees. Richard Johnson joined Torpedo Factory Art Center staff as gift shop manager with the City of Alexandria’s Department of General Service in 1999. “The film A Brush with History celebrates ‘s rich 100-year history as a structure that went from making weapons of war to producing beautiful works of art. 020 8537 1000. The following year, for the 10th anniversary, the Spiral Staircase was unveiled. Today, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is home to the nation’s largest collection of publicly accessible working-artist studios under one roof. The quality of their products is excellent.’, Agatha Kalisperas, Director at The Hellenic Centre, Please enable your javascript for an optimal viewing experience, Our friendly staff are on hand to help discuss your requirements. The work of these two artists has been selected for the museum’s upcoming exhibition, … The factory extended a considerable way to the E, across the area now occupied by Battery Park Avenue. Torpedo Factory Art Center has had a long and distinguished history culminating in the 70s and 80s as a model for placemaking and unique way for the public to see artists at work. © 2018 Torpedo Factory Group. A Brush with History: The Torpedo Factory Art Center from Istrico Productions on Vimeo. Email This BlogThis! No capacity limit, but masks are required for admittance and social distancing should be observed for the duration of the visit. click here- let us help Power your Performance, National Stage Technology – formed from the merger of Northern Stage and Lancelyn Theatre Supplies. James W. Coldsmith, editor of the Alexandria Journal and chair of the Alexandria Bicentennial Commission, suggested to The Art League’s President Marian Van Landingham, who was also part of the Commission, that they consider the expansive old torpedo plant for a new location. Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest. I'm David back to the history, folks don't realize one they don't have actually a torpedo factory that made but two they don't realize just the factory was didn't remind everyone how big it actually was. Its got three levels where you can wander through and look at paintings, pottery, and other art crafts - with most of them available for purchase. Northern Virginia Alexandria, VA, USA. The Torpedo Factory Art Center is a working example of how the arts can revitalize a community and serves as a prototype for visual arts facilities throughout the world . In May 1983, the Navy Seabees delivered the 3,000-pound, 21-foot-long, green MarkXIV torpedo case as a housewarming present. Today, the public has multiple ways to consume art and the novelty of seeing art being made is varied across the country. The history of the Torpedo Factory Art Center is an interesting one and a neat place to stop by and visit if you're in Old Town. Find hours, directions, parking information and more. The Harbour Trust is inviting the public to have their say on two planning matters relating to a proposal for the Torpedo Factory at Sub Base Platypus. Get in touch in a way that is convenient to you. The Beatles would go on to great things on stage and behind the scenes, we did too! Today we have a turnover of almost £10m, with offices in London, Manchester, Oxford and Farnham. He was apparently successful, for construction of the factory began on July 1, 1907, and in 1908, the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport (the torpedo factory) … Shortly thereafter, artist Matthew Harwood founded Target Gallery in 1987 as a way to bring artists in from beyond the Art Center’s walls. It is the creative engine for the region. Naval Torpedo Station. In its 45-year history, many artists have come and gone. The same year our founder Harry Gordon opened the doors to his camera shop in Kensington, a little-known band from Liverpool performed their first concert in Hamburg. There was also another range of sheds to the W. These 2 buildings are therefore the last surviving examples of a much larger group and are of great historical importance as they formed one of the main centres Torpedo manufacture and development before and during both World Wars. Naval Torpedo Station. Crammed with the Art League had a lovely chat with the artists and keepers... 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