Adam Henry, the Studio PAUSE artist-in-residence for 2024, is working on an Animal Sculpture Project at the 2 locations of the Studio in Arlington, VA.

Adam created a life-size Silverback Gorilla from January to March, at the Gates of Ballston location of the Studio, housed in the Rinker Community Center in AHC’s Gates of Ballston community.

The sculpture was created for the children who attend the Gates of Ballston After School Program. The elementary and middle school students have been visiting the Studio, seeing what art is being created there, and doing related activities since the Studio opened there in 2015. This time, they watched Adam build the gorilla. They responded, asked questions, shared fears, sketched, learned about the gorillas and their habitat, wrote wishes for protection on cardboard and attached them to the sculpture, and even worked collaboratively to come up with a name for him. In 2 weeks the gorilla will leave the Studio and go to their classroom downstairs and be the childrens’ Protector.

We invite you to come see the amazing site-specific sculpture along with others Adam has created, as well as some incredible animal sketches from his son who helped in the project. Enjoy meeting the artist and more. Light refreshments will be served.