Fresh Year, Fresh Projects

Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful 2026. I'm personally starting the year with optimism and excitement about several upcoming projects that I want to share with all of you!

Women Artists of the DMV at Falls Church Arts

Control Yourself, collage by artist Molly F. McCracken, 14x11" on paper

Look: An Unexpected Art Experience

Anxiety/Depression by artist Molly F. McCracken

Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington's Innovation Studio and Store

MoCA Arlington Mixed Media Expressions

Tiny art for Free Little Art Gallery Arlington and Aspire

You Can't Drink AI by artist Molly F. McCracken

1. First thing is the Women Artists of the DMV show which opens this weekend at Falls Church Arts. Women Artists of the DMV is a wide ranging survey show, curated and coordinated by Lenny Campello that has featured artists in close to 20 different spaces throughout Maryland, DC and Virginia. I feel really fortunate to be participating with my piece, Control Yourself from the Women in Monochrome series, alongside so many wonderful artists and am looking forward to seeing everyone at the opening reception on Saturday, January 10 from 7-9 pm. Falls Church Arts is located at 700-B W Broad Street, Falls Church, VA.

2. Second thing that I am SO excited about is Look: An Unexpected Art Experience. This show, featuring around 20 visual artists, plus performers, community arts advocates and additional programming such as arts workshops, will take place at the old Walgreens on Langston Boulevard near Spout Run Parkway for three weekends in February and March. It will be the PERFECT way to get out of the cold and enjoy some art and culture. This will be the first time I show my large scale Body Works series alongside an assemblage project that I've been working on specifically for this show. Additionally, I will be leading a workshop, which will likely take place on the afternoon of February 21, but stay tuned for more information on that over on Instagram (@mollyfmccracken or @lookarlington) or on the Look website: lookarlington.com.

3. Third thing, and I cannot stress enough how meaningful this one is to me, I will be the Artist in Residence at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington's Innovation Studio from February 8 to April 4, 2026. I will be using the space for a collage related project, which is still in the process of formulating in my mind. As we get closer to the date, I'll have more specifics to share, including any workshops and artist talks that are organized around the project. MoCA Arlington's Innovation Studio is located at 525 14th Street S Arlington, VA 22202 by Metropolitan Park (another great place to visit for the public art). Thanks especially to Catie Anchin and Sarah Loden for making this happen, I am just thrilled.

4. Fourth thing, since we are talking about MoCA Arlington, I'll be leading a winter session of Mixed Media Expressions at the museum building on Wilson Blvd on Friday mornings from 10-12, beginning January 30 through March 20. These classes are a fun, process-oriented approach to mixed media with a heavy focus on collage and playfulness. I always try to cater the class to the participants and what the group is most interested in doing, but we usually start with either an intro to collage techniques or intro to mark making on paper - both of which are useful for all experience levels. You can sign up here.

5. Fifth thing is I just want to shout out a cool project I'm doing in collaboration with Stacey Schwartz of the Free Little Art Gallery Arlington and Aspire, an after school literacy program in Arlington. It has been an absolute joy to work with these kiddos on tiny art that they have the option to take home or donate to the FLAG. Stacey and the other FLAGs in the area have built a thriving community around the idea of generosity and that art is for everyone. PS, we have a Free Little Art Gallery at my studio too, cared for by my studio mate Pamela Huffman.

6. Sixth thing is my piece, You Can't Drink AI, is still up at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA through February 15, 2026. It is a part of an amazing show called Liquid Commonwealth: The Art and Life of Water in Virginia, which was juried and curated by a group of amazing students.

7. My intention over these next few weeks is to get a few paintings, collages, etc. ready to go so I can open a web shop during the run of the Look show. I am not great at the administrative end of things so it would likely only stay open for a few weeks in order to give me time to send any work out to collectors. If there is something specific that you are really interested in, please reach out to me directly and we can discuss. I'll keep y'all posted on this probably through instagram, since my track record of blog post and newsletters is abysmal.

8. And, if you have made it to number 8, thank you. Writing is hard for me and I appreciate you reading to the end!