Soapstone Market branches out into art shows and storytelling

Lena Frumin, a local artist and friend of Forest Hills Connection (she donated a piece to our 2015 fundraising auction), held an art show at Soapstone Market last Sunday. Not only was it great to see so many of her colorful slice-of-life paintings all in one place, it served to showcase Soapstone as a community event space.

First, about Lena Frumin’s show: About 140 guests checked out the 60 works on display, mostly oils on canvas.

Celebrate Diversity, part of a series of protest paintings. Photo of the work by Judy Licht. View more of Lena Frumin’s art at JudyLicht.com and LenaFruminDC.com.

Frumin has also been experimenting with oils on glass, and a few of those pieces were in the show. She has been painting for about 25 years and studied at the Corcoran and Yellow Barn at Glen Echo.

Frumin’s works will be on display at Soapstone Market through April 2nd.

Now, about the venue: Frumin’s guests seemed surprised that a neighborhood market could provide such a space. Matt Frumin, Lena’s husband, quoted one of the attendees: “Why don’t we have something like this in our neighborhood?”

Could Soapstone Market become our community event space? On November 8th, neighbors assembled to watch the Election Day returns. Another group organized an alternative inauguration event.

Soapstone has since moved the shelving that was next to the bar area to create an even larger place to dine, mix and mingle. And it is organizing its own events, like its Mardi Gras party on February 28th. It’s also hosting story circles for children on Saturdays at 10 a.m., including a special Dr. Seuss birthday party on March 4th (free, but you’re asked to RSVP here).

We’re going to give it a try in a couple of months. On April 23rd, Forest Hills Connection is hosting a book talk by Anthony Dobranski on his first novel, The Demon in Business Class. Details to come.