The opening reception for Barry Barnett Keith’s solo show “Girl Power” was buzzing with activity on Friday, Nov. 8 at FOHTA (From One Hand to Another) Gallery. Long time supporters mingled with a few of Keith’s art students as well as the Arlington Arts Community.

Marsha Semmel says she was on the Arlington Arts Commission with Felecia McFail, who owns the gallery. “She sat next to me, and we formed a bond,” Semmel says. “It takes guts to open a gallery after a first career. She is a very determined person and has steadily built this gallery to feature new local artists.”

Keith has spent about a year on tonight’s show which is a collection of paintings, drawings, and comic book art that pay homage to the beauty and strength of women. “I love comic book art, and every show I do I try to put in some comic book character. This one called ‘Hawk Girl’ is done with a bic pen and colored pencils. It took me about three weeks working on it every day. It has a lot of detail.” The show includes Catwoman, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, students in his classes and superheroes as well as the portrait of his wife, which she says always seems to show up at his shows. 

A long time friend wrestles with a large landscape he has just purchased. “I’m going to put it on a wall but I don’t know where. My walls are already covered with Barry’s paintings.” 

Keith gets his ideas from a lot of different places. “I saw a movie about Ruth Bader Ginsberg and then it inspired me to do her portrait. “I put it on a bill because they were talking at the time about finding new faces for our currency.”

A striking woman’s portrait is getting a lot of attention. “I met Elizabeth at the Earth Day Festival on Langston Boulevard last year. She was there with her kids, and she was so noticeable that I asked her if I could paint her.”

Therese Marie Stripling gazes at a portrait of herself. “It was a complete surprise. My husband had it done, I guess from a photo, and I saw it for the first time tonight.” Stripling says she goes to as many of Keith’s exhibits as she can. “His work is topnotch. You can tell the essence; you can feel the person.”

A portrait of two of Keith’s students hangs on the wall. “They just left.” But Daniel Fisher and his younger sister Dashiell, also both students for several years, are there and excited to talk about their own experiences as students of Keith. 

McFail says she opened the galley downstairs in her home, first displaying her own art work which is freelance calligraphy. “Over time I’ve invited other artists who have such a hard time finding space. I’ve had over 25 people including photographers, quilters, jewelers and crafters as well as holding a wine tasting and book signings in the gallery.” McFail’s first career was a postal clerk but when she retired sixteen years ago, she pursued her dream of opening a gallery for community artists. Last year she says she had five shows in the gallery. 

Keith has had a number of local shows in Arlington but is headed to Baltimore next year. He says he hasn’t settled yet on the next topic for his show. “Girl Power” will be shown at FOHTA Gallery at 2206 S. Monroe Street from Nov. 8-Jan. 4, 2025.