Greater Reston Arts Center shows Joseph Barbaccia, Craig Kraft, and Judy Southerland

Greater Reston Arts Center is now showing their latest trio of featured solo exhibits.

Joseph Barbaccia, the local wonder boy of sequined Styrofoam shapes, is showing seven other-worldly sculptures of aquatically inspired critters. A tongue-like form bent in the middle will either sit flat with the other end stabbing up in mid-air, or it can be flipped over and draped over the edge of a table not unlike the tongue of a panting dog. Of all the shapes here, this one, titled 'Suffering', is the most well developed.

Another well developed sculpture, titled 'Praise', is skinned in a mottled shade of orange. A six legged octopus form ... a sextopus???... has two pointed appendages, Another pair have more rounded tips, one of which sits erect like an orange banana. The remaining pair of limbs have shaped ends that recall some childhood toy, possible Jacks, or weapons. One ends in a diamond shaped conical tip, while the other has a lumpy cudgel-like end. As creatures go, this one would keep you guessing for a long time as to what it is, what those different arms, or legs do, and what on earth is up with the airborne limb.

Unfortunately this level of play isn't found in all of Baraccia's other forms. Some are a bit too easily understood, and as a result the viewer tires of them once the decorative surfaces have been explored. While all of the works are extremely well crafted, some seem to beg for a little more design work before the decorative sequin part of the process begins.

Neon sculptor Craig Kraft has three of his latest neon sculptures derived from disjointed doodling. Showing the complete design process from doodles to working patterns, Kraft has left no mystery in how he got to his finished works. All we need to do is figure out what the graffiti-like doodles mean. Ultimately you can't settle on an answer, because there is no answer. Although the central word 'dream' in his largest illuminated 'Unintentional Drawing' clues you in to that fact.  The swirling doodles grab your eye, and supply it with abundant material to explore and consider. It's the sort of work you never really get tired of looking at.

Be sure to check out the reverse side where Kraft displays the transformers, flickering neon tube stub ends, and raw stainless steel connecting wires. Needless to say, in this glass walled storefront type gallery, the work looks better the darker it is outside.

Corcoran teacher Judy Southerland displays a half dozen of her mixed media prints and paintings (two of which use multiple panels to form the overall piece). Most of the mixed media factor comes from lines of thread stitched into the works.  Virtually all of the pieces portray women enduring some indeterminate strife. We can't tell for sure, but the images give the impression that the struggle at hand is as much internal as external. Or somewhat conversely, the inner struggle is an effort to survive the adverse outward influences.

Joseph Barbaccia / Craig Kraft / Judy Southerland in Focus Exhibitions through February 20. Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE), 12001 Market Street, Suite 103, Reston, VA 20190. Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Phone (703) 471-9242, www.restonarts.org