VisArts offers an opening reception for artist, Dalya Luttwak who inaugurates the new VisArts "InSight" series with "Ground Cover: Roots of Liriope" on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 7-9 p.m. in the Ground Floor Atrium (first floor). The reception is free and open to the public. "InSight" at VisArts generates site-specific installations in non-traditional exhibition spaces that encourage active looking, sociability, interaction, and encounters with art in architectural space.

Dalya Luttwak is an American sculptor and metal artist whose site responsive steel sculptures are inspired by roots and root systems of the natural world. Her creative aim is to uncover the hidden beauty of roots, exploring the relationship between what grows above the ground and the invisible parts below; revealing what nature prefers to conceal. Her series of root sculptures have lodged on the sides of the towers at the end of the Rio del Arsenale in Venice, Italy, wound their way up and across the metal fences and tennis courts at the Kreeger Museum, emerged from the patio floor at the Katzen Arts Center, and made lasting impressions throughout the DC-Maryland-Virginia area.

"Ground Cover: Roots of Liriope" begins as a single painted line and expands into a three-dimensional steel sculpture that climbs and reaches the corners of VisArts' ground floor atrium; spreading in every direction to take hold of larger grounds. Luttwak identifies with "Liriope" personally, revealing that her own roots have spread through three continents. Her installation references tenacity, persistence and hope.

VisArts installed "Ground Cover: Roots of Liriope" in August 2012 and will continue to host the installation for one year. The reception will include a brief talk by the artist, followed by light snacks and drinks.

VisArts is located at 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville. The galleries are open on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 9 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit www.visartscenter.org or call 301-315-8200.