Falls Church previews new council-chamber portraits; families ask for color and detail changes

City staff presented sketches for two new council-chamber portraits and reported that both artists and the families of the subjects have provided feedback that will be incorporated before final installation.

Holly Irwin, the staff lead on the project, showed draft sketches: Deborah Khan’s portrait of Carol DeLong and Asia Anderson’s portrait of Frederick (Freddie) Foote Jr. “Both artists got feedback from the families and descendants of both the Foote and the Long family and incorporated those suggestions into the sketches that you're seeing tonight,” Irwin said. She said DeLong’s family asked for more vibrant color and clearer separation between the subject’s skin tone and the background.

Councilmembers praised the artists’ work and supported family input. One councilmember noted the importance of representation: the portraits honor Falls Church’s first female mayor (Carol DeLong) and the city’s first African American council member and local business owner (Frederick Foote Jr.). Irwin said the portraits will be the same size as existing portraits, likely framed and behind glass, and that the artists will finish the work by May per the request-for-qualifications timetable.

Irwin also described plans for interpretive material: each portrait will include a QR code linking to the city website with an explanation of the subject, the artist’s notes and the project's background. Staff said they will defer to family preferences where reasonable and will return to the council if major conflicts arise.

No formal council action was required at the work session; staff will collect family comments, forward those to the artists, and bring final portraits and installation details back to the city schedule for final placement.