For Valentine's Day, art for your heart

Art parties across town are offering an alternative for Valentine's Day celebrations. Get a healthy dose of gore courtesy of the Pink Line Project and some free sweets at the Torpedo Factory's Second (or should we say third?) Thursday Art Night.

The Pink Line Project and Civilian Art Projects are hosting a Valentine's party devoid of schmoopiness with the Hearts and Skulls party at the Capitol Skyline on Friday. Inspired in part by the horror movie-themed art of George Jenne (now on display at Civilian), the celebration features terrifying movies, skull-drawing contests, Fatback DJs and free pizza.

For a little wine with your art, head to Annmarie Garden's After Hours. Although they're off the beaten path in Solomons, Md., the garden is definitely worth a visit to see sculptures borrowed from the Hirshhorn and high-quality art in a unique setting. For Valentine's Day the sculpture park and arts center is offering an adults-only evening of wine, music and, of course, art. You can see the exhibit "Glow," which features works made of light, and Delphine Siggers Williams' "Forty Blossoms from the Bouquet," which pays tribute to local African-American women. Artists will be working in the gallery to discuss their art and techniques with visitors.

Because of the winter weather, Valentine's Day is the gift that keeps on giving at the Torpedo Factory. The center's love-themed Second Thursday Art Night has been postponed until the third Thursday, and the event includes a prize drawing for tickets to a Shakespeare Theatre Company play, free flowers and candy for the first 150 visitors and a scavenger hunt for love-themed works of art.

-- Stephanie Merry and Amy Orndorff