In 1973 Van Landingham proposed that a 20th-century,[4] "leaky, drafty, pigeon infested" former military factory, located in Alexandria, Virginia, be transformed into an artist studio space and art center.[1] The space would also provide regional artists an affordable option to the overpriced rental spaces of the area.[4][6]
She served as the volunteer president for Alexandria's Art League, and she succeeded in convincing the city to fund the $140,000[4] for the renovation. Artists volunteered and cleaned out the building and creating studio spaces. The Torpedo Factory Art Center opened in 1974 with 140 artists. The Factory's renovation also helped trigger the revitalization of the city's waterfront along the Potomac River, housing 150 artists.[1][4] By 2017, the art center had become the top tourist attraction in the city.[7]
Virginia House of Delegates and community service
The Torpedo Factory Art Center was Van Landingham's first political campaign, which helped launch her political career in the Virginia House of Delegates, serving parts of Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax.[3] In 1980 she established Volunteer Alexandria, and in 1982 became a delegate.[5] As a delegate, she has supported education and community based legislature to teach English as a second language, reduce class sizes and fund public schools with money from the lottery, and she has sought funding for the handicapped, homeless, and for poor families to obtain child care.[1] Van Landingham was the first woman to chair the Privileges and Elections Committee, and served as chair of the transportation and public education subcommittees.[4] She retired in 2005,[4] leaving as Virginia's most senior female delegate and the 11th most senior member of the house.[1][4]Mark Warner, who then served as Governor of Virginia, described her work in the house as being "the voice that would step up and argue for what was right," in a conservative legislature, "even those that didn't agree with her views had a great respect for her."[4]
