4th Friday Art Shows and Opening Reception @ Art Works!
In June we have six new exhibits, art activities and in honor of Pride Month, we are donating our merch sales to the LGBTQ community—Side by Side VA.
And of course, we’ll be hosting our popular 4th Friday reception as well as an artist meet-up and two figure drawing sessions. And if you can't make it to one of these events, don't worry - we're open every day except Mondays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to come see the new art on display. Plus, parking is easy at the public garage on East 5th Street. And we’ll validate your ticket, just ask in the office. Make a day of it by exploring the restaurants in the area like Basic City Beer, Continental, Pig and Brew, Jubilee, Iron Clad Pizza, Café Zata, and The Gold Lion to name a few.
4th Friday June 28th at Art Works.
Join us on June 28th from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. for the opening reception of new art shows. Meet the artists and enjoy live music, refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. This month we are presenting Plastic Fossils: Recent Works by Eric Manwiller. Imagine discovering our present in the future—what would it look like? Manwiller has an idea.
Also, we are hosting James Torres’ Eye of the Beholder, A License to See: Photographs by Bollin Milner, Nature as Architect by Jenny Wilson, Thread, Twine & Rope by Richard Harding, and the June All Media Show by local artists.
The exhibits continue through July 20th and Manwiller’s continues through August 17th. The event is free and open to the public.Don't forget, parking is also free. Come and join us for a night of art and celebration. Then have dinner at one of the restaurants in Manchester.
Plastic Fossils: Recent Works by Eric Manwiller
Imagine a world where earth and plastic lie buried playfully, side-by-side, for a future civilization to ponder. That’s what Eric Mainwiller imagined in his exhibit at Art Works. A Richmond-based artist, Mainwiller combines painting and sculpture. And recently he has added mixed materials like casts of 1980s action figures, glitter, flip sequins, and various textiles to his work. The results evoke images of "plastic fossils" and explore issues of environmental importance.
The exhibit will be in the Jane Sandelin Gallery through August 17, 2024.
A License to See: Photographs by Bollin Millner
Bollin Millner quotes Joel Meyerowitz who speaks to photographers: “Once you have a camera in your hand, you have a license to see.”
Millner uses his camera to frame the world--roadways, doorways, lofts, quiet interiors and on the street. He is entranced by shapes, forms and lines made by human hands—rectangles, squares, circles, arches, as well as spirals, waves and patterns that occur in nature. Reflections and repetition are additional bonuses. In this exhibit Millner captures a sense of harmony and peace, where the discrete elements relate to one another in compelling ways. He usually does not feature people, but rather leaves space for the viewers themselves to populate the image.
The exhibit will be in the Port II Gallery.
Eye of the Beholder by James Torres
James Torres is a collector and creator of art. As an artist, he has an attachment to old, damaged, forgotten, and discarded items. He finds his “perfect treasures” by visiting thrift shops, yard sales, estate sales, and even the occasional junkyard. To many, these objects may seem useless; however, for Torres they are the tools he uses to tell a story. Art is all around us. In the process of assemblage, Torres curiosity comes through as he creates a new narrative for forgotten items.
The exhibit will be in the Corner Gallery.
Nature as Architect by Jenny Wilson
Jenny Wilson is a professional musician and artist. She was a student at the High School of Art and Design in NYC and studied dance at the Alvin Ailey/Pearl Lang School in Manhattan. Interested in almost all aspects of visual and performing arts, she pursued music as her profession. Jenny graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Flute Performance. She worked as the art teacher at the Community School in Camden, Maine and for the Camden Shakespeare Company as company musician. After graduating, she went to Switzerland and studied flute at the Winterthur Konservatorium with Marianne Stucki and piano with ECM recording artist Art Lande. Her graduate studies in music brought her to West Virginia where she earned her Master of Music degree and a position at the Morgantown Learning Academy as their music and art teacher and was an adjunct in the music department of the University of Maryland in Frostburg. Jenny currently teaches private music lessons and workshops.
Her paintings are best described as contemporary landscape or contemporary abstract. She is very focused on the natural world of plants, clouds, sea and sky. She says…”music is a temporal art that only moves forward while my painting gives me the opportunity to reverse direction. Painting allows me to stop time, to make choices in slow motion and to experience the art of composing in a whole new way. I try to incorporate marks that allude to the structure of the piece and that give some architecture to the image.”
The exhibit will be in the Port Gallery.
Thread, Twine & Rope by Richard Harding
It all started with a newly financed industrial sewing machine. Richard Harding started working with the machine expecting quick results. The process was challenging and time-consuming. However, through experimentation and creativity he discovered a passion for creating sculptures using leftover materials. The shapes and forms of the sculptures are influenced by the cords being used, with details added through intricate stitching patterns. Each piece takes shape gradually. Richard balances planned elements with spontaneous changes during the creation process. Richard is inspired by nature and a desire to bring a sense of calm and interest to home décor. The sculptures are meant to spark curiosity and wonder in those who view them.
The exhibit will be in the Centre Gallery.
June 2024 ALL MEDIA ART SHOW
This exhibitis a focal point of all Art Works’ openings. It is a juried show with cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Mark Eanes will juror the exhibit. To learn about Mark, click here. The show is open to all artists and all mediums. This exhibit will be in the Skylight Gallery.
There is no theme for this exhibit, anything goes, any medium. Call for entries is May 15th – June 17, 2024. Submit your entries through our online form. Check our website for details on submitting your artwork:Call for Entries
More Events at Art Works in June
Figure Drawing Sessions
Join us for live figure drawing sessions the 1st and 3rd Sundays of June from 1 pm – 4 pm at Art Works. Hosted by RVA Thriving Artists. Click here for information.
RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up
It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill.
Location: Benchtop Brewing
June 20th, 6 pm – 7 pm.
Pride Month
In appreciation of Pride Month, check out our new merch celebrating Pride. We are donating all proceeds on sales of merch to a local Queer organization.
