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Words Matter Gives Viewers Something to Talk About

9/7/2023

 
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"A Sign to Smile" by Kerri Caldwell
Words Matter opened on the first Friday of September to a packed house at the Virginia Beach Art Center. The juried art exhibition features 61 works by 35 regional artists and explores the visual interpretation of words and their meaning. The exhibition is on view September 1st though October 1st.

With pieces suggesting both the positive and negative connotations of language, the exhibition certainly gives viewers something to talk about. There are several interactive pieces that ask the viewer to interpret what they see, including "A Sign to Smile," featuring sign language, and "Morning Light," featuring morse code, both by digital artist Kerri Caldwell. "The Lost Words" by Maggie Kerrigan allows viewers to gently flip through the pages of an altered book; while John Rafferty's "Don't Just Don't" includes a guest book inviting participants to finish the prompt, "don't be..."
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Guest book portion of "Don't Just Don't" by John Rafferty
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"The Lost Words" by Maggie Kerrigan
Special guests for the opening reception included Ukwensi Chappell, owner of Gallerie Ukwensi in Norfolk, who curated the show and selected the exhibition winners and Destiny Sharion, who recited two poems from her recently published book, "She Speaks."
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Jorge Saenz, Exhibitions Coordinator, and Ukwensi Chappell, owner of Gallerie Ukwensi
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Destiny Sharion, poet and art activist
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Top left: "O'Shae Matters," Tonya Hopson. Top right: "Essential," Deb Anderson. Bottom left: "Feed Your Mind and Soul," Debra Amme. Bottom right: "Don't Just Don't," John Rafferty
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Award of Recognition: "Relinquish the Purple Flower, a Tribute to Marite Bomer" by Sydney Walker
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3rd Place: "Different but the Same" by Collette Mann
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2nd Place: "An Emancipating Journey" by Christian Williams
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1st Place: "Thoughts" by Paul Knell
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1st place winner Paul Knell
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2nd place winner Christian Williams
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Honorable Mention Tonya Hopson
Highlights from the Words Matter opening reception.
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Words Matter is on view September 1st through October 1st and concludes with an artist talk on Sunday, October 1st from 2:00-3:00 pm. 

Photos and blog post by Jaimie Kelley Choi

Be Still and Enjoy the View

8/17/2023

 
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Ever wonder what it's like to see the world through the eyes of an artist? Now is your chance. Be Still is an art exhibition that begins with the tradition of still life but expands into a whole new dimension. This juried exhibition includes traditional still life paintings but also encompasses sculptural works made of everything from paper to clay, and - wait for it - beads.
Be Still is a curated exhibition featuring the work of local and regional artists from Hampton Roads. There are 59 works from 41 artists on view. The exhibition was juried by Jaqui McBride Lilly, painter and sole proprietor of Beach Gallery in Virginia Beach, who had the difficult task of selecting the show's winners.
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Top left, Cox-Joseph; top right, Hundley; bottom left, Godwin; bottom right, Saenz
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Award of Recognition: Lily Bouquet by Jama Watts
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3rd Place: One of a Pear by Jeanie Hearst
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2nd Place: Dragonfly by Heidi Faith
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1st Place: Hung Out to Dry by Vinnie Bumatay
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Vinnie Bumatay
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Dan Hundley and Jama Watts
Here are a few more highlights from Be Still. Hover over the image to see the name of the art work and artist.
Be Still is on view August 4-27. The exhibition concludes on Sunday, the 27th from 3 pm to 4pm with Artists Talk, a casual conversation between exhibiting artists and friends. The exhibition and talk are free and open to the public. 

All Mixed Up: July Art Exhibition

7/24/2023

 
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All Mixed Up brings multiple materials and media into play in a celebration of mixed-media art making. This juried exhibition features over 65 works to delight the senses. From 3d sculptures to textural works, there is no shortage of variety in this vibrant exhibition.

Stand-out works were selected by Vonnie Whitworth, a fashion illustrator and artist, who exhibits her drawings and watercolor paintings at D'Art Center and #Working Artists Studios.

All Mixed Up is on view July 7-30 and concludes with Artists Talk, a casual conversation between exhibiting artists and friends on Sunday, July 30th from 3:00-4:00pm. The exhibition and talk are both free and open to the public.
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by Jaimie Kelley Choi

Can You Name That Tune? a Melodic Art Exhibition

6/20/2023

 
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Carol Joannette, Goo Goo g'Joob, acryic on canvas.
Name That Tune explores the visual interpretation of music. In this interactive exhibition, viewers are tasked with guessing the song that inspired a work of art. To help solve the mystery, visitors are given the song titles on a sheet of paper as they walk around the gallery inspecting each piece of art for clues. For example, the acrylic painting above by Carol Joannette is titled "Goo Goo g'Joob" and features a huge walrus with a little bird sitting on top. Is the bird singing? The artist gives just enough clues to name that tune!
This juried exhibition was curated by the Virginia Beach Art Center and guest juror Lynette Andrews. Lynette is a life-long lover of music, who plays and teaches violin, and has served as the executive director of Symphonicity since 2017. 

Name That Tune is on view from June 2nd to July 2nd and concludes with Artists Talk, a casual conversation between exhibiting artists and friends on July 2nd from 1:00-2:00. The exhibition and talk are both free and open to the public.
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by Jaimie Kelley Choi

My Happy Place: a Joyful Art Exhibition

5/22/2023

 
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Ralph Thomas, Hello Neighbor, oil and acrylic on canvas.
If you were to close your eyes and allow your mind to go to a peaceful, centered place, what would you see? Artists explore this very idea in the juried exhibition, My Happy Place. The exhibition, on view May 5-28, features familiar places of serenity such as painterly landscapes and nature photography but also renders more abstracted concepts like book reading, playing an instrument, or pulling a childhood memory into view.

The exhibition was juried by Mac Houfac, an avid gardner, who has served on the board of Norfolk Botanical Gardens and as president of the Virginia Beach Garden Club. Mac selected the award winners for the show.
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Top left: Sally Cade, A Spot by the Lake. Top right: Tonya Hopson, Sunday Afternoon. Bottom left: Trudy Jones, A Very Secret Garden. Bottom right: Stacey Allin, my Mother's Violets.
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Alison Sykes-Fryer, My Cello, mixed-media collage, Special Recognition.
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Linda Greek, Late Afternoon, oil on canvas, 3rd Place.
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Terry Cox-Joseph, The Beauty of Petal and Pages, acrylic on canvas, 2nd Place.
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Ralph Thomas, 65th Anniversary Through the Eyes of a Butterfly, oil on canvas, 1st Place.
My Happy Place is on view May 5 - 28 and concludes with an Artist Talk on Sunday, May 28, from 3:00-4:00 pm.
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Visit the Virginia Beach ARt Center

Conveniently located in the ViBe Creative District near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Contact Us:    

FRONT DESK: 757.425.6671

GENERAL QUESTIONS:

executivedirector@artcentervb.org

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create@artcentervb.org

POTTERY QUESTIONS:
pottery@artcentervb.org

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exhibitions@artcentervb.org

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Hours: 
Monday Closed
Tues.-Fri. 10am-5pm
Sat. 10am-4pm
Sun. 12pm-4pm
​

​Free parking, Free entry
Location:
532 Virginia Beach Blvd.

Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(17th Street between Baltic and Mediterranean Aves.)

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We don't share or sell our friends' information.  
Virginia Beach Art Center is a harassment-free environment and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, genetics, sexual orientation or any other classification protected by law.  Art displayed in the building is the sole expression of the individual artist and does not reflect the opinion or position of VBAC or its board of directors, volunteers or staff.
The Art Center building is handicapped accessible.
​The Virginia Beach Art Center is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.  Donations to the Virginia Beach Art Center are tax-deductible.  The Art Center's financial statement is available upon written request from the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs.
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  • Home
    • Arts and Provisions Getaway
  • Classes
    • General Class Info
    • Art Classes
    • Pottery Studio >
      • Pottery Classes
      • Pottery Supplies
    • Art Center Calendars
    • Class Policies
  • Exhibitions
    • Exhibitions Calendar
    • Aware '23
    • Artist Calls >
      • Shades of Gray October '23
      • Artist Call Aware '23
      • Call for Proposal Aware 24
      • Artists Call Holiday Boutique '23
      • Artist Call Art Teachers Exhibit '23
      • Words Matter Sept '23
      • Student Show September '23
      • Donations Call Fine Art Fundraiser '23
  • Join Us
    • Be Involved
    • Fine Art Fundraiser
    • Annual Supporters
    • Volunteer
    • Artist Involvement
    • Become An Instructor
  • About
    • Blog
    • Staff
    • Board
    • History
  • The Artists Gallery