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.

Here are a few more highlights from Be Still. Hover over the image to see the name of the art work and artist.

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.

by Jaimie Kelley Choi

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.

by Jaimie Kelley Choi

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.

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.

As we walk deeper into spring and celebrate Earth Day this month, we invite you to take a look at our planet through the lens of art. Mother Earth is a juried exhibition featuring the artwork of regional artists from the Hampton Roads area. Artists were asked to explore both the inherent beauty of our environment and the way it suffers at the hands of its inhabitants.

This juried exhibition features a multitude of works from textiles, ceramics and paper sculptures to watercolor, acrylic, and oil paintings. We love to see the variety of approaches artists take to explore our monthly exhibitions.

Here are the winners of Mother Earth 2023.

Mother Earth is on view April 7 - 30 and concludes with an Artist Talk on Sunday, April 30 from 3:00 - 4:00pm.