The Shenandoah Valley Art Center, during the month of May, is exhibiting the artwork of Kristin Reiber Harris which explores printmaking, bookmaking, and collage. One series features large woodcuts of plants reflected in water and celebrates the object as no more real than the reflection.
Another series of digital prints combines woodcut images with photographic self- portraits – object as real and reflected; artist as observer and observed. Her most recent work collages segments of woodcuts while reimaging the subject from multiple points of view. Having grown up on an old farm, she has retained a child’s fascination with those objects that appeared as treasures in her formative environment and they have continued as statements in drawings and prints produced the past forty years. Her work reflects this reverence for the natural world and is influenced by Islamic and Buddhist art coupled with an Asian aesthetic of beauty. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from UCLA and a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking from George Washington University.
Among her diverse accomplishments, is her faculty position in the Art Department at Lynchburg College. For the past twenty-five years she has run an animation and design business in the Washington, D.C. area, where the focus of her work is educational media for children. She is currently developing mobile apps for young children that creatively illustrate her stories by using art objects from museum collections. An Opening Reception will be held May 2, 5:00-7:00pm and the public is encouraged to come and meet the artist after she speaks briefly about her work.
In the Upstairs Hallway Gallery, an exhibition of Waynesboro Public Schools art program, Artists in the Schools, will be on display. The program is an alliance between the public school system and the Shenandoah Valley Fine Art Center. The program seeks to introduce professional artist/members to the students and art teachers in workshops that utilize the experience of the artists. Exhibiting the student produced artwork in the gallery setting exposes students to the formal world of art. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to the opening of the show. The Members Gallery will present works of art by SVAC members featuring the theme of “green.” Do not miss the close-up floral photographs by Deb Booth which will be shown in the Docent Room. Her work has evolved to include scanning, fractals, and editing of the prints. She likes to take “what is” and turn it into “what it could be.”
Come join the gathering of folks seeking creative inspiration, camaraderie, and sharing of techniques through free art activities. Go to the SVAC website to learn more about workshops in beading, painting, and the making of artist trading cards. Young artists should check out the ever popular Saturday Art for Kids, ages 6 – 10, presenting a creative art experience for children from 11 – 1:00pm. Contact the art center for specific information, cost, and pre-registration for each class or group. Open studio opportunities in the Virginia Ross Education Studio are available to printmakers and ceramic artists. Apply on line at www.SVACart.com.
The art center is celebrating its retail alliance and Artisan Trail partnership with the Artisan Center of Virginia. In the SVAC Gift Shop you can find the perfect hand crafted gift in fiber, jewelry, wood, glass, pottery, and more by juried artisans from Virginia.
The Shenandoah Valley Art Center is located in downtown Waynesboro at 126 S. Wayne Avenue. Galleries are open to the public 10am to 4pm Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call (540) 949-7662 or visit www.svacart.com.
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