The Shenandoah Valley Art Center, during the month of May, is featuring the paintings of Andrew Davis. His artwork is an exploration of visual perception and sense memory, how we use our sense of sight to process the world around us, and the many ways in which these processes can be communicated, manipulated, or broken.
He likes to let the paintings develop on their own accord. He does not sketch or plan a piece beforehand, but instead lest the process of painting dictate the outcome. Davis often says that he is making a mess and then cleaning it up. In this way he allows chance to make its voice heard in the finished piece. Davis says, “Daily life, outside of routine, has an underlying surrealism. This surrealism is a vast field of otherwise unnoticed or impertinent data. I use repeating symbols and compositions to help provide this data with meaning through persistence. These symbols can contradict each other or support each other depending how they interact, further imbuing themselves with meaning. My artwork is a navigation and construction of these subtle interactions and using these interactions together to discuss larger and broader metaphors.”
An Opening Reception will be held May 7, 6:00-8:00 p.m. and the public is encouraged to come and meet the artist.
In the Upstairs Hallway Gallery, the Central Virginia Watercolor Guild will be exhibiting their members’ paintings. The guild was founded in 1991 by a handful of local watercolor artists under the leadership of Edith Arbaugh and Marion Hansen. For them “water media” embraced traditional transparent watercolor as well as gouache, acrylic, and other water based media. Today the guild has a membership of over one hundred artists. Their goal is to foster the advancement of water-media painting, promote levels of excellence, educate the public, encourage the study of varied water media, and provide information about the artists working with these tools. The SVAC Member’s Gallery will feature the theme of Green as interpreted by each artist in a variety of media with a range of creative expressions.
Shenandoah Valley Art Center offers, the ever popular Saturday Art for Kids, presenting a creative art experience for young artists from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ($50 per 4 classes or $15 per class). Contact the art center for specific information and pre-registration for each class. Open studio opportunities in the Virginia Ross Education Studio are available to printmakers and ceramic artists. Apply on line at www.SVACart.com.
SAVE THE DATES!!! May 13, SVAC ANNIVERSARY PARTY!!! No cost but please RSVP by May 6. There will be tours of the new building that expands our present facility and a special one night pop up art exhibit! Plan for the summer!! On July 11 – 15, 10am – 12pm, the Wizard Training Camp ($75), a magical summer of art that includes designing capes, hats and magic wands along with learning magic tricks and creating potions will take over SVAC. Don’t miss Summer Clay Camp! ($100) Come July 18, 19 and 21, 22, 9am – 12pm or 1- 4pm, to Windtuck Pottery in Lyndhurst, Va. Learn handbuilding, wheel throwing, and glazing. Encounter an ancient art form with a contemporary twist!!! All materials provided. Register early to save your spot!
The art center continues to celebrate its retail alliance and partnership with the Artisan Center of Virginia. In the SVAC Gift Shop you can find the perfect creative gift in fiber, jewelry, wood, glass, pottery, and more by juried artisans from Virginia and SVAC members.
The Shenandoah Valley Art Center is located in downtown Waynesboro at 122 S. Wayne Avenue. Galleries are open to the public 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call (540) 949-7662 or visit www.svacart.com.
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