Visual Arts Center’s Annual [work] Exhibition Opens Jan. 29

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond will open its annual [work] exhibition this Friday, Jan. 29 with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. in the center’s True F. Luck Gallery. The exhibition runs through March 4.

[work] features the art of faculty, staff and board members of the Visual Arts Center. Pieces were selected by guest juror Jamie McLellan, who is the founder and director of Civilian Projects and has worked as a curator, gallery director, artist and educator in Washington, D.C. since 1996. McLellan also co-founded two non-profit visual arts and advocacy organizations, Transformer Gallery and Save the Corcoran.

“The people who are connected to this organization are all incredible artists in their own right, and this show recognizes that,” said Stefanie Fedor, executive director of the 52-year old community arts center. “When you take a class at VisArts, you’re taking a class with a true teacher-artist.”

In total, [work] showcases 45 artists, including notables such as painters Amie Oliver and Thomas Van Auken, printmakers Dennis Winston and Aijung Kim and glass artist Barbara Atkinson. Atkinson has taught stained glass making for more than 30 years.

The exhibition represents examples of all media taught at VisArts’ 1812 West Main Street building, including: wood, ceramics, metal, jewelry, fiber, glass, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, creative writing, film and digital media. Some work will be available for purchase.

At the opening reception VisArts will recognize the winner of its 2015 Master Teacher Award. This year’s award goes to Jeff Vick, a Midlothian-based ceramicist who has taught classes at VisArts since 2008 and now runs the center’s clay studio. Vick holds two bachelor’s degrees in painting and crafts from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and a master’s degree in craft/material studies from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Exhibitions at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond are supported by a grant from Altria Group, Inc.