August, the last month of summer, the last bit of vacations, escape the scorching heat waves and imagine a place where dreams come true, a place where animals take center stage, a place of abstracts and comics and a place where queer creativity booms. These are the exhibits opening on 4^th Friday in August. We are also hosting an artist meet-up and two figure drawing sessions this month.

 

And if you can't make it to one of these events, don't worry - we're open every day except Mondays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to see the new art on display. Plus, parking is easy at the public garage on East 5th Street. And we’ll validate your ticket, just ask in the office.

 

But that's not all - make a day of it by exploring the restaurants in the area. Choose from Basic City Beer, Continental, Pig and Brew, Jubilee, Iron Clad Pizza, and The Gold Lion for a delicious meal.

4th Friday August 23 at Art Works.

Join us on August 23rd from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. for the opening reception of new art shows. Meet the artists and enjoy live music, refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. As a precursor to Richmond’s Pridefest the exhibits open with a special performance by talented artists celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.

 

It’s a beautiful, dreamy, mysterious, humorous, and a very pridefully queer sort of place this 4^th Friday at Art Works. The four solo shows, the queer show: Color Theory, and All Media show opening this month offer all these elements. 

 

The exhibits continue through September 21, 2024.  The event is free and open to the public.  Don't forget, parking is also free. Come and join us for a night of art and celebration. Then have dinner at one of the restaurants in Manchester.

 

Exhibits August 23 – September 21, 2024  

 

Color Theory: The Richmond Queer Art Experience curated by Chris Schoen

 

In this exhibit Chris Schoen brings together local artists to share an experience in the world of the queer.

 

Envision a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with intersecting identities, thrive. This exhibit is an expression of a diverse group of artists sharing and expressing a vision of this world.

 

Call for entries is July 15^th – August 12^th, 2024. Submit your entries through our online form. Check our website for details on submitting your artwork: Call for Entries

 

 

A Place Where Dreams Come True by Olga Rokhmanyuk

Olga Rokhmanyuk, a successful interior designer, window dresser, and advertising professional from Ukraine, faced a challenging situation when she arrived in America and didn't know the language. Overwhelmed and silenced, Olga set out to discover a new life and found solace in nature. It was here that she picked up her paintbrushes and started capturing the beauty of all she saw—from the sea to flowers, landscapes, and all parts of nature where there are no language barriers, only the language of great love to humans. We are pleased to announce Olga's upcoming exhibit, which is a testament to her artistic skills, full of color, imagination, and a reflection of her journey from silence to the vibrant world of art. The exhibit is in the Centre Gallery.

 

 

Corpus Ephemera: Paintings by Sherrie Miller

Sherrie Miller's exhibit, Corpus Ephemera, showcases a collection of paintings that transport viewers to a magical, dreamlike world where animals take center stage, and the human presence is subdued. Through her art, Miller delves into the complex themes of mortality and our smallness in the universe, challenging us to confront the ideas that we often avoid or fear.

 

Drawing inspiration from old-world fairy-tale elements and magical realism, Miller creates a unique inner world inhabited by animals and artifacts of the human presence, where all things manifest together within a dreamlike environment. This exhibition is a must-see for anyone interested in exploring the darker, more hidden aspects of being human within the space of our limited existence. The exhibit will be in the Corner Gallery.

 

Piecing It Together: Mosaics by Nancy Kline and Jody Rathgeb

Piecing It Together is an exciting exhibit featuring the works of two talented mosaic artists, Nancy Kline and Jody Rathgeb.

 

 

In their separate studios at Art Works, Nancy and Jody create mosaic pieces ranging from intricate jewelry to large wall hangings. For this exhibit they collaborate to showcase the unique style and techniques of both artists, including decorative art and statements in mosaic. In addition, an educational piece will be included, providing insight into the materials used in mosaic and the process of creating these intricate works of art. Experience the beauty and creativity of modern mosaics! The exhibit will be in the Skylight Gallery.

 

 

DeConstrucThings by N Blake Seals

N. Blake Seals is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NYC, where he studied illustration and fine arts. He has a keen interest in exploring the relationship between seemingly disparate disciplines, such as comic book illustration and abstract mark-making. Seals draws inspiration from city landmarks, pop culture, and non-representational art, and seeks to examine the intersection of the so-called high and low arts markets as a means of artistic expression.

 

Seals' mixed media digital paintings are a combination of impressionistic drawings, hand-drawn abstract doodles, and painted color fields on paper. These elements are then transformed and manipulated on the computer, before being output onto various substrates. Through his art, Seals invites us to question the traditional boundaries between different art forms, and to consider the possibilities that arise when they intersect.

 

When not making art, over the years, Blake has served in the US Navy Reserve and volunteered as a firefighter/paramedic. He has also owned and managed recording facilities, worked on Marvel and Archie comics, and traveled the world as a black belt in Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do. Currently, he works as an organ transplant coordinator. His artwork has been shown in New York City. Blake is a family man, with a wife, two sons, three daughters, a granddaughter, a cat, two snakes, and a leopard gecko. This exhibit will be in the Port II Gallery

 

 

 

Color Theory ALL MEDIA SHOW

 

This exhibit is a focal point of all Art Works’ openings. It is a juried show with cash prizes for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place. The show is open to all artists and all mediums. The theme is The Richmond Queer Experience. Priority is given to artwork by the LGBTQ+ community but all are encouraged to apply. Call for entries is July 1 – August 12, 2024. The juror is Andrew Norris. Use our online form to submit your entries.  Call for Entries    This exhibit will be in the Skylight Gallery.  

 

 

More Events at Art Works in August

Figure Drawing Sessions

Join us for live figure drawing sessions the 1^st and 3^rd Sundays of July from 1 pm – 4 pm at Art

Works. Hosted by RVA Thriving Artists. Click here for information.

RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up

It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill. 

Location: Benchtop Brewing

August 15^th,  6 pm – 7 pm.