VisArts Annual [Work] Exhibition Opens Friday June 17, Showcasing Over 65 New Works by VisArts Faculty, Staff, and Board Members

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s annual [Work] Exhibition opens on Friday, June 17, 2022, with an opening reception in VisArts’ True F. Luck Gallery beginning at 5:30 p.m. The exhibit features over 65 pieces of art created by VisArts faculty, staff, and board members.  

“VisArts hires close to two hundred teaching artists each year, and the annual [Work] exhibition allows us to show our community the breadth of knowledge and talent these incredible artists have,” says Stefanie Fedor, VisArts’ Executive Director. “[Work]” includes examples of all media taught at the Visual Arts Center, including ceramics, creative writing, digital media, drawing, fiber, film, glass, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, printmaking, and wood.  

“Our annual [Work] show always feels like a big celebration – it showcases the amazing talent that works for this organization and shows off artwork that’s often made right here in our studios,” says Jordan Brown, VisArts’ Director of Education & Programming. “Our teachers and staff and board members all contribute to it and it’s incredibly exciting to see these individuals come together into one space. The opening for this show is one of our biggest; it’s a beautiful way that our community comes together and celebrates each other. “  

New to the exhibition this year is Casha Stempniewicz. Stempniewicz is a screenprinting artist and VisArts instructor whose work focuses on gender fluidity and physical and mental health awareness. Their piece in the exhibition titled, “visibly chill, invisibly ill” speaks to the internal struggles people face despite the external invisibility of very real health challenges.  

Stempniewicz, who identifies as queer and non-binary, credits their upbringing as a child of Slavic immigrants for their penchant for working with their hands and coming into their calling as an artist. “When I think about my beginnings as an artist, my dad really raised me to be scrappy and resourceful. I grew up helping him around the house fixing things and doing a lot of things with my hands. With some of that typical Slavic stubbornness as well, I grew up knowing I could fix and make things with my hands and that was essential to me figuring out that I was an artist.” 

Stempniewicz is one of over a dozen new artists participating in VisArts’ annual [Work] Exhibition which is on display in the True F. Luck Gallery at VisArts through the summer. Students participating in VisArts’ signature art-centered summer camp, ArtVenture, will have the opportunity to interact with the work on display through VisArts’ ENGAGE Program, and further enhance their understanding of how art goes from production to exhibition in a gallery space.  

The public is welcome to take a self-guided tour of the exhibition or may schedule a gallery tour for groups through the art center’s ENGAGE program. The show runs through August 21, with gallery hours between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. every day.