The Annual National Juried Photo Exhibition at the Academy Center of the Arts opened on Friday, September 2. The juror, Glen McClure, professional photographer from Norfolk selected 34 artists from 7 states. Over $2500 in cash awards was presented to ten artists and the winners are as follows: Best in Show: $1000 John Lofaso – “Shadow Series #15” Sponsored in part by the Academy Center of the Arts 2nd Place Award: $500 Peter Toth – “Dugout in Fog” Sponsored by the Dr. Cary Roberts 3rd Place Award: $300 Kristen Victoria Harner – “20,000 Leagues of Solitude” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award: $200 Alec Hosterman – “Weeds in the Snow” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award: $150 Lisa Pitcher – “Big Lots Special” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award: $150 Robert Miller – “Potter’s Hands” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award: $100 Michele Sons – “Spirit of Light” Sponsored by Blackwell Press Juror’s Choice Award: $100 Tabitha Robinson […]
Playing a New Tune
With help from the area’s schools and colleges, the Academy Center of the Arts is bringing music to the streets of Lynchburg. As part of the Academy Center’s Community Outreach Initiative, the Hill City Keys program (formerly Keys for the Hill City) is entering its third year with nine pianos designed by the students of nine schools. The pianos will stick around downtown Lynchburg until the end of October. The idea of placing lavishly painted pianos around city streets started in London and has spread to cities around the world and the United States. Libby Fitzgerald, who started Hill City Keys, came across the vividly adorned pianos when visiting Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “In Lancaster, the pianos were all painted by professional artists but when I returned to Lynchburg, I got the idea of using high school students to do ours,” Fitzgerald said. “My thought was that giving them an opportunity to make a civic contribution and to create school pride and for their school communities to be able to get involved would be such a positive thing. And it has proven to be.” Starting this year, Libby Fitzgerald also started reaching out to middle schools in addition to high schools and […]
National Juried Art Awards
The Annual National Juried Art Exhibition at the Academy Center of the Arts opened on Friday, April 1. The juror, Siobhan Byrns, Department Chair of Art at Lynchburg College, selected 51 artists from 20 states. The exhibition of 66 pieces encompasses a wide variety of media: including oil paintings, cast paper, clay, stainless steel, wood, glass, paintings on copper, furniture, fiber, watercolors, egg tempera, and calligraphy. Over $3000 in cash awards was presented to ten artists on April 1st and the winners are as follows: Best in Show: $1000 Paul Clements of Coleman Falls, VA for “Storm” Wood, Glass, Metal Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts 2nd Place Award: $700 Kevin Chadwick of Lynchburg for “Dance” Oil on Canvas Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts 3rd Place Award: $500 Jenny Chi of Charleston, Illinois for “Golden Tomato” Oil on Copper Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award: $300 Guillermo Guardia of Grand Forks, N.D. for “Dirty Harriet II” Clay Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award:$200 Teresa Harris of St. […]
The Art of Words
Poetry is another art form that creates beautiful pieces and the Academy strives to provide a way for the community to enjoy it. On April 8 the Academy, along with Riverview Art Space, hosted the Poetry Group Reading Series. This event is held twice a year in the Lynchburg community. Guests heard from published poets, Allison Wilkins, Gary Dop, Grace Collins, John Casteen, and Wendy Miles. The majority of these poets are professors at various colleges in Virginia, while one is a student at Randolph College. The Poetry Group also teaches workshops each month. The workshops put on by The Poetry Group are structured to give attendees valuable instruction on improving their craft while also having their moment to shine later on in the evening during an open mic. These workshops are held monthly and the next one will be at the White Hart Café on May 2 at 7pm. “The Poetry Group Reading Series is held twice yearly and highlights the work of our teaching poets. It allows us to provide a platform for those poets who have given their time and skills to lead our workshops,” Christopher Gaumer, Executive Director and Founder, said. The Academy is thrilled to […]
Bluegrass Concert: Benefitting Amherst County Habitat for Humanity
*Pictured above: The Deer Creek Boys from Amherst County, Virginia The Academy Center of the Arts is proud to host Amherst County Habitat for Humanity’s 13th annual Bluegrass Concert: “Working on a Building” on Saturday, January 16th (5pm-10pm). This annual concert fundraiser is a five hour event that features five bluegrass bands and raises funds for Amherst Habitat for Humanity and their programs. The musical line up of the event represents a wide range of musicians from all over the region. It includes the Deer Creek Boys from Amherst, Shaky Grass from Appomattox, James River Cut Ups from Shipman, Little Mountain Boys from Piney River, and Deep Blue Express with members from Monroe, Madison Heights, Appomattox, and Rustburg. Tickets: $10 kids (under 12), $15 students, seniors (60+), and $20 adults For more information about Amherst Habitat for Humanity, visit their website: CLICK HERE You can pick up tickets at the Academy Center of the Arts box office as well as at the Amherst Habitat for Humanity Offices, Amherst Milling, Century 21 at the Amherst Circle, Robertson’s Sales and Service in Monroe, Point Source Audio in Lynchburg, and My Guitar Shop in Madison Heights. * Devils Backbone Brewery, Bank of the […]
