First Fridays – June 2025

Join us for an evening of creativity and connection at our May First Friday reception, featuring two compelling exhibitions that highlight the beauty of community and the unexpected.

In the Up Front Gallery, discover “Beauty of the Unexpected,” a photography exhibition by JoAnne Becker. Through her thoughtful lens, JoAnne captures surprising moments of stillness, wonder, and everyday magic.

In the Anne White Gallery, experience “Art & Artists of Tye River,” a heartfelt group exhibition featuring a collective of Nelson County artists and friends. This special show includes works by Claudia Van Koba, Esther Gardner, Judy Haney, Linda & Kevin Crowe, and Stephanie Gross—with Esther and Judy exhibiting in honor of their late husbands, Carl Gardner and Thomas Haney. Together, these artists celebrate a shared creative spirit and the enduring connections of their community.

The evening will include a reception with refreshments. Guests are warmly invited to meet the artists and explore the stories behind the work.

The Academy Center of the Arts is proud to present a new gallery exhibition each month featured in our Academy Galleries.

To see the current exhibits, please visit Artistica.shop

Join the Academy every First Friday of the month from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, as we unveil our latest art exhibits, featuring an array of local, regional and national artists presenting their works in various mediums.

The Ann White Academy and Up Front Galleries are both located on the first floor of the Patricia Harrington Gallery Building located at 600 Main Street.

The Up Front Gallery & The Ann White Academy Gallery 

Jo Anne Becker “Beauty of the Unexpected.”

First Friday Music

Nelson County Group Show “Art & Artists of Tye River.”