First Fridays – October 2025

Join us on Friday, October 3 from 5:00–8:00 PM at the Academy Center of the Arts for October First Friday: Joseph Rowell & Rudy and Lynell Hilt, an evening celebrating artistic journeys, storytelling, and the power of creative collaboration.

Joseph Rowell: Mixed Media & Sculpture

Artist and educator Joseph Rowell brings myth, archetypes, and transformation to life through an evocative blend of illustration and sculpture. His work—spanning charcoal, ink, watercolor, gouache, layered textures, and large-scale cardboard sculptures—feels as though it has been unearthed rather than invented. Drawing inspiration from alchemy, psychology, and symbolic storytelling, Rowell invites viewers into an imaginative world that is as much discovery as it is creation.

In the Anne White Gallery:

Rudy & Lynell Hilt: 50th Year Retrospective

This special retrospective celebrates five decades of artistic partnership between Rudy and Lynell Hilt. From their early days at the Philadelphia College of Art to years spent creating in Sedona and now in Lynchburg, the Hilts have built a lifetime of shared creative expression. Their works span jewelry, soft sculpture, stained glass, assemblage, architecture, painting, and their most recent collaborative “Totem” series. Together, Rudy and Lynell showcase a remarkable journey of love, craft, and a lifelong dedication to the arts.

Bonus Event: Don’t miss an Artist Talk with Rudy & Lynell Hilt on Saturday, October 4 at 11:00 AM in the Anne White Gallery!

✨ Meet the artists, explore works that span generations and mediums, and experience an evening where creativity and community come together in our galleries.

The Up Front Gallery & The Ann White Academy Gallery 

Joseph Rowell: Mixed Media & Sculpture

Rudy & Lynell Hilt: 50th Year Retrospective