Join Arts Council of the Valley for two new exhibitions at Smith House Galleries on October 4, with a reception 5-7pm during First Fridays of the Valley! "Artistry & Eclecticism" includes acrylic and pastel paintings by Mae Stoll, and "Floral Worlds" features mixed media collage by Laura Thompson. Visit the opening reception to chat with both artists, see their new works in person, and enjoy light refreshments.

Both exhibitions, sponsored by MODdisplays, are on view through Oct 25, with in-person visits Monday-Friday, 11 am to 4 pm and on Second Saturday Oct 12, 10 am to 2 pm. Each exhibition will also be available online (valleyarts.org/current-exhibition).

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Originally from the island of Malta, Mae Stoll spent much of her adult life in Texas, moving close to Staunton, VA in 2019. Inspired by the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley, she began painting the following year after more than three decades of “artistic dormancy.” She is predominantly drawn to semi-impressionistic renditions of landscapes in acrylics and pastels, but is often lured by other subject matter and loves to experiment with different painting styles. Stoll’s other passions include jewelry-making, gardening, and teaching West African-style hand percussion during weekly classes just a few miles south of Staunton.

Laura Thompson is an award-winning mixed media and collage artist, muralist, and teacher living and working in Harrisonburg, VA. Her surrealist works combine meticulously cut imagery from vintage magazines with painted backgrounds to create dreamlike and amusing compositions. Growing up in a wealthy suburb of Rochester, NY, Thompson was exposed to levels of privilege and hypocrisy that she found objectionable; from an early age she honed the coping skills of humor and sarcasm, now incorporating these themes into her artwork. Integrating nostalgic images from the post-World War II era, Thompson’s exhibition considers relationships between people, animals, the planet, social justice, and feminism.