The Shenandoah Valley Art Center during the month of February in the Cabell/Arehart Invitational Gallery, is presenting the artworks of Mae Stoll. Originally from the island of Malta, Mae moved to Virginia in 2019 after more than 40 years in Texas, and currently resides in Augusta County, a short distance south of Staunton. She thinks it was probably the beauty of this valley that inspired her to buy her first set of acrylics late in 2020 and start dabbling. Soft pastels were added to her repertoire a year later and she loves both media. Not having any formal art instruction aside from a couple of elective art classes in college, she's still adjusting to this late-in-life art “awakening” and to her new identity as an artist. Drawn mostly to representational landscapes, Mae constantly challenges herself with different painting styles and techniques. She says, "Sometimes things just flow, and life is good; at other times, things don’t, and the work is exhausting; but somehow, it always feels like it's what I should be doing." Mae was awarded First Place in painting at the 2022 Fall Foliage Art Festival in Waynesboro, Second Place in painting at the All-Media Juried Show at Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, later that year, and Third Place in a Members’ Judged Show at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center in 2023. In addition to local outdoor art festivals, Mae’s art is exhibited at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center in Waynesboro, the Rockfish Valley Gallery in Afton, and at the Cabell Gallery for Virginia Art in Lexington, where she was the featured artist during July 2023. The exhibition opening is February 1, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., and guests are welcome to meet and talk to the artist. The exhibition will be open to the public: February 1 – March 29, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at 126 S. Wayne Ave, Waynesboro, VA 22980.