Apr 25 Thursday
Thursday’s Painting Group is a meeting of artists who want to paint! Artists bring their own supplies and gather at SVAC on Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at no cost to participants. Take advantage of your fellow painters for inspiration and light critique, if you are interested. Come relax, share ideas or techniques, and independently work in the medium of your choice! Please call SVAC if you are interested in joining and reserving a space! (540-949-7662, April 4, 11, 18, 25, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro 22980)
Ten Thousand Villages of Harrisonburg hosts a special Fair Trade Rug Event April 24-28, featuring over 300 hand-knotted rugs, from intricate florals to hand-spun wool natural dye tribals, from 2’x3’s to 10’x14’s.
Ten Thousand Villages partners with Bunyaad, a fair trade rug company that works with over 850 families throughout 100 villages in Pakistan. Working with artisans in their homes, increasing employment opportunities for women and paying a living wage, Bunyaad is making lifetime changes in so many families across Pakistan. "These rugs are much more than just amazing pieces of art for your floors. They represent lives changed through fair trade. Every Bunyaad rug artisan earns a living wage,” said Yousaf Chaman, Bunyaad Director “We know that with every rug we sell, we are empowering women, fueling artisan's creativity and preserving their cultural heritage.”
And by paying artisans a living wage, quality rugs are produced.
"It's quite simple. When artisans know they are paid for every knot they tie, they can take their time, pay attention to the fine details of these intricate rugs and use high-quality materials, all leading to producing a rug that will last for generations and generations," said Chaman.
"We know our community wants to make a positive mark in this world by purchasing their carpets where it makes a true difference for the families crafting them," said Kara Miller, Ten Thousand Villages store manager. "It's a win-win situation. Artisans in Pakistan earn a living wage and North American consumers get an excellent quality rug with an excellent mission behind it. Home decorating was never more beautiful!"
For more information about these rugs or the upcoming rug event, go to www.bunyaad.com.
Now-April: The Eastern Mennonite student show continues; this show is well worth a trip to OASIS! T his student show celebrates the hard work & creativity of secondary students at Eastern Mennonite School. Students grades 6-12 were encouraged to submit work to this show, whether they are currently taking an art class or not. Although the majority of the artwork you see has been created in class for a specific assignment, students add their own meaning and creative decisions to their artwork. Whenever possible students are given opportunities to develop their own ideas and follow their own artistic interests. Join us as we share our curiosities, struggles, happiness, and love of creating!
The EMU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo team up with local group Just Jazzin' to present a concert of big band favorites and popular arrangements! This concert will highlight EMU senior jazz musicians Luke Haynes, Indigo Gott, Thaddeus Jackson, John Jantzen, and vocalist Maggie Garber McClary.
Thursday, April 25, 2024 @ 7:00 PM in Lehman Auditorium
In Clare Barron’s raucous pageant of ambition and ferocity, these young dancers in DANCE NATION have more than choreography on their minds, as every plié and jeté is a step toward finding themselves, and a fight to unleash their power. The play examines the challenges and triumphs of growing up, coming of age, and finding one’s soul in the heat of it all and interrogates what “womanhood” is, and embodies a powerful release of rage, joy, and liberation. Contains adult language, adult and sexual content. Contains adult language, adult and sexual content.
Apr 26 Friday
Learn the basics of stand up! Registration is open now online and throughout April for X2 Comedy Classes at Explore Museum where the BIG kids can play too! Just a few slots left…
Classes begin May 1st and meet weekly on Wednesdays from 6pm-9pm with Showcase on June 1.
Learn the basics of stand up and joke writing in these interactive fun workshops! You'll develop a 5-minute set in this 4-week course and perform it in the student graduation showcase. Tune into your unique funny bone to find your authentic comedic voice. Learn skills to be funnier at social gatherings, storytelling, speaking engagements, writing and more. If you like comedy or just want to be funnier then this is the class for you.
To get more information and registrar visit the Classes Tab at www.x2comedy.com. Questions call Dawn 540-560-3356 or email hello@x2comedy.com.
In the SVAC Member’s Gallery the theme is “Black!” Presented will be unique works of art, priced to accommodate art collectors seeking pieces to expand their collection. The public is invited to view the exhibit remembering that the art center serves the community by recognizing talent, encouraging creativity, and joining lives through art! (Opening April 6, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., exhibition dates: April 6 - 27, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday, 126 S. Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro 22980)
The Shenandoah Valley Art Center during the month of April, in the 416 W. Main Street Gallery, will be presenting an exhibit by Marsha Heatwole, a native of Waynesboro. Heatwole has had the good fortune to continue her 40 years and ongoing career in artmaking. Her work has won numerous awards and is proudly displayed locally and internationally. Her studio is tucked next to a spring in an idyllic mountain hollow near Lexington Virginia. Art making is a healing therapy. A way- “Of knowing that we are tied to the land—the trees and animals and soil and water—and to one another, and that we have a responsibility to care for these connections and resources, ensuring the sustainability of these ecosystems for future generations and to honor those who came before. Of treading lightly, taking only what gifts we need, and giving back. Of showing humility toward and tolerance for all we are connected to in this circle of life.” All the paintings are her perceptions about nature and our world. Marsha strives to tell a story of what beauty we have and what we are in danger of losing. The Ambassadors of Gaia are a group of animal portraits portraying that the whole Earth is a living organism, alive with communication, pathos, and cooperation. The exhibition will be open April 1 – April 27, Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro, Va.
The Shenandoah Valley Art Center during the month of March, in the Cabell/Arehart Invitational Gallery, is presenting an exhibition, Stay on Your Cloud, featuring works by Coco Roshi. In this compelling exhibition, acrylic and mixed media paintings serve as a vibrant homage to the rich tapestry of African American female creative genius, weaving through the realms of logos, iconography, and memes—the modern symbols through which our culture processes and digests the complexities of our world. As we navigate the overwhelming currents of our own lives, these artworks offer a sanctuary, inviting us to find solace and inspiration in the ethereal clouds of another creator's imagination. This body of work stands as a testament to the unbroken chain of innovation and resilience, celebrating the enduring spirit and transformative power of African American women's creativity. The exhibition will be open to the public April 6 – May 24, Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 126 S Wayne Ave, Waynesboro, VA 22980. Come join us and meet the artist at the exhibit opening’s Conversation with the Artist on April 6, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.