High school artists shine in Center for the Arts exhibition

The Center for the Arts celebrates the talent and creativity of local student artists with its newest exhibition, which features work from 39 students from Craig County High School.

“Young Artists: dreamscapes” debuts with an opening reception on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 5-7 p.m. in the center’s Grand Lobby. Open for a limited time, the exhibition runs through Saturday, Dec. 20.

Under the guidance of Craig County High School art teacher Sierra Frazier, students in grades nine to 12, representing beginner through advanced art and photography classes, explore the world of dreams through their creative practice. Featuring paintings, sketches, block prints, photography, miniature sculptures, and painted vinyl records, “Young Artists: dreamscapes” celebrates the vision, talent, and imaginative expression of these artists.

Using vinyl records as a canvas was suggested by one of the Frazier’s students. The records are donated by community members, and students usually painted landscapes on them. For this exhibition, Frazier was inspired to try a new approach.

“Students used the spinning motion of the vinyl as a metaphor for entering a dreamlike state, allowing the paint to move unpredictably and create surreal patterns,” she said. “The process mirrored the theme, letting go of control, embracing movement, and letting imagination guide the artwork. The final pieces feel fluid, otherworldly, and full of motion, just like a dream.”

“Young Artists: dreamscapes” is coordinated by Bethany Costello, Center for the Arts engagement manager, and Savannah Penven, the center’s exhibitions program manager. The exhibition gives local students a platform to showcase their creativity and build confidence and provides an environment where they can envision themselves pursuing future artistic opportunities.

The center’s galleries and all related events are free and open to the public.

Free gallery tour

Penven leads a tour of “Young Artists: dreamscapes” on Thursday, Dec. 11, at noon.

This is part of the center’s monthly noontime tour series “Beyond the Frame,” where exhibitions staff provide expert insight and contextualization for the current exhibitions. Starting promptly at noon in the Grand Lobby on the second Thursday of every month, the tours are free and open to the public.

Visiting the galleries

Located at 190 Alumni Mall, the Center for the Arts’ galleries are open on Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The center offers many opportunities for students, faculty, and community members to engage with artists and their work.

Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. When not staffed for a special event, visitors may park in the garage by taking a ticket at entry and paying with Visa or Mastercard upon exit. Find more parking details online.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire accommodation, please contact Jamie Wiggert at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email wiggertj@vt.edu during regular business hours.