See the beautiful landscape of Giles County, Virginia, through the eyes of the county’s young artists during the new exhibition, “Young Artists: Home.” Presented by the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, the exhibition features a collection of elementary and middle school student work showcasing the landscapes of their home.

Running from May 19-July 3 in the Ruth C. Horton Gallery,  the exhibition will open with a reception on Thursday, May 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Moss Arts Center Grand Lobby, 190 Alumni Mall. The event is free and open to the public.

The exhibition is the culmination of a partnership between the Center for the Arts and Giles County Public Schools. With the help from area artists and community organizations, the groups offered a series of workshops for students in fourth through seventh grades attending schools with limited dedicated art curriculum.

Workshops were held over the course of three weeks at each of the county’s three elementary/middle schools – Eastern, Macy McClaugherty, and Narrows – both during and after school hours. The purpose was for the students to capture the stunning landscapes of Giles County using a variety of techniques. Students participated in workshops focused on photography, creative writing, sculpture making using materials gathered from the land, and drawing. The final projects from the workshops will be featured in the exhibition.

​“This project is about the power of place – our surroundings and unique vantage points within them, as well as how place shapes our lives and communities,” said Meggin Hicklin, exhibition program manager for the Center for the Arts. “This exhibition is built upon the one thing all Giles County residents have in common in some way – the land they call home. Our goal is to engage with rural communities, fostering growth, revitalization, and communication, while honoring tradition and local culture.”

Hicklin worked closely with Amber Nelson, Giles County Public Schools art teacher, to create and coordinate the workshops.

This iteration of “Young Artists” is an exploration of place, perspective, and creative potential in rural areas and an exercise in collaboration between the Moss Arts Center and neighboring communities and organizations. This program of workshops will serve as a scalable model that can be used in school systems with limited arts curriculum throughout Southwest Virginia.

Complementing the exhibition is a “My Take” talk by Tacie Jones, director of arts and vision for LoCo Arts in Newport, Virginia, on Saturday, June 4, at 2 p.m. in the Ruth C. Horton Gallery. In addition to serving as director of the local arts initiative LoCo Arts, Jones is an artist who assisted with the school workshops. “My Take Talks” provide community members with the opportunity to share their perspective on the art featured in the Moss Arts Center galleries. Designed to encourage idea exchange in a relaxed, social atmosphere, these 15-minute talks provide an inviting space to experience art through the lens of diverse disciplines. 

The Center for the Arts will also host a Community Color Day in the Moss Arts Center Grand Lobby from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on June 4. All ages are invited to draw and color landscape scenes during this free event. Materials will be provided.

The center’s galleries’ regular hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The galleries and all related events are free and open to the public.

Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. Virginia Tech faculty and staff possessing a valid Virginia Tech parking permit can enter and exit the garage free of charge. Limited street parking is also available. Parking on Alumni Mall is free on weekdays after 5 p.m. and on weekends.

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

The Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech presents renowned artists from around the globe and from close to home, with a special focus on experiences that expand cultural awareness and deepen understanding. The Center for the Arts and the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, with which the Center for the Arts is uniquely partnered, are housed in the Moss Arts Center. The Moss Arts Center is a 147,000-square-foot facility that includes the Street and Davis Performance Hall and its 1,274-seat Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre; visual art galleries; the four-story, experimental venue the Cube; and research studios.

Share this story