First Fridays of the Valley February 7: 25 Venues Offer Arts

HARRISONBURG, VA – Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) is thrilled to announce its February First Fridays of the Valley lineup, featuring arts programming from 25 venues around the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County! A list of venues, online map, and additional information about Feb 7 events are available at valleyarts.org/first-fridays-of-the-valley/. We are grateful to Kathy Moran Wealth Group, Exclusive Sponsor for the 2025 First Fridays of the Valley program.

The following First Fridays of the Valley venues plan to offer arts experiences Feb 7. Unless otherwise noted, events are scheduled 5-7 pm.

• Arts Incarnate (75 N Mason St) invites you to Meet the Artist: Ryan Styer Arnold during an opening reception for his new exhibition of watercolor and oil paintings. Chat with the artist and enjoy refreshments. artsincarnate.com
• Asbury United Methodist Church (205 S Main St) shares a new exhibition, Youth Art from the Children of Asbury United Methodist, as well as a live musical performance by Nathan Jones. Refreshments will be available. asburydowntown.org
• City of Harrisonburg (409 S Main St) introduces Dynamic Colors, an exhibition of acrylic pour paintings by Kasey Lohr. Stop by to meet the artist and learn about her work during the opening reception. harrisonburgva.gov/city-hall-first-fridays
• Court Square Theater (41-F Court Square) features live, improvisational theatre by Rocktown Improv, a group of local actors and improv artists who craft unscripted scenes through games and audience suggestions. The performance begins at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm). A $5 donation at the door is appreciated. courtsquaretheater.org/event/rocktown-improv

• Creative Art Studio & Event Center (423 N Main St - Bridgewater) hosts an art reception for New Year Art Spectacular, an exhibition highlighting a variety of local artists’ works. Sample refreshments and get to know the artists. creativeartva.com
• Draime Fine Art Studio School (1153 S High St) marks a new month with drawings and oil paintings in Current Student Work @ the Studio School; see what the Studio School students have been up to when you visit the reception, 5-8 pm. Refreshments will be available. draimefineart.com/
• Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art (820 S Main St) offers an art reception for its February exhibition: Freshwater Hymns, Rituals of Becoming by Indira Allegra. Stop by to discover installation, performance, and video works throughout the gallery. jmu.edu/dukehallgallery
• Friendly City Food Co-op (150 Wolfe St) opens Celebrating the Neigh-borhood - 2025 Hope's Legacy Equine Rescue Calendar Show! Photography and mixed media artwork by Hope’s Legacy volunteers await in the cafe gallery; visit during the opening reception to chat with the artists and sample refreshments. friendlycity.coop/harrisonburg-events-classes/
• Friendly City Real Estate Services (52 E Market St) shares an opening reception for Prismatic Daydreams by Nick McLane; experience a new exhibition of digital and mixed media works as you meet the artist and enjoy refreshments. friendlycityres.com
• Furious Flower Poetry Center (500 Cardinal Drive) invites you to explore Sea Changes, curated by Bethany Nowviskie and Kimberly Gillette, in the Broadside Gallery! Engage with the featured poetry, meet the curators, and sample light refreshments at the opening reception. jmu.edu/furiousflower/broadside-gallery/index.shtml
• Hess Financial (380 E Market St) features Local History and Historic Life, an exhibition of oil paintings by Jim Spart. Stop by the opening reception for time with the artist and refreshments. facebook.com/events/1338863584150473/?
• Horizon Gifts and Board Games (60 W Market St) highlights wood carvings by artist Jorge Carlos Gene during a February opening reception! Partake of light refreshments while you explore the new exhibition. facebook.com/events/s/february-first-friday/579355751580589/
• Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center (710 S Main St) features an opening reception (5-7 pm) for Can I Say Something?, an exhibition of acrylic paintings on canvas and wood with vinyl, metal, and plastic by artist Derek Jackson in the mezzanine gallery. Chat with the artist and then head down to the lobby to enjoy live music from vocalist and guitarist Kendall Anderson - featuring classic rock and folk songs of the ‘60s and ‘70s - from 6 to 8 pm. Food and beverages are available for purchase at Quills lobby bar and Monty’s Restaurant. hotelmadison.com
• Look West Gallery at The Mark-It (125 W Water St) celebrates the opening of Embroidered Works by Halley Conrad with a reception. Stop by to enjoy the art and get to know the artist! facebook.com/events/1167610618132372/
• Mashita (105 N Liberty St) showcases graphite drawings by Skylar Andrew during the month of February; visit the restaurant during open hours to have a look around Eternal Icons. eatmashita.com
• Northwestern Mutual (83 S Main St) exhibits Local Flavors, featuring acrylic and watercolor paintings by Arnita Taliaferro; join the opening reception to meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments. northwesternmutual.com/office/va/harrisonburg/86244590/
• North Wing Gallery at Sage Bird Ciderworks (325 N Liberty St) welcomes you to the opening of Earth Bliss by Brooke Imber. Explore this exhibition of photography and chat with the artist during an opening reception - complete with complimentary charcuterie - from 5 to 8 pm. Enjoy live music from The Hot Mamas 6-7 pm, and stick around for more by Basement Rebellion & Friends 8:30-11 pm. facebook.com/events/1616079549017607/
• OASIS Fine Art & Craft (103 S Main St) shares 8 X 8, an exhibition including the works of several local artists. At the opening reception, enjoy refreshments alongside live music by Brian Bratton. facebook.com/events/1649012739306347
• Pale Fire Brewing Co (217 S Liberty St, Ste 105) introduces Gather by Ashley Sauder Miller; this exhibition, filled with mixed media collage, kicks off with a reception and an opportunity to connect with the artist. facebook.com/events/1652511208980766/
• Park Gables Gallery at VMRC (1491 Virginia Ave) exhibits art by Ruby Kauffman Hostetler in Dementia: An Artistic Perspective. Connect with an exhibition of macrame works, spend some time with the artist, and enjoy refreshments during the reception. vmrc.org/events
• Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions (86 W Gay St) opens Your Mountain is Waiting, a painting exhibition by Kelli Hertzler. Make a visit during the reception to check out the new work, meet the artist, and even enjoy a free wine tasting. facebook.com/events/9228168447242230/
• Smith House Galleries (311 S Main St) welcomes you to an opening reception for two new exhibitions - Trees and Other Friends, by Billie Rosenberger; and When I Was Little: A Retrospective of Collegiate Artists and Their Growth, by JMU Kappa Pi International Honorary Art Fraternity - supported by The School of Art, Design and Art History at James Madison University. Explore artwork in a variety of media, enjoy light refreshments, and meet the exhibiting artists. valleyarts.org/smith-house-galleries-current-exhibition/
• Stoney Run Artisans & Highland Designs (9945 McGaheysville Rd - McGaheysville) hosts an opening reception for Jim Dendinger’s exhibition, Wood - Artistry with Function. Stop by between 3 and 7 pm to explore these wooden works of art, converse with the artist, and sample refreshments. stoneyrunartisans.com/
• Ten Thousand Villages (181 S Main St) invites you to meet artist Rachel Miller of Waggleduck Crafts and enjoy her hand-knitted and crocheted items in the shop. tenthousandvillages.com/harrisonburg
• Three Notch’d Valley Collab House (241 E Market St) has abstract paintings by Virginia Munns in the spotlight! Pop in during an opening reception to meet the artist and admire her exhibited work. threenotchdbrewing.com

Other 2025 First Fridays of the Valley participating venues are: Aristocat Cafe, Bridgewater Retirement Community (Bridgewater), Chestnut Ridge Coffee Roasters, Explore More Discovery Museum, Fairfield Mediation Center, Frame Factory & Gallery, Friendly City Clay & Art Center, Gaines Group Architects, Gift & Thrift, Harrisonburg Baptist Church, JMU @ Harrisonburg Innovation Hub, Rebecca’s Well Gift Shop (Bridgewater), and The Wing Gallery at The Perch.

Arts Council of the Valley is located at 311 South Main Street in Downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia. Programs are supported in part by ACV 25th Anniversary Presenting Sponsor Kathy Moran Wealth Group, and 25th Anniversary Visionary Sponsor Riner Rentals.

A 501(c)3 nonprofit, ACV is dedicated to cultivating the arts, creating experiences, and connecting communities throughout the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Since it was established in 2000, ACV has grown into a multi-faceted community organization that fosters innovative partnerships among area businesses, civic organizations, schools, and artists. Today, ACV manages Court Square Theater and Smith House Galleries, funds local art projects through its Advancing the Arts grant program (awarding more than $510,200 since 2001), supports public art initiatives, and coordinates monthly First Fridays of the Valley community gatherings.

ACV is supported in part by the City of Harrisonburg, the Harrisonburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. To learn more, visit valleyarts.org.

This press release was provided by Martha Hemingway at Arts Council of the Valley.