Smith House Galleries Opens Two Painting Exhibitions October 4

HARRISONBURG, VA – Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) features the opening of two new exhibitions at Smith House Galleries on October 4, with a reception 5-7 pm during First Fridays of the Valley. Artistry & Eclecticism includes acrylic and pastel paintings by Mae Stoll, and Floral Worlds features mixed media collage by Laura Thompson. Visit the opening reception to chat with both artists, see their new works in person, and enjoy light refreshments.

Both exhibitions, sponsored by MODdisplays, are on view through Oct 25, with in-person visits Monday-Friday, 11 am to 4 pm and on Second Saturday Oct 12, 10 am to 2 pm. Each exhibition will also be available online (valleyarts.org/current-exhibition).

Originally from the island of Malta, Mae Stoll spent much of her adult life in Texas, moving close to Staunton, VA in 2019. Inspired by the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley, she began painting the following year after more than three decades of “artistic dormancy.” She is predominantly drawn to semi-impressionistic renditions of landscapes in acrylics and pastels, but is often lured by other subject matter and loves to experiment with different painting styles. Stoll’s other passions include jewelry-making, gardening, and teaching West African-style hand percussion during weekly classes just a few miles south of Staunton.

Laura Thompson is an award-winning mixed media and collage artist, muralist, and teacher living and working in Harrisonburg, VA. Her surrealist works combine meticulously cut imagery from vintage magazines with painted backgrounds to create dreamlike and amusing compositions. Growing up in a wealthy suburb of Rochester, NY, Thompson was exposed to levels of privilege and hypocrisy that she found objectionable; from an early age she honed the coping skills of humor and sarcasm, now incorporating these themes into her artwork. Integrating nostalgic images from the post-World War II era, Thompson’s exhibition considers relationships between people, animals, the planet, social justice, and feminism.

Arts Council of the Valley is located at 311 South Main Street in Downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia. Programs are supported, in part, by 2024 Cultivating the Arts Platinum Sponsors: Eugene Stoltzfus Architects, James McHone Jewelry, Kathy Moran Wealth Group, Matchbox Realty, and Riner Rentals.

Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit 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 $498,300 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.