Art Gallery at Brightpoint
The Art Gallery at Brightpoint hosts exhibitions from professional artists and Brightpoint students.
Location: Midlothian Campus, Eliades Hall, E107
Hours: Open Monday – Friday, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m., and by appointment.
To schedule an appointment outside of regular operating hours, please contact Dr. Paula Winn at pwinn@brightpoint.edu.
Current Exhibitions
Survivors Remorse
Artwork by Jaraz Jenkins
October 14 – December 6
Artist Statement
Art has always been more than just a passion for me—it has been a lifeline. Growing up in Richmond, VA, I found solace in drawing, using it as an escape from the challenging realities of poverty. What began as a form of refuge evolved into a profound means of expression, guiding me through life’s complexities and ultimately shaping my career.
My work is deeply influenced by the environment that raised me, reflecting the vibrant, yet often harsh, world that I witnessed. Through painting and printmaking, I seek to capture the untold stories of those who, like me, navigate the intricacies of urban life. My art is an exploration of resilience, identity, and the quiet strength found in communities that are often overlooked.
In my creative process, I’m drawn to the tension between abstraction and realism, using bold colors and dynamic compositions to convey emotion and narrative. I aim to provoke thought and conversation, encouraging viewers to see beyond the surface and to engage with the deeper societal issues embedded in my work.
As a teacher, I am committed to giving back to the community that shaped me. I strive to inspire the next generation of artists, particularly those who, like I once did, may feel uncertain about the viability of their creative dreams. Art has given me a voice, and through my work, I hope to amplify the voices of others.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Karen Kincaid Wittich and Susanne K. Arnold
Artwork by Karen Kincaid Wittich and Susanne K. Arnold
February 3 – March 14
Juried Student Art Show
Artwork by Brightpoint Community College Students
April 14 – April 25
Past Exhibitions
Modernizing Traditions
Contemporary basketry made with traditional weaving techniques
Artwork by Desmond Ellsworth
September 12 – October 4
Desmond Ellsworth, a citizen of the Nansemond Indian Nation, is a Southeast Native American basket weaver whose artistry blends tradition with modernity. Weaving since 2016, Desmond combines contemporary materials with traditional southeast basket designs and techniques. His baskets are a celebration of both beauty and history, reflecting a deep appreciation for the cultural significance and craftsmanship of his art. Through his work, Desmond continues to honor and preserve the rich heritage of his ancestors while embracing innovative approaches in basket weaving.
The pieces are made from contemporary materials but are woven using traditional Southeast weaving techniques. His work serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of these techniques, affirming that Southeast basket weaving traditions are not only preserved but also adapted for the modern era. Through his artistry, Desmond demonstrates that these ancient methods continue to be both preserved and evolved, bridging cultural heritage with contemporary expression.
2024 Juried Student Art Show
2024 Juried Student Art Show
Accepting entries March 25-29 in E307
Juror Chelsea Lee, Assistant Professor of Art Foundations at VCU
Enter up to three of your favorite pieces in any media for an opportunity to win awards for your art! All work must be submitted in room E307 (Eliades Hall, Midlothian campus) by the deadline. Please prepare your work for display before submitting. Each submission must have a completed entry tag and submission form to be considered for the show. Entry tags are available from E307 during the submission period. Artwork must be picked during the time indicated on the submission form.
The Juried Student Art Show will be on view April 8–29, 2024. Join us for the award reception Friday, April 12, 5:30–7:30 PM.
In Situ by Lindsay Steele
This exhibition is a conceptual journey considering perfect peace and navigating the unknown. The ancient ceramic materials of clay and wool are combined as mediums, exploring these opposing yet balanced ideas.
Lindsay Steele is an artist and art educator based in Richmond, Virginia. Lindsay has a BFA in Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Ceramic Arts from Hood College in Maryland.
The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts is a dynamic organization that inspires global advancement and appreciation of the field through programs, exhibitions, opportunities and resources.
March 11 through March 31
Artist Talk & Reception Thursday, March 21, 2024; 5-8pm
"we'll always have rabbits" by Michael A. Pierce
The exhibition will consist mainly of the drawings that I did in March/April 2023 while in residence at la Cité Internationales des Arts in Paris.
“Who doesn’t like a rabbit?” I have asked, knowing full well that there are those who find these images too safe and sweet. Obviously, the image of a rabbit is a loaded image. Rabbits carry symbolic meaning that varies widely and is often contradictory. They are safe, soft, and cuddly and therefore an appropriate symbol for the child in each of us. But they are also fearful, shy, and vulnerable, and sometimes prey for the hunter. At the same time, they remind us of our own sexuality, desire, and abundance speaking to the adult in us. Ultimately, rabbits may symbolically assure us of hope and happiness for the future with new life and new beginnings. The rabbit as trickster and the artist as trickster also play an important part in my work.
In March 2023, I returned to le Cité Nationales des Arts in Paris, for a residency that had been aborted by the pandemic in March 2020. I focused on two bodies of work using rabbit imagery – natural rabbits using source images from an October 2022 Virginia Rabbit Breeder's Association Fair and white chocolate rabbits, because it was Easter-time in Paris and there were chocolate rabbits everywhere. January 16 - February 23, 2024 (courtesy Quirk gallery)
"Mining the Present" by Cynthia Myron
Mining the Present represents Cynthia Myron's most recent body of work which presents a dialogue to consider; one that exists between individuals, intimate spaces, and the fleeting moments within nature. The culmination of these works explore the human impact on our natural landscape while simultaneously asking the viewer to examine their own place in the conversation as they consider the idea of home and place; how they serve as a symbol of safety and shelter.
Works provide a moment for contemplation, particularly those which are viewable by only one individual at a time. Isolated moments of voyeurism provide an opportunity to reconsider and deconstruct the notions of labor, industry, and commodity and present the opportunity to consider what is constant and reliable compared to what is mutable, shifting, and curiously inconsistent.
October 23 – December 8
"Land, Sea, and Sky" by Whitney Knapp Bowditch
Land, Sea, and Sky features atmospheric landscapes executed in oil paint and drawing media. The works are an exploration of surface texture, color relationships, and value contrast. The pieces vary considerably in scale and are completed on a variety of substrates. August 28 – October 6
One&One&One
Three Brightpoint advanced watercolor students – Beq Parker, James Parker, Janet Scagnelli –share their experiences of pain and rage, beauty and ugliness, order, and chaos. These works were completed between 2021 and 2022. Each of these artists speak to the world today in profound and moving ways with artwork that is personal, authentic, distinctive, and surprising. Curated by instructor Michael A. Pierce.
On view through July 28
Reception Thursday, July 27 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Homogeneous Bodies
Stephen-Bernard Derek Callender
November 11 – December 10, 2022
Homogeneous Bodies: Nodes is a sculptural investigation of the transmitters and receivers that act as physical markers of the invisible network. Taking a closer look at the infrastructural totems that litter the sky, the work shows reverence to these towers that stand as the bridge to the omnipresent and omniscient, ever present cloud of human invention. With it we find ourselves Intrinsically connected to nearly all of humanity by only a matter of milliseconds. Intertwined, we find the very fabric of our evolutionary biology collapsing in upon itself, as our society continues to compress under a wave of our technological expansion.
Eqqumarka
Eqqumarka: New Artifacts from an Ancient City to the Upcoming Exhibition section. The exhibition dates are August 15–October 7, 2022 and the artist is Patricia Silva-Santisteban.
Ceramic work by Patricia Silva-Santisteban eqqumarka.com.
Chance / Intention
The Art Gallery at Brightpoint is pleased to present the first solo show from student artist, Josh Cloninger. Initially interested in photography, Cloninger’s recent exploration of materials and process has led him to non-objectivism in watercolor. Each work documents the outcome of Cloninger’s experimentation with media and reveals the choices that he made in the work’s production. Cloninger lives in Powhatan, VA.
Juried Student Art Show 2022
Enter up to three of your favorite pieces in any media for an opportunity to win awards for your art! See the online submission form for full rules. Submissions will be accepted March 21–28 in the Art Gallery, E107. The Juried Student Art Show will be on view in the Art Gallery April 11–29, 2022.
Stream of Consciousness
Artwork by Gerry Bannan and Genesis Chapman
The exhibition runs through March 11, 2022.
Movin'
Artwork by Anne Savedge
January 24-February 28, 2020
Opening Reception: January 24
For a number of years, Savedge has been photographing people involved in dance and other movement through space. Her fascination with capturing movement began with belly dancers and now includes ethnic dancers, modern dancers, ballroom dancers, acrobats, and twirling monks. Savedge uses in-camera techniques and digital processing to capture the energy and excitement of a performance in images.
Then and Now
Artwork by Diana Detamore and Laurie Carnohan
October 25-December 13, 2019
Opening Reception: October 25
Diana Detamore has taught in the Visual Arts program at Brightpoint for nearly twenty years; during this time Laurie Carnohan was one of her students. After Laurie graduated, they maintained their friendship, encouraging and inspiring one another’s creative pursuits. Both artists use mixed media to create richly layered images, which move between abstraction and representation. Their work shares several common themes and sources of inspiration: the mysteries of nature, the transcendence of time, and the inherent beauty discovered in obscure and fleeting moments.