“Faces of RVA” teen art exhibit opens in August at Atlas

ART 180 hosts First Fridays opening reception August 5th.

July 14, 2016; 10:52 AM • by Richard Hayes

Teens expressing themselves through art deserve all the support they can get. Consider checking this exhibit out on opening night during Friday, August 5th’s Art Walk.

“Faces of RVA,” an exhibition of mixed media portraits, opens August 5 and spotlights ART 180‘s most recent projects in creative expression.

Led by Noah Scalin and Shelia Gray, ART 180’s Teen Leadership Council considered a new perspective on their hometown by exploring portraits of its people. For this series, teens worked with historical images of African American Richmonders from the collection of The Valentine, many of whom little or nothing is known about. The young artists created stories about these unknown residents that provided context for who they may have been. They used a variety of materials-such as buttons, feathers, cereal or sequins-to recreate these portraits which honor individuals almost lost to history.

A second series of portraits let the young artists focus on individuals who are important to them.

ART 180 will host an opening reception for the exhibition on Friday, August 5, from 6-9 p.m. during First Fridays Art Walk. The reception is family friendly, open to the public, and features an all-ages activity. The show will remain on display at Atlas, ART 180’s art center for teens, through August 25. Atlas is located at 114 W. Marshall St. in Jackson Ward and is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.

Art by Christopher Bolling, image provided by ART 180