Join us on Saturday, April 20, 11AM-1PM, for a collage-based card making workshop with exhibiting artist Lou Haney!

Taking inspiration from the narratives of reality, perception, and nostalgia present in Haney’s work, attendees will be prompted to create cards for others, both real and imaginary. Participants will use a variety of materials and methods as they consider perceived audience to craft personalized, collage creations.

This event is aimed toward adults, but it’s also suitable for children ages 8+ and they are welcome to attend! They just need to be registered with a participating parent or adult.

The workshop is available at $20 SSG members / $25 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

Capacity is limited to 25 attendees; act fast to secure your spot! RSVP HERE.

Join us on Thursday, April 18, 5:30-7:00PM, for the next installment in our Artists in Conversation series. Second Street Gallery’s Executive Director & Chief Curator, Kristen Chiacchia, will sit down with artist Lou Haney to discuss her exhibition, Leisure Suit, on view in the Dové Gallery, April 5 - May 24, 2024.

The event is free to attend, but space is limited and RSVP is required. Please register in advance HERE.

The talk will also be streamed live on Instagram (no reservation needed for IG).

Leisure Suit is a Season 50 Call for Submissions pick and is generously sponsored by The Galdencio-Pontillo Family, Pond Life, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This event is now SOLD OUT. Email us at info@secondstreetgallery.org if you’d like to be added to the wait list for April 13. We will be hosting one more Art Smash on May 3, 6PM, during First Friday if you can join us then. Click HERE to register for that event.
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Join us in the Main Gallery on Saturday, April 13, for a Kids Art Smash!

One of the current exhibition’s paintings is secretly a sleeper artwork filled with candy inside! Gallery staff will invite kids to smash open the artwork – in the tradition of piñata, pignata, and general artwork iconoclasm – turning our traditional notion of art appreciation on its head. This activity will occur promptly at 11AM (so please plan to arrive a few minutes early!) 

Outside of the smash activity, we will have Charlottesville-based artist Roberto Kamide on-site as part of Family Studio Day. Using the beautiful shade of blue inspired by the art on view in the gallery, Roberto will help us create expressive line drawing that leads into block color and pattern-making to make your very own fantastic art!

You'll also find representatives from the Community Attention Foster Families (CAFF) ready to share valuable information on-site! Learn about the rewarding journey of becoming a foster parent straight from the experts. The CAFF representatives will shed light on various local opportunities for fostering and assisting fostering families, thus helping you to understand how you can make a significant difference in a child's life right in your community.

Please note that attendance to Family Studio Day does not guarantee the ability to participate in this activity; pre-registration to “smash” the artwork is required with a limited capacity. This activity is only open to children ages 2 - 8. Register HERE!

This activity is held in conjunction with Jac Lahav’s exhibition, FOSTER PAINTINGS, on view in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery April 5 - May 24, 2024.

Join Second Street Gallery when our free Family Studio Day resumes on April 13 from 10AM - 2PM! Charlottesville-based artist Roberto Kamide will be present to help us create unique visual story-line designs. Guests will have fun exploring expressive line drawing that leads into block color and pattern-making to make your very own fantastic art. We will use various shades of blue inspired by the art of Jac Lahav on view in the gallery.

Family Studio Day invites families with kids of all ages to spend time creating art together in the gallery. We take inspiration from the current exhibitions on view and propose a range of kid-friendly activities, offering access to free art materials, prompts, and coloring pages. These activities get families engaged in not only the act of creation, but also in having thoughtful conversations about the artworks in the exhibition.

Space is limited and will be first-come, first-serve. If there is no space when you come by, please check back in within 15-30 minutes as families regularly come and go! All children must be accompanied by a guardian.

NOTE: Photographs and video footage may be taken throughout Family Studio Day. These will be used by Second Street Gallery for marketing and publicity, on our website and in social media or gallery email campaigns.

This event is now SOLD OUT. Email us at info@secondstreetgallery.org if you’d like to be added to the wait list for this date. We will be hosting another Art Smash on April 13, 11AM, if you can join us then. Click HERE to register for that event.
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Join us in the Main Gallery on Saturday, April 6, for a Kids Art Smash led by exhibiting artist Jac Lahav!

One of the paintings in Jac’s exhibition is secretly a sleeper artwork filled with candy inside! Jac will ask kids to smash open the artwork – in the tradition of piñata, pignata, and general artwork iconoclasm – turning our traditional notion of art appreciation on its head. This activity will occur promptly at 11AM, so don’t be late!

Beginning at 10:30AM we’ll have some fun hands-on art activities for kids and parents: guests can complete original coloring pages designed by Jac, or they can choose from our craft supplies to custom-create decorative and wearable vines similar to the ones featured in the exhibition.

You'll also find representatives from the Community Attention Foster Families (CAFF) ready to share valuable information on-site! Learn about the rewarding journey of becoming a foster parent straight from the experts. The CAFF representatives will shed light on various local opportunities for fostering and assisting fostering families, thus helping you to understand how you can make a significant difference in a child's life right in your community.

Pre-registration to “smash” the artwork is required with a limited capacity. This activity is only open to children ages 2 - 8. Register HERE!

This event is held in connection with the exhibition, FOSTER PAINTINGS, on view in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery April 5 - May 24, 2024.

Join us for First Friday on April 5, 5:30-7:30PM, as Second Street Gallery celebrates the opening of two new exhibitions! Both shows will be on view April 5 - May 24, 2024.

Second Street Gallery is pleased to present Foster Paintings, a solo exhibition of works by artist Jac Lahav, to be held in the Main Gallery. Foster Paintings showcases an installation of immersive vining sculptures and abstract painting that intertwine the themes of fostering children and the nurturing power of plants. Each work references a phone call Lahav’s family received for a foster placement, whether they could help or not. The paintings represent points of contact and beautiful moments in time during periods of trauma.

Foster Paintings is generously sponsored by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Leisure Suit, a solo exhibition of works by Charlottesville-based artist Lou Haney, will occupy the Dové Gallery. Haney creates paintings of domestic spaces that employ nostalgia as a means of temporary escape from the corrupt and chaotic realities of present day life. Using oil, acrylic, fiber art, and mixed media, she explores themes of memory, yearning, and femininity to evoke tension between fantasy and reality. Inspired by the Pattern & Decoration Movement of the mid-1970s to early 1980s, Haney’s work incorporates floral imagery, pattern, and decoration, dismantling the hierarchy of fine art over craft and blurring the line between art and design.

Leisure Suit is generously sponsored by The Galdencio-Pontillo Family, Pond Life, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This event is now SOLD OUT.

Join us on Wednesday, March 20 from 6:00 - 7:30PM in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery for a unique and exclusive Australian wine tasting event. Delight your senses and unveil the unexplored depths of Australian wines with our special guest, Erin Scala, a world-class sommelier and owner of Market Street Wine in Charlottesville. Erin Scala is renowned for her extensive knowledge and deep passion for fine wines. She brings her incredible understanding of wine history and geography to the event, ensuring an enriching and educational experience for both wine novices and connoisseurs alike.

This tasting event will be nestled among Second Street Gallery’s current First Nation Australia: Contemporary Artists from Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala exhibition, providing an immersive cultural ambiance.

• Taste a carefully curated selection of Australian wines.

• Learn about the history, terroir, and unique characteristics of each wine from Erin herself.

• Experience the rich culture and art of the First Nation Australia exhibition.

• Network with other wine and art enthusiasts.

This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to taste, learn, and experience the magic of Australian wines and art together in one evening. We can't wait to share this extraordinary pairing with you. See you there!

The tasting is available at $15 for SSG members/$20 for non-members.
Space is limited and RSVP is required. Sign up to secure your spot HERE!

This workshop is now SOLD OUT. Email us at info@secondstreetgallery.org if you wish to be added to the wait list.

Join us at Second Street Gallery on Thursday, March 14, 5:30-7:00PM, as exhibiting artist Laura Josephine Snyder introduces us to the growing practice of painting with earth pigments.

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to make their own watercolor, oil and egg tempera paints from scratch. Participants will have access to earth pigments collected by the artist, mixing tools, mediums, watercolor paper and brushes; everyone is encouraged to experiment! Each participant will also create a set of watercolor paints to take home.

Space is limited and RSVP is required. Click HERE to reserve your spot!

Join Second Street Gallery and special guest Henry Skerritt on Saturday, March 9 at 10:30AM for a free talk about the current exhibition, First Nation Australia: Contemporary Artists from Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala, on view in the Main Gallery. Skerritt will discuss the exhibition and answer visitor questions about the artists and the work in the show. Don't miss this unique opportunity to delve deeper into the rich artistic heritage of First Nation Australia. The talk will start precisely at 10:30AM, but visitors are welcome to arrive when the gallery opens at 10AM to view the exhibition before the talk.

Henry Skerritt is Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and Curator of Indigenous Arts of Australia at the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia. His research centers on the engagement of Indigenous peoples with the institutions of art, with a particular methodological focus on the role of Indigenous communities in curating their own art histories. Skerritt has worked on over twenty exhibitions in the United States and Australia, including Madayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala, currently on view at The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia.

First Nation Australia features the work of 12 artists from the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre: Gunybi Ganambarr, Yinimala Gumana, Dr. Djambawa Marawili AM, Dhuwarrwarr Marika, Galuma Maymuru (dec), Barayuwa Munuŋgurr, Yimula Munuŋgurr, Garawan Waṉambi, Binygurr Wirrpanda, Ḻiyawaḏay Wirrpanda, Djirrirra Wunuŋmurra, and Moyurrurra Wunuŋmurra. The exhibition includes a selection of contemporary Aboriginal bark paintings, works on metal, and ḻarrakitj (memorial poles).

First Nation Australia: Contemporary Artists from Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala is organized by Second Street Gallery in partnership with the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala and Agency Projects. The exhibition is generously sponsored by Pamela Friedman & Ronald Bailey, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

No fee to attend, but RSVP is required. Please register in advance and secure your spot HERE!

Pre-Registration is now FULL; walk-ins welcome, space permitting.

Join us at Second Street Gallery on Thursday, February 29, 5:30-7:00PM, for the next installment in our Artists in Conversation series. Laura Josephine Snyder will be speaking with photographer and collaborator Kristen Finn about Tending, Snyder’s exhibition on view in the Dové Gallery, February 2-March 22, 2024. The focus will be especially directed towards unraveling the creative process behind Tending, a notable piece from 2018, after which the exhibition gets its name The pair will discuss Snyder’s meticulous and thoughtful process of assembling 42 separate watercolor paintings into the singular large-scale work on view in the gallery. Finn partnered with Snyder to document this project via photographs and video, the latter of which accompanies the exhibition.

The event is free to attend, but space is limited and RSVP is required. Please register in advance. Click HERE to save your spot!

The talk will also be streamed live on Instagram (no reservation needed for IG).

Tending is a Season 50 Call for Submissions pick and is generously sponsored by Camille Gerrick, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

UPDATE: EVENT IS SOLD OUT.

February’s Family Studio Day is a special occasion! Come participate in the Indigenous Art Takeover studio day, a program coordinated in partnership with the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia.

Join Second Street Gallery and the Kluge-Ruhe on February 10 from 10AM - 12PM to learn about the artwork in our current First Nation Australia exhibition. We will discuss the sources and meaning of earth-based pigments and natural papers used in Aboriginal art, like ochre and iron minerals. Knowing the cultural meaning behind materials and mark-making, your family will create your own art using similar techniques inspired by the beautiful art in the gallery. 

*This 2-hour family day will follow a different format than usual. Due to the fragile nature of the artwork in the exhibition, we are requiring pre-registration for this event. Space is limited.

RSVP is required; register HERE.  
SSG members: $10/group (up to 4 people); non-members: $15/group (up to 4 people)

This workshop is now SOLD OUT. Email us at info@secondstreetgallery.org to be added to the waitlist.

Join us at Second Street Gallery on Saturday, February 3, from 10 to 11:30AM for a hands-on workshop and artist demonstration that explores the materiality of bark painting from Yirrkala. Drawn from techniques used for thousands of years and materials sustainably harvested from the string bark forests of north east Arnhem Land in Australia, this workshop will allow attendees an opportunity to delve into the process of ochre painting on eucalyptus bark.

Visiting Yolngu artists will demonstrate how they make natural brushes of human hair and grind ochres to create natural pigments. Participants will gain perspective on this unique approach to painting that’s been passed on through generations of leading artists. We will also learn about the importance of these contemporary artists becoming custodians of the patterns and designs displayed in works on view in both the exhibition at Second Street Gallery and Maḏayin, currently on view at the The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia.

RSVP required for this rare opportunity; availablity is limited. Secure your spot HERE!

First Nation Australia: Contemporary Artists from Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala is organized by Second Street Gallery in partnership with the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala and Agency Projects. The exhibition is generously sponsored by Pamela Friedman & Ronald Bailey, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Join us for First Friday on February 2, 5:30-7:30PM, as Second Street Gallery celebrates the opening of two new exhibitions! Both shows will be on view February 2 - March 22, 2024.

Second Street Gallery is pleased and honored to present First Nation Australia: Contemporary Artists from Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala, to be held in the Main Gallery. The exhibition will feature the work of 12 artists from the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre : Gunybi Ganambarr, Yinimala Gumana, Djambawa Marawili AM, Dhuwarrwarr Marika, Galuma Maymuru (dec), Barayuwa Munuŋgurr, Yimula Munuŋgurr, Garawan Waṉambi, Binygurr Wirrpanda, Ḻiyawaḏay Wirrpanda, Djirrirra Wunuŋmurra, and Moyurrurra Wunuŋmurra. Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre is the Indigenous community controlled art centre of Northeast Arnhem Land. Exhibiting artists from the Yolŋu (Aboriginal) delegation will be present at the First Friday opening.

Objects on view will include contemporary Aboriginal bark paintings, works on metal, and ḻarrakitj (memorial poles). Part of the Charlottesville-wide Indigenous Art Takeover, First Nation Australia at Second Street Gallery will coincide with the major touring exhibition organized by Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection that will take place concurrently at the Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia.

First Nation Australia: Contemporary Artists from Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala is organized by Second Street Gallery in partnership with the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala and Agency Projects. The exhibition is generously sponsored by Pamela Friedman & Ronald Bailey, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Tending, a solo exhibition of works by Charlottesville-based artist Laura Josephine Snyder, will occupy the Dové Gallery. The exhibition will feature personal drawings in conjunction with a film created in collaboration with photographer Kristen Finn.

Snyder explores memory, emotion, and relationship through visual abstraction. Her work references cartography and inquires into the ways in which the signs and symbols found in our physical environment influence the movements of our minds and bodies. You will encounter elements of humor, disruption, and play via visual repetition of line, shape, pattern, and symmetry or lack thereof. Snyder is currently engaged in a study of natural pigments, their historical significance and their intrinsic reference to place. The artist will be available at the First Friday opening to chat with visitors.

Tending is a Season 50 Call for Submissions pick and is generously sponsored by Camille Gerrick, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Get an exclusive first-look and engage in enriching discussions at our special exhibition preview featuring visiting artists from the distinguished Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre. Delve into a fascinating exploration behind their art before the exhibition opens to the public. This special event promises guests an intimate exchange with the artists that is not to be missed.

Join us at Second Street Gallery on Friday, February 2, from 10 to 11:30AM for this artist talk moderated by Kade McDonald of Agency Projects, Melbourne. Coffee and light breakfast will be served. RSVP is required; register HERE.

First Nation Australia: Contemporary Artists from Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala is organized by Second Street Gallery in partnership with the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala and Agency Projects. The exhibition is generously sponsored by Pamela Friedman & Ronald Bailey, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Come celebrate the start of a new year at our next Family Studio Day on Saturday, January 13, from 10AM - 2PM. Using exhibiting artist Akemi Ohira’s exhibition as a springboard, we’ll create portraits from unexpected yet common objects of daily life, such as fruits, vegetables and flowers. Artist Michelle Gagliano will be present to help guests tap into this unique approach made famous by 16th century Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

This FREE event invites families with kids of all ages to spend time creating art together in the gallery. Each Family Studio Day, we take inspiration from the current exhibitions on view to create a range of kid-friendly activities and projects. All visitors will have access to free art materials, prompts, and coloring pages to play with during their time in the space. Drop by anytime during the open studio day and stay as long as you like - no appointment necessary.

January’s Family Studio Day is generously sponsored by Harrison and Benjamin.

Space is limited and will be first-come, first-serve. If there is no space when you come by, please check back in within 15-30 minutes as families regularly come and go! All children must be accompanied by a guardian.

Join us for a free, in-person artist talk between exhibiting artist Akemi Ohira and fellow artist and UVa colleague Megan Marlatt on Thursday, January 11 at 5:30PM. The pair will discuss Ohira’s solo exhibition, Under The Skin, on view in the Dové Gallery December 1, 2023 - January 19, 2024. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the event.

Space is limited, CLICK HERE to reserve your place at the event!

The event will also be streamed live on Instagram (no reservation required for IG).

UPDATE: THE WORKSHOP HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 20, 11AM-2PM. Contact the gallery at info@secondstreetgallery.org with any questions.

PLEASE NOTE: THE WORKSHOP IS NOW SOLD OUT.
Email us at info@secondstreetgallery.org if you would like to be placed on a waitlist.

Second Street Gallery invites you to get Lost in the Woods with Clay Witt on Saturday, January 6, 11AM - 2PM, by creating your own forest of light and shadow. The Charlottesville artist will share how he effectively builds drama in his work by adding and removing multiple layers of pre-cut paper, paint and varnish. With a focus on contrast in light and form, participants will learn to incorporate this layering/deconstruction process into their own practice. Ultimately, they will uncover means to evoke curiosity and intrigue in completed works of art.

The workshop is available at $15 SSG members / $20 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

The workshop is limited to 20 attendees and will take place in person at Second Street Gallery. 

Email us at info@secondstreetgallery.org if you would like to be placed on a waitlist.

Join us for a free, in-person artist talk between exhibiting artist Clay Witt and Second Street Gallery’s Executive Director & Chief Curator, Kristen Chiacchia, on Saturday, December 16 at 11AM. The pair will discuss Witt’s solo exhibition, THE LABYRINTH, on view in the Main Gallery December 1, 2023 - January 19, 2024. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the event.

Space is limited, CLICK HERE to reserve your place at the event!

The event will also be streamed live on Instagram (no reservation required for IG).

Join us on Thursday, December 14, 5:30-7:00PM, for a paper-based workshop with exhibiting artist Akemi Ohira! Make your own custom blank book or creative card using age-old techniques, like the Turkish map fold and buttonhole binding. Akemi has taught creative papermaking and bookbinding to countless students through UVa, in Charlottesville and beyond. Here she will guide us through a fun and unique process in which you will walk away with a wonderful gift or personal art object to fill with your creativity!

* You’re welcome to bring any photo, writing, or other personal memento you might wish to include inside your book or card.

The workshop is available at $10 SSG members / $15 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

The workshop is limited to 25 attendees and will take place in person at Second Street Gallery.

Click HERE to reserve your spot!

Come join us for Second Street Gallery’s next Family Studio Day on Saturday, December 9, 10AM - 2PM! This recurring event invites families with kids of all ages to spend time creating art together in the gallery. This month, we’ll be joined by artist and educator Andrew Sherogan as we explore the versatility of stamps and mixed media to decorate cards, personalize gift tags, and design custom wrapping paper. ‘Tis the season to be creative!

The event is held in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery, and it’s always FREE and open to all! Visitors will have access to a range of art materials, prompts, and coloring pages to play with during their time in the space. Drop by anytime during the open studio day and stay as long as you like - no appointment necessary.

December’s Family Studio Day is generously sponsored by Daniel and Rosemary Chiacchia.

Space is limited and will be first-come, first-serve. If attendance is at capacity when you come by, please check back in within 15-30 minutes as families regularly come and go! All children must be accompanied by a guardian.

Purchase tickets for the chance to win a lithograph by Charlottesville-based artist and UVA professor Akemi Ohira! Ohira is an artist who specializes in intaglio, lithography, and relief printmaking processes, as well as egg tempera, acrylic and oil paintings.

In conjunction with Ohira’s solo exhibition, Under the Skin, we are offering the opportunity to add Affection to your private collection. Individual raffle tickets are $10. The raffle drawing will take place in the gallery at 7PM during the First Friday exhibition opening on December 1. Valued at $400, this framed print will be available to take home that evening! Buy your tickets HERE.

Want to increase your odds? Purchase a $25 membership between now and December 1 and receive 3 raffle entries as a thank you for your support. Click HERE to sign up or renew your membership.

All proceeds benefit Second Street Gallery, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Join us for the First Friday opening reception on December 1, 5:30-7:30PM, as Second Street Gallery celebrates two new exhibitions! Both shows will be on view December 1, 2023, to January 19, 2024.

THE LABYRINTH, a solo exhibition of new works by Charlottesville-based artist Clay Witt, will be held in the Main Gallery. Immersed in the rich symbology of early American mourning art, Witt’s work reiterates the simple but enduring lessons of memento mori — reminders of the inescapable nature of death. His process is meticulous: his work consists of many-layered constructions of mineral-pigmented glazes that have been heavily abraded and destroyed, contrasted with the graphic edges of painstakingly cut Japanese washi paper. This deliberate, practiced decay grants his work a naturalistic feel, emulating the cycles of deterioration and regeneration in nature itself. This technique demonstrates both strong contrast and harmony within his work, juxtaposing the frailty and resilience of life.

The Dové Gallery will feature Under the Skin, a selection of paintings and works on paper by artist and UVA professor Akemi Ohira. Challenging the standardized perception of art, Ohira’s portraiture illuminates and teases stereotypes, first impressions, preconceived notions, and the daily anomalies that momentarily make us pause. Ohira draws the viewer’s direct engagement through the shattering and reassembly of forms in her portraiture, encouraging potential to alter the viewer’s perspective of their world. Through her work, she invites the viewer to dive beyond the obvious and immerse themselves attentively in their visual and emotional experiences.
Learn more HERE about the exciting chance to win one of the artist’s intriguing works during First Friday.

THE LABYRINTH is generously sponsored by The FUNd at the CACF, Charlotte and Ralph Dammann, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Under the Skin is generously sponsored by Brian Fox, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Come join Second Street Gallery on Thursday, November 30, at 6:00PM for a special VIP Reception and Preview in honor of Clay Witt’s highly anticipated exhibition of new work, THE LABYRINTH. The Charlottesville-based artist will be in attendance to speak with guests. Be one of the first to learn about this latest body of work, and celebrate this exceptional, local talent before the exhibition opens to the public on Friday, December 1. 

Event tickets are $35/$25 for gallery members. Everyone who purchases a ticket to the event will be automatically entered into a raffle to win an artwork by Clay Witt. Individual raffle tickets (for artwork only) are $20 and also available for purchase.

Click HERE for tickets!

THE LABYRINTH will be on view in the Main Gallery December 1, 2023 - January 19, 2024.

Special thanks to our VIP reception and exhibition preview sponsors: Market Street Wine and Cake Bloom.

This exhibition is generously sponsored by The FUNd at the CACF, Charlotte and Ralph Dammann, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Come join us for Second Street Gallery’s next Family Studio Day on Saturday, November 11, 10AM - 2PM! This monthly event invites families with kids of all ages to spend time creating art together in the gallery. All visitors have access to free art materials, prompts, and coloring pages to play with during their time in the space.

Each Family Studio Day, we take inspiration from the current exhibitions on view to create a range of kid-friendly activities. This month, we’ll be taking cues from exhibiting artist Mike Egan's use of vibrant colors and bold outlines to assemble colorful "windows" reminiscent of stained glass using a rainbow of tissue paper and tape.  Richmond-based artist Ginny Krueger will be present to lead and support visitors as they create these visual delights.

The event is held in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery from 10AM-2PM, and it’s always FREE and open to all! Drop by anytime during the open studio day and stay as long as you like - no appointment necessary.

November’s Family Studio Day is generously sponsored by Martin Horn, Inc.

Space is limited and will be first-come, first-serve. If there is no space when you come by, please check back in within 15-30 minutes as families regularly come and go! All children must be accompanied by a guardian.

Join Charlottesville-based fiber artist Tobiah Mundt at Second Street Gallery on Wednesday, October 25, 6 - 7:30PM to make your very own needle felted skull. Learn the ins and outs of needle felting on paper while creating a fiber skull in the tradition of Memento Mori - a reminder of the shortness of our human experience. All felting materials and instruction will be provided, and participants will walk way with a complete project as well as new friends and a greater appreciation for life.

The workshop is available at $15 SSG members / $20 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

The workshop is limited to 25 attendees and will take place in person at Second Street Gallery.

Click HERE to reserve your spot!

Come join us and artist Heather Owens for our next Family Studio Day event on Saturday, October 14 from 10AM-2PM! Heather will be helping guests decorate pre-formed masks using fiber elements and a host of other embellishments. Just in time for costume season!

Second Street Gallery’s monthly Family Studio Day is a free studio day which invites families with kids of all ages to spend time creating art together in the gallery. All visitors have access to free art materials, prompts, and coloring pages to play with during their time in the space.

Each Family Studio Day, we take inspiration from the current exhibitions on view to create a range of kid-friendly activities and prompts. Drop by anytime during the open studio day and stay as long as you like - no appointment necessary.

The event is held in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery from 10AM-2PM, and it’s always FREE and open to all!

October’s Family Studio Day is generously sponsored by Charlottesville Skin and Laser Center.

Space is limited and will be first-come, first-serve. If there is no space when you come by, please check back in within 15-30 minutes as families regularly come and go! All children must be accompanied by a guardian.

Come join Second Street Gallery on Friday, October 6 at 7PM, for a special First Friday presentation of The Changeling: A Shadow Puppetry Performance.

The performance will take place on the 4th floor of Live Arts. Be sure to stop by Second Street Gallery to see the artist’s solo exhibition, Tania L. Yager: Tales of Min'Umbra, on view in the Dové Gallery before the performance.

The Changeling, by puppetry artist Tania L. Yager of Twisted Heart Puppetworks and co-directed by Molly Maslak, is a Celtic-inspired story of a city couple who move to the Irish countryside with their newborn child. Unaware that their new cottage is on land that is occupied by The Fae, they ignore the advice of neighbors urging the use of protective charms. When a bereft Faerie Queen who has recently lost her own baby spies the child, she instantly becomes enamored. There is nothing to stop her from easing her own broken heart and she spirits the child away, leaving an unlikely heroine in charge of finding out how to remedy the whole debacle. This piece boasts 24 uniquely handcrafted shadow puppets, live singing, and a dark Irish tale.

*It should be noted that The Changeling includes scenes of grief and death, and is appropriate for families with children ages 10 and up.* This play will last 40 minutes.

This is a pay what you can performance. The suggested donation is $15 (payable at the door on the night of the performance). RSVP is encouraged, but not required. RSVP HERE.

Join us at Second Street Gallery on October 6, 5:30-7:30PM for the First Friday opening reception of two new exciting exhibitions! The visiting artists will be onsite to speak with visitors.

After We Are Gone, a solo exhibition of new paintings by artist Mike Egan, will be on view in the Main Gallery through November 17, 2023. Egan masterfully paints the intersection of life and death. Drawing from a distinctive background as an embalmer, Egan imbues his work with an intimate understanding of mortality. Further influences include The Day of the Dead, Halloween, horror films, Folk Art, religion, and German Expressionism -- all combining to inspire his ethos. Ironically, the somber themes in his artwork stand in stark contrast with the lively, bright colors and stimulating narratives. This unexpected juxtaposition serves as a beacon of hope amidst the darkness.

The Dové Gallery will display Tales of Min'umbra, a solo shadow art exhibition for all ages, created by artist and puppeteer Tania L. Yager of Twisted Heart Puppetworks. A 2022 resident Fellow at Virginia Center of Creative Arts, she created the miniature shadow puppetry exhibition Tales of Min’Umbra, which consists of three separate dark-winter narratives based on her cultural heritage. As part of the exhibition’s opening weekend, the artist will present two performances of The Changeling, a one-woman piece of shadow theater set in old Ireland. The artist will also be leading a shadow puppet workshop at the gallery on Saturday, October 7.

Both exhibitions are generously sponsored by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Come join Second Street Gallery on Thursday, October 5, 6:30PM, for a special VIP presentation of The Changeling: A Shadow Puppetry Performance.

An artist talkback with the audience, private viewing of the exhibition, and reception will take place after the show.

The Changeling, by puppetry artist Tania L. Yager of Twisted Heart Puppetworks and co-directed by Molly Maslak, is a Celtic-inspired story of a city couple who move to the Irish countryside with their newborn child. Unaware that their new cottage is on land that is occupied by The Fae, they ignore the advice of neighbors urging the use of protective charms. When a bereft Faerie Queen who has recently lost her own baby spies the child, she instantly becomes enamored. There is nothing to stop her from easing her own broken heart and she spirits the child away, leaving an unlikely heroine in charge of finding out how to remedy the whole debacle. This piece boasts 24 uniquely handcrafted shadow puppets, live singing, and a dark Irish tale.

*It should be noted that The Changeling includes scenes of grief and death, and is appropriate for families with children ages 10 and up.* This play will last 40 minutes.

This performance is in conjunction with the exhibition Tania L. Yager: Tales of Min'Umbra, on view in the Dové Gallery October 6 - November 17, 2023.

The Changeling will be performed in the 4th floor theater. Click HERE to reserve a spot!

Come join Second Street Gallery on Wednesday, September 27, 6:00 - 7:30PM, for a Photo Collage workshop led by Charlottesville-based artist, Mary Lamb. Participants will learn about the role of storytelling and fantasy in Lamb’s creative practice, and explore different techniques to create narrative collage work.

Participants will use analog methods to create their own collage work using found photographs and images. Basic materials such as photographs, recycled magazines, assortments of paper, scissors, and glue will be provided. Everyone is also encouraged to bring their own photographs or photocopies, magazine cuttings, found objects, and any other materials they might wish to include in their work.

Learn more about the artist here and the group show, Teeny Tiny Trifecta 6, where her work is on view September 1 - 29, 2023.

The workshop is available at $10 SSG members / $15 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

The workshop is limited to 25 attendees and will take place in person at Second Street Gallery. 

Reserve your spot HERE!