If you’re bored on a lonely Saturday and need something to entertain your mind, and entice the artistic side of you that you may have hidden, then the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts may be your answer. This small, yet quaint, building is home to many different works of art that have been brought in from different states and towns.
Tucked away in Farmville, and hidden among many pawn shops, a bakery and one very large bank, hides this sanctuary of art. As you walk in, you are struck by the quiet atmosphere and realize that this is a place of peace and for admiring the various works of art.
There is a small section of this building that is home to a memorial of the 1959 school shutdown, and in this section we
see some artifacts, as well as a tiny book that reflects upon those events. Unbound, a book designed by Jessica Peterson, recalls the events that led to the school’s shutdown and the various roles played by people in helping to eradicate the segregation that was taking place.
Dotted throughout the book, are small golden stars that number the amount of people who were affected by the shutdown. May 2014, was the 60th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s decision to declare segregation unconstitutional in the Brown v. Board of Education case.
On a lighter note, the center is home to many strange and beautiful works of art that range anything from landscapes, to bowls of fruit on a table. In the exhibit, The Scent of Pine, You Know How I Feel, many striking
paintings seemed to leap off the canvas, board or even plywood that they were inscribed or drawn into. Notable works include that of William C.A. Frerichs, Lawrence Mazzanovich, Eugene Thomason and Jane Eckenrode.
The gallery is immersed in the artwork of these artists, and visitors can grasp an understanding of what is being portrayed in the paintings, as well as experience the stories the artists are telling us with their details and use of vibrant colors.
All 60 plus paintings are centered around the Realism and American Impressionism movements, and for those who know anything about these time periods, can see the characteristics in each painting. All of these works, and many others, are part of the Raleigh and Morehead Residence areas which are named
after the cities in North Carolina where much of the artwork originates.
So to all the Longwood students, Farmville residents and travelers passing through: if you desire a place that can spark your imagination and give you an appreciation for art, the LCVA is a great place to start. The LCVA is open for walk-ins Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free of charge to the public.
The Scent of Pine, You Know How I Feel exhibit will be at the LCVA until Oct. 18 and I highly recommend that anyone in the area stop by , sign the guest book and take a look at the artwork around them. You never know when you may find a painting or artist that peaks your interest.
