On Saturday night, the Longwood Center for Visual Arts (LCVA) was filled with hundreds of people, as the center hosted its biennial Winter Gala on February 13, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. –11:00 p.m.
This year’s theme for the gala was Southern Gothic, and allowed the community to enjoy a fun, creative black-tie night at the LCVA for tickets ranging from $100 to $250 a pop.
The event included a live silent action inside with paintings, photographs, jewelry, ceramic pieces and crafts, ranging from about $50 to $4,000 were available for bidding. Through the auction and ticket sales, over a thousand dollars were raised over the course of the night. All the proceeds from the event go to support the LCVA’s community outreach programs.
Some specific pieces and packages auctioned off throughout the night came from multiple artists and local businesses such as Longwood alum Monty Montgomery, Salvador Dali, local business Mainly Clay and Longwood student/photographer Carson Reeher.
Attendees also got to enjoy a evening full of dancing since the event included a live band, as well as multiple open bars and food and hors d’oeuvres.
With the Southern Gothic theme, the upstairs of the LCVA was dedicated solely to the silent auction, with pieces lining the walls and walkways in multiple galleries, so that event attendees could get a good look at all of the pieces. Each piece up for action was numbered and bidders could bid via BidPal from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
The most memorizing piece of the night however, was not for auction. It was a 6-foot high piece created by Susan Jamison titled Curious Walk, a high egg tempera on panel painting of a naked women covered in beautiful pink flowers, donning a bird on her air as well as a other animals in the background. Over the course of the night, the LCVA collected donations for the high quality painting that contributed to the LCVA’s mission of acquiring the painting for their own collection.
Once the auction was over, many of the hundreds of attendees moved downstairs to party, dance and enjoy more hors d’oeuvres, located on the bottom half of the LCVA. Downstairs was decorated to the theme of the event, with dark lighting complementing the gothic theme, as well as moss, colorful flowers and lanterns hanging from the wall. The atmosphere reminded many of a southern night in downtown New Orleans.
The Southern Gothic theme aimed to pay tribute to the beauty, mystery and charm of southern gardens during the night.
The LCVA is Longwood University’s nationally accredited art museum and serves as a way for the university and the local community to come together to support art and culture. Every year, they put on local events that are open to the community, including a Valentine’s Day family workshop, a winter family workshop, a Day of the Dead celebration and Camp Unity, a program with Crossroads Community Services that allows adults with developmental disabilities to take part in traditional summer camp activities.
They also support the community and the university by bringing multiple exhibits throughout the year to Farmville, as well as host their upcoming annual Point of Departure: 2016 Senior Thesis Exhibition April 16, 2016 to May 11, 2016.
Attendees at the LCVA's Winter Gala enjoyed a Southern Gothic atmosphere that was enhanced by the rhythms of a live band, Big Ray and the Kool Kats.
Attendees at the LCVA's Winter Gala enjoyed a Southern Gothic atmosphere that was enhanced by the rhythms of a live band, Big Ray and the Kool Kats.
Attendees at the LCVA's Winter Gala enjoyed a Southern Gothic atmosphere that was enhanced by the rhythms of a live band, Big Ray and the Kool Kats.
Attendees at the LCVA's Winter Gala enjoyed a Southern Gothic atmosphere that was enhanced by the rhythms of a live band, Big Ray and the Kool Kats.
Attendees at the LCVA's Winter Gala enjoyed a Southern Gothic atmosphere that was enhanced by the rhythms of a live band, Big Ray and the Kool Kats.
