The Longwood Center for Visual Arts (LCVA) is currently exhibiting artwork entitled Chasing Shadows: The Magical Realities of Elly MacKay. The titular artist from Owen Sound, Canada is a rising star in illustrating for a variety of children’s books including the complete Anne of Green Gables series as well as three of her own books. Using layers of paper, light and photography, MacKay brings to life whimsical shots of a child’s dream-like world.
MacKay’s Victorian-inspired artwork includes early, experimental and even newer works- the most recent of which is the 30-foot long Main Street window gallery artwork created specifically for the LCVA. Most of the works shown in the exhibition include photographical shots of many paper-cut images which are then arranged to create a certain picture. Examples of both the theatrical boxes in which the images are arranged and the photographs MacKay took of the images are shown throughout the gallery.
Chasing Shadows is the first of a newly introduced annual exhibition that is organized in correlation with the Virginia Children’s Book Festival in which MacKay is featured in both as an artist as well as an author.
Along with the experience of MacKay’s fantastical world, gallery-goers can also enjoy a Summer Wine & Brew with a cash bar including wine and beer selected by a guest curator from the community. Complimentary appetizers are also provided along with the joys of live music on select evenings.
Chasing Shadows: The Magical Realities of Elly MacKay will continue until Nov. 6 with the gallery open to the public throughout the week and will include the Summer Wine & Brew experience on Friday nights until Sept. 23.
Live music, including the violinist pictured, added to the atmosphere as patrons explored LCVA's newest exhibition on Friday during their Summer Wine & Brew event.
