MARTINSVILLE, Va. (July 27, 2026) — Piedmont Arts will host an opening reception in honor of its new exhibits from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 28, at the museum.
“COLLECTive Concerns: Collage and Assemblage,” “Chris Gregson: Novus Ordo Seclorum” and
“Bull Mountain Arts: Local Artists Showcase” will be on display.
The reception will feature live music by Joanie McPeak. A gallery talk with artists Reni Gower and Chris Gregson will begin at 6:15 p.m. in the galleries. This event is free and open to the public. An RSVP is requested by Wednesday, Aug. 26, to 276.632.3221 or at PiedmontArts.org.
“COLLECTive Concerns” brings together 12 artists who use collage and assemblage as a coping mechanism, a siren call, or a cautionary warning about collective concerns that impact our culture. Whimsical to macabre, refined to raw, poetic to strident, these intimate works pack a hefty punch that belies their small scale.
Assembled from discarded but highly curated materials, each artist presents a unique collection of works that speak to the challenges posed by unprecedented times. The collections focus on environmental, emotional, and societal stressors, addressing climate change, COVID-19, grief, identity, and politics.
The exhibit includes work by Judy Bowman, Elaine Crivelli, Kristy Deetz, Virginia Derryberry, Reni Gower, Craig Hill, Errin Ironside, Sue Johnson, Axelle Kieffer, Edwin Shelton, Alexandra N. Sherman, and Michele Stutts.
This exhibit was curated by Gower and organized by Wylie Contemporary, Inc.
“Chris Gregson: Novus Ordo Seclorum” presents a new body of paintings that explores sensation, memory, and perception through layered calligraphic marks and fields of undulating color. Built through successive applications of thin oil paint, the compositions accumulate over time, creating richly textured visual narratives that evoke space, time, and place. Each painting emerges through a process of accretion, with every mark contributing to a larger, unfolding experience.
The exhibition features two interconnected series: expansive horizontal compositions and diptychs. The horizontal paintings evoke landscapes and distant horizons while remaining untethered to any specific geography. Devoid of a fixed horizon line, these works invite viewers into ambiguous terrain shaped by memory and imagination rather than direct representation.
The accompanying diptychs examine the dynamic relationships between paired panels of color. Through juxtaposition and visual dialogue, they explore themes of opposition, compatibility, sameness, and harmony, revealing how meaning is generated through both difference and connection.
Gregson studied at the former New York Studio and Forum of Stage Design. His work can be found in corporate, private, and public collections, including those of Markel Group Inc. and the Taubman Museum of Art. He is based in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
"Bull Mountain Arts: Local Artists Showcase" features work by members of the artist collective based in Stuart, Virginia. Founded in 1998, the group celebrates and promotes artists of all levels, and meets to discuss professional opportunities and collaborate on projects.
These exhibits will be on display Aug. 28-Oct. 31. Exhibit admission is always free.
The exhibits and reception are sponsored by Katie and Jack Adkins, Lucy Coleman, Olivia and Pres Garrett, Gale and Will Gravely, Melody Margrave, Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust, Lynwood Artists, and What's Your Sign.
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