The City of Harrisonburg is excited to participate as one of 38 venues in the Arts Council of the Valley's 2024 First Fridays of the Valley Program.
The program will highlight artistic works by city employees and their family members. Visit Harrisonburg City Hall at 409 S Main St on the First Friday of the month from 4:00pm-7:00pm for the opening reception or during regular office hours to see displays.
May:
CeCe Dodd considers herself a Valley native, having stayed in Rockingham County after graduating from JMU and beginning her career with the City 26 years ago.
An avid gardener and traveler, CeCe fell in love with European gardens and has tried to emulate them in her backyard. CeCe began her watercolor journey by studying floral composition and the abstract method of painting referred to as “loose watercolor.”
The paintings displayed in CeCe’s “Ethereal Spring” exhibit represent new beginnings, the fleeting lifecycle of spring, and the delicate nature of flora.
“Ethereal Spring” will be on display in the lobby of City Hall from Friday, May 3rd through Thursday, May 30.
Opening reception, Friday, May 3 from 4:00pm-7:00pm
April:
Joey Lezotte will have an exhibition of photography: “Sparked to Life".
Joey is a local business owner with his wife Laura training horses on their farm. Joey is also the newest animal control officer in the city of Harrisonburg. Joey studied for 3 years at Bridgewater College in digital media and has been developing his technique and craft since 2010 when he started into photography. His main focus in photography is presenting images that portray a realism putting the viewer in the action and also playing with simple lighting techniques to give an image and viewer a story open to interpretation.
Opening reception, Friday, April 5 from 4:00pm-7:00pm
March:
City Clerk Pamela Ulmer will be displaying her photography in the March exhibition “Oh the Places I’ve Seen”.
Pam’s Artist Statement:
This group of original photographs on canvas is a collection of some of the wonderful things I have seen during my travels. They include photographs from Alaska, Vermont, and Virginia. I love First Fridays in Harrisonburg and it is an honor to be a part of it this month as a city of Harrisonburg employee.
Opening reception, Friday, March 1 from 5:00pm-7:00pm
A list of First Friday venues, an online map, and a downloadable pdf are available at valleyarts.org/first-fridays.
The City of Harrisonburg began participating in the Arts Council of the Valley’s First Friday events early in 2024. The City seeks to provide space for employees (current and retired) and their family members to share their creativity and talent with the community. Applications are being accepted online, hard copies may be picked up at the City Manager’s Office.