InnoVault Coworking Space is proud to announce The Gallery @ InnoVault is launching its inaugural art exhibit in the Merchant’s Building in Old Town Winchester, VA this October and will feature local area artists Ren Crawford and Leigh Henry.
Ren Crawford
Rachel “Ren” Crawford’s fascination for art took hold during her early childhood. Born in Mississippi, Crawford traveled extensively during her time as a military wife and mother. She began her professional painting career in 1968 while stationed in North Carolina. A busy life as a traveler, teacher, and homemaker Crawford's worldly wanderlust guided her down the path of Expressionism. Crawford’s expansive portfolio reaches throughout collections across the United States, Australia, Great Britain, Japan, and Mexico. Most recently, The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley obtained a piece for their permanent collection. Once “settled” as a resident of the Shenandoah Valley, Crawforddirected the Danner House Art Gallery in Middletown, Virginia from 1982 to 1985. Today Ren spends most of her time in her studio in Strasburg, Virginia energetically painting and communicating with her work. Ren Crawford creates work that continues to push limits and knows no boundaries.
Leigh Henry
Also from Strasburg, VA, Leigh Henry has been an artist and designer for many years. Retired from a career in graphic design, Leigh moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 1978 to care for her aging grandfather and never left. Her art has been featured in museums throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley, including the Millwood Gallery, the Shenandoah Museum of Centemporary Art and the Strasburg Town Hall. Her portfolio of oil on canvases is full of brilliant blues contrasting with orange and yellow. Many of Leigh's pieces that will be exhibited at The Gallery @ InnoVault feature water, “Water in all its different forms has always fascinated me,” she says. Her work often tells stories, whether it's within a single piece or separate pieces that are almost episodic. “I like to work in themes and follow threads,” Leigh says of her work.
The Gallery @ InnoVault invited artists to submit their portfolio for consideration for this exhibit earlier this year and received incredible response from the local and regional arts community. The Call for Art was shared with nearly 100 interested artists, sent to more than a dozen states and internationally.
Ms. Crawford and Ms. Henry were selected by a jury of InnoVault staff and volunteers from the Winchester and surrounding area arts community. The jury was joined by:
lAbigail Gomez: Art Teacher at The Independent School of Winchester and Adjunct Professor at Shenandoah University,
lChristy Broy: Lead Educator at The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and Director of Programming & Exhibits at ShenArts
lCurry Schiavone: Youth & Family Programs Manager at The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
lNathan Stalvey: Director of The Clarke County Historical Society
The Gallery @ InnoVault is deeply indebted to these community members for sharing their experience, talents and love for art in order to bring this exhibit to fruition.
To celebrate the opening of the exhibit, The Gallery @ InnoVault is inviting the public to attend the Opening Gala on Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 from 6 pm -- 8 pm at The Gallery in the Merchant’s Building, 100 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA. The featured artists will be present at this event to meet with the public and discuss their art. Tickets are $30 each and include hot hors d'oeuvres and cash bar.
Tickets for the Gala can be purchased through the event page on the InnoVault Coworking website: innovault.space/en/events. Due to physical distancing requirements ticket sales will be limited.
The exhibit will be available for public viewing and purchases in the Gallery from October 1st through December 27th, 2020. The Gallery is open during InnoVault Coworking business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 am -- 5 pm and Saturdays 9 am -- 2pm or by appointment. Capacity inside the Gallery is limited due to physical distancing requirements and appointments are encouraged.
The Gallery @ InnoVault plans to release a new Call For Art and solicit portfolios for its upcoming Winter 2021 Exhibit, tentatively scheduled to open in January, 2021.
InnoVault Coworking Space is a coworking community, art gallery and event space in the heart of vibrant Old Town Winchester, VA. For information about coworking at InnoVault, to purchase a ticket to the Opening Gala or make a reservation to view the exhibit please email [email protected], call 540-300-1559 or visit http://innovault.space.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joe Harman
Operations Manager, InnoVault Coworking Space
100 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601
240-727-5116 / 540-300-1559
[email protected]
Ren Crawford
Rachel “Ren” Crawford’s fascination for art took hold during her early childhood. Born in Mississippi, Crawford traveled extensively during her time as a military wife and mother. She began her professional painting career in 1968 while stationed in North Carolina. A busy life as a traveler, teacher, and homemaker Crawford's worldly wanderlust guided her down the path of Expressionism. Crawford’s expansive portfolio reaches throughout collections across the United States, Australia, Great Britain, Japan, and Mexico. Most recently, The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley obtained a piece for their permanent collection. Once “settled” as a resident of the Shenandoah Valley, Crawforddirected the Danner House Art Gallery in Middletown, Virginia from 1982 to 1985. Today Ren spends most of her time in her studio in Strasburg, Virginia energetically painting and communicating with her work. Ren Crawford creates work that continues to push limits and knows no boundaries.
Leigh Henry
Also from Strasburg, VA, Leigh Henry has been an artist and designer for many years. Retired from a career in graphic design, Leigh moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 1978 to care for her aging grandfather and never left. Her art has been featured in museums throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley, including the Millwood Gallery, the Shenandoah Museum of Centemporary Art and the Strasburg Town Hall. Her portfolio of oil on canvases is full of brilliant blues contrasting with orange and yellow. Many of Leigh's pieces that will be exhibited at The Gallery @ InnoVault feature water, “Water in all its different forms has always fascinated me,” she says. Her work often tells stories, whether it's within a single piece or separate pieces that are almost episodic. “I like to work in themes and follow threads,” Leigh says of her work.
The Gallery @ InnoVault invited artists to submit their portfolio for consideration for this exhibit earlier this year and received incredible response from the local and regional arts community. The Call for Art was shared with nearly 100 interested artists, sent to more than a dozen states and internationally.
Ms. Crawford and Ms. Henry were selected by a jury of InnoVault staff and volunteers from the Winchester and surrounding area arts community. The jury was joined by:
lAbigail Gomez: Art Teacher at The Independent School of Winchester and Adjunct Professor at Shenandoah University,
lChristy Broy: Lead Educator at The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and Director of Programming & Exhibits at ShenArts
lCurry Schiavone: Youth & Family Programs Manager at The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
lNathan Stalvey: Director of The Clarke County Historical Society
The Gallery @ InnoVault is deeply indebted to these community members for sharing their experience, talents and love for art in order to bring this exhibit to fruition.
To celebrate the opening of the exhibit, The Gallery @ InnoVault is inviting the public to attend the Opening Gala on Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 from 6 pm -- 8 pm at The Gallery in the Merchant’s Building, 100 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA. The featured artists will be present at this event to meet with the public and discuss their art. Tickets are $30 each and include hot hors d'oeuvres and cash bar.
Tickets for the Gala can be purchased through the event page on the InnoVault Coworking website: innovault.space/en/events. Due to physical distancing requirements ticket sales will be limited.
The exhibit will be available for public viewing and purchases in the Gallery from October 1st through December 27th, 2020. The Gallery is open during InnoVault Coworking business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 am -- 5 pm and Saturdays 9 am -- 2pm or by appointment. Capacity inside the Gallery is limited due to physical distancing requirements and appointments are encouraged.
The Gallery @ InnoVault plans to release a new Call For Art and solicit portfolios for its upcoming Winter 2021 Exhibit, tentatively scheduled to open in January, 2021.
InnoVault Coworking Space is a coworking community, art gallery and event space in the heart of vibrant Old Town Winchester, VA. For information about coworking at InnoVault, to purchase a ticket to the Opening Gala or make a reservation to view the exhibit please email [email protected], call 540-300-1559 or visit http://innovault.space.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joe Harman
Operations Manager, InnoVault Coworking Space
100 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601
240-727-5116 / 540-300-1559
[email protected]
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