Join us on Saturday, November 2 at 10:30AM for a special artist talk with exhibiting artists from Out of Context.  Moderated by curator and artist Paul Brainard and SSG Executive Director & Chief Curator Kristen Chiacchia, the artist talk will invite dialogue regarding the artists’ unique approach to figural imagery and their intentions for personal, independent interpretations by viewers without any preconceived context.   

In addition to Brainard, artists Miriam Carothers, Jean-Pierre Roy, Michael Ryan and Amber Stanton will be part of the conversation. The rich influences of these artist’s proximity to New York combined with each artist’s career path and creative style will provide valuable insight into how this exhibition came together. There will also be a Q & A opportunity at the end of the talk for attendees to join in the conversation. 

The talk is free to attend, but space is limited and pre-registration is required. Follow this link to reserve your spot: REGISTER HERE!

Join us for First Friday on November 1, 5-7:30PM, as Second Street Gallery hosts a special opening reception with artists from our October/November exhibitions! Both shows will remain on view through November 22, 2024.

Second Street Gallery is pleased and honored to present Out of Context, a group exhibition featuring a selection of work by Paul Brainard, Miriam Carothers, Hyunjin Park, Jean-Pierre Roy, Michael Ryan, and Amber Stanton. Out of Context revolves around the idea that an artwork should have the autonomy to exist and relate to viewers on its own terms, without the interference of descriptive or theoretical text that might shape its interpretation. The exhibition thus emphasizes visual art’s inherent ability to communicate as a unique language. The featured artists in Out of Context express themselves primarily through painting and drawing, placing figurative art within the context of contemporary existence.

Second Street Gallery will also present What’s Coming Is Already On Its Way, a solo exhibition of paintings by New York-based artist, Barnaby Whitfield. Barnaby Whitfield’s masterfully executed oil paintings are an imagined portrait of an American sub culture where queer autonomy is achieved through regenerative agricultural practices. Whitfield utilizes historical painting as motif to present another newly coded language through wary subjects imbued with the beauty of individuality and action — bodies busied by hope and bolstered by acceptance. Portraits of a strength not yet defined by collective consensus.

Out of Context is generously sponsored by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Barnaby Whitfield: What’s Coming Is Already On Its Way is generously sponsored by Blake Sirach and Jonathan Nguyen, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Join us on Wednesday, October 23 from 6:00 - 7:30PM in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery for a unique and exclusive wine tasting event, featuring expertly selected wines to complement your art viewing experience. Delight your senses and unveil the unexplored depths of wine with our special guest, Erin Scala, a world-class sommelier and owner of Market Street Wine in Downtown Charlottesville. Erin Scala is renowned for her extensive knowledge and deep passion for fine wines. She brings her incredible understanding of wine history and geography to the event, ensuring an enriching and educational experience for both wine novices and connoisseurs alike.

This tasting event will be nestled among Second Street Gallery’s Out of Context and Barnaby Whitfield: What's Coming Is Already On Its Way exhibitions, providing an immersive cultivated ambiance.

• Taste a carefully curated selection of wines from New York winemakers.

• Learn about the history, terroir, and unique characteristics of each wine from Erin herself.

• Network with other wine and art enthusiasts.

This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to taste, learn, and experience the magic of wine and art together in one evening. Both exhibitions heavily feature New York-based artists, presenting us with a perfect opportunity to highlight wines from that region while also observing the diverse talent thriving in New York. We can't wait to share this extraordinary pairing with you. See you there!

The fee for this event is $20 members/$25 non-members; space is limited and RSVP is required. Sign up HERE to secure your spot!

Join us on Wednesday, September 25, 5:30-6:30PM for a special artist talk and exhibition tour with exhibiting artists William Bennett and Carol Barber.  Kristen Chiacchia, Executive Director and Chief Curator, will lead the conversation with the artists who will be exhibiting side-by-side in the two-person exhibition Curiouser and Curiouser: A Dialogue in Abstraction with William Bennett and Carol Barber on view September 6-27 in SSG’s Dové Gallery space. Chiacchia will share the reasons behind her pairing of these two artists, who will each speak individually to their work and answer questions from the guests. 

The talk is free to attend, but space is limited and pre-registration is required.  Sign up HERE to reserve your spot!

Curiouser and Curiouser: A Dialogue in Abstraction with William Bennett and Carol Barber is generously sponsored by Tyler & Andrew Greeley, The Galdencio-Pontillo Family, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

We welcome you to join Second Street Gallery and Charlottesville artist Andrew Sherogan on Saturday, September 21 from 10-11:30AM for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn to create your own layered Dreamscape. Sherogan concocts imagined landscapes in his textured collages, as featured in Teeny Tiny Trifecta 7. Participants will be invited to take inspiration from Sherogan’s playful process and learn to use gel printing plates to create emotive monoprints. Each participant will cut up and rearrange their created textures to envision new, surprising dreamscapes!

Guests will have access to all the necessary materials to learn this technique.

The workshop is available at $15 SSG members / $20 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

Capacity is limited to 25 attendees; secure your spot now and register HERE!

Please note: All workshop fees are non-refundable. Please ensure your availability before booking..

Join us on Saturday, September 14, 10AM-2PM, in the gallery for our first Family Studio Day of the new exhibition season! We’ll be celebrating the artworks on view in Teeny Tiny Trifecta 7 by making our own teeny tiny masterpieces using a range of materials and techniques. Exhibiting artists will be on hand to inspire and answer your questions:

10am-11am: Hannah Diomataris
11am-12pm: Zofie King
12pm-1pm: Somé Louis
1pm-2pm: Chris Haske

This event is a FREE studio day that invites families with kids of all ages to spend time and make art together. Visitors will have access to art supplies, prompts, and coloring pages to play with during their time in the space. Drop by anytime during the open studio day and stay as long as you like - no appointment necessary. ALL are welcome!

Space is limited and will be first-come, first-serve. If there is no space when you come by, please check back in within 15-30 minutes as families regularly come and go! All children must be accompanied by a guardian.

September’s Family Studio Day is generously sponsored by Charlottesville Skin and Laser.

We invite you to join Second Street Gallery and Richmond artist Theodora Miller on Thursday, September 12 from 5:30-7PM for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn to create your Lucky Charms inspired by Miller's creations in this year's Teeny Tiny Trifecta 7. During this workshop, Miller will share her calligraphic process rooted in meditative principles. Attendees will be encouraged to identify their own personal words of affirmation, which will become the basis for their painted creations. Using painted scraps and assorted materials, attendees will create versions of their own eyes to collage on the surface of their meditative affirmation painting, recreating a symbol of protection -- the evil eye. All participants will take home their very own Lucky Charm to hang up at home, reminding them to affirm daily that they are loved and protected. 

Guests will have access to all the necessary materials to create their works.

The workshop is available at $20 SSG members / $25 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

Capacity is limited to 25 attendees; secure your spot now and register HERE!

Please note: All workshop fees are non-refundable. Please ensure your availability before booking.

Join us for the First Friday opening reception on September 6, 5:30-7:30PM, as Second Street Gallery enters Season 51!

The season kicks off with the annual fundraiser and group exhibition, Teeny Tiny Trifecta 7. On view in the Main Gallery, the exhibition will feature over 180 artists, primarily from Virginia, representing diverse styles, techniques, and mediums. Each included artist will have three artworks on display, each measuring 8 x 8 inches or smaller. All works of art in the exhibition will be available for $100 each, with all proceeds split between the gallery and artist.

A preview of the exhibition’s online store can be view HERE!

TTT7 is generously sponsored by Bloemers Campbell Group, The Sheehan-Friedman Group, Gardy Bloemers and Nick Duke Sr., the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Second Street Gallery is also pleased to present Curiouser and Curiouser: A Dialogue in Abstraction with William Bennett & Carol Barber. The exhibiting artists were paired by Executive Director and Chief Curator Kristen Chiacchia as part of Teeny Tiny Trifecta 6’s Curator’s Choice Pick. The artists will be present during the event to chat with guests.

This exhibition is generously sponsored by Tyler & Andrew Greeley, The Galdencio-Pontillo Family, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Our seventh annual Teeny Tiny Trifecta exhibition will be opening SOON! The exhibition will kick off with a ticketed VIP Presale Party & Fundraiser on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 5-8pm. The exhibition will open to the public on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 5:30-7:30PM.

Get your ticket now for the exclusive VIP event, which offers collectors a first look at this year’s exhibition and an opportunity to purchase works before the exhibition opens to the public on First Friday! Tickets for the TTT7 VIP Presale Party & Fundraiser are available in 2 tiers: $100 for 5PM entry and $50 for 6:30PM entry. The earlier the time slot you secure, the better the chance you have of purchasing the artwork you want!

Tickets are available per person and cover the cost of entry to the event as well as refreshments and snacks. Ticketed guests can stay for the duration of the event from the start of their time slot.

This year’s exhibition features over 181 artists and 543 artworks. All artworks are $100 each. A preview link for viewing all artworks at this year’s exhibition is now available HERE.

All ticket holders will receive a reminder email with event details and brief instructions about the exhibition and how to purchase work at the event.

Purchase a ticket for the VIP Party HERE and help us kick off our 51st Season!

Many thanks to the generous sponsors of this year's event: The Space Downtown, South Street Brewery, Wegmans, Charlotte and Ralph Dammann.

Join the gallery and exhibiting artist Laura Wooten on Wednesday, July 17, 5:30-7:00PM for a fun spin on shape making! Learn to hand paint your own colorful collage papers and confidently cut shapes to create bold and dynamic compositions. Observational abstraction and the expressive power of color will be explored to distill the beauty of nature. We will use simple arrangements of leaves and flowers as inspiration while interpreting our observations through the unique shape-language of collage!

The workshop is available at $15 SSG members / $20 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

Capacity is limited to 25 attendees; secure your spot now and register HERE.

This workshop is now SOLD OUT.
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Have you ever wanted to repurpose some of the loose paper in your life to make your own booklet or mini journal? Curious to explore different techniques and approaches to the art of collage? You can do BOTH on Saturday, July 13, 11AM-1PM at our Collage-Folio Journal Workshop, inspired by works included in the immersive collage exhibition Paper Room at Second Street Gallery.

Join local artists and creators of Paper Room Jess Walters, Sarah Lawson, and Stephen Haske as they share their creative practice of arranging sheets of paper into book form, binding them together with a saddle stitch, and filling the pages with an assortment of collaged images, notes, journaled reflections, and more! Learn tips, tricks, and favorite tools from a variety of perspectives while designing and binding your very own folio to fill and take home with you.

All materials required for this workshop will be provided. However, we encourage you to bring any photographs, books, magazines, or other paper materials to cut out and collage with that are meaningful or interesting to you. Masks are strongly encouraged and will be available at the door. 

The workshop is available at $10 SSG members / $15 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

We invite you to join Second Street Gallery and Charlottesville artist Sharon Shapiro on Saturday, June 22 from 10-11:30AM, as she teaches us how to artistically transfer images using acetone and laser-printed photocopies. Shapiro often embeds imagery into her work to explore issues of femininity, culture, and nostalgia. During this workshop, we will learn how to combine and layer photocopies with found print materials (magazines, books, photos, scrapbook paper, etc.) to create surprising new juxtapositions within our compositions.  

Guests will have access to all the necessary materials to learn this technique, including an assortment of transfer-ready images and patterns. You are also welcome to bring inspirational imagery from your personal archive to include in your collage or share with others. Just remember that any transfer items must be laser printed; unfortunately, inkjet copies will not work for this process. You may need to visit an office supply store or copy center to ensure your items from home are suitable. You may also email image files to the gallery no later than 12PM on Friday, June 21, and we can print them for you. Please limit your selection to 5 images.

NOTE: Acetone will be used in this workshop. Be sure to consider any sensitivities or health concerns before registering.

The workshop is available at $15 SSG members / $20 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

Capacity is limited to 25 attendees; secure your spot now and register through the link HERE.

Join us on Wednesday, June 19, 5:30-6:30PM, for the latest chapter in our Artists in Conversation series. Exhibiting artists Jess Walters, Stephen Haske, and Sarah Lawson will chat about Paper Room, the trio’s immersive installation on view in the Dové Gallery, June 7 - July 19, 2024. Come learn how this interactive display came to be and the significance it holds for the collaborators.

The event is free to attend, but space is limited and RSVP is required. Please register HERE in advance.

Masks will be encouraged at this event. The talk will also be streamed live on Instagram (no reservation needed for IG).

Paper Room is a Season 50 Call for Submissions pick and is generously sponsored by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from The UVA Center for Health Humanities and Ethics, UVA Health Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, and Virginia Humanities.

Join Second Street Gallery on Saturday, June 15 from 10AM - 2PM as we explore the endless possibilities of collage! We’ll glean inspiration from the 41 artists participating in The Art of Collage exhibition on view in the Main Gallery, June 7 - July 19.

Our recurring Family Studio Day is a free studio day which invites families with kids of all ages to spend time creating art together in the gallery. All visitors have access to free art materials, prompts, and coloring pages to play with during their time in the gallery.

Space is limited and will be first-come, first-serve. If there is no space when you come by, please check back in within 15-30 minutes as families regularly come and go! All children must be accompanied by a guardian.

Photographs and video footage may be taken throughout Family Studio Day. These will be used by Second Street Gallery for marketing and publicity, on our website and in social media or gallery email campaigns.

Upcoming schedule notes: We’ll be taking a brief break from our monthly Family Studio Day for July and August so everyone can spend the summer on vacation and visit with family and friends. Join us when this free community program resumes in September!

Join us on Saturday, June 8, 11AM - 12PM, for the next installment in our Artists in Conversation series. Second Street Gallery’s Executive Director & Chief Curator, Kristen Chiacchia, will converse with eight artists exhibiting in The Art of Collage, on view in the Main Gallery, June 7 - July 19, 2024. Participating artists include: Corinne Diop, Hank Ehrenfried, Cassie Guy, Zofie King, Sri Kodakalla, Mary Lamb, Jonathan Lee, and Lisa Macchi.

The event is free to attend, but space is limited and RSVP is required. Please register in advance HERE.

The talk will also be streamed live on Instagram (no reservation needed for IG).

The Art of Collage is generously sponsored by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Join us for the opening of two new, stimulating exhibitions on First Friday, June 7 from 5:30-7:30PM! Artists from both exhibitions will be in attendance to chat with visitors!

The Art of Collage exhibition in the Main Gallery will feature work by 41 contemporary artists who are exploring the rich breadth and history of collage through their own art. This group exhibition will include a selection of artworks that explore the creative potential of collage and demonstrate innovative approaches to the medium.

The exhibition is generously sponsored by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Paper Room is a mixed-media exhibition transforming the Dové Gallery into an interactive space enveloped in paper and filled with paper-covered and paper-sculpted objects. Jess Walters (they/them) has teamed up with fellow Charlottesville-based artists Stephen Haske (he/him) and Sarah Lawson (they/them) to collaboratively curate an immersive experience exploring the ways we cultivate “house and home” from sociocultural influences in the media, consumer market, and medical industrial system.

The exhibition is a Season 50 Call for Submissions pick and is generously sponsored by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from The UVA Center for Health Humanities and Ethics, UVA Health Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, and Virginia Humanities.

The artists are crafting a flock of 3D paper vulture sculptures for their upcoming immersive collage installation and they need your help!

Paper Room, on view in Second Street Gallery’s Dové Gallery June 7 - July 19, 2024, is a BIG project with a small team, so Jess, Steve, Sarah are turning to the local community to help bring their vision to life! Come cut, fold, and assemble a few hundred birds with them at The Bridge Underground (306 E Main St. - back of the building next to Virginia National Bank) on Wednesday, May 22, 3-7PM. All participants will be acknowledged for their contribution to Paper Room and may elect to receive a complimentary paper vulture upon the conclusion and deinstallation of the exhibition in July 2024.

Join Second Street Gallery and artist Susan Northington on May 11 from 10AM - 2PM as we celebrate spring with Pops of Color! We will be sculpting paper into bright scenes of joy and energy. Create a garden made of fun colors and shapes to take home and cherish.

Space is limited and will be first-come, first-serve. If there is no space when you come by, please check back in within 15-30 minutes as families regularly come and go! All children must be accompanied by a guardian.

NOTE: Photographs and video footage may be taken throughout Family Studio Day. These will be used by Second Street Gallery for marketing and publicity, on our website and in social media or gallery email campaigns.

We have reached capacity and this event is now SOLD OUT. Email us at info@secondstreetgallery.org if you’d like to be added to the wait list.
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Join us in the Main Gallery on Friday, May 3, for a Kids Art Smash during First Friday extended hours!

One of the exhibition’s paintings is secretly a sleeper artwork filled with candy inside! Gallery staff will invite kids to smash open the artwork – in the tradition of piñata, pignata, and general artwork iconoclasm – turning our traditional notion of art appreciation on its head. This activity will occur promptly at 6PM (so please plan to arrive a few minutes early!) 

You'll also find representatives from the Community Attention Foster Families (CAFF) ready to share valuable information on-site! Learn about the rewarding journey of becoming a foster parent straight from the experts. The CAFF representatives will shed light on various local opportunities for fostering and assisting fostering families, thus helping you to understand how you can make a significant difference in a child's life right in your community.

Please note that attendance to First Friday does not guarantee the ability to participate in this activity; pre-registration to “smash” the artwork is required with a limited capacity. This activity is only open to children ages 2 - 8. Register your child HERE!

This event is held in conjunction with Jac Lahav’s exhibition, Foster Paintings, on view in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery April 5 - May 24, 2024. 

Second Street Gallery reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at the Kids Smash Art Event, without the expressed written permission of those participating in the event. By registering for the event, you agree to possibly have your photo used for future social media, marketing, gallery brochures, or email campaigns.

While enjoying the gallery’s First Friday Extended Hours on May 3, come participate in a Q&A session with exhibiting artist Lou Haney at 5:30PM in the Dové Gallery. Haney’s paintings dance between reality and the fantasy of an ideal past, relatable yet distant all at once. Her saturated hues and opulent patterns are a feast for the eyes, and she invites you to question what you see and what these domestic scenes stir inside you. Come immerse yourself in her exhibition, Leisure Suit, and gain insight from the artist herself.

This discussion is free to attend; no RSVP needed. We hope you’ll join us!

Leisure Suit is generously sponsored by The Galdencio-Pontillo Family, Pond Life, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Join us on May 3, 5 - 7PM, to view our current exhibitions during special extended hours. We’ll have two featured events for guests to enjoy:

At 5:30PM, you can participate in a Q&A session with exhibiting artist Lou Haney. Head back to the Dové Gallery to marvel at Haney’s work and speak directly with the artist. No RSVP necessary; learn more HERE.

Right at 6:00PM, there will be the third and final 'Kids Art Smash' in the Main Gallery. All slots to participate in the art smash are now filled. However, we wholeheartedly invite you all to stop by the gallery and witness the event in person. Let's reimagine the way we appreciate art at Second Street Gallery! Learn more HERE.

Apart from all this excitement, we're also thrilled to welcome representatives from Community Attention Foster Families who will share some worthy insights into the rewarding experience of becoming a foster parent in our very own Charlottesville.

Second Street Gallery is excited to host our 9th annual Gallery Rally live drawing party and fundraiser on Saturday, April 27, from 4PM to 7PM in the Main Gallery. The event invites local artists to create artworks LIVE in the gallery! Community visitors can come to the gallery to meet their favorite artists, see their creative processes firsthand, and have the opportunity to purchase created artworks on the spot! All completed works will be available for sale at $100 with a portion of the proceeds from the event going toward supporting the gallery’s upcoming season of outreach programming and exhibitions.

Visit our Gallery Rally 2024 page for a list of participating artists and more!

Extra thanks to Wegmans, South Street Brewery, and Charlotte + Ralph Dammann for sponsoring refreshments for the event!

Join us on Saturday, April 20, 11AM-1PM, for a collage-based card making workshop with exhibiting artist Lou Haney!

Taking inspiration from the narratives of reality, perception, and nostalgia present in Haney’s work, attendees will be prompted to create cards for others, both real and imaginary. Participants will use a variety of materials and methods as they consider perceived audience to craft personalized, collage creations.

This event is aimed toward adults, but it’s also suitable for children ages 8+ and they are welcome to attend! They just need to be registered with a participating parent or adult.

The workshop is available at $20 SSG members / $25 non-members. This fee covers workshop instruction and access to all workshop materials for the activity.

Capacity is limited to 25 attendees; act fast to secure your spot! RSVP HERE.

Join us on Thursday, April 18, 5:30-7:00PM, for the next installment in our Artists in Conversation series. Second Street Gallery’s Executive Director & Chief Curator, Kristen Chiacchia, will sit down with artist Lou Haney to discuss her exhibition, Leisure Suit, on view in the Dové Gallery, April 5 - May 24, 2024.

The event is free to attend, but space is limited and RSVP is required. Please register in advance HERE.

The talk will also be streamed live on Instagram (no reservation needed for IG).

Leisure Suit is a Season 50 Call for Submissions pick and is generously sponsored by The Galdencio-Pontillo Family, Pond Life, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This event is now SOLD OUT. Email us at info@secondstreetgallery.org if you’d like to be added to the wait list for April 13. We will be hosting one more Art Smash on May 3, 6PM, during First Friday if you can join us then. Click HERE to register for that event.
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Join us in the Main Gallery on Saturday, April 13, for a Kids Art Smash!

One of the current exhibition’s paintings is secretly a sleeper artwork filled with candy inside! Gallery staff will invite kids to smash open the artwork – in the tradition of piñata, pignata, and general artwork iconoclasm – turning our traditional notion of art appreciation on its head. This activity will occur promptly at 11AM (so please plan to arrive a few minutes early!) 

Outside of the smash activity, we will have Charlottesville-based artist Roberto Kamide on-site as part of Family Studio Day. Using the beautiful shade of blue inspired by the art on view in the gallery, Roberto will help us create expressive line drawing that leads into block color and pattern-making to make your very own fantastic art!

You'll also find representatives from the Community Attention Foster Families (CAFF) ready to share valuable information on-site! Learn about the rewarding journey of becoming a foster parent straight from the experts. The CAFF representatives will shed light on various local opportunities for fostering and assisting fostering families, thus helping you to understand how you can make a significant difference in a child's life right in your community.

Please note that attendance to Family Studio Day does not guarantee the ability to participate in this activity; pre-registration to “smash” the artwork is required with a limited capacity. This activity is only open to children ages 2 - 8. Register HERE!

This activity is held in conjunction with Jac Lahav’s exhibition, FOSTER PAINTINGS, on view in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery April 5 - May 24, 2024.

Join Second Street Gallery when our free Family Studio Day resumes on April 13 from 10AM - 2PM! Charlottesville-based artist Roberto Kamide will be present to help us create unique visual story-line designs. Guests will have fun exploring expressive line drawing that leads into block color and pattern-making to make your very own fantastic art. We will use various shades of blue inspired by the art of Jac Lahav on view in the gallery.

Family Studio Day invites families with kids of all ages to spend time creating art together in the gallery. We take inspiration from the current exhibitions on view and propose a range of kid-friendly activities, offering access to free art materials, prompts, and coloring pages. These activities get families engaged in not only the act of creation, but also in having thoughtful conversations about the artworks in the exhibition.

Space is limited and will be first-come, first-serve. If there is no space when you come by, please check back in within 15-30 minutes as families regularly come and go! All children must be accompanied by a guardian.

NOTE: Photographs and video footage may be taken throughout Family Studio Day. These will be used by Second Street Gallery for marketing and publicity, on our website and in social media or gallery email campaigns.

This event is now SOLD OUT. Email us at info@secondstreetgallery.org if you’d like to be added to the wait list for this date. We will be hosting another Art Smash on April 13, 11AM, if you can join us then. Click HERE to register for that event.
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Join us in the Main Gallery on Saturday, April 6, for a Kids Art Smash led by exhibiting artist Jac Lahav!

One of the paintings in Jac’s exhibition is secretly a sleeper artwork filled with candy inside! Jac will ask kids to smash open the artwork – in the tradition of piñata, pignata, and general artwork iconoclasm – turning our traditional notion of art appreciation on its head. This activity will occur promptly at 11AM, so don’t be late!

Beginning at 10:30AM we’ll have some fun hands-on art activities for kids and parents: guests can complete original coloring pages designed by Jac, or they can choose from our craft supplies to custom-create decorative and wearable vines similar to the ones featured in the exhibition.

You'll also find representatives from the Community Attention Foster Families (CAFF) ready to share valuable information on-site! Learn about the rewarding journey of becoming a foster parent straight from the experts. The CAFF representatives will shed light on various local opportunities for fostering and assisting fostering families, thus helping you to understand how you can make a significant difference in a child's life right in your community.

Pre-registration to “smash” the artwork is required with a limited capacity. This activity is only open to children ages 2 - 8. Register HERE!

This event is held in connection with the exhibition, FOSTER PAINTINGS, on view in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery April 5 - May 24, 2024.

Join us for First Friday on April 5, 5:30-7:30PM, as Second Street Gallery celebrates the opening of two new exhibitions! Both shows will be on view April 5 - May 24, 2024.

Second Street Gallery is pleased to present Foster Paintings, a solo exhibition of works by artist Jac Lahav, to be held in the Main Gallery. Foster Paintings showcases an installation of immersive vining sculptures and abstract painting that intertwine the themes of fostering children and the nurturing power of plants. Each work references a phone call Lahav’s family received for a foster placement, whether they could help or not. The paintings represent points of contact and beautiful moments in time during periods of trauma.

Foster Paintings is generously sponsored by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Leisure Suit, a solo exhibition of works by Charlottesville-based artist Lou Haney, will occupy the Dové Gallery. Haney creates paintings of domestic spaces that employ nostalgia as a means of temporary escape from the corrupt and chaotic realities of present day life. Using oil, acrylic, fiber art, and mixed media, she explores themes of memory, yearning, and femininity to evoke tension between fantasy and reality. Inspired by the Pattern & Decoration Movement of the mid-1970s to early 1980s, Haney’s work incorporates floral imagery, pattern, and decoration, dismantling the hierarchy of fine art over craft and blurring the line between art and design.

Leisure Suit is generously sponsored by The Galdencio-Pontillo Family, Pond Life, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This event is now SOLD OUT.

Join us on Wednesday, March 20 from 6:00 - 7:30PM in the Main Gallery at Second Street Gallery for a unique and exclusive Australian wine tasting event. Delight your senses and unveil the unexplored depths of Australian wines with our special guest, Erin Scala, a world-class sommelier and owner of Market Street Wine in Charlottesville. Erin Scala is renowned for her extensive knowledge and deep passion for fine wines. She brings her incredible understanding of wine history and geography to the event, ensuring an enriching and educational experience for both wine novices and connoisseurs alike.

This tasting event will be nestled among Second Street Gallery’s current First Nation Australia: Contemporary Artists from Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala exhibition, providing an immersive cultural ambiance.

• Taste a carefully curated selection of Australian wines.

• Learn about the history, terroir, and unique characteristics of each wine from Erin herself.

• Experience the rich culture and art of the First Nation Australia exhibition.

• Network with other wine and art enthusiasts.

This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to taste, learn, and experience the magic of Australian wines and art together in one evening. We can't wait to share this extraordinary pairing with you. See you there!

The tasting is available at $15 for SSG members/$20 for non-members.
Space is limited and RSVP is required. Sign up to secure your spot HERE!