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.
July:
Jonathan Snoddy, Police Officer with HPD, is displaying his photography exhibit, “Incidents of travel across the world”.
Jonathan Snoddy works full time as a crime scene technician but his passion is traveling the world with his wife in search of unique experiences. We enjoy being immersed in cultures different than our own. My job taught me how to use a camera to capture images but Allen Litten taught me how to take a photograph. Allen started my interest in photography and it continues to this day.
The exhibit opens Friday, July 5th from 5:00pm-7:00pm.
June:
"Counted Cross Stitch… not a forgotten Art” by Svonne Stickley in the lobby of City Hall from Friday, June 7th through Friday, July 5th.
Svonne Stickley grew up in this beautiful Shenandoah Valley which she is proud to call home. She believes people are blessed with many gifts and she is thankful that God blessed her with these talents. Svonne has worked for the city for 11 years in the Information Technology Department and graduated from Eastern Mennonite University. She has been cross stitching for 42yrs. She became enamored with the art that can be created with counted cross stitch. She loves how you can make something that looks like a photograph only with texture.
Svonne has many times used cross stitching as a way of therapy. When her best friend, Mike Ruckman, Jr, was first diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer she decided she would cross stitch, “What Cancer Cannot Do” as a reminder that Cancer can try to steal many things but look at “What Cancer Cannot Do”! During the years that she cross stitched the four Precious Moments prints was when she lost her father and sister a year apart. She gifted the “No Tears Past the Gate” print to her mother, Thelma Stickley, as a way for them to try to heal.
Svonne also loves crocheting, knitting, quilting, beaded jewelry making, sewing, diamond painting, and in the last few years woodworking.
A note from the artist:
“I hope you enjoying seeing some of my art that I've created over the years as I did stitching them. Maybe it will inspire you or a loved one to learn this art. Although many think that this is a dying art, I'm so happy that many young people are learning this art and keeping it alive.”
Opening reception, Friday, June 7 from 5:00pm-7:00pm
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.