WAYNESBORO, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Shenandoah Valley Art Center has revealed their schedule for February 2026.

View the full list of exhibitions below:

  • The Shenandoah Valley Art Center during the month of January, in the Cabell/Arehart Invitational Gallery, is exhibiting the artwork of Kayla Nichelle Jones. Through photographs and archival materials, Jones invites us into a deeply personal exploration of a childhood shaped by parental incarceration. Beginning at age eight, she navigated the complexities of maintaining a relationship with her father through letters, phone calls, and virtual visitation – fragments of connection that shaped her story and helped form her artmaking today. Her work reveals memory, loss, resilience, and healing, while opening space for reflection on a reality experienced by millions of American families. Join us for this moving exhibition and experience how art carries truth forward, transforms trauma, and inspires understanding. The exhibition opening will be February 7, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and guests are welcome to meet and talk to the artist. The exhibition will be open to the public February 7 – March 28, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at 126 S. Wayne Ave, Waynesboro, VA 22980.
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents the Shenandoah National Park Trust works of art from the permanent collection of their Artist-in-Residence program. The Hudson River School of the mid-1800’s turned its attention to American landscapes, providing the public with its first interpretation of parts of the country most had never seen. Talk of preserving these great places ensued and the national park system was born. The Artist-in-Residence Program was begun to inspire artists and visitors to think deeply about the value of the Shenandoah National Park. Goals were to create an understanding of the landscape of Shenandoah in new and unique ways, to increase awareness about important concepts, such as climate change and wildlife management, using images and sound that enriched visitor experiences in the park. This was achieved by inviting professional artists to interpret the landscape through traditional and contemporary art. The Trust provided seed funding to launch Shenandoah National Park’s Artist-in-Residence program in 2013 and proudly continues to fund it annually. Artists live and work in the park for three-week sessions and engage park visitors in public programs, hopefully encouraging them to become stewards of the park. The exhibition will be open to the public February 1 – 21, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 416 Gallery, 416 W. Main St. Waynesboro, VA 22980.
  • In the SVAC Member’s Gallery the theme is “Red.” The members will present their unique interpretations of the theme in each work of art which is priced to accommodate art collectors seeking pieces to expand their collection. The public is invited to view the exhibition, remembering that the art center serves the community by recognizing talent, encouraging creativity, and joining lives through art! The exhibition will be open to the public February 7 – 28, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 126 S. Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro, VA 22980.
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Love Notebook with Lana Lambert. Create something special for Valentine’s Day this year. With a little forethought, this book could allow you to create the gift of correspondence in advance. Each day there could be a new letter! Or, it could document memories gone by, ready to be revisited. Fill the envelope “pages” as you see fit! In this class, 7 envelope “pages” make up a week’s worth of correspondence. Even after all the correspondences are opened, the book keeps all your notes bound together for your recipient to reminisce as often as they like. Students will create a book and go over ideas on creative ways to fill the book with messages and treats to delight the heart. Most materials provided with tools available for in-class use, but Students will need to bring personal supplies listed on the website. (Register: www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662, Fee: $80, Skill level: all are welcome, Sunday, Feb 1, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 416 Gallery, 416 W Main St, Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Stretch and Release Yoga with Paula Figgatt and Leslie Chisnell. Gather in the Heart of Downtown Waynesboro for a meditative experience that benefits the mind while increasing your range of flexibility and centeredness in the body. Stretch & Release Yoga targets the fascia and connective tissues including tendons, ligaments and bones while creating suppleness, openness and health for our inner organs and muscles. By stilling the mind, bring the awareness deeply inward to create peace and relaxation to restore and renew thesSpirit! (Register: www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662, Fee: $10 per session, Tuesday, February 3 – April 14, 6:05 – 7:00 p.m., 416 Gallery, 416 W Main St, Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • SVAC Thursday’s Painting Group is a meeting of artists who want to paint! Artists bring their own supplies and gather at SVAC on Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at no cost to participants. Take advantage of your fellow painters for inspiration and light critique if you are interested. Come relax, share ideas or techniques, and independently work in the medium of your choice! Please call Shenandoah Valley Art Center if you are interested in joining and reserving a space! (540-949-7662, February 5, 12, 19, 26, 416 Gallery, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents the Butterfly Book with Lana Lambert. This antiquated Japanese binding style was the precursor to sewn bound books. Designed with the properties of washi in mind, every other set of pages in the book will hover above the spine like a resting butterfly sunning its wings. As washi is costly, students will be using copy paper that still achieves the same effect. Students will learn a short primer of the history of Japanese bookbinding and then choose from a selection of handmade book clothes to bind their books. The journals can be used for writing and drawing alike and the small size can allow for stashing in a purse or coat pocket. Lana Lambert is a printmaker, illustrator, and artist from Faber, Virginia. Her love and fascination with the print world was fostered by her alma mater, the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, DC. There she learned techniques in printmaking and bookbinding. Her further studies culminated in a Master’s Degree from the Vermont College of Fine Art. (Register: www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662, Fee: $60, Friday, February 6, 1:00 – 4:00p.m., 416 Gallery, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents The Frequency of Love: Turning in to Joy Sound Bath with Leslie Chisnell. Relax and connect with your inner joy of love! During each sound bath Leslie Chisnell RN, LMT YT-200 Nurse Coach and Sound Healing Practitioner will weave together breath work, mediation and a full body crystal bowl sound immersion. This experience will support deep relaxation and emotional clarity. It is ideal for anyone seeking stress relief, nervous system regulation, or a moment for inner reflection. You need to bring a yoga mat, 2 pillows, a blanket or two and dress in layers for comfort. Questions prior to session, contact Leslie at soundwellnessva@hotmail.com. Reserve your spot as space is limited and pre-registration is required. (Register: www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662, Fee: $25, Sunday, February 8, 6:00 – 7:00p.m., 416 Gallery, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents a Monthly Print Demo. Free and open to the public! Come join us and learn about the wonderful world of printmaking. Print Club Demos are held every second Tuesday from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the 416 Print studio. (416 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Painting Floral Still Life in Pastels with Julia Lesnichy. Join Julia Lesnichy in exploring color and technique in pastel painting. The focus of this class will be colorful floral still lifes! Julia will show you how to balance colors and values and use an impressionistic technique of breaking colors. She will instruct you in using colors and values to create depth and contrast. Students of all levels are welcome. They may use their own or the artist’s reference photos. Students should bring their own pastel sets and paper. Recommended are Unison landscape pastel set and a hard Nupastel set plus UART pastel paper of any size. Julia Lesnichy works in oil and pastel as an artist in Crozet, Virginia. She creates mostly plein air landscapes, indoor and outdoor still life and florals. She also enjoys creating portraits of people and animals in oils as well as soft and oil pastels. (Register: Email, Text, or Call instructor at (434) 806-3134 or julialesnichy@aol.com, Fee: $65, Thursday, February 12, 11:00a.m. – 3:00p.m., 416 Classroom, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Afternoon Tea. Join us for a tea luncheon at the 416 Gallery! All proceeds benefit SVAC. Tea and service have generously been provided by Kimberly LeGrys. Registration is $55 per person, and seats are limited so register in advance at www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662. (Friday, February 13, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Kitchen Lithography Workshop with Joan Graybeal Menard. This class will show you the basic idea behind the Lithography printing process. It relies on resistance of oil and water, and you can create prints using items you can easily find or have at home. You will make a simple art print using Aluminum Foil as your base, draw an image with marker, crayons, or colored pencils, and then etch it with Coca Cola, of all things! We will print them on the center’s printing presses, but this technique can also be hand printed at home. We will explore adding color to the original black and white prints with watercolor monoprint made on kids “Shrinky Dink” plastic.” This is a fun process you can do with easy to obtain items. Bring your old kitchen apron, a sketch idea or 3, and the instructor brings the rest. Joan Graybeal Menard is a multi-media artist. Having majored in Printmaking and pottery, selling and displaying both for 40 years, she is now focused on sharing her knowledge and various printmaking techniques with her students. For questions, contact Joan via email or text at menardjoan24@gmail.com or 304-646-0297. (Register: www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662, fee: $50 + $10 materials fee due at beginning of class, skill level: beginner – experienced adult printers, Sunday, February 15, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., 416 W Main St, Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Drawing and Sketching with Pen and Ink with John Hancock. Explore the power of Pen and ink in this 5 week class for making both bold and subtle drawings and sketches. We will discover how to best use both permanent inks as well as the less well-known water-soluble inks in this studio class. Working with black inks and some very traditional and contemporary alternatives, we will learn to use several strategies for pen and ink. Designed for beginner to advanced students who have at least a little bit of experience drawing. For additional class information : HancockJohnA.Artist@gmail.com or 434-939-7445. Register online: https://johnahancock.com (Fee $325, Wednesday February 18 – March 18, 1:30- 4:00 p.m., 416 Classroom, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro, V A 22980)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Printing on Clay with Joan Graybeal Menard. Students will learn how to create a plastic Pronto Lithography plate that can be used to print on pottery. Joan will provide clay, pronto plates, and underglaze ink for making small tiles or dishes. Joan will also glaze and fire your project for you to pick up a week later. You must bring the images (6 max) you want to print. Images should be 3.5 inches square photos or drawings. Joan Graybeal Menard is a multimedia artist who believes in exploring different art techniques. Her main studies in college were in printmaking. With the access to printing presses at SVAC, Joan relearned the newer, less toxic print methods that she is now sharing. For questions, contact Joan via email or text at menardjoan24@gmail.com or 304-646-0297. (Fee: $45 + $10 materials fee to instructor at the beginning of class, Register: www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662, February 19, 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m., 416 Print Studio, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • Hey bluegrass jammers come join the Waynesboro Music Bluegrass Jam at Shenandoah Valley Art Center, Saturday, February 21, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Jam sessions will be held in the 416 West Main St. Gallery which will give expanded space allowing for break-off jams, if merited. We will stick with the format of passing tunes in a circle and passing the hat to support the musicians, which is, of course, optional. The art center is also a terrific gallery space so check out the exhibits. There will be seating or standing room for participants. Come pick, listen, or hang out with a friend! All are welcome! (Every 4th Saturday, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., 416 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, Va. 22980, Free!)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents an Introduction to Pronto Plate with Joan Menard. Lithography is a printing method that works on the concept that oil and water don’t mix. Traditionally done on stone or ball grained aluminum plate, the Pronto plate is a more accessible method as it is made of thin, flexible, inexpensive plastic. Joan will share the basic techniques to create art on this surface and how to print with plastic plates. We will use the studio presses but people have also printed these plates without the need of a press. Students will start with utilizing laser printed images, photographs and drawings (Joan has various images to use or you can send her some of yours in advance.) We will test the various direct applications of drawing and mark making methods that work on this unique media. This class is an introduction to the basics. More advanced lessons can be arranged with Joan in the future if desired. Joan Graybeal Menard is a multimedia artist who believes in exploring different art techniques. Her main studies in college were in printmaking. With the access to printing presses at SVAC, Joan relearned the newer, less toxic print methods that she is now sharing. For questions, contact Joan via email or text at menardjoan24@gmail.com or 304-646-0297. (Register: www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662, Fee: $50 + $10 materials fee to instructor at the beginning of class, Sunday, Feb 22, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., 416 Print Studio, 416 W Main St, Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Painting with Fire: Encaustics with Lynne Miller. This is a hands-on introduction to encaustic painting workshop. Come Learn or Expand your knowledge of the Ancient Painting Technique of Melted Beeswax and Tree Sap! Ideal for beginners to intermediates. Unleash your creativity in this one-day encaustic painting workshop. We’ll spend the day mastering techniques and best practices. We will discuss a brief history of this versatile medium, choosing the right surface, and the do’s/don’ts of painting with torches. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist looking to explore a new medium, this workshop is for you. All materials are provided. Get ready to have some fun with wax! We will work together as we discuss various techniques; smooth vs. textured surfaces (accretion), mixing color, working transparent vs. opaque, and mark making (sgraffito). You will have time to work on your own piece(s) working with the techniques you will be learning. Students should bring a roll of paper towels to class and also any pottery/dental tools they may have for mark making. Lynne Miller is from NC but she, her husband, and 2 dogs now call Staunton, Virginia home. She has been a full-time artist for over 30 years working as an illustrator, in theaters, as a scenic artist for aquariums, zoos, museums, and as a muralist. She found her passion 9 years ago working in encaustics. Her paintings can be found in Galleries in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Lynne is a certified R&F advanced encaustic instructor and is excited to share her love of the medium with others. (Register: www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662, fee: $80, Saturday, February 28, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m., 416 Classroom, 416 W Main St, Waynesboro, VA 22980)
  • The SVAC Gift Shop features original art and fine craft pieces from local and regional artists. Visit the historic buildings/galleries in the heart of Waynesboro or go to the online gallery to do your shopping. Area delivery, shipping or personalized gift baskets are available to recipients.
  • In downtown Waynesboro, the Shenandoah Valley Art Center is located in two buildings: 126 S. Wayne Avenue and 416 W. Main Street. We are open to anyone viewing the exhibits, shopping in the gift shop, and exploring the artists’ studios. The buildings are accessible to studio artists, working potters, The Tom Brown Printing Studio, weekly painting groups and scheduled classes. Artists/members have monthly or bimonthly exhibition opportunities! Remember also that the center houses a wonderful library of art books! It is a place to look, learn, and talk about…ART!
  • Please look through the links on our Shenandoah Valley Art Center Member Artist Directory and consider that many SVAC artists are small business owners! This is easy access to fine art as you support local artists and artisans! If you come to town or have out-of-town guests, you can book a weekend in our third-floor walk-up apartment, The Atelier. With its charming décor and abundant natural light, our apartment is truly a hidden gem in the heart of the city. There is a fully equipped kitchen, an unbeatable view from the apartment’s windows offering breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley. By choosing to stay with us, you directly support the arts and contribute to the vibrant artistic community of the Shenandoah Valley. Book your weekend getaway with us now and indulge in the perfect blend of comfort, beauty, and artistic charm. For more information: www.svacrt.com .The galleries will be open to the public 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday. For more information, call (540) 949-7662 or visit www.svacart.com