RAL ART CENTER EXHIBITS and SIGNATURE EVENTS

April 2023 Exhibits

​

Spring Is in the Air

Ah, the budding leaves, the growing grass, the patches of yellow and white on trees and in our flowerbeds – these are the signs of spring!  Celebrate the season with art depicting whatever suggests the life, the growth, and the promise of spring.

All About Flowers

From micro to macro, flowers offer beauty to capture with any medium.  This exhibit showcases flowers, flowers, and more flowers.  Pair flowers with pollinators, birds, people, or wildlife – but make the flower the star of the show!

March 2023 Exhibit

Down Memory Lane

​

We have memories that inspire us - some shared and others all our own.  Work in this exhibit could depict iconic cultural images from days gone by such as classic cars, buildings, or fashion.  Or, you could submit pieces showing those special places, people, and events that are meaningful to you personally.

Receiving:  

February 27,

10AM – 12PM

​

Exhibit Dates:  

March 1 through April 1

​

Reception:  

Friday, March 3, 5-7PM

Feb 1 - 25, 2023

​

I Love

The month of romance is the perfect time to exhibit work of our beloved pets, loved past times, treasured possessions – and, oh yes, the friends and family members we adore.  This exhibit offers ample opportunity for you to show the world a visual example of love.

Exhibit Dates: Feb 1 – Feb 25

Reception:  Friday, February 3rd  5 – 7 PM

November 1 - 26

​

The sky’s the limit during the month of November as RAL artists pull out all the stops.  “Anything Goes” means you will experience an exhibit room loaded with subject matter including just about anything.  Artists will exhibit works in a variety of media, in all shapes and sizes and full of bold and beautiful color.  If you are an art collector, or someone who just appreciates art then you must pay us a visit.  We are so excited for this first-ever exhibit and are certain you will find something that you will want to call your own.

Receiving:  

Monday, Oct 31st, 10am to 12pm

​

Exhibit Dates:  

Tuesday through Saturday, November 1st - 26th,

10am to 4pm

Reception:  

Friday, Nov 4th, 5 - 7 pm

October 4 - 29

Our region is full of beautiful farms growing and harvesting an abundance of food.  For the month of October RAL artists will celebrate our area’s agricultural roots and bring you works of art sharing their vision of how they see this beautiful place we call home.  Each innovative and fresh take on traditional subjects of farming and agriculture will be one you won’t want to miss.   If you’re a “foodie” don’t miss out on this exciting exhibit.

Exhibit Dates:   Tuesday through Saturday, October 4 thru 29, 10 am to 4 pm

Reception:  Friday, October 7th, 5 pm to 7pm 

August 31 - October 1

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY FORMS AND FEES IS AUGUST 13, 2022

Reception

September 2,  5:00-7:00 pm

 The excitement is building!  This year RAL Art Center hopes to exhibit 200 original works of art that most, if not all, have never been seen before!  We welcome many new, first-time artists to our Labor Day Show and we could not be happier.  The talent, originality and ongoing support of every artist represented is superb.

We are pleased to welcome this year’s judge, Matt Lively.  If you are a RAL member artist please consider entering this fantastic show.  The entry deadline is Saturday, August 13.  

​

The exhibit runs from August 31 through October 1.  Join us for the First Friday reception on September 2 from 5:00-7:00 pm as the winners are unveiled.

As one of the longest standing visual art shows in Virginia we are proud of our 61st year and hope that you, your family, your neighbors and your friends visit often.

​​

August 31 - October 1

Reception

September 2,  5:00-7:00 pm

June 28 - July 30

Reception: Friday, July 1:  5-7 pm

​

A diverse selection of artwork depicting an artists’ love of land and sea will be on display at the the RAL Art Center during the month of July.  From moody skies high above the Chesapeake Bay to calming and serene pools along the banks of our many creeks, from mountains to valleys, from azure blue skies to glorious colors of early morning or the late evening sun ,this exhibit promises to be a visual delight.  Art will include a wide range art media and subject matter, inspired by our artists love of nature.  

Receiving Date:  Monday, June 27th: 10 am to 12pm

Exhibit Dates:  Tuesday, June 28 – Saturday, July 30.  

Reception: Friday, July 1:  5-7 pm

May 3 - May 28, 2022

Reception: Friday, May 6: 5-7pm

Artists are known for bringing to life, through their chosen medium, works that tell a story for their viewer.  Often times these stories are an extension of the things, objects, and moments that the artist finds wonderful and endearing.  In the month of May, RAL artists will share with you all that is beautiful and wonderful to them.  Color, pattern and texture, design, contrast, and drama will bring the exhibition room to life.  What kind of wonderful do you share with our artists?  We are certain you’ll connect with one or more of our talented artists as you view the show.  

Exhibit dates will be May 3 thru May 28.  RAL will be open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  

Northern Neck Wonderful  by Debbie Bull

​

March 2 - 26, 2022 

Artwork depicting moments in ordinary life will be displayed in the month of March by RAL exhibiting artists.  A wide variety of subject matter and artistic styles will come to life and entertain the eye for those lucky enough to pay us a visit.  You may find portraits of cherished family members, still life arrangements of loved objects, street scenes of favorite places or glorious sunrises or sunsets from spots we love around the Northern Neck.  From sculptures, glass and fiber to clay, paint and photography, this exhibit is one you won’t want to miss.  

Exhibit dates:  March 2 - 26.   RAL will be open Wednesday thru Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  

February 2022

​

Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and the body. It slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect. In many cultures blue is believed to bring peace and keep bad spirits at bay. RAL artists will be creating works this month using blue as their inspiration.  Join us in February to see how your favorite artist incorporates the color blue:  will it be a blue subject, a blue background, shades of blue as a monochromatic design?  Come visit and see!

Nov 30 – Dec  31

RAL’s Annual Holiday Shop is an eagerly awaited event featuring one-of-a kind affordable gifts that make your shopping experience fun.  

RAL member Artists and Artisans create a wonderful array of items that include jewelry, framed art of all kinds, baskets, ornaments, pottery, art glass, knitted and crocheted items, other fiber arts, holiday cards and many other gift items.  Join us for our Holiday First Friday on December 3rd from 5 to 7PM.

​

Dates:  Nov 30 – Dec  31  

10am to 4pm

Reception:  December 3:  5 – 7pm

 November 9 - November 27  

​

Talented artists, in grades 9 through 12, from Lancaster County Public High School, LHS Visual and Graphic Arts Program, will participate in this exhibit at RAL Art Center.  

Sandy Manning, LHS Art Teacher, described the collection as classical drawings and illustration examples of Still Life, Portrait and Landscape Art.  The Graphic Arts Design class will present Comic Strips and Poster Designs that demonstrate traditional and digital examples of persuasion and communication.  The Art2 students will display 3D sculptures as well.

“Floral 2” by Quinn Mai

September 1 - 25, 2021

The RAL Art Center is pleased to announce that the Art Center’s major signature event, the Annual Labor Day Art Show (LDAS) will be held Sept. 1 through Sept. 25 at 19 N. Main St., Kilmarnock, VA 22482. The Awards Ceremony and Reception will be held Friday, September 3 from 5 to 7 pm at the Art Center. In addition to our usual Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm days and hours, the show will be open Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend to accommodate visitors celebrating the end of summer.

The LDAS is widely recognized as one of the longest-standing visual arts shows in Virginia. Held in a variety of venues over its 60-year history, the show moved to RAL Art Center in 2014. Our attendance has increased to over 1,200 visitors.

​

ATTENTION ARTISTS: The LDAS is open to all RAL Art Center members in any medium. All work must be original. The show is not juried, but ribbons and monetary prizes will be awarded by a renowned judge.

​

Current Exhibiting Co-op Artists must remove their artwork from the main Gallery starting Tues. Aug. 24 and down by Sat. Aug. 28. These artists will be able to exhibit one piece in the Exhibit Room as the entire gallery area will be transformed into the Labor Day Art Show. That special Co-op Artists' Exhibit takes place concurrently with the LDAS.

​

Production of the LDAS requires the dedication of seasoned and new members both in orchestrating the event and creating prized pieces of art. Loyal sponsors are being solicited for their support and promotional material is being designed.

KEY DATES:

- Entry Forms/Fees Due Aug. 14 (no exceptions)

- LDAS Receiving - Sun. & Mon. Aug. 29 & 30

- Awards Ceremony and Reception - Fri. Sept. 3, 5 to 7pm

The Prospectus and Entry Form are available at RAL Art Center's website www.ralartcenter.com.



Mary Ellis & Barbara Kershner - Co-Chairs

Art by Patty Richards, "Best in Show" 2020 Labor Day Art Show

Small Works – July 2021 Exhibit

​

July 2021 promises to be an exciting month in the Stouffer Exhibit Room as RAL unveils its Small Works Exhibit!  This popular show is an art lovers’ favorite for gift-giving and the small spaces in your home.  The exhibit is comprised of original “small works” of art that are NO LARGER than 154 square inches (including mat and frame).  For 3-dimensional entries the work should be less than 154 square inches when multiplying the two longest sides.  Entries are due on Monday, June 28 between 10:00am and 12:00pm.  The show will hang from June 29th thru July 31.  

Art by Cheryl Mihills

March 2023 Exhibit

Weather or Not

​

This is an opportunity to celebrate all forms of weather – or not.  In other words, submit works that depict the stormy, blustery, and rainy or the calm, sunny, softer side of Mother Nature.  But if weather is not in your wheel-house, show us something else altogether.  

Receiving:  

February 27, 10AM – 12PM

​

Exhibit Dates:  

March 1 through April 1

​

Reception:  

Friday, March 3, 5-7PM

Feb 1 - 25, 2023

Touch of Red

​

Red symbolizes powerful emotion: anger, love, passion, courage, and joy as examples.  Or, it can appear in a child’s cheek, a wildflower, or a channel marker.  Where do you see touches of red?  This exhibit gives members the opportunity to represent many different emotions or experiences through use of color. 

Receiving:  

Monday, January 30,  10 to 12PM

Exhibit Dates:  

Wednesday through Saturday February 1 – February 25

​

Reception:  Friday, February 3rd  5 – 7 PM

January 4 - 28, 2023

Push the bounds of tradition!  Our second January exhibit is entitled “Creative Still Life” in the hopes that our members will paint, stitch, or photograph groupings of objects from a new perspective or in some unconventional way.  Use non-traditional subject matter or try a new approach – your choice.  We are looking forward to your point of view!

​

Exhibit Dates: Jan 4 - 28

Reception:  

Friday, January 6, 2023, 5 – 7 PM

November

​

RAL is excited to once again host the talented artists from the Lancaster High School Art Department.

This year their exhibit will be very diverse; portraits from its photography class and aboriginal dot paintings from Art 1 and an exciting display of pastel animals and portraits along with dragon eyes using mixed media from the advanced students. Plus,there may also be a few surprise entries that you won’t want to miss!

We hope you will come and support the talents of these wonderful kids during the month. This exhibition will open on Tuesday, November 1st with a first Friday celebration on November 4th from 5 – 7pm.

​

Exhibit Dates:  

Tuesday through Saturday, November 1st - 26th,

10am to 4pm

Reception:  

Friday, Nov 4th, 5 - 7 pm

October 4 - 29

The artist gives back to world in so many and varied ways.  They find beauty in just about everything.  For the month of October our exhibit highlights and brings to life things, objects and images of what remains.  Decrepit architecture, dilapidated objects, aging people, the opportunities are endless.  This show promises to conjure memories for all.  You will find works created in a variety of exciting and unique media.  RAL artists are sure to deliver an exhibit unlike ever before.  ​

Exhibit Dates:   Tuesday through Saturday, October 4 thru 29, 10 am to 4 pm

Reception:  Friday,  October 7th, 5 pm to 7pm 

August 2 - 27

​

This month promises to be a spectacular exhibition at the RAL Art Center as we showcase Fins, Feathers and Fur.  Member artists will exhibit their interpretations of the animal kingdom in a variety of art media to include graphite, paint, fiber, glass, photography, wood and more!  This show will be a feast for the eyes with unique compositions, strong and intense color and let’s not forget a bit of whimsy.  We know you will find at least one masterpiece to call your very own. 

Exhibit dates will be August 2 thru 27.  RAL will be open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  

June 28 - July 30

Reception:   Friday, July 1:  5-7pm

​

One of our most popular exhibits of the year, Small Works, will be held during the month of July.  This exhibit presents all of our visitors with the opportunity to purchase fine art as a gift or to adornment for those small spaces in their home.  Art in this show will NOT exceed 144 square inches which includes mat and frame.  For three-dimensional art, works should be less than 144 square inches when multiplying the two longest sides.  We look forward to your visit and are sure you’ll find something you’ll love!

​

Receiving Date:  Monday, June 27: 10am to 12pm

Exhibit Dates:  Tuesday, June 28 - Saturday,  July 30. 

Reception:   Friday, July 1:  5-7pm

March 28 - April 30, 2022 

​

Reception: Friday, April 1: 5 – 7pm

Flora and fauna refer to plants and animals in the broadest sense of the word and encompass pretty much all of life on earth.  They represent a significant influence for many artists who create in a variety of artistic media from paper, paint and clay, to glass, wood and more.  Artists will bring to life their interpretations of flora and fauna as RAL Art Center hosts their April exhibit.  From the tiniest flower to the largest land or sea mammal, this exhibit is sure to be a hit.  RAL celebrates the diversity of the natural world and its enduring influence in art.

Exhibit dates will be March 29 thru April 30.  RAL will be open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  

Peony  by Juli Schuszler

February 2022

​

February is typically the month we celebrate our favorite sweetheart for Valentine’s Day but this month RAL artists present their masterful creations of ANYTHING that they love.  Will it be a loved pet, a child, grandchild or favorite vacation destination?  Works could include a much-loved home, plant or flower.  The sky is the limit as RAL plays host to this exciting exhibition.  We hope you find something you love when you visit the RAL Art Center this month.

January 4 - 29, 2022 

​

RAL Art Center Artists are creating their entries for one of the best shows of each year.  You, our visitors, get to choose the winner of the exhibit.  

The show opens January 4, 2022, and runs through January 29, 2022.  Paintings in every medium, Photography, Pottery, Glass, Fiber Art, Sculpture and Jewelry will be represented.  Expect to have to choose from multiple favorites!

Receiving:  Monday, January 3  10AM to 12 pm

​

Exhibit Dates:  January 4 – 29

Reception:  Friday, January 7,  5 –7pm

November All-Member All Mediums Exhibit!

Visual arts offer a special opportunity for artists to tell their viewers what they feel about

their subject in their preferred medium, in their own style. This can be done in representational art, abstract art, or semi-abstract art, through paintings, photography,glass, pottery or sculpture.

​

This the challenge of November’s All-Member, All Medium Exhibit. What do you, the artist, want to convey to your audience? Is your art telling your story and grabbing the viewer’s attention? Is it sending your message?!

Go for it! EXPRESS YOURSELF!

​

Art by Laura Edwards

September 28 - October 30, 2021

​

​

This is the month to have some fun with your art, and with the viewers. Almost anything goes—let your mind wander and your fingers fly. Tease the senses. Laugh a lot. Make someone else laugh. Communicate joy. Turn inside out; turn outside in. Try satire; invent the impossible. But you don’t have to be whimsical, funky and fun all at the same time, one or a bit of some will do. It’s your art, enjoy making it and sharing this month.

​

Exhibit Dates: Tuesday, September 28 to Saturday, October 30

​

Reception:  October 1, 2021 5 PM to 7PM

​

Art by Ron Taylor, “Dance of the Flugle Horns”

August 2021 Exhibition – Call of the Wild

​

The RAL Art Center is wild for art!  This first-ever exhibit is open to RAL members who are inspired by the animal kingdom – local, regional and worldwide.  Let your imagination run free as you plan for and execute your work in any medium.  Fur, feathers, fins and more we hope to see them all.  From domestic pets, birds of the rainforest, creatures from the Serengeti bring us your best!  This exhibit is sure to be a hit with visitors of every age.  This show will be open to the public from August 3rd through 28th.

​

Art by Don Presnell