PETERSBURG — Petersburg Area Art League has exciting opportunities this month. Did you know PAAL does not charge to see the art exhibits? If you haven’t been, you really should make a trip to Old Towne to check them out.
Michelle Wilkie, a native New Zealander and now a U.S. resident, will have her art quilt exhibit “Eyes Wide Open” featured at PAAL in the Main Gallery from Friday, June 14 through August 3. The gallery will host an opening night reception with the quilt artist present on Friday, June 21 from 5 -8 p.m.
“Moving to the United States, prompted a profound exploration of connection, community and cultural identity. There are a lot of nuances, socially and politically, in this new landscape [of the US] that are not always easy to overcome but quilting is my bridge to connection and community and now drives my art practice,” Wilkie states in her bio. “I relate to this traditional women’s craft, as it is in essence a way to connect community, the maker and our history. I have been exploring how to continue this through my work, while pushing boundaries of people’s expectation of what a quilt can be.”
Wilkie’s artistic practice revolves around modern quilting where she seamlessly blends traditional techniques with a contemporary twist, embracing both improvisation and minimalism. Her artistic narrative unfolds through a lens that captures her experiences – a visual dialogue shaped by photography, translating moments into textile works. Each quilt becomes a canvas where emotions and connections intertwine and a story is told.
PAAL encourages group visits from quilt guilds around the region. Groups may contact Martha Burton with Petersburg Area Regional Tourism at 804-731-1672 or mburton@craterpdc.org to inquire about lodging and dining. Visit mlwilkie.com to learn more about the artist and designer of modern quilts.
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In the Upper Gallery, “The Photography of Gary D. Jones, A collection of images and memories of Petersburg, the town where I grew up” will be on display. In January, Jones won the prestigious Professional Photographers of America [PPA] 2024 Grand Imaging Award. Included in this show will be the award-winning submission “The Destination Ahead” that earned him the top prize, acclaim and a $10,000 cash award. Don’t miss his exhibit which will also be on exhibit at PAAL June 14 through August 3.
Jones was born in Petersburg and moved to DC at age nine. He returned to the area to attend Virginia State University [VSU] where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Commercial Art and Design. As reported by The Progress-Index in February, Jones has been a member of the Petersburg-based Cockade City Camera Club for the past 10 years. He has instructed courses in Off Camera Flash, Constant light and Print Competition. Currently, the Club meets monthly at PAAL.
The community is invited to PAAL’s “Friday for the Arts!” opening night, Friday, June 14 from 5-8 p.m. Petersburg Area Art League is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday. Art lovers may visit the gallery free of charge, however, contributions are appreciated. PAAL is located at 7 E. Old Street in Petersburg. For more information about the non-profit organization’s programs, history, PAAL membership, gallery hours and more, visit paalarts.org and follow Petersburg Area Art League on Facebook.
Petersburg: Gennine Francis performs
At Old Towne Civic Center in Petersburg on Saturday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m., PAAL will present vocalist Gennine Francis. The California native will perform hits by Whitney Houston from her one-woman show “the Essence of Whitney” as well as hits from Anita Baker, Gladys Knight, Sade, Norah Jones and Marvin Gaye and many more.
Years ago, Francis and her sisters had a pop singing group The Jacksonics. They were blessed to perform with Billy Paul, Bill Cosby, Eddie Kendricks, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Three Dog Night, The Pointer Sisters, The Whispers, The Manhattans, Sisters Sledge and more. Since September 2001, she has completed five CDs and is currently working on number six. To learn more about Francis who has been performing since age eight, visit genninefrancis.com.
To purchase tickets to PAAL’s second concert of the summer sponsored by Bill Nicholson visit paalart.org. Tickets are $30 for general seating and $50 for VIP. The VIP tickets with preferred seating also include a Meet and Greet with Francis. Old Towne Civic Center is located at 136 River Street in Petersburg.
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