ArtsArray: Fall 2026

Fall of 2026

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Fall of 2026 Arts Array is a VHCC-sponsored series of concerts, plays, art events, lectures, films, and more!

Cover Art Winner for Arts Array Fall 2026

The winner of the competition for the Arts Array cover design is Elena Kollin!

Who can

ATTEND?

Most of our Arts Array events are free and open to the public.

Please see the individual event to learn if an RVSP is required or if there is an additional cost associated with attendance.

Our

PARTNERS

Barter Theatre Emory & Henry University King University University of Virginia’s College at Wise

Our

Washington County Public Library System William King Museum of Art Virginia Commission for the Arts Virginia Highlands Festival

SPONSORS

If you would like to sponsor the Arts Array program or a specific Arts Array event, contact Debbie McCroskey at (276) 739-2536.

Need more

INFORMATION?

For additional information about the Arts Array please contact:

Marie Porterfield ~ mporterfield@vhcc.edu ~ 276-739-2550 Dr. Ryan Whittington ~ rwhittington@vhcc.edu ~ 276-739-2454

Congratulations to theVirginia Community College System’s

Inaugural Visual Art Luminary: Elena Kollin The Arts Array cover artist for this semester is Elena Kollin, who is also the inaugural Visual Art Luminary for the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). In March 2026, artist Elena Kollin represented Virginia Highlands Community College at the VCCS Visual Art Luminary & Poet Laureate Competition, where students from 21 colleges across the state shared their works of art on the theme “I Dream.”

Participants in the visual art competition were judged on originality, engaging impact, skill, and thematic interpretation. They also attended interviews with a panel of judges, who questioned them on how they would represent the VCCS if chosen as the Visual Art Luminary.

At the conclusion of the competition, Elena Kollin was awarded the title of inaugural Visual Art Luminary for the Virginia Community College System. “I feel immense gratitude at having been chosen from a talented field of artists, and I am honored to carry the inaugural luminary torch for the visual arts,” said Kollin. “This win opens the door to an exciting road ahead, one that supports my future creative projects and puts a spotlight on the many deserving folks within my community.”

Kollin was a featured student speaker at the VCCS New Horizons conference in April 2026, where she spoke eloquently on the importance of the arts in community colleges and the beauty of the arts community within Abingdon and the surrounding areas. Kollin is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, with degrees in English literature and Italian studies. She has been living in southwest Virginia for the past five years. She enrolled in drawing and painting courses at VHCC to continue her education and work toward her goal of becoming a professional artist.

During her two-year term as the VCCS Visual Art Luminary, Elena will design and coordinate a collaborative project, titled “Matriarchs of Appalachia,” involving community engagement, ethnographic research, and visual artmaking, culminating in an exhibition of works in the Art Lab Galleries at the William King Museum of Art in October 2027.

For more information about Elena Kollin and the “Matriarchs of Appalachia” project, visit the project website: appalachianmatriarchs.org.

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New Haruspications by Eric Drummond Smith Thursday, August 27 - Friday, October 30 VHCC Art Gallery, The Bill Gatton Center

Eric Drummond Smith is a Pop Neo-Expressionist Surrealist whose drawings evoke improvisational jazz through their dynamic energy and dramatic mark-making. Working with a range of materials including sumi ink, acrylics, and pastels, the artist embraces joyful dissonance and electrifying melody in his art. While his works are expressionist, audacious, and experimental, they are also influenced by his intellectual interests, including political science and classical philosophy.

Visit the VHCC Art Gallery, located in the campus library within the GTN building, to experience Eric Drummond Smith’s New Haruspications exhibition. Haruspications is an ancient practice of predicting the future by examining the entrails of sacrificial animals. Come see the show to learn what Dr. Smith foretells. The gallery is open to the public during regular business hours.

Dr. Finney’s Top 10 Tips to Psych Yourself Up this Semester

Tuesday, September 8 • 12:30 pm MARC Writing & Tutoring Center, The Bill Gatton Center

Local psychologist Dr. Erin Finney will share tips on how to hack your brain for success this semester. She will include tips for academic success, as well as tips for resilience when dealing with stress and anxiety.

Introduction to Yoga with Alison Bundy Thursday, September 17 • 12:30 pm - 1:20 pm VHCC Commons

Come explore the ancient wellness practice and traditional art form of yoga. Alison Bundy of the Abingdon Yoga Center will teach a beginner yoga class on the lawn between the GTN and the ISC building. If you prefer, bring your towel/yoga mat and a water bottle. No prior experience necessary.

This event is presented in partnership with the VHCC Holistic Health Fair, which will also feature music and vendor booths on campus from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

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Dracula

Thursday, September 17 • 7:30 pm Barter Theatre, Gilliam Stage RSVP Required!

When your survival is at stake…will you be able to distinguish the monster from the man? Both terrifying and riotous, Kate Hamill’s imaginative adaptation is like no Dracula you’ve ever seen, exploring the nature of predators and reinventing the story as a smart, darkly comic drama. Content Advisories: Violence, sexual situations.

Tickets are limited. RSVP to mporterfield@vhcc.edu to request tickets.

VHCC students and Arts Array partners are given preference for reservations.

Positive Affirmations in Clay with Laken Bridges Friday, September 18 • 10 am - 1 pm The Art Lab at William King Museum of Art RSVP Required!

As the seasons change, so may we. Join us for an introspective hands-on workshop in clay. We’ll form small decorative vessels engraved with personal messages or words of affirmation. Inside the vessel, we’ll place a ball of paper containing writing of anything we wish to leave behind or change in our new season (written in class or prepared ahead of time on a sheet of notebook paper). The paper turns to ash during the firing process, and the ash may be discarded as you wish! Please note you will not take your creation home the same day.

This event is presented in partnership with the Art Lab at William King Museum of Art. Space is limited to 15 participants. RSVP to mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

Unbridled Artmaking with Eric Drummond Smith

Tuesday, September 22 • 12:30 pm - 1:25 pm VHCC Art Studio, GTN 223 RSVP Required!

Join artist Eric Drummond Smith for an afternoon of unbridled artmaking. Explore techniques for creating improvisational ink paintings with expressive lines using black sumi ink on paper. Embrace the immediacy of mark-making, try out experimental drawing techniques, and translate your thoughts and emotions directly onto the page. No prior experience is necessary, and all materials will be provided. Spaces are limited. RSVP to mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

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Postbop Revival Jazz and Student Wearable Art Parade

Wednesday, September 30 • 12:30 pm - 1:25 pm VHCC Collins Student Center, ISC

Visit the Student Center for a joyful celebration of music and art.

Members of the VHCC community are invited to join a parade of wearable art while beloved local band Postbop Revival treats us to an upbeat blend of jazz and funk fusion tunes. Drop by to grab some snacks, experience delightful student art, and join the fun.

Spooky Tales by the Haint Mistress of Abingdon Wednesday, October 14 • 12:30 pm - 1:25 pm MARC Writing & Tutoring Center, The Bill Gatton Center

Prepare to be delighted as beloved local storyteller Donnamarie Emmert, the Haint Mistress of Abingdon, shares old English and Appalachian horror tales and local spooky stories. Best known for her Abingdon ghost tours, the Haint Mistress will bring her creepy tales to the MARC, for an unforgettable afternoon of fun and fright.

Illustration through Printmaking with Laken Bridges

Friday, October 16 • 10 am - 1 pm The Art Lab at William King Museum of Art RSVP Required!

At this workshop, participants will take a brief tour through the William King Museum of Art exhibit, Korshak Collection: Illustrations of Imaginative Literature to explore a range of illustrations and get a bit of inspiration. After the tour, we’ll head to the classroom to transform our sketches into drypoint plates. The drypoint process involves using a metal stylus to scratch your drawing on the surface of a sheet plexiglass. From there, ink is applied and impressions are obtained on paper. Print your art to share with the whole group or take all your prints home. Must love drawing!

Printmaking experience optional!

This event is presented in partnership with the Art Lab at William King Museum of Art. Space is limited to 15 participants. RSVP to mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

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Jack Hinshelwood & Scott Freeman: A Guided Tour of American Music Monday, October 19 • 12:30 pm VHCC Collins Student Center, ISC

Jack Hinshelwood and Scott Freeman concerts are a guided tour across the American musical landscape, from centuries-old ballads to modern popular music, from Stephen Foster and Louis Armstrong to Burt Bacharach, Doc Watson, and Bob Dylan. On guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and harmonica, and with roots in the traditional music of the Appalachians, Jack and Scott delve deep into a rich tapestry of songs and instrumentals from bluegrass, old time, Celtic, blues, western swing, and many more sources.

Spooky Symposium

Monday, October 26 • 12:30 pm - 1:25 pm MARC Writing & Tutoring Center, The Bill Gatton Center

Join three of your VHCC professors as they terrify and delight at the second annual Spooky Symposium. Learn more about tiny terrors—the microbes that haunt us—as microbiology professor Nicole Watson shares real-life horror stories from the microbial world. Explore the fascinating and haunting history of human dissection, including dead bodies, daring anatomists, and medical breakthroughs with anatomy professor Whitney Peters. Then, watch theatrical makeup professor Dona Lee transform a student into a zombie. Don’t be the last in your seat, or it might be you.

Please note that some attendees may find the topics disturbing.

Wonder of Watercolor Painting Workshop with Renee Pitts Friday, October 30 • 10 am - 2 pm VHCC Art Studio, GTN 223 RSVP Required!

Join us for a beginner watercolor class with artist Renee Pitts, whose work explores the beautiful moments of everyday. In the class, Renee will teach participants to capture the wonder of a particular place in time using watercolor. The workshop will begin in the art studio where participants will learn the foundations of watercolor painting before moving outdoors for plein air painting, weather permitting. No prior experience necessary. All materials will be provided.

Spaces are limited. RSVP to mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

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Indonesian Shadow Puppets with Michael Gerber Friday, November 6 • 10 am - 1 pm The Art Lab at William King Museum of Art RSVP Required!

Step into the ancient art of Indonesian shadow puppetry (Wayang Kulit) and bring your own characters to life! Participants will design, cut, and assemble their own 2D articulated puppet, either freeform or with the help of provided templates. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a total beginner, you’ll leave with a fully poseable puppet ready for the spotlight. A lit shadow screen will also be on hand if you want to step behind the curtain and put on a show. No pressure, just pure fun!

This event is presented in partnership with the Art Lab at William King Museum of Art. Space is limited to 15 participants. RSVP to mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

Paint Your Feelings Workshop with Marcy Parks Tuesday, November 10 • 12:30 pm - 1:25 pm VHCC Art Studio, GTN-223 RSVP Required!

Join us for a “Paint Your Feelings” workshop taught by Marcy Parks.

In this workshop, participants will explore methods for using the artistic process to overcome stress, harness creativity, and embrace imperfection.

No prior experience is necessary. All materials will be provided. Bring yourself and your feelings!

Spaces are limited. RSVP to mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

Cosmo St.Charles is Dead and Someone in This Room Killed Him Presented by the VHCC Theatre Department

Thursday, November 12 • 7:30 pm Friday, November 13 • 7:30 pm Saturday, November 14 • 7:30 pm Sunday, November 15 • 2:30 pm Keyser-Aday Theatre, The Bill Gatton Center

Cosmo St. Charles is Dead and Someone in this Room Killed Him by Nicole Zimmer is a murder mystery farce in which the audience helps our detective with a memory like a sieve discover the killer of the eminent archeologist Dr. Cosmo St. Charles, who was murdered at his own house party. Was it his wife?

His niece? His research assistant? Or a mysterious colleague? This whodunit, presented by the VHCC Theatre Department, will explore all the suspects and possibilities and, with a little help from the audience, solve the crime!

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Dragon Student Art Show

Monday, November 16 - Monday, January 18, 2027 VHCC Art Gallery, The Bill Gatton Center

Dragons have fascinated humans for centuries, appearing in fairy tales and fables around the world to embody a vast array of concepts—including the divine, imperial power, cosmic balance, evil, fear, and fortune. Visit the campus art gallery to explore our students’ unique perspectives on these many-layered mythical creatures expressed through dragon-themed art.

The VHCC Art Gallery is located in the campus library in the GTN building, which is open to the public during regular business hours.

How to Handle Stress and Pressure before Finals Tuesday, November 17 • 12:30 pm - 1:25 pm MARC Writing & Tutoring Center, The Bill Gatton Center

Psychologist Phebe de Klerk will give a workshop about gearing up for the pressure of finals week with tips and tricks to help us regulate our nervous systems for success! Come join us for tools to finish the semester strong!

Coffee and Tea from Around the World

Wednesday, November 18 • 12:30 pm - 2 pm Wolf Grounds Coffee Shop, VHCC Collins Student Center

“Coffee and Tea from Around the World” presented by Wolf Grounds Coffee is a drop-in educational experience where participants can sample global brews paired with unique treats. Visit themed tables to explore the world with your taste buds while learning about tea and coffee culture around the world. Join us for a smooth roast with a pastry, sip a distinct blend, then discover a Viking-themed brew in this interactive event.

Painting on the Edge: Books as Art Tuesday, December 1 • 12:30 pm - 1:25 pm VHCC Library, The Bill Gatton Center RSVP Required!

In this workshop, participants will explore the art of using the edges of book pages as a unique, or even hidden, canvas. Our treasured librarians, Courtney and Dillon, will teach the history of book foreedge art. Then, participants will create their own decorative designs using provided materials. No prior experience needed.

Space is limited to 10 participants. RSVP to mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

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Elf the Musical

Thursday, December 3 • 7:30 pm Barter Theatre, Gilliam Stage RSVP Required!

The hilarious tale of Buddy, an orphan baby who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and winds up being raised at the North Pole.

When Buddy discovers that he is actually human, he embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Tickets are limited. RSVP to mporterfield@vhcc.edu to request tickets.

VHCC students and Arts Array partners are given preference for reservations.

Tai Chi in the Library

Monday, December 7 • 12:30 pm VHCC Library, The Bill Gatton Center

Join us in the library for balance, harmony, and movement.

Whether you’ve practiced Tai Chi before, or you’re a complete beginner, Deni Peterson will walk us through some poses and forms. If you’re stressed or anxious about the semester or finals week, you won’t want to miss this.

Something Like a Star: Music of Wonder, Light, and Christmas Tuesday, December 8 • 7 pm Keyser-Aday Theatre, The Bill Gatton Center

Join the VHCC Concert Choir and some special guests for a concert of music about starlight and wonder. Pulling together repertoire of medieval carols, Renaissance poetry, contemporary music, and a beautiful Robert Frost poem, the concert choir intends to prepare listeners to approach the holiday season with eyes of childlike wonder.

Please join us!

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What is Arts Array?

Arts Array is a VHCC-sponsored series of arts events that offers a diverse range of cultural experiences to both students and the wider community.

Here’s a summary of key aspects: • Variety: The program encompasses a wide spectrum of artistic disciplines, including musical concerts, theater performances, art exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, and more.

• Availability: All Arts Array events are free and open to students, their families, and the public, making them available to a broad audience.

• Community Enrichment: The program aims to enrich the lives of community members by providing opportunities to engage with and appreciate various forms of art.

Essentially, Arts Array serves as a vital platform for promoting artistic expression and fostering a vibrant cultural environment within the VHCC community and beyond.

Want to support our mission?

Community support expands our ability to provide valuable cultural experiences like the ones offered by the VHCC Arts Array series.

As a Business or Individual Sponsor, you will help the VHCC Arts Array Program with our mission to provide students and the people in our community opportunities to experience, enjoy, and support the visual, musical, film, and performing arts that can help bring us all together. Specifically, these include: • Facilitating a series of musical concerts featuring outstanding performers • Providing opportunities to visit art exhibits, artist talks, and places of artistic interest • Hosting various theatre events both on and off campus • Screening independent, foreign and award-winning films

Please support the Arts Array Program Series by becoming a sponsor or making a donation here: www.vhcc.edu/arts-array-sponsorship

www.vhcc.edu/artsarray

VHCC is an equal opportunity/open access institution.

Si necesita ayuda en espanol, marque el numero 276-739-2559.