Fall 2025 Arts Array Brochure

Fall of 2025

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Fall of 2025 Arts Array is a VHCC-sponsored series of concerts, plays, art events, lectures, films, and more!

Cover Art Winner for Arts Array Fall 2025

The winner of the competition for the Arts Array cover design is Krysta Mimbs!

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

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Karen Copenhaver Painting & Drawing Exhibition

Wednesday, May 6 - Friday, September 12 VHCC Art Gallery, LRC Visit the campus gallery to view lovely works of art made by one of our talented VHCC community artists, Karen Copenhaver.

Her paintings and drawings are gestural, thoughtful, and deeply appreciative of the beauty of the natural world. The VHCC Art Gallery is located in the campus library in the LRC building, which is open during regular business hours.

Handbuilt Vases Ceramics Workshop

Friday, September 19 • 10 am - 1 pm Art Lab at William King Museum of Art RSVP Required!

Participants will work from templates and the slab-building method to create unique ceramic vases. The vases will be glazed on the inside, with the outside left unglazed and ready for painting at the participant’s choice. No prior experience is necessary. This event is presented in partnership with the Art Lab at William King Museum of Art. Space is limited to 10 participants. Contact Marie at mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot! *This workshop will be taught in the clay studio at the Art Lab, which is accessed by stairs only.

Annie Parks Illustration Exhibiton

Monday, September 22 – Thursday, October 9 VHCC Art Gallery, LRC Visit the VHCC Art Gallery to view a collection of delightful illustrations by VHCC alum Annie Parsons. Annie Parsons is an illustrator and author who combines traditional media, such as watercolor and gouache, with digital technology to create illustrations that are playful and bright. As a children’s librarian, she is particularly inspired by children’s books. The VHCC Art Gallery is located in the campus library in the LRC building, which is open during regular business hours.

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Luke Grooms in Concert with VHCC Choir

Thursday, September 25 • 7:30 pm VHCC Art Gallery, LRC Join acclaimed Broadway performer Luke Grooms and pianist Lisa Withers for an unforgettable evening of beloved show tunes and magical melodies. This vibrant recital will showcase a selection of Disney favorites alongside musical theatre gems spanning from the golden age to today’s Broadway hits. With Grooms’s powerhouse vocals and Withers’s expressive accompaniment, audiences will be treated to timeless classics and fresh favorites. Look out for a special appearance by the VHCC Concert Choir!

Drum Circle Workshop by Dr. David Mitchell

Tuesday, October 7 • 2 pm Outside at Commons’ Clock Tower • Rain Location: MEC-114 Experience the vibrant rhythms of African drumming in either the western or northern style through this interactive workshop led by Dr. David Mitchell, music professor at King University. Participants will explore traditional African drumming techniques, cultural context, and ensemble playing using authentic instruments. No prior experience is necessary—just a willingness to listen, learn, and feel the beat.

Illustration Workshop with Annie Parsons

Thursday, October 9 • 2 pm VHCC Art Studio, LRC-223 Join us for an illustration workshop with VHCC alum Annie Parsons. In this hands-on drawing workshop, we will develop characters for children’s picture books. Learn how to build animals and people from simple shapes and keep them consistent across different angles, poses, and emotions. Then we’ll get to know our characters’ personalities with storytelling exercises.

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Anne of Green Gables: The Musical

Thursday, October 9 • 7:30 pm Barter Theatre, Gilliam Stage RSVP Required!

Marilla Cuthbert and her brother Matthew are determined to adopt an orphan boy to help them run Green Gables, their farm on beautiful Prince Edward Island. But their well-ordered lives take a surprising and hilarious twist when the boy they hoped for turns out to be a redheaded slip-of-a-girl named Anne Shirley, whose wild imagination leads her into countless scrapes, as well as a place in our hearts forever. Anne of Green Gables: The Musical is the perfect way for you and your family to celebrate the “kindred spirits” in your life!

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

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

Out of the Picture

Friday, October 10 • 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Lecture Room, Art Lab at William King Museum of Art Out of the Picture is a feature-length documentary film exploring art criticism in the contemporary art world. This film screening, presented by the William King Museum of Art, is free and open to the public.

Haunted Highlands Student Art Exhibition

Monday, October 13 - Friday, November 7 VHCC Art Gallery, LRC Stop by the campus gallery to view Haunted Highlands, featuring the ghoulish, creepy, and haunting works of art from the bizarre imaginations of our very own VHCC students. The VHCC Art Gallery is located in the campus library in the LRC building, which is open during regular business hours.

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Jenna Greene of Orbital Planes in Concert

Thursday, October 16 • 7:30 pm Keyser-Aday Theatre, LRC Join local singer-songwriter Jenna Greene for an intimate concert of original music that blends folk, pop, and rock influences. With heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies, Jenna weaves stories of nature, love, and personal journey. Her soulful voice and acoustic sound create a warm, inviting atmosphere perfect for music lovers of all ages.

Miniature Surrealist Prints Workshop

Friday, October 17 • 10 am - 1 pm Art Lab at William King Museum of Art RSVP Required!

Participants will create a drypoint image, a printmaking process that involves scratching a unique drawing on a plexiglass plate with a metal stylus. They will then apply ink and paper to the scratched plate to obtain an impression of the image. Sensory note: bring your earbuds or headphones as some people don’t care for the scratching sound of the process! This event is presented in partnership with the Art Lab at William King Museum of Art. Space is limited to 15 participants. Contact Marie at mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

Spooky Symposium

Tuesday, October 28 • 2 pm The MARC, VHCC Library, LRC Join your VHCC professors as they uncover the creepy, cobwebbed corners of their fields at the Spooky Symposium. Learn more about flesh-eating and poisonous plants from Ben Casteel, explore spinechilling music made during history’s first vampire craze with Dr. Ryan Whittington, delight in monstrous literature and its impact with Julianna Jones, and feast your eyes (if you dare) on some of Marie Porterfield’s eeriest paintings while learning more about the history of the “three witches of Surrealism.” This event will be held in the MARC Tutoring Center, which is located inside the VHCC Library.

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Tea Workshop & Tasting with Ren Allen

Tuesday, November 4 • 2 pm LRC-225 RSVP Required!

Join Ren Allen of the Philosopher’s House to learn more about the traditions of tea around the world. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to sample a variety of teas while learning about their history and significance. Spaces are limited. RSVP to Marie at mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot.

Recital by Appalachian State Collegium Musicum

Thursday, November 6 • 2 pm Keyser-Aday Theatre, LRC Experience the rich sounds of early music in an intimate recital by Appalachian State University’s Collegium Musicum. Performing on authentic period instruments, the ensemble brings Renaissance and Baroque repertoire to life with historically informed performance practice. This engaging concert offers both beautiful music and fascinating insights into the traditions and techniques of centuries past.

Cozy Books Workshop

Friday, November 7 • 10 am - 1 pm Art Lab at William King Museum of Art RSVP Required!

Participants will create unique stitched books that are pocket and purse friendly (approx. 4” x 7”). All materials included, but participants are encouraged to bring any additional paper / fabric scraps or other ephemera that they want to bind into their book. Finish early? Enjoy cozying up in a chair to write or to draw from our still life collection. No prior experience is necessary. This event is presented in partnership with the Art Lab at William King Museum of Art. Space is limited to 15 participants. Contact Marie at mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

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Veterans Day Concert with VHCC Choir and Voices of the Mountains

Sunday, November 9 • 3 pm Kingsport, TN Farmers Market Celebrate Veterans Day with an inspiring concert at the Kingsport Farmer’s Market featuring Voices of the Mountains with the Virginia Highlands Community College Concert Choir.

Accompanied by the Symphony of the Mountains Brass Quintet, piano, and percussion, this powerful program honors those who have served through stirring music and heartfelt tributes. Admission is free for students, children, and veterans—all are welcome to attend this meaningful community event.

Covered: Book Covers Throughout History & Today

Tuesday, November 11 • 2 pm VHCC Art Studio, LRC-223 RSVP Required!

Join Courtney and Dillon from the library to learn about the evolution of book covers! We will explore how design can play an important role in storytelling and marketing. Then, attendees will have the opportunity to design their own book covers. No prior experience required and all materials will be provided. Space is limited to 15 participants.

Contact Marie at mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

Letterpress Prints Exhibition Curated

by David Winship

Monday, November 17, 2025 – January 2026 VHCC Art Gallery, LRC Visit the VHCC Art Gallery to view a collection of letterpress prints curated by David Winship, Director of The Sign of the George Press, which is the educational letterpress of King University. The exhibition explores both traditional and contemporary applications of letterpress printing. The VHCC Art Gallery is located in the campus library in the LRC building, which is open during regular business hours.

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Enchanted April

Thursday, November 20 • 7:30 pm Friday, November 21 • 7:30 pm Saturday, November 22 • 7:30 pm Sunday, November 23 • 2:30 pm Keyser-Aday Theatre ‘To Those Who Appreciate Wisteria and Sunshine’, join us on the Italian Riviera for the story of four women who enter each other’s lives while splitting the cost of the rental of a small medieval castle along the Mediterranean. Two female friends from London who chose to rent the castle as an escape from their bleak marriages are joined by two very different women for an April that stirs their spirits and brings about unexpected changes. Poignant, moving, and gently funny, this rendition of Enchanted April by the VHCC Theatre Department is sure to delight.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Thursday, November 20 • 7:30 pm Barter Theatre, Gilliam Stage RSVP Required!

The Grinch despises the annual Christmas Festivities of Whoville, so he carries out a plan to stop them once and for all. That is until his heart, two sizes too small, grows by learning the real meaning of Christmas.

Featuring Barter’s resident company and for the first time on Gilliam Stage join the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who, and citizens of Whoville for this timeless story based on the iconic film and adored classic to life. Celebrate the holidays in true Barter style- full of joy, music and just the right amount of mischief! Tickets are limited. RSVP to mporterfield@vhcc.edu to request tickets. VHCC students and Arts Array partners are given preference for reservations.

Letterpress Printing Workshop with David Winship

Friday, November 21 • 10 am-12 pm VHCC Library, LRC RSVP Required!

Join us in the campus library to explore the history of letterpress printing with David Winship, Director of the Sign of the George Press at King University. The letterpress was started by his father, an English professor, at King College fifty years ago. As a program of the Digital Media Art & Design department, the letterpress demonstrates the fundamentals of typography, design, and layout, using 19th-century technology in a 21st-century context.

Workshop participants will have the opportunity to create a custom letterpress design using typography and a selection of images to make a unique work of art on the letterpress print. No prior experience is necessary. Space is limited.

Contact Marie at mporterfield@vhcc.edu to reserve your spot!

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Tai-Chi Workshop in the Library

Tuesday, December 2 • 2 pm VHCC Library, LRC Take a break before finals and find your balance at a free Tai Chi workshop led by instructor Deni Peterson. Open to the public, this gentle movement session is perfect for reducing stress, improving focus, and restoring calm. No experience is necessary—just come ready to breathe, move, and center yourself.

Glow: VHCC Holiday Choir Concert

Tuesday, December 2 • 7:30 pm Keyser-Aday Theatre, LRC Join the VHCC Concert Choir for Glow, a heartwarming holiday concert celebrating light, hope, and community. Featuring instrumentalists and soloists from across the region, the program includes works by Eric Whitacre, Dan Forrest, Brandi Carlile, and more. Come experience an evening of festive music and reflection, perfect for the season.

State Line Wind Symphony Concert

Monday, December 15 • 7:15 pm Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center Celebrate the season with the State Line Wind Symphony in a festive holiday concert at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. This joyful performance will feature classic carols, seasonal favorites, and spirited symphonic selections for the whole family.

Come enjoy an evening of music and community cheer to kick off the holidays.

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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.

• Accessibility: All Arts Array events are free and open to students, their families, and the public, making them accessible 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.