Art show offers a renewal of community spirit in Norfolk's Ghent

This and some 80 other pieces of art by 37 artists will be featured during "Renewal," a juried art exhibit held in a new Ghent location.

By deb markham
The Virginian-Pilot

What do you get when you mix a young community minded church and a couple of art enthusiasts from Hampton Roads?

"Renewal," a juried art exhibit, inspired by the spiritual and cultural themes associated with spring, creation, renewal, rebirth and what it all means.

Epic, a new church now meeting in a renovated warehouse, recently moved from Virginia Beach to Norfolk's Ghent. To celebrate the new location and spread the news of its desire to make an impact on it's new community, the church is hosting the juried art show.

Church members Renee B. Alexander and Jennida Chase organized the show. Alexander pulled from her resources as founder of S.A.L.T., a local artists collective. Chase turned to the 7 Cities Craft Mafia. (The two organizations also are co-sponsoring the show.)

"We actually went a little further than we usually do," said Chase. "We talked to people we knew, but we also reached out to people online and elsewhere that we sort of knew."

Because of their outreach efforts, they collected a diverse array of artists to show off a diverse array of art - from fine to photographic and digital. In all they count about 37 artists and around 80 pieces of art.

Opening night will be held 7 p.m. tonight (April 6) at the church on 1229 W. Olney Road, Norfolk. Awards will be presented at 8 p.m. (Port Folio Weekly editor Tom Robotham serves as the show's judge.)

Throughout the night Substance will DJ, and five bands - Emma, Rev Chloe, Candy-O, Kevin Ferguson and Kid Camero - will perform.

Although the organizers keep the religious theme of the show decidedly low-key in an effort to draw a general audience with parallel interests - art and community - and also to showcase the S.A.L.T. collective and the 7 Cities Craft Mafia as well as the church, it's still quite fitting the show opens tonight on Good Friday.

"God is the creator. Artists are also creators," said Robb Overholt, the church's pastor. "When you think about it, we're made in his image. Therefore, we are designed to create. We are meant to be artists."

If you can't make it to the show's opening, you can still view the art through April 27 on Sundays from 3 to 7 p.m. and by appointment. For more details, check out the event's calendar listing.