Get Artsy in Farmville

Photo courtesy of J Fergeson Gallery

Take a break from the computer and the cellphone and feed your creative side with the art scene in Farmville! Whether you want to get your hands dirty or prefer a walk through a gallery, Farmville has options for everyone. These local favorites offer classes and showings year round, so check them out and open your world to the arts.

Red Door 104 – Look for the distinctive red door on Farmville’s downtown Main Street for a range of arts and crafts classes. Red Door 104 has classes for both adults and kids such as: A Recycle Art Workshop, Toddler Tuesdays, Drawing Basics and Acrylic Paint 101, to name a few. Red Door 104 also offers birthday party rentals, great for kids or adults. Fun fact – the striking red front door was purchased from a salvage yard, is over 500 years old, and was brought to North America by ship from Spain!

Mainly Clay – All skill levels are welcome at Mainly Clay. They mainly offer classes, but also have supplies for all your pottery needs. Take a Learn To Glaze class, or a Bead Making class if that’s more your thing. Thursdays are Hand-Building Thursdays, where you can learn the basics and functions of pottery. One-Day Building Classes feature the option of making one of the following items for $35, with all materials included: fruit bowl, mug or vase, brie baker or ice-cream dish, or a soap dish, to name just a few! Wear an old t-shirt for this outing – it’s bound to be a messy good time.

LCVA – The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts is the Art museum of Longwood University, located in downtown Farmville. LCVA is the artistic outlet for the university and the Farmville community in whole. Year round, LCVA has rotating exhibits and events. Among the changing art at LCVA are collected pieces from influential Virginia artists and others from around the world. A visit to LCVA is a great weekend trip for friends, family, even a lovely date for two.

Riverside Café – Dine out in Farmville and enjoy art from local artists displayed at Riverside Café. The art is swapped out for new creations monthly. The food is delicious, and the art is exceptional. If you really like a piece on display at Riverside Café, it’s available for purchase! Have a great meal and take home a piece of art at Riverside Café.

J Fergeson Gallery – This local gallery brings together a mix of local and nationally recognized artists in their downtown gallery space. The gallery features art on display and for purchase along with a carefully curated gift shop. At J. Fergeson you’ll find contemporary paintings, ceramics, sculptures and photography.

Guinea Creek Crafts – This Main Street crafts mainstay is owned by artists Fred and Connie Richmond, who have been crafting since the 1970s. The two are always busy crafting and selling their wonderful creations. When looking for handmade, Guinea Creek Crafts is your place, where you’ll find wreaths, paintings, baskets and decorations for every holiday.

Lib’s Place – Looking for a place to go for all your crafting needs, from cake decorating to quilting, even scrapbooking and jewelry making? Lib’s Place is your place! Beyond their abundance of crafting essentials, they offer classes such as: Beginning Quilting, Fold and Stitch Wreath Making, and Beginning Landscaping, to name a few. They also offer sewing, needlework and oil painting classes. Stop by Lib’s Place to explore a new hobby or learn a new skill.

Esther Atkinson Museum – The Esther Thomas Atkinson Museum of Hampden-Sydney College was founded in 1968 for the purposes of collecting and preserving the rich history of Hampden-Sydney College, its culture and community. A permanent exhibition highlights the history of the College while a variety of changing exhibitions are displayed in the East Gallery.

Waterworks Players – For more than 40 years, Farmville’s community theater group, the Waterworks Players, has been bringing the magic of live theater to audiences and providing an artistic outlet for local actors, singers, designers and technicians. Their current production, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” plays October 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. Visit waterworksplayers.org to learn more.