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LCVA NETS $66,000 ON "THE NIGHT" Farmville -- Whether festooned with Mardi Gras beads, wearing kilts, or decked out in their finest, more than 400 guests celebrated The Night, a gala art auction benefiting the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts. The LCVA looked its finest, also, with dramatic black and red walls accented by sparkling mirrors and chandeliers and highlighted by richly colored flowers and drapery. But of course the museum’s most important decoration was the auctioned art itself, 163 works representing local, national, and international artists. “The response to the event was amazing,” commented LCVA Director K. Johnson Bowles. “From the artists, volunteers, and planning committee, to the sponsors and guests, we received generous and invaluable support.” High-dollar items at the auction included Baptism at Blue Waters, a mixed-media assemblage by folk artist William H. Clarke of Blackstone, Virginia; the oil painting Ladies in Black & White by Carylon Killebrew of Chattanooga, Tennessee; and a hardwood display case by woodworker Andrew Pitts of Heathsville, Virginia. Works by several local – yet nationally represented – artists also fared well, including paintings by Ray Kleinlein and David Dodge Lewis, and sculpture by Sandy Willcox. At the end of The Night, the LCVA netted a record $66,000 to benefit its educational programming, which reaches out to the schoolchildren and residents of nine area counties. Programs include traditional field trips to the LCVA, in-school classroom support, community art workshops, and much more. Gala co-chair Candice Jamison Dowdy (LU 1969), reflected, “The Night was all we hoped it would be – it gathered the local Farmville community, art lovers from across Virginia, and Longwood parents and alum for a fabulous evening benefiting a valuable institution.” Part glitzy entertainment, part art auction, and part fundraiser, the biennial event featured gourmet food, an open bar, and live music provided by a jazz ensemble comprised of students from Longwood’s music department. Excitement about the gala, however, is only one benefit of the evening. In addition, noted University President Patricia Cormier, “An event like this raises awareness of the magnificent work of the LCVA. People learn not only about the gala, but they also get a better sense of the museum’s award-winning exhibits and educational programs. The gala is really an invitation to greater participation in the vibrant life of the museum and the university.” The LCVA is located at 129 North Main Street in Farmville. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call 434-395-2206 or visit www.longwood.edu/lcva. ### For more information, please contact: Beth Cheuk, PR & Events Coordinator
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