by Audrey | Mar 28, 2025 | artwork, First Friday, Harrisonburg Architect
First Friday – April 4, 2025: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
We hope you can join us for our First Friday through the Arts Council of the Valley, as we feature works by Jeff Hoodock for the month of April and woodturnings by David Sutton for one night only!
Learn More: First Fridays at the Depot Featuring Jeff Hoodock and David Sutton
Jeff’s Bio
Born in 1958 in Washington, D.C., Jeff’s early influences were Andrew Wyeth and the Abstract Expressionists and his early training included studying plein air watercolors with Bill Gerhold. His love of art drew him to St. Mary’s College of Maryland where he studied painting with Tom Rowe and Earl Hofmann. Jeff has traveled and worked in Boulder, Colorado and taught English as a second language in Hamamatsu, Japan. In 2004, he earned an MFA in Fine Arts/Painting from JMU. He currently resides in Harrisonburg, VA.
David’s Bio
I grew up in Penn Laird, VA and went to Montevideo High School and became interested in wood turning as a part of shop class. After college I had a career with the University of Florida with their aquatic plant program. After I retired to Port Republic, Virginia I pursued my interest in plants. I joined the Harrisonburg Farmers Market in 2007 to offer plants and produce. I remembered how much I enjoyed turning wood during shop class so I bought a lathe and began to make rolling pins and added them to my offerings at the Market. Many of the wood products I now offer come from suggestions of customers.
About Port Farm Wood Turnings:
Most wood is from local trees. I try to showcase the natural beauty and grain characteristic of the wood while trying to items items that have a functional use. All wood products are food safe and water resistant
by Charles Hendricks | Mar 3, 2025 | artwork, community, First Friday
It is time to join us to celebrate art in the valley at the Depot. I hope you can join us to see this incredible show put together by
Cheryl Shanahan that celebrates life lived in what ancient Greeks referred to as Kairos time.
As always, this event is free and open to everyone, and refreshments will be provided by the Gaines Group Architects!
Cheryl’s Bio:
Cheryl Shanahan is an internationally collected acrylic painter who splits her year between New Hampshire’s Lakes Region and Metro Richmond, Virginia. Her family has had ties to New Hampshire for nearly a century. Cheryl is a graduate of the University of Richmond. Cheryl started her creative path at age four when she taught herself how to read music. She expressed herself as a classically trained pianist, an avid writer, and a photographer for decades. Having grown up with several amateur artists in her family, she was curious about painting. In 2020, Cheryl signed up for acrylic painting classes. She got eight lessons under her belt before the lockdown, and much to her surprise, there was a painter who was eager to come forth. Her knowledge of composition, value, and color from her photography experience helped her immensely when she jumped in the deep end of the painting pool. Cheryl exhibits in group and solo exhibitions in New Hampshire and Virginia. She is a member of the
Seacoast Artist Association and an Associate Member of the
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS). Gallery representation is through Jackson Art Studio & Gallery in Jackson, New Hampshire.
Artist Statement:
“Pastorale” is a celebration of life lived in what ancient Greeks referred to as “Kairos” time – “the right or critical time” – flow state. Modern society is in a wrestling match with chronological time: our calendars, planners, watches, meetings generally dictate how the days are run – and the reality is that it’s really a contemporary construct or experiment. “Pastorale” celebrates those who work in rhythm with Nature’s pace and flow and honors the spaces where the built environment meets the natural one.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 27, 2024 | artwork, citizen architect, community, First Friday, Harrisonburg Architect, Local Leaders, Office Culture
Our December First Friday Holiday party is a special time. We always look forward to our artists that are here for one night only. This month, we are really excited about the creations that Erika Cash will bring for you to enjoy.
Royal Knotz was created by Erika at the beginning of 2024 as a branch off of her crochet business that she has with her mother, Wistful Willows. Royal Knotz focuses on crochet patterns that Erika develops herself.
Erika Cash is a wife and mother of 3. She has been crocheting for 26 years. Erika can bring many things to life with just a ball of yarn and a hook and has been commissioned to make many one-of-a-kind items. She loves creating crochet patterns and watching others bring the patterns to life. Erika sees crochet as a way to express herself and relieve stress.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 26, 2024 | artwork, citizen architect, community, First Friday, Office Culture
Here comes Santa Clause to the Depot. It is by far my favorite time of year and my favorite First Friday at the Depot. Santa will be in the building!!!
We are excited to partner with our Depot neighbors, R.S. Monger and Sons and Herr and Company to host an extra special holiday party and First Friday event! Mark your calendars and plan to stop by the Depot on Friday, December 6th between 5-7 pm to partake in the festivities.
The holiday spirit will be celebrated and shared as we listen to live music performed by Red Wing Academy, share our wish lists with Santa himself, and enjoy local artist creations. The festivities are numerous and will be held on both the second and first floors of the Depot. Santa will be on the first floor and available for you to take your own photos with. We will also have Red Wing Academy playing for your enjoyment. Artists for December will include Justin Poole and Erika Cash!
As always, this event is free and open to everyone! Food and refreshments will be provided. Visit the event page and RSVP here.
Did you know that Santa can be traced back to the 4th-century Christian Saint, Saint Nicholas. Born in modern-day Turkey, St. Nicholas was known for his generosity and kindness, often secretly giving gifts to the poor and needy.
Over time, stories about St. Nicholas’s generosity spread throughout Europe. In the Netherlands, he became known as Sinterklaas, a figure who brought gifts to children on December 6th. When Dutch settlers brought their traditions to New York, Sinterklaas evolved into Santa Claus.
The modern image of Santa Claus, with his red suit and sleigh pulled by reindeer, was popularized in the 19th century. Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (more commonly known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas”) and Thomas Nast’s illustrations in Harper’s Weekly helped to solidify this image.
While the exact origins of Santa Claus are shrouded in legend, his enduring popularity is a testament to the power of kindness, generosity, and the magic of Christmas.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 25, 2024 | artwork, citizen architect, community, First Friday, Harrisonburg Architect, Holiday, Local Leaders, Office Culture
Each month at the Depot we feature new artwork (except for January and February) for First Friday Harrisonburg. This outreach with our community artists is to give them a platform to feature their work, but it is more than that for us. We invest in our community in a variety of ways and supporting local artists is one of the primary methods that we use to build a stronger and more vibrant community. These monthly events are just as much about the artists sharing their creations as it is the community coming out to see it, talk to each other, and to get to know each other. Our community is stronger and more resilient if we know our neighbors and celebrate beautiful creations together. So I hope you will come for a visit on December 6, 2024 from 5pm – 7pm to see what Justin has created.
Justin Poole is our featured artist for December First Friday. His show entitled “Vistas,” represents a new phase in his development as an artist. The oil pastels are an attempt to foster a looser approach in his artwork, while the new oil paintings are an attempt to lean further into the fantastical, dreamlike, and sublime. More works of both types are being dreamed up and created as this new show launches, and Justin looks forward to where these new styles will lead.
Justin Poole is Associate Professor of Theatre and the Theatre Program Director at Eastern Mennonite University, where he has also taught classes on art history. He and his wife Amanda lead semester-long performance and visual art-themed study abroad programs to Europe and Morocco. Traveling is the greatest source of inspiration for Justin’s own performance and visual art. Largely self-taught, Justin hones his drawing and painting skills while observing and sketching the works of the masters at some of his favorite Europe art museums, especially Vienna, Austria’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Tate Britain in London. He is also the Artist-In-Residence at Asbury United Methodist Church, where he manages the gallery space and seeks to integrate art and faith.
If you would like to purchase his painting(s) you may contact him via email or phone. You can also visit his website to see more paintings. He also gladly accepts commissions!
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 610-585-1663
Website: justinpooleart.com
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 23, 2024 | artwork, citizen architect, community, First Friday, Harrisonburg Architect, Local Leaders, Office Culture
Our annual Holiday Party is coming up on FIRST FRIDAY, December 6, 2024, and Red Wing Academy is back!!! We absolutely love supporting and partnering with Red Wing Academy each year, and it is such a pleasure to host a small group of these talented students each year for our holiday celebrations.
Red Wing Academy is a music camp hosted by Eric Brubaker of The Steel Wheels. It’s a four-day intensive camp held annually at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA. This camp is designed to nurture young musicians, providing them with the skills, talents, and community to go beyond classical training into the world of improvisational performance and group play. The culmination of the academy is a performance on-stage with the Steel Wheels at Red Wing Roots Music Festival. It’s open to non-beginner violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin and banjo students ages 5 – 19. Students receive individual and group instruction from highly trained music teachers and are coached by members of The Steel Wheels throughout the week. It’s an incredible opportunity to play with and learn from music experts.
Gaines Group Architects sponsors the academy each year to support the next generation of musicians in our community. A focus on musical instruction not only teaches kids how to play, but studies have shown that it accelerates brain development in young children, particularly in the areas of the brain that are responsible for processing sound, language development, speech perception, and reading skills.
A special Thank You to Meg with Tiller Strings for making the partnership possible!
