Featured Art Exhibits
Muni West
1930’s Foyer
Spiral Arms is a collection of furniture for the home. The unique elastic & textural properties of steel are on display. It’s all about vibrant colors & geometric patterns. Inspired by natural phenomena, Art Nouveau, & Catholic imagery. Muni West (they/she) lives & works in Richmond; currently restoring Hollywood Cemetery’s ironwork with Chase Architectural Metal. This grants her access to/fascination with the tools of the trade. Also involved in experimental musical theatre & motorcycle maintenance…however she will always be little surfer girl at heart.
Piper Strasel
1930’s Foyer
Piper Strasel is a Richmond based artist working primarily with photography, video, and painting. Her work revolves around a never resting curiosity towards the land in which we inhabit, the waterways we swim and drink from, the air we breathe in deep on a pleasant day.
What minerals make up the earth under your feet?
Who came first?
What is it used for now?
Is it safe?
Who decides?
What minerals make up the earth under your feet?
Who came first?
What is it used for now?
Is it safe?
Who decides?
Lorena H. Critzer
Gellman Room
I enjoy capturing the contrast of darks and lights as well as placing colors next to one another that create a spark to add life and movement in my paintings. Many times I use layers of color to create texture and depth to intensify the painting and add a quality of richness. My goal is to give my own interpretation of my subject with an abstract quality. While creating art I love it when somehow intuition takes over and allows the painting itself to guide me.
Charlotte G. Richards
Gellman Room
Painting is a constant series of making decisions. It is a balancing act of knowing and following the rules as well as breaking some of them. I approach each painting with an open mind and a love of experimentation. I take the painting up to a certain point, choosing to leave unfinished areas for the viewer’s imagination. By taking risks and breaking some of the rules, I choose to be innovative and original. I now choose to color outside the lines.
Toni S. Scott
Gellman Room
After retiring as a high school art teacher in 2015, I have spent the past ten years experimenting in oil paint and ink. My works are usually created in a series depicting a variety of subjects including antique photos, antique shoe collections, and sights and scenes encountered on many trips to both coastal and mountainous areas.
I really enjoy the play between contemporary art techniques such as digital transfers and established fine art techniques employed by artists for centuries. My paintings have been exhibited in galleries across Virginia, and some are held in private collections throughout the United States.
I really enjoy the play between contemporary art techniques such as digital transfers and established fine art techniques employed by artists for centuries. My paintings have been exhibited in galleries across Virginia, and some are held in private collections throughout the United States.
Vickie Mitchell Neely
Gellman Room
Art is the creation of something without words that speaks to people, evoking emotions and feelings. I see art all around me on a daily basis in everything I encounter, and all art, from music to dance to literature to painting, has always played an important role in my life. I am a native of Spotsylvania County, and after attending college in North Carolina and Virginia, I became an educator, teaching in the elementary classroom for 35 years.
Upon my retirement, I continued to explore my love of art and painting. I am currently a member of The Blue Door Studio Painters and Johnny Johnson’s Water Media group.
Upon my retirement, I continued to explore my love of art and painting. I am currently a member of The Blue Door Studio Painters and Johnny Johnson’s Water Media group.
Nita Adams
Gellman Room
Nita Adams is an artist and educator who specializes in contemporary landscapes, seascapes and the nature of outdoors. Her work evolves intuitively and expresses an emotional connection with the environment. There is a physical presence of mood and feeling that is what her work is about. Her minimalist approach allows the viewer connect with their own interruption. She works primarily in acrylic and oil.
Nita has taught middle school, high school ,junior college and museum programs. She holds a masters degree from Virginia Commonwealth University with a concentration in painting and printmaking. Following retirement in 2006 she pursued her own work and maintained a studio at Liberty Town Arts in Fredericksburg. In 2023 she joined the Blue Door Studio. Nita’s work is held in private and public collections in the U.S. and abroad.
Nita has taught middle school, high school ,junior college and museum programs. She holds a masters degree from Virginia Commonwealth University with a concentration in painting and printmaking. Following retirement in 2006 she pursued her own work and maintained a studio at Liberty Town Arts in Fredericksburg. In 2023 she joined the Blue Door Studio. Nita’s work is held in private and public collections in the U.S. and abroad.
Mary Lou Cramer
Gellman Room
After retiring from teaching public school art in 2020, I was invited to join the Blue Door Studio, a group of like-minded women artists. It is a privilege to learn from, and share with, good friends whose work I greatly admire.
Travel and the marvel and diversity of the natural world inspire my work.
Travel and the marvel and diversity of the natural world inspire my work.
Michelle Berthier
1930’s Foyer
I grew up in the vibrant heart of Mexico City, a place known for its rich cultural heritage and thriving art scene. Being surrounded by creativity from an early age helped me develop a deep appreciation for artistic expression, and I eagerly pursued my passion by attending art school.
As I grew, I expanded my studies to include Graphic Design, Visual Arts, and Art History—fields that deepened my understanding of technique, storytelling, and artistic tradition. Later, I became a yoga instructor and sound bath facilitator. I continue to explore the connections between creativity, expression, and inner stillness.
Rooted in diverse life experiences, my art reflects a deep reverence for nature, culture, and the unseen forces that shape our inner and outer worlds.
Naturaleza Viva explores the intricate relationship between nature and my hometown, Mexico City, capturing the essence of both in vibrant, emotive compositions that weave together the past and present.
As I grew, I expanded my studies to include Graphic Design, Visual Arts, and Art History—fields that deepened my understanding of technique, storytelling, and artistic tradition. Later, I became a yoga instructor and sound bath facilitator. I continue to explore the connections between creativity, expression, and inner stillness.
Rooted in diverse life experiences, my art reflects a deep reverence for nature, culture, and the unseen forces that shape our inner and outer worlds.
Naturaleza Viva explores the intricate relationship between nature and my hometown, Mexico City, capturing the essence of both in vibrant, emotive compositions that weave together the past and present.
Through my work, I aim to evoke a profound sense of nostalgia and belonging, celebrating the beauty of flowers, cacti, and landscapes, and the memories they hold within them. I seek to highlight not only the visual splendor of these surroundings but also the emotional connections they foster within me and others who share similar experiences. Each brushstroke and color choice reflects my deep, personal connection to the natural world around me, inviting viewers to rediscover the familiar and appreciate the subtle, often overlooked wonders of our environment.
My art serves as a reminder that nature is not just a backdrop but a living, breathing part of our daily lives, shaping our identities and leaving an indelible mark on our hearts.
The titles of each of my paintings are folkloric expressions from my beloved Mexico, reflecting not only the connection to the work but also how Mexicans use language as a playful art form. These expressions poetically capture the wisdom inherited from our abuelitas, with lessons often condensed into a single phrase or just a few words.