Witness the Spectacle of Light in PVCC’s Annual Celebration

PVCC will host its annual Let There Be Light exhibition on Friday, Dec. 9, showcasing light-centered installations and performances. With the trails of light illuminating the campus, visitors will explore artwork surrounding the V. Earl Dickinson Building while enjoying complimentary hot chocolate or cider. During the darkest and coldest period of the year, Let There Be Light aims to bring light and warmth through community and artwork. 

Artists from across the Charlottesville area will include their pieces in the show. Students from the Peabody School, the Renaissance School, and members of the Boys and Girls Club will create art for the event. The PVCC Art Club will partner with a filmmaker to create an interactive shadow-puppet experience along the riverbank. Following a stage performance, visitors will be allowed to perform their own acts before the audience. 

In addition to Charlottesville artists, Let There Be Light will partner with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to include the museum’s mobile gallery, VMFA on the Road: An Artmobile for the 21st Century, a collection exploring portraiture through a variety of periods, cultures, and styles. Many of the works in this exhibition focus on the nature of art, the perception of beauty, and the cultural influences on identity.

Event Curator and Associate Professor of Art at PVCC Fenella Belle places a special emphasis on the occasion. “In spite of the dark, cold winter,” said Belle, “this idea is to give us a reason to connect with each other when our natural inclination may be to go inward and hibernate.” Although the holiday season can be celebrated differently, Let There Be Light creates a shared tradition of gift-giving through the interaction between artists and community members. 

Let There Be Light will begin at 6 p.m. after sunset. Belle recommends to anyone interested in attending to dress appropriately for the weather and to bring a flashlight. Admission will be free, and parking will be available in the main and Dickinson lots. PVCC will invite several food trucks with food available. The Let There Be Light website includes details from previous events, as well as a campus map.

 “Light is the perfect medium to bring us out of our shells,” said Belle. Because of the surrounding darkness, stumbling upon a new and unusual piece of art can spark the imagination and inspire celebration rather than hibernation as the Winter Solstice approaches.