HARRISONBURG, VA — Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) will unveil two new exhibitions at Smith House Galleries on June 6 as part of the First Fridays of the Valley arts event. The Darrin-McHone Gallery will feature Liminal by Keith G. Mills, while Seconds Between Time by Peter Schnibbe will be displayed in the Rhapsody Room. The public is invited to meet the artists and view their work between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., with light refreshments provided.
Sponsored by GreeneHurlocker, the exhibitions will remain on view through June 27. Visitors can experience the shows in person Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed June 19), and on Second Saturday, June 14, from noon to 5:00 p.m. Online access to the exhibitions will also be available at valleyarts.org.
Keith G. Mills, a 1983 graduate of James Madison University (JMU) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Printmaking, previously co-owned Laughing Dog Studios, a printing business, gallery, and artisan gift shop in downtown Harrisonburg. Since 2020, he has continued his artistic practice alongside his wife, Kathleen Kraft, from their home studio in the woods near Keezletown, Virginia.
Mills, known for his regional and national exhibitions, describes his creative process as deeply immersive. “If I’m fortunate in the process, I will lose a sense of time and something mysterious and wondrous will take place where anything can happen,” Mills said in a press release. “There is just a canvas filled with light and color, shape and line that has a life of its own to live out there.”
Peter Schnibbe, also a JMU alumnus with a 1985 Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking, relocated to the Shenandoah Valley in 2007 after decades in Northern Virginia, where he owned a sign and graphics business. Since his move, Schnibbe has focused on abstract and non-representational painting, showcasing his work in local solo and group exhibitions.
Using acrylics, pastels, charcoal, markers, and an array of tools, Schnibbe builds layered works that he describes as emotionally resonant. “My art is the result of sporadic surges of energy that percolate into my consciousness,” he said. “When a piece resonates with the viewer’s emotions, experiences, or memories, it transcends mere aesthetics and becomes a profound personal encounter.”
The exhibitions at Smith House Galleries highlight the dynamic talents of two established artists whose roots trace back to James Madison University and whose work continues to enrich the Shenandoah Valley’s vibrant arts scene.
