February 21, 4-6 pm • Opening Reception

Three New Solo Exhibitions Exploring Emotion, Texture, and Place

The Floyd Center for the Arts is pleased to announce a new series of solo exhibitions on view from February 21 through April 4, 2026, featuring the work of local and regional artists, Howard Wenger, Elaine Fleck, and Bronwen Valentine. Spanning three gallery spaces, the exhibitions invite viewers into deeply personal explorations of emotion, material, memory, and the natural world. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, February 21, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, and is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

In the Hayloft Gallery, Feelings, Thoughts, and Dreams presents a solo exhibition by Howard Wenger. Wenger describes his work as a form of visual poetry, images that communicate what words sometimes cannot. The work explores contrast and balance, inviting viewers to step away from daily noise and into a space of imagination, mystery, and reflection. Wenger’s paintings encourage viewers to slow down and experience both light and shadow as part of the human experience.

The Falcon Gallery features Textured Visions, a solo exhibition by Elaine Fleck that celebrates the artist’s fascination with texture, color, and the intricate patterns found in nature. The exhibition brings together sculptures, drawings, and paintings made from fabric, oil paint, mosaics, and pen-and-ink techniques. Portraits, still lifes, landscapes, and dreamlike imagery are paired with sculptural forms such as mosaic shoes, figures, and fruit. Fleck’s layered surfaces invite close looking and reflection on the beauty, complexity, and interconnectedness of the natural world.

In the Breezeway Gallery, The Spaces Between, a solo exhibition by Bronwen Valentine draws inspiration from both the natural landscapes of Appalachia and the meaningful places she has visited throughout her travels. A Floyd native, Valentine’s work reflects a life shaped by art, music, community, and exploration. Her paintings combine expressive color with detailed, hand-painted designs, revealing the influence of her background in architecture through balance and structure. The work aims to capture the feeling and energy of memories, places, and moments that leave a lasting impression.

Together, these three exhibitions offer visitors an immersive experience across multiple artistic voices and mediums, united by a shared sense of curiosity, reflection, and creative exploration.

Gallery hours are noon to 5:00 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays.

These exhibitions are proudly sponsored by Finn Graphics. 

This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.