Suffolk Center ‘captures music’ with latest exhibit
Published 9:00 am Thursday, June 26, 2025
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“Capturing Music” is the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts’ latest exhibit. It highlights how the visual and performing arts are intertwined, showcasing many pieces created by musicians.
Inspired by the many concerts and music-related events in the Hampton Roads area, Nana Ferdnance, the Center’s Visual Arts Manager, said she wanted to “celebrate” them with the exhibit. This is the first exhibit the Center’s done that focuses on music.
“I wanted to find artists who really capture the essence of, you know, when you experience music, when you experience melodies and dancing, how do you react? How can you capture that visually on the canvas? How can you capture that through a sculpture?,” she said.
Ferdnance said the exhibit’s opening reception went well, attracting people who may not otherwise be art lovers but enjoyed the gallery’s musical aspect.
Quite a few of the artists featured in the exhibit are musicians, which Ferdnance enjoyed, because “it was just interesting to see the musicians also have this beautiful artistic side.”
Joleen Neighbours, the Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts for Suffolk Public Schools, helped judge the exhibit, an opportunity she was very excited about.
“I think that all of the artwork that was submitted was absolutely fascinating and beautiful,” she said. “I mean, it captured all sorts of music iterations, from the performer, to the instruments, to the feeling, to the dance. So it really has probably been one of my absolute favorite exhibitions that have been [at the Center].”
James Alvin Harrison was awarded first place for his piece “The Sound of Browntown,” which depicts a side-of-the-road jam session.
Ferdnance described Harrison’s piece as being full of energy and pulling people into the scene. She said it’s a great representation of the exhibit’s theme and “really calls for the music, even though there’s no sound.”
Ka-Son Reeves won second place for his painting, “Guitar Player,” featuring a young girl sitting with a guitar.
Ferdnance said Reeve’s ability to capture the “inquisitive curiosity” of a child discovering music is breathtaking.
The third-place winner was Chip Hudson’s “But by the grave of God.” Hudson also participated in the Center’s last art exhibit, “Walk on the Wild Side: Chilling Creatures.”
A people’s choice winner will also be announced on July 26, the last day of the exhibit.
Besides the winners, Ferdnance and Neighbours said the concert photography stood out and seemed to be a fan favorite among those who attended the exhibit’s opening reception.
“Concert photography is everywhere,” Ferdnance said. “When you go to concert, or when you experience music, you’re taking photos, you’re taking videos, so I want to include that medium.”
A fun and new addition to the exhibit is the ability to listen to the artists’ favorite songs. During the application process, Ferdnance requested they include a favorite song or a song that inspired the artwork. That song can be listened to by scanning a QR code on the artist statement.
With over 100 pieces from 33 artists, Ferdnance said it was clear people were excited about the theme.
“Especially artists who are also musicians, they’ve been looking for something like this for a while,” she said. “Even [Neighbours] was like, ‘I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a while’, to combine these in the visual arts.”
