African American Read-In + Family Day
10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, Piedmont Arts
The annual African American Read-In and Family Day will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, at Piedmont Arts.
Griot, or storyteller, Fred Motley will entertain with folktales, the Kuumba West African Dance Company will share traditional folklore through song, music, and dance, and Miss Commonwealth 2026 Victoria Howard will make a special appearance. Guests are invited to participate in a public read-aloud. Participants should bring a book, story, or poem by a favorite African American author to share with the group.
Members of Piedmont Arts’ Teen Arts Council will provide a free craft for children, and the Piedmont Arts Guild will give away door prizes. Snacks will be available. This event is free, and all ages are welcome.
Sponsored by Brightspeed and Carter Bank.
News
New exhibits bring crowd of 150 to opening reception
A crowd of around 150 people attended an opening reception welcoming the American Watercolor Society’s “158th Traveling Exhibition,” and the exhibits “Act II: Paintings by Gail Doyle Smith” and “Opening Minds Through Art: Work by King’s Grant Residents” on Jan. 23 at Piedmont Arts.
American Watercolor Society signature member Kevin Deck of Roanoke, Virginia, spoke about his work, his career as an architect, and membership in the American Watercolor Society. His piece, “Tower of Power,” is on view in the exhibition.
The exhibits will be on view until March 28, 2026. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free.
The reception and exhibits are sponsored by Olivia and Pres Garrett, Gale and Will Gravely, Charisse and David Hairston, Kathy and Hank Long, Nancy and Henry Moore, Brenda and Joe Williams, Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust, Lynwood Artists, Sovah Health, and What’s Your Sign.
Current Exhibits
American Watercolor Society
On view through March 28, Piedmont Arts
This annual traveling exhibition, organized by the American Watercolor Society, presents a carefully curated selection of works by many of the nation’s most accomplished watercolor artists.
The exhibition underscores the breadth, complexity, and expressive potential of watercolor as a medium. Spanning luminous landscapes, evocative portraiture, and dynamic abstract compositions, the works on view demonstrate both technical mastery and conceptual innovation, reflecting the continued vitality of contemporary watercolor practice.
Act II: Paintings by Gail Doyle Smith
On view through March 28, Piedmont Arts
Gail Doyle Smith is a visual artist based along the Brunswick River in coastal North Carolina, where the rhythms of water, marsh, and sky shape both her daily life and her artistic vision. Living on the river has provided Smith an enduring source of inspiration for paintings that depict tranquil coastal landscapes, shore birds, wildlife, and native flora with sensitivity and depth.
Opening Minds Through Art: Work by King’s Grant Residents
On view through March 28, Piedmont Arts
The Lynwood Artists Gallery features artwork by the residents of King’s Grant, including memory care patients participating in the Opening Minds Through Art program. This program provides a creative outlet for patients living with dementia.
These exhibits are sponsored by Olivia and Pres Garrett, Gale and Will Gravely, Charisse and David Hairston, Kathy and Hank Long, Nancy and Henry Moore, Brenda and Joe Williams, Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust, Lynwood Artists, Sovah Health, and What’s Your Sign.
Upcoming Events
Foster Gallery Reception
4-6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10, Piedmont Arts
Join Piedmont Arts and the Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County for a free event celebrating students with work on display in the Foster Gallery from 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Piedmont Arts.
The exhibit will be on display from Jan. 23-Feb. 27. It features work by students attending the following schools:
• Carlisle Middle School
• Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School
• Laurel Park Middle School
• Martinsville Middle School
This event is free and open to exhibiting students, their families, and friends.
Art Talk with Gail Doyle Smith
12:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, Piedmont Arts
Join the Piedmont Arts Guild for a special presentation by artist Gail Doyle Smith at 12:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, at Piedmont Arts. Smith will speak about her exhibit, Act II: Paintings by Gail Doyle Smith, which is on view at the museum through March 28.
Dancing for the Arts 2026
3 p.m., Saturday, March 14, MHS Auditorium
Dancing for the Arts, the fabulous fundraiser for Piedmont Arts, returns to the stage at 3 p.m., Saturday, March 14, at Martinsville High School Auditorium.
In this dazzling, high-energy dance competition, teams of local celebrities and community leaders compete for a cause — supporting the arts! Your votes support your favorite teams and the arts in Martinsville-Henry County.
Admission tickets are $30 for reserved seating, $20 for general admission and $10 for students in grades K-12.
DFTA teams:
• Katie Adkins + Brandon Johnson
• Shan’Tyia Hairston + Maurice Breedlove
• Tiffanie Hairston + Brian Hairston
• Sarah Hodges + Kasey Lucas
• Elizabeth Huerta + Alfredo Huerta
• Margie Price-Savedge + Christopher Janey
• Shatera Robertson + Louis Norton
• Melissa White + Al Herndon
Sponsored by King’s Grant, Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, Inc., Brightspeed, Frith & Associates CPAs, Sarver Properties, Stateline Aesthetics, Diversifed Trust Company, Martinsville Family Medicine, Sarver Cleaning Services, Snyder Orthodontics, The Givens Family, Tri-City Glass & Mirror Co., Uptown Aesthetics, and Valkyrie Aerial Acrobatics.
Mike Wiley: A Game Apart
Thursday, March 26, Piedmont Arts
Actor and playwright Mike Wiley will perform “A Game Apart,” a one-person play about baseball legend Jackie Robinson, on Thursday, March 26, at Piedmont Arts. A reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the performance at 7 p.m. in the galleries.
“A Game Apart” offers a powerful lesson of courage through dedication, perseverance, and leadership. The play provides a glimpse into Robinson’s life during the era of segregated locker rooms, whites-only hotels, and restaurants with only a back door for athletes of color to enter. Witness the struggles of a star player who was celebrated on the field but became a second-class citizen when he walked off the diamond.
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for students in grades K-12.
Classes
Bob Ross Workshop
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 5
Yoga in the Galleries (Chair)
10-11 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 14
Yoga in the Galleries
10-11 a.m.
Saturday, March 28
Chix with Stix
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Second and fourth Tuesdays
