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Splash: Honoring Virginia Waterways

July 16 – August 20, 2026

Splash: Honoring Virginia Waterways

ON VIEW: July 16 – August 20, 2026
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, July 16, 2026, 5:30pm to 7:00pm,
Reception is FREE and open to the public. Enjoy light refreshments, meet artists, and explore the exhibit.

VIRGINIA WATERWAYS TALK: Friday, August 14, 2026 from 5:00pm to 6:30pm More information below.

THEME

Cool down this summer inside our galleries with an exhibition depicting the waterways of Virginia through the Visual Arts. Virginia’s waterways have a deep history to many communities and are great sources of relaxation such as the Great Dismal Swamp, the James River and the famous Virginia Beach. Hampton Roads residents recognize how the waterways connect communities and the need to preserve them.

Artists were invited to depict waterways (natural or manmade) in their artwork and the exhibition was curated by Nana A.N. Ferdnance. Examples range from paintings of a bird on the river to photographs of marine restoration.

JUDGE: Daniel J. H. McDonald

Daniel J. H. McDonald is an environmental outreach professional and the coordinator of Keep Suffolk Beautiful. A professional graphic artist, published illustrator, photographer, and painter, his work is inspired by nature, wildlife, and a strong sense of place, often blending detailed realism with expressive design. Through community cleanup initiatives, environmental education, and public engagement, he works to promote stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. His passion for both art and conservation continues to shape his creative work and community outreach throughout the Hampton Roads region.

Virginia Waterways Talk

Friday, August 14, 2026 from 5:00pm to 6:30pm | Free & open to the public

Virginia is one of the hosts of the largest estuary in the United States, the Chesapeake Bay. Three experts from the field will be speaking about the various ways in which different state and local organizations are actively preserving Virginia waterways. We invite the public for a free event to come, listen and converse with these three experts about the importance of protecting and restoring the Waterways of Virginia.

Lisa Renee Jennings, the Hampton Roads Outreach & Program Manager from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Cassidy McKelvie, the Senior Environmental Planner from the City of Suffolk and co-president of Virginia Master Naturalists

Leila Avery, a master’s student at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, who has collaborated with the Nansemond Indian Natina and United Houma Nation on reclaiming identity through oyster aquaculture and restoration.