
Valley Talent, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts
In January, the gallery at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts (BMCA) will host its annual Valley Talent exhibit featuring works by area youth selected by their art instructors. “The hope is to create an authentic experience in which students participate in an opening, gallery show and the potential sale of their artwork,” says Lori Cozzi, executive director of the BMCA. “It’s a really beautiful thing to bring these school communities together in their community art center. The show creates dialogue between the teachers and brings people into BMCA that may not know about us otherwise. It’s also about building student confidence in their art; letting them see that people can and do create, exhibit and display their work.”

A Thousand Leaves. Mabel Hada, artist. Photo courtesy of BMCA
Valley Talent opens on Friday, January 10, with a reception from 5—6:30 p.m. and runs through the rest of the month. The schools and programs participating in this year’s show are Black Mountain Elementary, Black Mountain Primary, ArtSpace Charter School, Owen Middle School, Owen High School, Williams Elementary, Black Mountain Montessori School, Art in the Afternoon and Asheville Christian Academy High School.
Jolie Atkins, a K—5 art educator with Black Mountain Schools, selected students to participate based on the relevant themes in their art as well as their creativity, craftsmanship and their use of art elements and design principles. “I like to choose imaginative pieces or art that people can relate to in some way,” she says. “These are children artists, so of course I encourage them to be kids and explore the materials and techniques and when they make something that turns out beautiful, I want to make sure it is recognized.”
The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is located at 225 West State Street, Black Mountain. Learn more at BlackMountainArts.org or by calling 828.669.0930.