First Friday Reception and Short Films at Towngate
First Friday Reception at Towngate Theatre March 3 Add Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre to your list of First Friday stops in Wheeling! View the latest exhibit at “The Gallery at Towngate” featuring the work of railroad photographer and author Fredrick J. Ripley. His work provides dynamic insight and history on the workings of the American railroad industry both past and present. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Have a drink on us. Wine and craft beer will be available. Enjoy some light foods, too. After that, you can go upstairs and watch some independent film shorts on the Towngate Cinema big screen. Meet our staff and explore our theater. Learn more about the many arts and entertainment events that take place year-round at Towngate. All events are free and open to the public. Towngate Theatre is well known in Wheeling and its surrounding communities for community theater productions, children’s theater, concerts, ballet, film screenings, spoken word and other performing arts events. But did you know that Towngate is also an art gallery? The theater lobby is now home to changing art exhibits. “The Gallery at Towngate” is an extension of the exhibit season hosted by Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Art Center. This second gallery space provides opportunities for artists to do solo exhibitions without having to fill a space as large as the Stifel Fine Arts Center. The gallery space also enhances the visitor experience for those attending performing arts events at Towngate.
Jamie Lester, Eli Pollard, Francisco Amaya, Michael Doig Group Show & Artist Appreciation Party
This group show highlights the work four accomplished contemporary West Virginia artists. Mediums include sculpture, water color, print making, and oil painting. The opening also coincides with an Artist Appreciation party open to the public with two performances, catered by Whitegrass Cafe, and sponsored by Big Timber!
TWO Watercolor Exhibitions “Journeys”
Walter Shroyer's recently completed work in collages and watercolors are inspired by postage stamps collected by his father. Linda Weatherly's pattern and design fill her watercolors bringing to mind quilts and carpets, upon which stories can be told.