In the Gallery
Spring to Life Art Exhibit
April 6th - June 26th
The Montpelier Center for Arts & Education's art gallery is proud to host The Spring to Life art exhibition. This exhibition has works from artists Cynthia Krumbein. Ed Tepper, Heidi Thacker, Lisa Lezell Levine, and Sandhi Schimmel Gold. These five artists came together to show off their works of art that range from photography to paper mosaics. Stop by The Center to get a first hand view of these beautiful and unique artworks, or scroll down to view the exhibit from home on our virtual art gallery.
Meet the Artists
Cynthia Krumbein
Cynthia Nerdun Krumbein, with her husband Charles, has spent more than 50 years traveling and photographing. Originally with film, and now with digital capture, she has enjoyed documenting people and places. U.S. National Parks have always been a delight, as have urban life and nature.
Cindy received her first camera as a child, encouraged by parents who photographed and painted from nature. Together with her husband, Cindy studied with Canon Photographers of Light, and traveled in The U.S., Africa, South America, Asia, and Antarctica with well-known teaching photographers. Cindy has published ten photographic books about their travels, available at Blurb.com
After graduating from Simmons College and earning an M.L.S. from Catholic University. Cindy worked as a university press editor, a school librarian, and as the Director and Archivist of Congregational Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives. She has served as president of Focus Group Camera Club, a group of enthusiastic Richmond photographers who encourage each other and exhibit together. The Krumbein are part of a very large and close family in Richmond, and are fortunate to be the parents f two wonderful children, and grandparents of three.
Cynthia Nerdun Krumbein, with her husband Charles, has spent more than 50 years traveling and photographing. Originally with film, and now with digital capture, she has enjoyed documenting people and places. U.S. National Parks have always been a delight, as have urban life and nature.
Cindy received her first camera as a child, encouraged by parents who photographed and painted from nature. Together with her husband, Cindy studied with Canon Photographers of Light, and traveled in The U.S., Africa, South America, Asia, and Antarctica with well-known teaching photographers. Cindy has published ten photographic books about their travels, available at Blurb.com
After graduating from Simmons College and earning an M.L.S. from Catholic University. Cindy worked as a university press editor, a school librarian, and as the Director and Archivist of Congregational Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives. She has served as president of Focus Group Camera Club, a group of enthusiastic Richmond photographers who encourage each other and exhibit together. The Krumbein are part of a very large and close family in Richmond, and are fortunate to be the parents f two wonderful children, and grandparents of three.
Ed Tepper
Ed calls himself a recovering accountant turned passionate photographer. He was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up mostly in the beach town of Far Rockaway, NY He now lives in Glen Allen, VA, with his wife, Arline
After retiring from corporate life, Ed's passion became creating photographic stories of ordinary people going about their regular lives. He calls it "Candid Social Documentary Photography". "Candid" because most of the time the people in the photo don't know he's there, so they can't put on an act for the camera. "Social" because his photos are about people. "Documentary" because his photos show real life. He hopes that his photos impact you, the viewer. They may make you feel happy or sad. They may astonish you. They may make you angry or at peace. They may create conflict or harmony. Different viewers will have different reactions to his photos and that's ok. His goal is that you feel something.
Ed is actively involved in the robust arts community around Richmond. He is a juried member of ArtSpace Gallery and the Metropolitan Richmond Artists Association and is President of the Richmond Digital Photo Club. His photos have been published in The Street Photographer Notebook, Snapshot, Artstonish, and Close To Home Photography Salon magazines.
Ed calls himself a recovering accountant turned passionate photographer. He was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up mostly in the beach town of Far Rockaway, NY He now lives in Glen Allen, VA, with his wife, Arline
After retiring from corporate life, Ed's passion became creating photographic stories of ordinary people going about their regular lives. He calls it "Candid Social Documentary Photography". "Candid" because most of the time the people in the photo don't know he's there, so they can't put on an act for the camera. "Social" because his photos are about people. "Documentary" because his photos show real life. He hopes that his photos impact you, the viewer. They may make you feel happy or sad. They may astonish you. They may make you angry or at peace. They may create conflict or harmony. Different viewers will have different reactions to his photos and that's ok. His goal is that you feel something.
Ed is actively involved in the robust arts community around Richmond. He is a juried member of ArtSpace Gallery and the Metropolitan Richmond Artists Association and is President of the Richmond Digital Photo Club. His photos have been published in The Street Photographer Notebook, Snapshot, Artstonish, and Close To Home Photography Salon magazines.
Heidi Thacker
Heidi Thacker is a native Virginian. She grew up in Norfolk, VA, with her husband, Al, and moved to Richmond where she earned her BFA in Painting and Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University. Since retiring from the corporate world, she is able to live her dream and create art full time. In recent years she has participated in Second Chances at UNOS, Near and Far at the Richmond Public Library, and Jewish Peoplehood and Celebrate Good Times at The Jewish Community Center. She has exhibited at Second Street Gallery, the Virginia Beach Art Center, Art Works, and Crossroads among others. She is currently an artist member at ArtSpace.
When asked to participate in anew exhibit titled Spring to Life at The Montpelier Center or Arts and Education she was very excited to be included. Her style of creations fit right in to the joyous spring season theme. With glue, paint, glitter, paper, and wood, Heidi has created an array of stylized birds and fish. These whimsical, quirky, bright colored creations are meant to provide visual smiles to the viewer.
Heidi Thacker is a native Virginian. She grew up in Norfolk, VA, with her husband, Al, and moved to Richmond where she earned her BFA in Painting and Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University. Since retiring from the corporate world, she is able to live her dream and create art full time. In recent years she has participated in Second Chances at UNOS, Near and Far at the Richmond Public Library, and Jewish Peoplehood and Celebrate Good Times at The Jewish Community Center. She has exhibited at Second Street Gallery, the Virginia Beach Art Center, Art Works, and Crossroads among others. She is currently an artist member at ArtSpace.
When asked to participate in anew exhibit titled Spring to Life at The Montpelier Center or Arts and Education she was very excited to be included. Her style of creations fit right in to the joyous spring season theme. With glue, paint, glitter, paper, and wood, Heidi has created an array of stylized birds and fish. These whimsical, quirky, bright colored creations are meant to provide visual smiles to the viewer.
Lisa Lezell Levine
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Lisa Lezell Levine is a Richmond artist who taught art to High School and Elementary students in Richmond and Henrico Public Schools for over 30 years. In 2008 she received the Southeastern Region Elementary Art Educator of the year award from the National Art Education Association.
Lisa has been very active in the greater Richmond community - she had her own design studio, taught children at various public schools, held charity shows, and exhibited in galleries all over the city including United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Weinstein Jewish Community Center (JCC), Richmond Public Library (Downtown), and ArtSpace. As active s she's been, she's concentrating on polishing and refining a more introspective message. "I want to create empathy, so that anyone who views my expressionist landscapes and figures can feel what it's like to be part of the scene, the gathering, and the communal spaces."
Lisa's work has evolved from direct observations of nature to a more colorful expression of emotion. It is an invitation for the audience to let themselves feel immersed in the positive environment of her work.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Lisa Lezell Levine is a Richmond artist who taught art to High School and Elementary students in Richmond and Henrico Public Schools for over 30 years. In 2008 she received the Southeastern Region Elementary Art Educator of the year award from the National Art Education Association.
Lisa has been very active in the greater Richmond community - she had her own design studio, taught children at various public schools, held charity shows, and exhibited in galleries all over the city including United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Weinstein Jewish Community Center (JCC), Richmond Public Library (Downtown), and ArtSpace. As active s she's been, she's concentrating on polishing and refining a more introspective message. "I want to create empathy, so that anyone who views my expressionist landscapes and figures can feel what it's like to be part of the scene, the gathering, and the communal spaces."
Lisa's work has evolved from direct observations of nature to a more colorful expression of emotion. It is an invitation for the audience to let themselves feel immersed in the positive environment of her work.
Sandhi Schimmel Gold
Sandhi Schimmel Gold has long been a painter, particularly intrigued with faces. Although some of her subjects may have been famous, she is just as interested in the every day, mundane. Each face is enchanting in its own shapes, planes, forms and textures. Her paintings attempt to capture one split second of a life with an image I hope is beautiful.
Each piece of paper, in itself, is inconsequential. The source of material is immaterial. The color schemes used are imaginary. The work is seen and experienced differently from near, where the viewer investigates the seeming clutter of disparate pieces, to far; where the brain consolidates the miscellanea and forms a cohesive and recognizable likeness. As Sandhi begins to get back into full time art creation, she has a new found appreciation for the beauty in daily life and the wonders of the universe that we live in and are made of. Expect a little stardust, a little magic, a few tales of wonder and beautiful things to come.
Sandhi Schimmel Gold has long been a painter, particularly intrigued with faces. Although some of her subjects may have been famous, she is just as interested in the every day, mundane. Each face is enchanting in its own shapes, planes, forms and textures. Her paintings attempt to capture one split second of a life with an image I hope is beautiful.
Each piece of paper, in itself, is inconsequential. The source of material is immaterial. The color schemes used are imaginary. The work is seen and experienced differently from near, where the viewer investigates the seeming clutter of disparate pieces, to far; where the brain consolidates the miscellanea and forms a cohesive and recognizable likeness. As Sandhi begins to get back into full time art creation, she has a new found appreciation for the beauty in daily life and the wonders of the universe that we live in and are made of. Expect a little stardust, a little magic, a few tales of wonder and beautiful things to come.
Updated GALLERY HOURS:
Mon-Fri: 9am to 9pm
Saturday: 10am to 6pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm
Mon-Fri: 9am to 9pm
Saturday: 10am to 6pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm
Welcome to our Virtual Gallery!
While you're welcome to check out the exhibit in-person in our gallery, due to COVID-19 we have made the exhibit available online.
Help support our local artists and the Center by purchasing one of the pieces below!
The Montpelier Center houses one of the oldest galleries in Hanover County, and is both an axis of the regional community and a satellite of the Greater Richmond Art Community in Central Virginia.