Student-Run Art Gallery Lighting Up Downtown
By Katherine Gold

Turning the corner onto Main Street in Blacksburg, the sidewalks are empty, the signs are familiar.  All except for one, that is.

“XYZ”, written in large, red letters is vertically positioned next to a spiraling staircase.  The staircase leads to an intriguing room, filled with paintings.  The wood floors guide visitors into several smaller rooms filled with more artwork. 

“Welcome to XYZ Gallery,” a petite 20 something cheerfully says as she rocks back and forth in her chair.  An inspirational answer to the looming question is found.  Blacksburg has much more than just football to offer.

Digging deeper into this new discovery shows that XYZ is a student-run art gallery led by the XYZ organization.  The organization and gallery have been in existence for approximately 15 years and continue to provide Virginia Tech students and the Blacksburg community with a variety of art shows each year, according to XYZ advisor and Virginia Tech art professor Eric Standley

XYZ provides a space for Virginia Tech art students to get out into the real world and showcase their work to the public, according to XYZ president Simone Monet Smith.

According to XYZ co-curator Beth Pacentrilli, the gallery space is offered to the art students of Virginia Tech by Jeanette Hamlin.  The Student Government Association at Virginia Tech along with donations from generous visitors help support XYZ, according to Standley. Standley also mentioned that the vice president for research at Virginia Tech, Dr. Brad Fenwick, has been a great supporter of XYZ for the past two years.  “XYZ also funds the gallery through money we receive from biannual shows we set up in the office of Mr. Brad Fenwick, vice president for research, in 301 Burruss Hall,” Pacentrilli said.

Every two weeks, a group of eight officers who lead XYZ change the gallery exhibition to present a different genre of art.  XYZ shows “all and then some” when it comes to types of art, according to Standley.  “Expectation upon visiting will have to be replaced with curiosity.  You might be shocked at one visit, melancholy at another, in tears of laughter, awe of craft, or in complete political disagreement,” Standley said.

At the start of every new exhibition, XYZ hosts an opening reception.  “Opening receptions are the first chance the public has to view a new show, and they provide an opportunity for artists to mingle with visitors and those interested in their work,” Pacentrilli said.

Occasionally the gallery is even a space for musical performances, according to Smith.  “We host an evening for the Virginia Tech English department once a year to perform music, poetry, and other readings,” Smith said.  Other individual musicians perform sporadically, as well.

“Interesting past exhibits would include out most recent show, Guilty as Charged, and the Arts and Science show just before that,” Pacentrilli said.  Guilty as Charged displayed works from Virginia Tech art and art history professors.  Arts and Science presented the artistic mind in fields other than art such as math, science, engineering, computer science, and architecture.  According to Pacentrilli, these were two excellent steps toward XYZ’s greatest goal this year, which is to create more awareness of art and the gallery across campus and in the community. 

XYZ officers are especially anticipating the upcoming schedule of exhibits.  Pacentrilli claims that she is personally looking forward to a show mirroring Arts and Science that will highlight and unite all artistic fields at Virginia Tech.  “We are hoping to host a reception that will include fine arts, theatricals, live poetry readings, live music, dance, and anything else a creative mind can conjure up,” Pacentrilli said.

Beginning under completely new leadership this year, XYZ has recently begun to become more prominent in the community, according to Smith.  “It is difficult to be a small gallery in a College town.  We need to break down the walls that are often associated with art; those that falsely label art as being dull, or associate it with an experience that can be understood only by men and women of deep contemplation and philosophical acuteness,” Pacentrilli said. 

In an attempt to expose anyone and everyone to art, “XYZ became involved in Virginia Tech’s Arts Fusion last year hosting fun activities such as button making and finger painting,” Smith said.

What’s so unique about this art gallery that makes it any different from the rest?  “The gallery is one of the only venues in the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg community that brings artistic insights to public light,” Standley said.  According to Smith, the fact that XYZ is a non-profit, student run organization that fills the gallery with student art makes XYZ one of a kind. 

Students and others who wish to get involved with XYZ can contact Smith at sismith1@vt.edu.  Students can also become members of the organization for a fee of $3.

There is no cost to visiting the gallery space, located at 221 Main St., above Joe’s Diner.  XYZ is open for visitation from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

“Whether or not you know the artist, it is impossible to leave the gallery without knowing them just a little bit more, and on a different level.  There are an endless variety of creations to be displayed, and at least one of those is bound to attract interest and make a connection with any viewer,” Pacentrilli said.  Visitors can leave the gallery feeling satisfied knowing at least one thing; the Hokies have more than just football to be proud of.