TCC Visual Arts and Design Center Hosts Celebration of Student Talent at 53rd Annual Art Exhibit’s Reception
Tidewater Community College (TCC) proudly celebrated the artistic achievements of its Visual Arts and Design Center (VADC) students with the 53rd Annual Student Art and Design Exhibition Reception on April 23rd, 2025. The reception honored the exhibition that has been on display since March 22, and showcased nearly 90 pieces of artwork from more than 50 student artists, representing a wide range of mediums including painting, sculpture, graphic design, photography, and digital media.
The celebration allowed guests to enjoy catered food, an open gallery, and live acoustic guitar music performed by TCC Music alumnus Liam Ritter. The evening culminated with the presentation of awards selected by guest judge Carrie Spencer, Curator of Contemporary Art and Education at the Hermitage Museum & Gardens.
Spencer, a former TCC student and studio art instructor, noted the personal significance of returning to judge the event.
“I’m a former TCC student, also a former studio instructor, so my roots run deep here,” said Spencer. “Participating in events like this keeps me connected to the art scene and allows me to see what the current student population is doing artistically.”
Spencer evaluated the entries based on technical skill, creativity, originality, and concept. In the end, ten students were recognized across three major categories, with one standout artist awarded “Best in Show.”
Lilly Stremouchow earned the Excellence in Digital Arts award, with honorable mentions in that category going to Aaron Dietrich and Cyrus Corneja. Excellence in Two-Dimensional Fine Art was awarded to Eden Rios, with D’Angelo Lozada and Valentina Copeland receiving honorable mentions. Abigail O’Leary took home the Excellence in Three-Dimensional Fine Art award, honorable mentions in the category going to Valentina Copeland and Jessica Burkholder. The evening’s top honor, Best in Show, was awarded to Kelly Walker for a piece praised for its technical skill, creativity, and compelling theme. The award, sponsored by TCC President Dr. Marcia Conston and the TCC Educational Foundation, included a one-year membership to the Hermitage Museum & Gardens.
During the reception, TCC President Dr. Marcia Conston addressed the crowd, highlighting the importance of artistic expression within the college’s academic culture.
“Your work not only reflects technical skills, but also the depth of thought and personal expression we strive to nurture here at TCC,”said Conston. “This gallery space was carefully designed and constructed to support both academic excellence and community engagement.”
The VADC, located at 260 Boush Street in downtown Norfolk, continues to evolve as a vibrant hub for creative learning and public engagement. According to gallery curator Leslie Mounaime, student exhibitions like this play a critical role in the educational journey.
“Hosting these student art exhibits is useful to help students learn how to present their work and make them comfortable with doing so,” said Mounaime. “The exhibition process allows them to learn industry standards of displaying artwork, from the matting process to appropriately framing their work.”
All the pieces on display were created within the past academic year as part of VADC coursework. Mounaime emphasized that while the spring exhibition showcases classroom work, the fall exhibit offers students a chance to present personal, extracurricular projects.
Mounaime explained that the spring reception often serves as a great celebration for students to reflect on the hard work they have done throughout the year, as well as an opportunity for her to connect more closely with the student’s work.
“I am surprised every year by how talented everyone is. I know it in theory, but seeing it all together is really special,” said Mounaime. “It is always such a pleasure to be able to work with students on the exhibition and get the chance to put a face to the artwork that I see them working so hard on.”