News & Events

In the lead up to Field Day, Middle School students collaborated with artist Kim Hardy on a Perrel Art Gallery exhibit that explored social media.

Kim Hardy: The Truth Behind the Screen opened in Perrel Gallery on April 14 and ran through May 3. This exhibit was a partnership with the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, which is soon moving to Virginia Wesleyan University, next door to Norfolk Academy. 

Art Teacher Betsy DiJulio, Perrel Gallery curator, worked with students in the MOCA Paws for a Cause Cohort, along with teachers Anna Meadows and Kathleen Locke, and Katherine Custer from MOCA, to bring this project to fruition. Introductory panels, labels, and an interactive data visualization component accompanied the artwork.

PAWS for a Cause is a longstanding Middle School community service project. Students engage with organizations around Hampton Roads to determine how they help to better the outside community. This particular project began when the cohort selected Virginia MOCA as their partner of choice for this school year. To deepen their understanding of the museum, they visited the Made in VA Biennial exhibit and learned about its significance to the creative community of Virginia.

Made in VA Biennial features artwork created by Virginia artists reflecting the museum’s commitment to enriching and supporting the artistic communities in Hampton Roads. Drawing on this experience, the students then explored Hampton Roads-based artists to feature in the Perrel Gallery.

Hardy, a Made in VA artist, stood out. The cohort was thrilled when she accepted their invitation to collaborate on a Perrel exhibit. The students then worked closely with Virginia MOCA staff and Hardy to develop the exhibit’s theme, layout, and installation.