18TH Annual Let There Be Light to Illuminate PVCC December 12

Charlottesville, Va. – November 24, 2025 – The Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) Visual Arts Department invites the community to experience the magic of light at its eighteenth annual “Let There Be Light” outdoor art exhibition, scheduled for Friday, December 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. Let There Be Light will take place at the PVCC main campus on the grounds surrounding the V. Earl Dickinson Building. This free, family-friendly event celebrates the approach of winter and the longest night of the year with illuminated artworks, warm apple cider, and hot chocolate served at no charge. In case of rain, the event will be held Saturday, December 13, from 6 to 9 p.m.  

This year’s exhibition features glowing sculptures, video projections and—for the first time—a Mystical Beings Parade led by Charlottesville Homeschool Art Club, at 7 p.m., and 8 p.m., inviting attendees to dress as their own mystical being and join the procession. Other works by local artists, students and community members will transform the campus into a landscape dotted with luminous art installations. Some of the works to look for include:  

  • Let There Be Lichen – Nettle Shirt Puppet Works: A puppetry slideshow takes on the view from inside a microscope.  
  • Groundless – Jennifer Hoyt Tidwell: A performance-based installation of one woman, deciding to hang out with all her fears.  
  • Currents of the Luminous Sea Serpents – Miriam Tobias: Serpentine light forms, illuminated costumes and oceanic projections explore transformation.   
  • Nothing to See Here – Peabody School: A crashed UFO pulsates with light and power, while the alien pilot may be at large.  
  • Tempest – Jeff Dobrow: A vibrant, abstract visual journey explores the evolution of technology.  
  • Flower Power – Boys & Girls Club: By harnessing STEAM skills, a life-size evening gown is made to glow and move.  
  • Lilla: Memories of the 1950s – Patty Swygert: Lilla's kitchen and laundry come alive with painted panels and artifacts from the 1950s.  
  • How The Light Gets In – Jennifer Billingsley and Diana Hale: A cracked circle floats, inspired by the words of songwriter, poet and novelist Leonard Cohen.  
     

In addition to outdoor art installations, PVCC will continue its partnership with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) and host “VMFA on the Road,” a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled trailer with interactive components that brings authentic works of art from VMFA’s collection to be viewed, up close and in person, around the state. The trailer currently houses the exhibition “Love, Laughter, Tears: An Artist’s Guide to Emotions.” The collection explores how art reflects and connects human emotions and fosters mutual understanding.  

Visitors to Let There Be Light are advised to bring a flashlight and be prepared to walk the campus using a map of the installations. Food trucks will also be onsite.

For more information, contact Fenella Belle at fbelle@pvcc.edu or 434.961.5362. A full list of exhibitions slated to be shown and more information about the PVCC Fine Arts and Performance season is available at pvcc.edu/performingarts.

The V. Earl Dickinson Building is located at the south end of College Drive. Ample free parking is available adjacent to the building.  

About Piedmont Virginia Community College

Established in 1972, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a nonresidential two-year institution of higher education that serves Central Virginia – principally, residents of the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. PVCC is committed to providing access to a college education for all who can benefit, an opportunity for each student to reach their potential, and excellence in all programs and services. The main campus is in Albemarle County, Virginia. Classes are also offered at the PVCC Eugene Giuseppe Center in Stanardsville, Va. (Greene County) and the PVCC Jefferson School City Center in downtown Charlottesville. Visit pvcc.edu.

PVCC is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. PVCC does not discriminate based on age, color, disability, family medical history or genetic information, military service, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation or any other non-merit-based factor. Read the full statement at pvcc.edu/content-disclaimer-nondiscrimination-statement-privacy-policy-ferpa-and-foia.

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Photograph: How The Light Gets In – Jennifer Billingsley and Diana Hale

 

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Susian Brooks
Executive Director, Marketing and Communications
434.961.6574 | sbrooks@pvcc.edu

Department

Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences Division