Art of Virginia's The Borrowed Space Gallery will feature Ursula Burgess and her new work in experimental media, entitled “Layers Revealed.” The opening reception will be on Friday, February 7, 5 to 8 pm, at 1 Mill Street, Second Level, near Charlie's Waterfront Cafe.

The community is invited for refreshments, music by Marcus Pendergrass and to view the new work of the artists in the cooperative. The gallery will be open on the weekend of the reception, Saturday, February 8, 11 to 5, and Sunday, 1 to 4.

The majority of Ursula Burgess' exhibit was created during her recent studies at Longwood University, which refueled her interest in experimental drawing. Her art is a reflection of her history. She processes travel impressions, watches people, ponders situations and expresses energy and mood mainly through color and texture. Using personal experience, she is not afraid to show feelings and make bold statements. “What is reality?,” she asks, adding, “Everyone has a personal reality, although philosophically the totality of real things in the world is independent of people's knowledge or perception of them. But in my eyes, I am allowed to rearrange, change, enhance, question and personalize reality in my work, hoping you are intrigued enough to follow me on my journey.”

“What influences my work?” she further questions. “I am all about color and light. Mood. Texture. Experimental applications. And to be fearless!” She says she learns the most and discovers herself best by painting a series of work. She often integrates travel mementos, photographs and sketches from her journal in creating her watercolor paintings and mixed-media collages. People, family, friends, and foreign countries continue to be her greatest inspiration.

Art of Virginia's goal is to enliven vacant buildings and move on quickly once the space is rented or sold. The group opened in its first “borrowed space” in November 2012. which was successfully rented in a month. Its second home on Main Street sold in several months after being on the market for two years. The current location, in the “Old Mill Building,” now has increased visibility through the efforts of AVA, furthering Farmville's reputation as a creative center in the area. Upcoming, the Borrowed Space Gallery sill be open once a month with a new featured artist.

Art of Virginia, a non-profit organization, promotes and supports the visual arts in the community and offers affordable gallery, studio and teaching space for its members. On Thursdays at noon, Ursula will teach “The Many Ways of Watercolor.” For more information about the class or AVA, call her at 434-645-1933. She can be found on Facebook: Ursula Burgess Art Studio.