Join the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 6 p.m. for an exclusive gallery talk with Mountain Lake Workshop founders Ray Kass and Howard Risatti. The Mountain Lake Workshop (MLW) had its origins in a series of conferences that began in 1980. These conferences, held at the Mountain Lake Lodge, best known as the resort where the motion picture “Dirty Dancing” was filmed, evolved into an ongoing art project that draws upon the resources of the New River Valley and Appalachian region of southwest Virginia.

The exhibition, Rural Avant-Garde: The Mountain Lake Experience, reflects the expansive nature of MLW, and includes the work of 20 living artists in addition to those who have passed away, such as Cy Twombly, John Cage and Howard Finster. During their gallery talk, Kass and Risatti will share their experiences and discuss the works on view.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. for refreshments and the program will begin at 6:15 p.m. All ages are welcome to attend. This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

For more information about this exhibition, visit the LCVA’s website at lcva.longwood.edu, or contact the LCVA mosleykl@longwood.edu or (434) 395-2662.