Image courtesy of the artist
From October 2-November 11, 2026 New City Arts will present an exhibition of work by The Arc Studio artists Maude Brown, Dottie Swangin, Julia Manley, and Selina Thurston. This exhibition will be curated by Amy Keenan-Amago, founder and director of The Arc Studio.
This collection of mixed-media, abstract work created by female artists belonging to The Arc Studio provides viewers with the opportunity to bathe in the sensory, material, and formal elements of the work, to be enveloped by the vibrancy and richness of colors, surrounded by the expressive marks, rich layers, and aesthetic perspectives of the makers. The title, Take a Bath in It is an invitation and a directive to move beyond merely seeing or observing at a distance, but to sink into the art that surrounds us, to sit for a while in the expressive output of another human.
Amy Keenan-Amago (she/her) is the founder and director of The Arc Studio, a visual arts program and open studio space for artists with developmental disabilities. She has curated dozens of shows featuring Arc Studio artwork since the Studio’s opening in 2021. Amy is also a mixed-media artist, an art educator, and a doctoral candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Selina Thurston (she/her) is a mixed media artist whose approach to artmaking involves innovation, experimentation, and a love of new media. Her sweeping landscapes and evocative collages reveal a brilliant use of color and a gift for compositional balance. Selina’s signature laugh echoes through The Arc Studio and her artwork can be found in homes and businesses throughout Central Virginia.
Dottie Swangin (she/her) is a painter and collage artist whose process is driven by material exploration and playful experimentation. Her abstract paintings are made up of dynamic color combinations and her collages layer everyday materials with bright, modern motifs. Dottie works in The Arc Studio daily, incorporating new approaches and ideas into her ever-evolving, always fascinating art.
Maude Brown (she/her) applies a direct, physical approach to making art, deploying rapid mark making and energetic movements. Drawn to experimentation, Maude will often include paint, collage, ink, and pastels in one artwork, trying new applications and combinations with each piece. One of The Arc Studio’s most prolific artists, Maude’s bold, expressive paintings hang in homes and businesses throughout Charlottesville.
Julia Manley’s (she/her) approach to artmaking is driven by the desire to tell stories. Through her intricate, colorful acrylic paintings, Julia shares stories about her childhood, travel, musicals, romance, and religion. Her vast body of work reflects her vivaciousness, sense of humor, and gregarious spirit. Julia says of her time in The Arc Studio, “When I come into the studio, I get my MOJO running!”
Located at 114 3rd St. NE on Charlottesville’s downtown pedestrian mall, New City Arts’ Welcome Gallery supports artists who live in the Charlottesville area. Welcome Gallery exhibitions and programs are made possible by generous sponsors, donors, and grants. Interested in sponsoring an exhibition? Connect with us!