Bringing Light to Hidden Talents: Stories from VMRC’s Art Exhibit

At VMRC, creativity is more than just expression—it’s a bridge to belonging. Each year, the Juried Art Exhibition brings artists, residents and the broader community together to celebrate the beauty of individual voice and shared experience. For Jessica Tang, a first-time artist, the power of the exhibit lies in how personal work becomes collective meaning. “You put your own emotions into it,” she shares, “but other people may take away something completely different.” In that space of interpretation, connection is born.

The exhibition is a reflection of VMRC’s commitment to lifelong learning and enrichment across all ages. With nearly 500 submissions and a carefully selected 95 on display, the show represents a wide range of mediums and visions. Jurors with advanced degrees in ceramics, painting and photography bring objectivity and expertise to the selection process—ensuring the art displayed is both skillful and meaningful. It’s an opportunity for emerging and established artists to be seen and celebrated, right here on our campus.

For Teresa Conklin, this year’s Best of Show winner, the experience has been profoundly validating. “It speaks to other people—it’s not just my little thing anymore,” she reflects. First-time participant Jessica Tang echoes that sentiment. “It’s nice to see something that I’ve worked on in the darkness of my room being put out in a beautiful setting like this.” Their stories are testaments to the way VMRC encourages people to discover and rediscover their creative passions, no matter where they are in life.

The exhibition offers more than artistic recognition—it invites engagement from across the VMRC campus and beyond. Residents connect with the artwork and often with the artists themselves, fostering moments of joy and understanding. These interactions exemplify how culture and creativity can serve as meaningful touch points within a larger care-centered environment.

Through events like the Juried Art Exhibition, VMRC continues to live out its values of integrity, trust and excellence. The gallery becomes a space where art, education and community intersect—enhancing the lives of residents, artists and all who experience it. By fostering connection through creativity, VMRC strengthens its mission to serve aging adults, families, employees and the surrounding community with compassion and purpose.

Learn more about the 2025 Juried Art Exhibition Award Winners here: https://www.vmrc.org/blog/2025-vmrc-juried-art-exhibition-award-winners