A Summer of Art and Connection
The Academy Center of the Arts Presents Artists Meredith Peverill and Sarah-Faith Strait for the June-July Season
On June 5th, 2026, the Academy Center of the Arts introduced at their monthly exhibit, “First Friday”, two new artists to the gallery, Meredith Peverill and Sarah-Faith Strait, for the summer season. Both artists traverse a feeling of a reminiscent time with the past through memorable trips down memory lane and analyzing the histories as they relate to the present.
In the front gallery, the collection “Histories” by artist Meredith Peverill evokes the feeling of capturing old memories and moments in time that have opened doors into the future. Her graceful and vivid art style tells its own story, drawing inspiration from historical sites she has visited and experimenting with historical painting methods, for example, the Mische technique, translating that into a modern acrylic tone. Connecting back to the past can ultimately create a path into the future. These pieces could be imagined in a bedroom or office due to their small yet highly detailed aspects, which create a new presence in any room. Peverill, a Virginia-based artist and mother, draws on her life experiences and her ability to see the threads that tie the past to the present to shape her art in a nostalgic form for viewers.
In the back gallery, the collection “BECOMING” by artist Sarah-Faith Strait features a new take on the prowess and outlook of the majestic horse. She explores the connection with the companion of the horse as her muse, a foundational ally known for building human civilizations. Her dynamic, large-scale, and ravishing strokes on the canvas formulate a collage of bright colored and playful horses through form and space. Rather than viewing the horse as a functioning symbol that accessorizes the human, it carries a take on the lively energy of the horse itself. Strait aspires for these abstracted gestures to create a space for sensitive contemplation of the horse, as well as potential for empathy with it.
The exhibition will be on view til the end of July. Join the Academy Center of the Arts to bring to light these amazing artists displaying their works for a limited time.
