Art in the Garden

Michal (Mitak) Mahgerefteh is an ESL poet and artist based in Virginia. She is the managing editor at Mizmor Anthology, where she oversees the Miriam Rachimi Micro Chapbook Poetry Prize. Mahgerefteh has authored five poetry chapbooks, including In My Bustan, The Rising Song, What’s Left Behind, Field of Harps, and Sipping Memories. Her latest collection, FishMoon, will be released May 2024. In addition to her literary pursuits, Mahgerefteh serves as the marketing director for CEO Offices and Prestige Realty Group in Virginia. During her leisure time, she enjoys cycling, traveling, hiking, cooking, attending lectures, and photography.

Norfolk Botanical Garden invites local artists to join us in a creative exploration of celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Garden encourages artists to showcase diverse the cultures, experiences, and identities that comprise our Hampton Roads community, providing a platform to visually express how diversity enriches and strengthens us.

Meet and greet local artist Chris Jeanguenat. Chris Jeanguenat exhibit of chalk paint and acrylic, is titled, Stories of Misfits and Wayward Girls.

Christine Pianin is a self-taught French-born artist with a background in clinical psychology. After 30 years as a therapist, specializing in emergency psychiatric care, she retired early to focus on her art. She explores collage, assemblage and painting, valuing all forms of art for their beauty, craftsmanship and message. A resident artist at Ukwensi Gallerie in Norfolk, she has exhibited locally at the Torggler Fine Arts Center, Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center and Suffolk Juried shows, as well as in group shows in Philadelphia and Miami.

This pop-up exhibition features the work of the African American Sewcial Threaders Quilt Guild of Southeastern Virginia, a group of women who bring the history of quilting to light for the community of Virginia Beach and the surrounding area. Quilts are symbols of culture, community, and freedom. Although the history of quilting in the African American community began as early as the 17th century, the art is still thriving today. This exhibition shows how quilts do not just serve as a basic function of keeping people warm but, for many, have become powerful works of art that have held the hopes and dreams of generations of Black families. The African American Sewcial Threaders Quilt Guild consists of 30 members. It was founded in February 2024. Their quilts have been featured in exhibitions across Hampton Roads and the nation.