The Shadow
Clifton Forge, Va. (VR) – Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) successfully hosted Love, Laughter, Tears: An Artist’s Guide to Emotions, a traveling exhibition from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), from April 9–11, 2025. Over the course of the three-day event, MGCC welcomed students from Alleghany High School and members of the surrounding community to experience the emotional impact of art firsthand.
Visitors explored how artists from across time and cultures have expressed human emotions through color, shape, symbolism, and narrative. The exhibit created a powerful space for reflection and dialogue, inviting attendees to consider how emotion shapes both art and the human experience.
A highlight of the event was the arrival of VMFA’s Artmobile—VMFA on the Road—a state-of-the-art mobile gallery offering hands-on activities, immersive digital experiences, and access to authentic works from the VMFA collection. The Artmobile played a central role in engaging young learners and lifelong art lovers alike.
“We were thrilled to see so many students and community members engaging thoughtfully with the exhibit,” said Josh Hagy, Humanities and Communications program head at MGCC. “Art connects us in ways that are both deeply personal and universally human. This exhibit reminded us why that connection matters.”
The exhibition was made possible through partnerships with the Clifton Forge School of the Arts and The Red Lantern Inn. Their support helped MGCC bring this enriching cultural experience to Clifton Forge, ensuring free and open access to all.
Students from Alleghany High School were able to attend sessions on theater, art, and dance, all of which are only a small part of the offerings of MGCC’s new liberal arts programming.
MGCC extends its thanks to VMFA, its community partners, and all those who attended the event and helped make it a success.
For more information about upcoming events or liberal arts offerings at Mountain Gateway Community College, contact Josh Hagy at jdhagy@mgcc.edu.
Registration is currently underway for summer classes at MGCC. Register soon—classes are filling quickly! To register, call 540-863-2820.
