The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts completely reimagines how visitors experience exhibitions and form connections with artwork in their upcoming Choose Your Own Adventure exhibition. Inspired by the wildly popular 1980s book series of the same name, Choose Your Own Adventure encourages visitors to create their own curatorial narrative for the exhibition through the choices they make throughout their journey through the show.
The exhibition’s introduction states it best: This exhibition is different from other exhibitions.
On its surface, it is structured as a playful scavenger hunt for an invaluable amulet that has gone missing from the museum. At its core, however, it is part of the LCVA’s initiative to actively incorporate more voices in its curatorial activities. Traditionally, most exhibitions have a subtle (or not so subtle) course visitors are intended to follow to best understand the curator’s vision. Choose Your Own Adventure places the navigation firmly with the individual experiencing the exhibition, starting with a choice as to where to begin the search for the missing amulet – city or country.
LCVA curator of exhibitions, Alex Grabiec, developed the concept for the show while exploring unique and refreshing ways to present works from the permanent collection. “This is a great way to connect pieces in the LCVA’s collection,” he explains. “We can learn something about the artist or object, and use our own imaginations along the way. People will have to go through the exhibit a couple of times to get all the endings – so there is a lot of opportunity for replay!”
Part of the exhibition development process included licensing the title with Chooseco, the company that owns the Choose Your Adventure book series, which embraced the partnership. “They were incredibly receptive of the concept,” remarks Rachel Talent Ivers, LCVA’s executive director. “This unique LCVA exhibition is the first officially licensed art ‘Adventure.’ As someone who could not get enough of the Choose Your Own Adventure books when they first came out, this delighted me both personally and professionally.”
Grabiec adds, “I was so happy to hear that the staff at Chooseco were enthusiastic about the exhibition. So many artists and authors have made the Choose Your Own Adventure world what it is today, and the LCVA is fortunate to be a part of that.”
The exhibition also brings supporters that wholly embrace the spirit of adventure together – Longwood University’s Cormier Honors College, Sandy River Outdoor Adventure, and Appomattox River Company, which have joined to sponsor the show. “Interactive learning that interweaves art with literature with no limits on curiosity…that is not only what Choose Your Own Adventure is but it is also a significant part of who we are at the Cormier Honors College,” says Chris Kuuk, The Wilma Register Sharp & Marc Boyd Sharp Dean of
the Cormier Honors College for Citizen Scholars. “Supporting the LCVA in their Choose Your Own Adventure exhibit is akin to helping a friend who shares all the same passions and interests you do. We are excited to participate in A Most Enlightening Exploration of the LCVA Collection.” Candi Smith, who owns Sandy River Outdoor Adventure and Sandy River Distillery with her husband, Mark Smith, adds “We greatly appreciate our years of collaboration with the LCVA. Their events and exhibitions, like Choose Your Own Adventure, are a tremendous asset to our area, showcasing creativity and culture in meaningful ways.”
The adventure begins with an opening reception at the LCVA on January 31 at 5:30, and continues through May 25, 2025. As with all LCVA programs, it is free and open to the public.
Opening reception:
Friday, January 31, 2025 5:30 – 8:00 pm at the LCVA (129 N. Main Street)
On View: January 31, 2025 to May 25, 2025
Sponsors:
This exhibition is generously sponsored by Appomattox River Company + Harriet and Brian Vincent, Sandy River Distillery + Candi and Mark Smith, and Longwood University’s Cormier Honors College for Citizen Leaders.
About LCVA:
The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts presents a rotating program of inspiring and conversation-starting exhibitions. Admission to LCVA and its programs is—and always has been—free for all. It is located at the intersection of Main and Third Streets (129 North Main Street) in Farmville, Virginia. For additional information on these exhibitions or other programs and events, contact LCVA at lcvainfo@longwood.edu or 434.395.2206.
Images/Credit Lines: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE and CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE IN OVAL are trademarks of Chooseco LLC, Waitsfield, VT.
Used by permission. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE® books are available in the United States and Canada. Ask your local bookseller or visit cyoa.com.
Pictured: Detail of The Dan Ryan Expressway Past 39th Towards 35th Street by Wesley Willis, 1993, marker and ballpoint on poster board, 28 x 41 inches
William & Ann Oppenhimer Folk Art Collection, Gift of William and Ann Oppenhimer
Choose Your Own Adventure is made possible through the generous support of John D. Miller and Larissa M. Smith. LCVA exhibitions and programs are made possible through the generous support of: the Wells Fargo Foundation, the Walter J. Payne Foundation, Anne Carter & Walter R. Robins, Jr. Foundation, Walmart, Navona & David Hart, Century 21 @ Home, Helton House, Haley Auto Mall, Candice Jamison Dowdy ’69 & Charles H. Dowdy III + Northwestern Mutual, Lisa & Tim Tharpe, Rock Foundation, Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, Harriet Butterworth Miller ’51, Joni Beachly + Focused Financial, YakAttack, Cifers Enterprises, Peachtree House Foundation, Wilma Register Sharp ’66 & Marc B. Sharp, and Mindy & Nash Osborn + North Street Press Club.
