Exhibits
The Maria V Howard Arts Center
Between Remnants and Trace
Featured Artists: Steven and Kyung Cavallo
Exhibit Dates: February 10-April 19, 2026
Reception: March 1, 2026, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Recognition of Artists @2:30 p.m.
Steven and Kyung Cavallo have been collaborating in art through four decades. Relocating to North Carolina from New Jersey, they make their home in Jacksonville.
Their current exhibition, Between Remnants and Trace is a collection of paintings and installations created over the past two decades. They are images of fragmented memories from America’s east coast to the western deserts and to South Korea, telling a series of stories and recollections both comforting and haunting.
Many of the paintings merge reality with dreams often on the verge of fading into obscurity, and as in memory, they become one, blurring the lines between fact and imagination. These paintings are the remnants and traces of hellos and goodbyes and stories that linger on over the years, breathing life into buried moments and memories.
Painted Voices of Our Community Expression Tunnel: A Community-Created Art Installation Exhibition
The show runs January 21-April 30, 2026, with a reception for patrons on Sunday, March 1st 2-4 p.m.
The exhibit highlights the Expression Tunnel, a 12-foot-tall community-created art installation constructed from individually painted panels by participants and attendees of the 2025 Stronger Together Conference. This installation symbolizes shared experiences and the collective journey toward mental health awareness, healing, and resilience.
“We’re honored to bring this creative expression from the Stronger Together Conference into a gallery setting where voices continue to be heard and celebrated,” said Dr. Rodney Harris, Associate Professor, UNC Suicide Prevention Institute.
“This exhibit ensures Black youth know they are seen, heard and supported and demonstrates how art creates a safe space for dialogue and collective healing.”
“Each panel in the Expression Tunnel represents someone’s story and a step toward healing,” said Hayley Sink, Senior Vice President of Community Health and Innovation for Trillium Health Resources. “As Black youth face challenges that too often go unseen or unaddressed, Trillium’s continued partnership with Stronger Together highlights the power of choosing connection and continuing the conversation to ensure black youth and other groups disproportionately impacted by suicide have the support they need when facing a mental health crisis.”
Future community education programs are planned in partnership with the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences for February-April. (See Art Education Programs or contact the Imperial Centre at 252-972-1266.)
Ebb and Flow (Selections from Maria V. Howard Arts Center Permanent Collection)
The show runs February 10-April 19, 2026, with a reception for patrons on Sunday, March 1st, 2-4 p.m.
Curated by Stephan Daniels
What is Ebb and Flow?
Ebb and Flow can mean a regular rising and falling, or a coming and going, like the tide, referring to constant, natural changes or fluctuations in intensity, activity, or feeling, such as the ups and downs of life.
As in Life, selections from the Permanent Collection reflect nature, intensity, woven materials, sculptural forms that may be familiar or not, fragile works of art, and more. Whether a piece reminds you of home, nature, or just a feeling we hope that you enjoy the exhibit, Ebb and Flow.
Selections from Maria V. Howard Arts Center Permanent Collection on Display at Braswell Memorial Library
Curated by Stephan Daniels
February 10-April 30, 2026
The selections featured from the permanent collection are a collection of paintings portraying life in Havana.
Upcoming Exhibits
Silver Arts’ Exhibition
Exhibit Dates: April 7-April 30, 2026
This exhibit coincides with the Downeast Senior Games and will feature talented senior artists from our area. The show is tentatively scheduled for April 7-April 30, 2026. Reception is tentatively scheduled for May 21st, 4-6 p.m. Some dates and times are subject to change. Mediums include painting, drawing, mixed media, textiles, jewelry, etc.
People’s Choice Twin County Art Invitational Exhibit
The show runs May 2-August 17, 2026, with an artist reception recognizing artists on Saturday, May 16, 2026, 2-4 p.m.
DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
This show will feature art from Edgecombe and Nash County. Beginning May 2nd people can come in and vote for their favorite work of art. Artists will be recognized at reception including the People’s Choice Favorites. More details to come. For more information, contact Arts Program Coordinator, Emily Joyce Turner, [email protected]
Kids’ Day Student Art Exhibit
Exhibit Runs July 1st-September 4, 2026
One Winner from Each Category Announced at Kids’ Day Celebration, July 13th, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Kids’ Day is organized by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chi Omega Chapter in partnership with the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences and sponsored by the City of Rocky Mount. The day of activities showcase STEAM activities and current exhibits from the Children’s Museum and the Maria V. Howard Arts Center.
The student art exhibit has four categories of prek-2nd, 3rd-5th grade, 6th-8th grade, and 9th-12th grade. Prizes are awarded. For more information on how to enter a child’s work of art, contact Joyce Turner, Arts Program Coordinator at [email protected].
More Exhibits to Be Announced Including Handcrafted Juried Art Show!
Dates TBA
Check Back for Announcements at our Website Imperialcentre.org
Permanent Collection
The Arts Center Permanent Collection consists of 500+ works by artists primarily from North Carolina and the southeast. The collection includes key regional artists such as Frances Speight, Sarah Blakeslee, Ben Owen, Sr., Mark Hewitt, Cynthia Bringle, Billie Ruth Sudduth, Hobson Pittman and Louis Orr. Acquisitions are funded through the City of Rocky Mount and private donations.
| Exhibit | Season |
| Remnants of a Technical World | Spring 2021 |
| Black History Month | February 2021 |
| North Carolina Clay from the Permanent Art Collection | December 2020 |
| Lena Bulluck Davis | November 2020 |
| Sculpture Salmagundi XXIV (2020-2021) Digital Exhibit and Virtual Reception | October 2020 |
| Women of a New Tribe | September 2020 |
| Juried Art Show | Summer 2020 |
| Markings of Wildness: Anne Willson | Spring 2020 |