First Friday Artist: Asha L Beck

First Friday Artist: Asha L Beck

Headshot of artist Asha Beck

On Friday, June 2nd from 5:00pm-7:00pm, we are thrilled to host a First Fridays Gallery Opening at The Depot featuring artist Asha L Beck! Asha is a talented artist who is also on staff here at The Gaines Group Architects as the Office Manager/Marketing Team Leader. Join us to view her powerful photo exhibition entitled “The Earth On Our Backs” and to enjoy food, refreshments, and community. Also don’t miss our other featured artist, Veronica Horst for her own exhibition “Stitched In Place”.

Below Asha shares more about her work and journey as an artist, and you can view the online gallery and expanded artist statement here. Contact her if interested in reading her full length thesis.

A local from the nearby Linville area, Asha L Beck (she/her) is a recent graduate of Eastern Mennonite University with a Bachelor’s in Digital Media & Communications. She also currently works as the Office Manager/Marketing Team Leader for The Gaines Group Architects and spends many of her evenings painting the mural in the EMU Science Center. Asha loves to dabble in a wide range of art forms including watercolor, ink sketches, ceramics, photography, graphic design, and dance. She is drawn to art forms again and again as a way of expression and story-telling.

“The Earth on Our Backs” weaves bodily experience with natural forms to create a definition of beauty that is rooted in inherent power from the earth. It exposes beauty as an interplay between forms that are more similar than we might imagine. Instead of seeing ourselves in nature or seeing nature in us, we can see that nature is us and we are nature.

Instagram: @the_artful_a

Behance: Asha Beck

This event is free and open to everyoneSnacks and refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there! See the event page and RSVP here.


Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!

First Friday Artist: Veronica Horst

First Friday Artist: Veronica Horst

Headshot of artist Veronica Horst

On Friday, June 2nd from 5:00pm-7:00pm, we are thrilled to host a First Fridays Gallery Opening at The Depot featuring artist Veronica Horst! Veronica is a talented artist with experience in a wide range of mediums. Their exhibition ‘Stitched in Place‘ brings together embroidery, watercolor, pen and ink, 3D canvas elements, and interviews to create interactive portraits that tell the story of each individual’s connection to a space. Join us to welcome Veronica and to enjoy food, refreshments, and community. Also don’t miss our other featured artist, Asha L Beck for her exhibition “The Earth on Our Backs”.

Below they share more about their work and journey as an artist, and you can view the online gallery and expanded artist statement here.

Veronica Horst (they/she) graduated in May 2023 from Eastern Mennonite University with Bachelor’s degrees in Art and Psychology. Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, they have enjoyed living in Harrisonburg and exploring the Shenandoah Valley. Veronica values experimentation as part of the artistic process and has utilized mediums including ceramics, stained glass, wire, fabric, charcoal, paint, and stitching. They created and displayed their first mixed media series entitled “Stitched in Place” this Spring as their senior thesis project at EMU. Although the pieces being displayed are not for sale to the public, commissions are open for anyone interested in a map portrait of their own!

This event is free and open to everyoneSnacks and refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there! See the event page and RSVP here.


Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!