Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Something new is coming to the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts is hosting a virtual opening at 5 p.m. March 18 on its Facebook page for two introductions.

At this virtual event, Suffolk will have the chance to meet Lorelei Costa, SCCA’s new executive director. Costa is taking the place of Susan Babiy Lawrence, who announced her retirement in the fall of 2020.

“We are very excited to have her on board,” said Sandy Waters, SCCA Gallery co-manager.

The other introduction is a virtual tour of SCCA’s newest exhibit, “A Walk on the Wild Side.” This new art exhibit depicts the beauty of nature throughout the Tidewater region and the world. Featured in this exhibit are collectible decoys carved from wood or cork, photography, mixed media and paintings, all of wildlife and waterfowl.

“This is one of these exhibits that are wonderful to come in and get lost,” said Waters, “especially during this time of year with spring starting and the hopefulness of seeing what the artists were up to during COVID-19.”

The 21 artists featured in this exhibit are from Suffolk and across Virginia. Most of the 70 works come from the Hampton Roads area, but four come from Richmond and the Eastern Shore. The waters of Virginia posed as inspiration for many of the artists.

“I’ve always had a deep connection to nature from the time I was born,” Guy Crittenden, one of the featured artists, stated in a press release. “When I started painting and drawing, it was natural to paint what I love, all the beautiful nature, animals and scenery I found on the Chesapeake Bay.”

The online shop for these items will go live at the start of the virtual event. The decoys presented in this exhibit are highly collectible and made by artists known in many prominent collections, including Mark and Ian McNair.

“If you are feeling spring fever, this is the show to see,” said Waters.

This exhibit will be available for viewing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m Tuesday through Saturday from March 19 to April 24 in the Suffolk Center’s BB&T and Norfolk Foundation Galleries, 110 W. Finney Ave.