Life In America: Through the Decades Exhibition
An Immersive Journey Through Everyday American Life Told Through Historic Art, Memorabilia, and Community
Life in America: Through the Decades
Life in America: Through the Decades invited visitors to experience American history through the eyes of the artists who lived it. Curated by Jose L. Rizo, the exhibition transformed The Grant Building in Beckley into a walk through the everyday moments, traditions, and communities that shaped life across the twentieth century.
Featuring more than fifty carefully selected paintings, watercolors, prints, photographs, and historical artifacts from The Rizo Collection, the exhibition celebrated the people, places, and simple moments that often define our strongest memories. From children playing marbles on neighborhood sidewalks to quiet front porch conversations and snowy winter afternoons, each work offered a glimpse into a way of life that continues to resonate today.
A Snapshot of Everyday America
Rather than focusing on major historical events, Life in America: Through the Decades celebrated the ordinary experiences that connected generations of Americans.
The exhibition explored changing fashions, classic automobiles, neighborhood streets, rural communities, family gatherings, childhood games, and everyday traditions from the turn of the twentieth century through the closing decades of the century. Vintage clothing, antique furniture, early telephones, children's toys, magazines, and photographs accompanied the artwork throughout the gallery, creating an immersive environment that allowed visitors to step directly into America's past.
As Jose Rizo described it, the goal was to create "a little snapshot of life past"—preserving the people, places, and experiences that might otherwise be forgotten.
Artwork from The Rizo Collection
The exhibition featured more than fifty works from The Rizo Collection spanning a variety of artistic mediums, including oil paintings, watercolors, prints, and photographs.
Each piece was carefully selected not only for its artistic quality, but for the story it told. Together, the collection highlighted bustling city streets, peaceful rural landscapes, neighborhood gatherings, classic architecture, portraits, and scenes of everyday American life that reflected the changing character of the nation throughout the twentieth century.
By pairing fine art with authentic historical artifacts, the exhibition transformed the gallery into more than a traditional art show—it became an immersive journey through America's shared history.
Featuring Contemporary West Virginia Artists
Alongside the historic collection, the exhibition celebrated the creativity of contemporary artists from across West Virginia.
Featured artists included Fred Hays, John Coffey, Robert Walker, Jamal Hoskins, Shelby Oreolt, Steve Sisson, Gary Vaughan, Debbie Kalt Sisson, Joel Dugan, Richard Shrewsbury, Ashley Hoey, Chris DeMaria, and John Wirtz. The exhibition also welcomed first-time exhibitors Mindy Acord Smith, Sasha Kubin, Carson Hinkle, Deanee Johnson, and Maggie Ritchie.
Together, these artists created a meaningful dialogue between past and present, demonstrating that today's artists continue documenting the people, places, and communities that define life in America.
Community, Conversation, and Connection
More than an art exhibition, Life in America: Through the Decades was designed to bring the community together.
Across four evenings, visitors enjoyed live music, local food, refreshments, and community partnerships while exploring the exhibition. Each event also benefited local organizations through sponsorships and charitable partnerships, reinforcing the exhibition's mission of using art to foster conversation, connection, and shared experiences.
The combination of artwork, artifacts, music, and storytelling created an atmosphere where guests could reconnect with familiar memories while introducing younger generations to stories from America's past.
Preserving the Stories That Connect Us
Life in America: Through the Decades reflects The Rizo Collection's mission of preserving American history through art while creating exhibitions that inspire curiosity, conversation, and connection.
By bringing together historic paintings, authentic memorabilia, and the work of contemporary West Virginia artists, Jose L. Rizo created an exhibition that celebrated not only how America has changed, but also the timeless moments that continue to unite us across generations. Through thoughtful curation and community engagement, the exhibition encouraged visitors to slow down, reflect, and rediscover the enduring beauty of everyday life.