Make this Valentine’s something extraordinary. All night and week long there are plenty of artful opportunities to start the adoration early and carry it forward with momentum, and of course a way to not so subtly investigate the options for a perfect gift.
The Market Gallery and the Roanoke Valley SPCA’s 5th Annual Art Show combines gallantry with the best-tested way to a loved ones heart. The opening night reception is at the Taubman Museum of Art and the artwork focuses on pets and all are for sale. The Art By Night gallery walk is another great date night. Take a limo from gallery to gallery throughout Downtown Roanoke. Each location has light food and drinks and a warm and jovial atmosphere. Many venues choose this monthly all-nighter as their showcase.
For a sustained series of events purchase the Passport tickets for the week long Marginal Arts Festival or chose your individual favorite event from the plethora of experiences the festival offers. All of these are ideal events for surprising your significant other. Cupid is hiding just around the corner, don’t let him catch you off guard.
1) Art By Night Gallery Crawl
Date/Time: Thurs. Feb. 4th 5-9pm
Every 1st Thurs. of each month
Location: All the Art Galleries of Downtown Roanoke
Cost: Free
Art By Night is a unique cultural event that showcases Roanoke’s thriving arts community, featuring the diverse galleries in the historic downtown area. You will find regional, national and international fine art, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, textiles, photography & more. There are opening receptions, demonstrations, refreshments, live music and as much talk about art as you can stand! Art By Night is a free event with plenty of free parking. Take the self-guided walking tour with the maps located in the brochure provided at each participating location or at www.roanokeartbynight.com. For a special treat hop in the complimentary limousine shuttle that makes a regular route among the galleries. Meet your loved one or friends downtown, cruise through the galleries, then have dinner at one of the many great restaurants in the area. Art By Night is an always and exquisite evening, make it a monthly date! For more information visit www.roanokeartbynight.com.
2) Roanoke Valley SPCA Art Show and Sale
Date/Time: Opening Reception, Fri. Feb. 5, 6:30 – 9:00pm
Location: The Atrium of the Taubman Museum of Art
110 Salem Avenue, S.E. Downtown Roanoke
Cost: adults $2; children $1
Every year the Roanoke Valley SPCA and the Market gallery invite artists and pet lovers to create artwork in any medium for their art show fundraiser. Images are of pets or animal friends. The Best in Show will be chosen by the RVSPCA Calendar Committee and will be featured on the front cover of the 2011 RVSPCA Pet Calendar. Winners in other categories will be selected by well-known artist Charlie Brouwer, and will be featured on a set of note cards along with the Best in Show winner. Opening Night Reception will be held in the atrium of the Taubman Museum of Art. The show runs from Saturday, February 6 through Saturday, February 20 at The Market Gallery, just a block away from the museum at 23 Salem Avenue. The show (excluding sculpture) then moves to The Shenandoah Club at 24 Franklin Road, for exhibit from Monday, February 22 – Friday, March 19. For more information contact The Market Gallery at 342-1177 or visit www.rvspca.org.
3) Marginal Arts Festival
Date/Time: Sun. Feb. 10th -16th
Location: All of Roanoke
Cost: Free to $11.50, Passport for $20
The Marginal Arts Festival is one of the, can’t miss festivals of the year. While most events are free there are several spectacular events where tickets or Passports are required. The 2010 Festival “Passport” is only $20 the one purchase covers all events including free admission to the Taubman Museum of Art and the O. Winston Link Museum during the festival dates (More than $50 value). Order NOW as these unique passports made by artist John Reburn will be produced in a numbered, limited edition. It lists all events, dates, times and venues and acts as your own interactive art work. Collect stamps and art scraps from the huge selection of the regions best contemporary art events and performances. Compete with your friends to see how many events you can prove you attended over the 6 days. The events range from gallery opening receptions like the one at the Hollins Universtiy to live music, silent film, theatre, box lunch forums at the Taubman and even a little Chinese New Year activates. If you want to make this February the best month of the year don’t miss the Marginal Arts Festival. For more information and to order Passports email Brian at brian@communityhigh.net or visit www.marginalarts.com.
2010 Festival Highlights February 11 through 16
February 11 Thursday
Workshop with Blueground Undergrass. Music Lab at Jefferson Center 3-4pm
Festival opening Event at Hollins- E. D. Wilson Museum 5-7 pm
“When Janey Comes Marching Home: Portraits of Women Combat Veterans”
& “Stanley Lewis: 2010 frances Niederer Artist-in-Residence”
“Open Doors Conversation at Claude Moore Auditorium, 7 pm
Eugene Chadbourne at Kirk Avenue Music Hall 8pm
February 12 Friday
Box Lunch Forum at The Taubman Museum of Art, Noon. “Colette Fu”
“Sew Me Up” Exhibition of work by nationally recognized women artists using needle and thread as a medium. Artists: Lily DeSaussure, Orly Cogan, Rachael Bernstein, Jennifer Boe and Marie St. Clair. Curated by Susan Jamison
“Cows in a Field” Installations, photographs and sculptures by artists Jacob Smith, Sean Cuddy and David Wertz- Warehouse Row
“International Mail Art” & Fluxus Performance Stations – Community High School
Open Studio Exhibitions Fleda Ring, Ann Trinkel
“We Are Tiger Dragon People” Photographs of Yi Minority o f S. W. China, assembled into Pop-Up Books. Philadelphia Artist Colette Fu- Taubman Museum of Art, Artrium 5-7pm
Beyond the Frame. Artist’s Interview with Christine Carr and John Reburn on the exhibition of photographs, Portal. O. Winston Link Museum. 7pm
“Nosferatu” Silent Film Scored by Live Band. TBA 7:30pm
Blueground Undergrass & Blue Mule. Kirk Avenue Music Hall. 8pm
February 13 Saturday
“A Postmodern Happening” Community High School 10 am – 9pm Activities All Day!
“The Marginal Arts Festival Parade” Starts at Campbell & 1st 11-1pm
“Emerging Artists” Exhibition of work by Patsy Bessalo. Downtown Library. Music by Barrel of Monkeys 1pm
“Miss Lucy” Folk Opera concert sample. Dumas Center for the Arts 7pm
February 14 Sunday
“A Swarm Of Art” Community High School Noon – 9pm Activities All Day!
“The Year of the Tiger” Chinese New Year At Taubman with Local Colors. Tiger Face painting, papercutting, paperfolding, dragon dance and dumplings later. 3-5pm
“Pop-up Book Workshop for grown-ups” Philadelphia. Colette Fu 2-5pm
“Beanstalk Presents: FC2 Alternative Press Authors Moire Crone and Michael Martone” Hollins University, Wyndham-Roberts Library 8pm
February 15 Monday
“Workshop with Michael Martone” Hollins 10 am – noon
“Absurdist Activities” Workshop at Community High School, 10- noon
“History of Miss Lucy Addison” Dumas 10-noon
“Right to Shoes” Workshop at Waterheater 3-5Pm
“Arts District Pot luck/ Open House. 110 Campell Avenue 5-8pm
February 16 Tuesday
Fat Tuesday Celebration. Fitzgerald Hall, Jefferson Center. 7pm
4. Barnyard Romance at Nelson Gallery in Lexington
Seventeen invited artists celebrate Valentine’s Day and the on-coming of spring with Nelson Gallery’s February exhibit, BARNYARD ROMANCE. ”The show is wild with color” said Susan Harb, exhibit coordinator. “No matter how cold and bleak February might be, the themes, colors, and delightful images in BARNYARD ROMANCE will lift our spirits.” The public is invited to enjoy BARNYARD ROMANCE from February 1 through 28, and to attend the opening reception on February 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. Nelson Gallery is located at 27 West Washington Street in downtown Lexington. For more information, contact Nelson Gallery at 540-463-9827 or visit www.NelsonGallery.com.
5. New Works for a New Year at Gallery 109 in Downtown Roanoke
Gallery 108 is featuring a members’ show titled New Works For A New Year. The show opens with a public reception during the Feb. 4th Art By Night and will remain on display through Feb. 28. Gallery 108 is located at 108 Market Street in Downtown Roanoke. Hours: Tue-Sat 10-5; Sun 1-4.