ART BY NIGHT
April 5 (and every first Thursday of the month) is Art by Night gallery walk, a collaborative effort within the arts community. On the first Thursday of each month, downtown galleries and museums extend their hours to 8 pm for all to enjoy cultural diversity and fun. Relax in beautiful arenas surrounded by fabulous works of art that have been created locally, nationally and internationally. Refreshments will be served at most of the venues and artists will be on hand to meet and greet patrons and answer questions about their art. There is a complimentary limousine service too, call 540.342.0703 to learn more. Admission is free so come join the fun at these participating locations: Art Museum of Western Virginia, Center in the Square, 2nd Floor, 540.342.5760; Gallery 108, 108 Market Street, 540.982.4278; The Gallery at Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Avenue, 540.343.2624 ext. 217; Katherine Devine Studio and Gallery 513 S Jefferson St; The Market Gallery & Studios, 23 Salem Avenue (across from Wachovia Tower and the City Market Building). 540.342.1177; McGraw Fine Art, 21 Franklin Road, 540.312.6436; Roanoke Valley Printworks, 108 Salem Avenue, 540.343.0296; Signature 9 Gallery, 1309 Third Street, 540.342.0703; and Studios on the Square, 126 West Campbell Avenue, 540.345.4076.

ART MUSEUM OF WESTERN VIRGINIA
One Market Square, Roanoke 540.342.5760
www.artmuseumroanoke.org - ART WITH A TWIST @ ART MUSEUM OF WESTERN VIRGINIA, This cool event full of art, music, food, drinks and lots of fun will have everyone excited about the energy of the Art Museum of Western Virginia. With gallery tours, DJ providing club music, and an exciting activity involving the brand new multimedia installation piece, there is something going on for everyone! Art With A Twist coincides with April’s Art By Night Thursday, April 5 so stop by for a drink and take a look at the new Gifts exhibition, learn a bit about the exciting Museum auxiliary group The Contemporaries, and use Art with a Twist as a spring-board for exploring Roanoke’s vibrant art galleries. We hope to see you down at the Museum for what is becoming one of the area’s hippest new cultural events! The perfect time to enjoy the Art Museum’s special exhibitions and permanent collection while enjoying light hors d’oeuvres. Time: 5PM – 8PM Cost: Free. ‘Gifts’ an exhibition thru November 1, 2007. Catch a glimpse of what is to come in the new Art Museum! During the Gifts exhibition works of art given in anticipation of the new building will be on view for the first time. There should be something for everyone: the exhibition will include paintings, sculpture, photographs, prints, decorative arts, fine crafts by nationally and regionally known artists, emerging artists and household names in styles ranging from very traditional to completely abstract. Each gift will be featured with additional pieces that illuminate the works’ importance, showing an artist’s technique and working method, artists they influenced or worked alongside, or the artistic, social or historic significance. A second exhibition on view through early May will focus on donors throughout the history of the Art Museum whose gifts had an especially large impact on the permanent collection and the institution’s direction. Join us to celebrate the many people whose generosity has made possible the success of the Art Museum and be ready for some surprises! Enjoy the Art Museum galleries free of charge! Books can be purchased in the Art Museum retail shop. Members pay $13, a 20% discount on the book and non-members pay $14.50, a 10% discount. Docent Led Gallery Tours: Tuesdays at 12 pm, Saturdays at 1:00 pm 2nd Floor.

ELEANOR D. WILSON MUSEUM AT HOLLINS UNIVERSITY
7916 Williamson Road, Hollins 540.362.6000
www.hollins.edu The Eleanor D Wilson Museum will present: LOOKING INSIDE GODEY’S LADY’S BOOK: DRESS AND DOMESTICITY IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY thru April 14, 2007 in the Main Gallery. Featuring items from the Wyndham Robertson Library Special Collections and the museum’s permanent collection, Associate Professor of Art Kim Rhodes’ Art 350 class has curated an exhibition exploring the symbolic, metaphorical, and political interpretations of women’s fashion in the nineteenth century. Godey’s Lady’s Book is widely recognized as the premiere women’s magazine of the nineteenth century, featuring hand-tinted fashion plates, poetry, and articles. The colorful fashion plates depict stylish ladies at the seashore and “modern ways to arrange the hair,” while other pages offer patterns for embroidery and articles on home décor. Also included in the exhibition are period garments, hair work jewelry, and painted screens. THE 2007 FRANCES NIEDERER ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: MICHAEL ANANIAN thru – April 28, 2007. Painter, Michael Ananian creates images that reflect the mutual influence of framework and ideas. Using rough brushstrokes that mimic the instincts and emotions of his subjects, he combines these elements to construct a complete visual narrative. Ananian received his B.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design and his M.F.A. from the Yale School of Art. He has served as a visiting artist at the University of Louisville, Indiana University, and the University of Tulsa and is currently on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. THE ARCHITECT’S BROTHER: April 24 – June 23, 2007 Main Gallery. Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison creatively portray an environment damaged by technology and overuse. Featured in each historically inspired photograph is Robert ParkeHarrison as “The Architect’s Brother.” The character stitches together a torn landscape using a giant needle and thread, or climbs a huge overblown dandelion to spread its seeds. With sweetness and humor, The Architect’s Brother reminds us to consider the ways we use our world. The Architect’s Brother was organized by George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film with the support of the Bulrush Foundation.The Wilson Museum is open Tues-Fri from 10 am–4 pm, and Sat from 1-5 pm. For more information, call 540.362.6081.

VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Martinsville, 276.666.8600 www.vmnh.net - The highly anticipated opening of the new world-class Virginia Museum of Natural History facility is a reality. The new facility is open to the public. The “Feathered Dinosaurs of China” exhibit features a rare feathered dinosaur and other spectacular specimens from the National Geological Museum of China. Also on special exhibit “Chinasaurs: The Great Dinosaurs of China”, featuring the largest collection of Chinese fossils to tour North America. The permanent exhibit galleries includes: Uncovering Virginia, How Nature Works: Rocks, and How Nature Works: Life. The Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont Great Hall, which features a 14 million-year-old fossil whale skeleton and the skeleton of an Allosaurus, and the Hooker Furniture Corporation Theater, which is the first site in Virginia to offer CineMuse high-definition digital cinema. Visit the VMNH Store and New Moon Café. The Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville seeks to increase understanding of and appreciation for the natural history of the Commonwealth through education, research, collections, publications and exhibits. The Museum – an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution – is accredited by the American Association of Museums, a distinction earned by fewer than 10 percent of museums in the United States. Hours: Monday through Saturday from 9-5:30 pm and Sundays from Noon to 5:30 pm. Members are always admitted free. Admission is $7 for adults; $6 for senior citizens and college students; $5 for children and youth 3-18; members and children under 3 free. For more information about membership or volunteer opportunities, please call 276.666.8600 or visit the museum’s Web site at www.vmnh.net.

HISTORY MUSEUM OF WESTERN VIRGINIA
Third Floor, One Market Square, Roanoke 540.342.5770 www.history-museum.org Westward Bound: Discovering Virginia Through Maps. A new exhibit opens on April 6 in the History Museum’s revolving gallery. The exhibit features works from the Library of Virginia, Hollins University, and Virginia Tech. The exhibit will draw on both public and private collections of maps and related documents, prints, and equipment of the surveyor, cartographer, explorer and naturalist to tell the story of the young Commonwealth in the 17th and 18th centuries. The exhibit is open to the public through September 2, 2007. Opening April 27, 2007, is an exhibit of artifacts and ephemera called Souvenirs of Jamestown, 1907. Many Roanokers made the trip to what is now the Norfolk Naval Base to experience the exciting tercentennial celebration of our country’s birth. They returned home to Roanoke with souvenirs and memorabilia which the Museum has on exhibit in the Shaftman Gallery until July 29, 2007. Since its creation in 1957, the Historical Society of Western Virginia has grown into one of the most unique history-related museum systems in the Commonwealth. Its mission is to promote an interest in the broad spectrum of history with emphasis on that of western Virginia; to collect, preserve, interpret, and make available materials relating to that history; to sponsor research and publication in the field of regional history; and to provide educational services to people and institutions throughout western Virginia. Please call 540.342.5724. Free afternoon admission on the second Friday of the month, from 1—4 pm.

O. WINSTON LINK MUSEUM
101 Shenandoah Ave, Roanoke 540.982.5465 www.linkmuseum.org - The O. Winston Link Museum houses the world’s largest collection of the acclaimed 20th century photographer’s work. The Museum has over 300 of Link’s stunning black and white photographs, interactive exhibits and the Link documentary film “What a Picture I Got,” shown every hour.

SALEM MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY
801 East Main Street, Salem 540.389.6760
www.salemmuseum.org - May 20, 2007 Historic Salem Virginia Garden Tour Celebrating Virginia’s 400th Anniversary, Preserving the past, informing the future. Permanent exhibits include Twenty Decades, a History of Salem Through 200+ Years; Community and Courage: the African-American Experience in Salem; The Brown House Parlor; Lakeside! Sixty Summers of Ups and Downs.

SCIENCE MUSEUM OF WESTERN VIRGINIA
One Market Square, Roanoke 540.342.5710 visit www.smwv.org - FORE! THE PLANET: is a highly interactive and playful exhibition using miniature golf to communicate information about the natural world. As with most miniature golf courses, ‘Fore! The Planet’ has 18 holes, (The Front Nine: thru May 27 and The Back Nine: June 8 -September 2), each “themed” with a different topic. The course is divided into two halves, a “front-nine” (Thru May 27) –how nature works –and the “back-nine” (June 8 – September 2) –human interaction in the biosphere. The exhibition stimulates interaction and inquiry among the players, as the more they learn, the better they play the game. Fore! The Planet illustrates a variety of natural phenomena, chosen according to their scientific accuracy, relevance and suitability for play. Currently playing in the planetarium, ‘Alaska: Spirit of the Wild’. Few places on earth impose greater survival challenges and this conflict between climate and life is the central thematic thread of ALASKA. Despite harsh conditions, life in Alaska always finds a way to endure. This film is about the majesty and uniqueness of wild Alaska, and about the resiliency of life itself. Ongoing exhibits include Earth Treasures mineral gallery, Hard bottom Reef Tank, Live Animal Demonstrations, and more! Free Friday afternoons on the second Friday of each month, from 3:30-6pm. Daily schedules and admission prices are available on the website–www.smwv.org.

VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION
303 Norfolk Avenue, Roanoke 540.342.5670
www.vmt.org - Ongoing exhibits: Working the High Iron: A pictorial history of the N&W Railway; The Claytor Brothers: Virginians Building America’s Railroad; African American Heritage on the Norfolk & Western Railroad, 1930—1970; Moving the Rock that Propelled a Nation: Coal and America’s Industrialization

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA ART MUSEUM
155 Rugby Road, Charlottesville 434.924.3592 www.virginia.edu/artmuseum - The museum is open to the public free of charge Tuesday through Sunday, 1–5 pm. “Images Of Women In African Traditional Arts” thru Sunday, April 15. The faces and figures of women are universal in the traditional arts of sub-Saharan Africa. Whether they represent spiritual beings or human ancestors, images of women are found everywhere both on ritual objects and items of everyday use. A wide-ranging look at the variety of sub-Saharan artistic expressions of the feminine in both naturalistic and strikingly abstract forms. The University of Virginia Art Museums Student Docents have instituted an exciting new program free tours of the museum between 1 and 2 pm on Saturdays. Also, the museum announces the opening of its new media gallery. The gallery, made possible in part with the support of electronics retailer Crutchfield, will present a changing program of works throughout the semester.