Daddy's Christmas Angel

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Loving Pastels and Art at Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center

"Roses at the Cultural Arts Center" ©Mary Montague Sikes
"Seen in Virginia," an exhibition of pastel paintings by members of The Pastel Society of Virginia. is on view until July 13 at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen. The opening reception, May 18, was well-attended. 

It's exciting to see the renewed interest in pastel art in Virginia. It has long been one of my favorite art mediums.

Pastels became especially popular in the late 19th century when Mary Cassatt created her charming Mother and Child paintings. Other French Impressionists, including Edgar Degas, Auguste Renoir, and Claude Monet used this exciting and luminous medium  for their work as well.

Gift Shop, Red Poppies, top right
Besides hosting the exhibition of work by The Pastel Society of Virginia, the Cultural Arts Center is an exciting place to visit any time. It's the site of numerous theatrical productions, a wide variety of art and writing workshops, and much more. The expansive gift shop features work by Virginia artists and craftsmen. Many of my encaustic paintings and other art pieces are for sale there. My favorite painting (of those I have in the gift shop) is "Red Poppies, Like Georgia," an encaustic. (The horse on the left in the Seen in Virginia show is mine.)

The Cultural Arts Center, 2880 Mountain Road in Glen Allen VA, is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's also open for theatrical presentations and other events that often take place on weekends.
"Grazing Near Colonial Downs" pastel ©Mary Montague Sikes
"Seen in Virginia Opening Reception" ©Mary Montague Sikes





7 comments:

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Is the Red Poppies one yours?

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Yes, Diane. I should have worded that a little better. That's my favorite of the ones I have for sale in the gift shop. The horse pastel on the left in the reception photo is mine as well.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Glad the reception went well! How many paintings of yours are on display?

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

I have two, Alex. The horse and my Hotel Roanoke original.

Murees Dupè said...

It looks like a wonderful place. You are a very talented woman. The reception looked like fun.

Stephanie Faris said...

This takes me back to my days working with the Tennessee Arts Commission. It was such a fun time--art exhibits all the time. I did develop a new appreciation for talented artists like you during that time.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Murees, thank you so much. The Arts Center is a wonderful place!

Stephanie, how nice to got to work with the Arts Commission. Thank you!