How the Arts Promote Each Other

New Town Art Gallery in Williamsburg VA ©Mary Montague Sikes

September is a wild and crazy month for the arts in Virginia. This month I have attended three art opening events at three different galleries. I also spent four days at New Town Art Gallery in Williamsburg, much of that time painting with pastels on my French easel outside the front entrance.

Cats Cast Members Perform at New Town Art Gallery ©MMSikes

The New Town Art Gallery open house on September 6 featured segments from the Cats the Musical, presented by the Williamsburg Players. About 200 guests in the gallery were treated to songs from the production performed by about 30 members of the cast.


At Crossroads Art Center in Richmond VA, a variety of musical activities combined with art for an open house event this month. It was fun to see a large decorated cake carted down the aisle past my gallery space en route to the main gallery. Not far away, country music filled the air. Outside, a large mural is being painted on the long drugstore wall at the end of the shopping center. Street vendors sell food and drinks outside the gallery on opening nights adding to the wonderful festive air to the area.

At For Art's Sake Gallery in Richmond, a nice crowd enjoyed refreshments at the Pastel Society of Virginia's exhibition, "Small Works of Great Art."

For Art's Sake Art Gallery ©MMSikes

As an additional example of arts supporting arts, all eight of my novels and my coffee table book, Hotels to Remember are on sale at New Town Art Gallery. Artists supporting artists and helping by promoting each other--that's the way it should be.