by Joe Miller,
Director of Development
I’ve been looking forward to this week since last August.
That’s when I first approached Vivian Blackwood about staging an exhibition of her artwork at the library.
I’d seen photos of Vivian’s oil paintings and watercolors on social media and was already a fan. A chance encounter at lunch one after- noon led to a spirited discussion about art, the internet, artificial intelligence and the virtues of living in West Virginia.
That’s when I learned that Vivian isn’t just a terrific artist. She’s also an experienced art educator—a skill she practiced at places like the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
I knew right then that I wanted to bring her energy and her ideas to the library in some way.
Luckily for us, she agreed to my offer to host some of her work. We brainstormed some ideas and started working on a grant for a pilot project. That work pays off Friday when we will open Vivian’s show – ”Shadows on the Mountain” – at 6 p.m. at McClintic Library.
The project has several elements.
There’s the exhibition itself. It will open at McClintic Library on April 11. It will then move to Green Bank, Hillsboro, Durbin and Linwood, spending two weeks at each branch.
At each stop, Vivian will curate a collection of library books that relate to the exhibition. These are collections of works that Vivian has found inspirational or instructional or that put her work into a broader context. It’s like getting your very own art appreciation course – all for free!
And speaking of free, thanks to funding from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, Vivian will be offering free watercolor classes at each library branch.
We’ll provide all the materials. Vivian will provide instruction. You just have to show up ready to paint!
The first class kicks off Tuesday, April 22, at McClintic. Space is limited, so give us a call (304-799-6000) to reserve your spot.
I’m excited about the entire program, but the bit I’m personally most looking forward to are the conversations that Vivian and I will be having at each library.
We’ll talk some about Vivian and her art practice, but we also plan to tackle some big questions.
What is art, anyway? Is AI art really art? Is something art just because an artist says so? Does art require skill or are intentions alone enough? If we tape a banana to the library wall, can we sell it for $6.2 million?
Expect a lively and free-wheeling discussion – one that will be different at each stop.
The first one happens at McClintic library Friday, April 11. We’ll have a reception starting at 6 p.m. then the discussion will kick off around 7. Be ready to jump in and add your thoughts. We encourage participation – though you can also just show up and listen. We won’t call on anybody.
You should join us on opening night because Vivian is a terrific artist whose work is best appreciated in person.
You should also come out because this first show is a pilot for what we hope to turn into an ongoing program. There are lots of fantastic artists in our county and our goal is to showcase every last one of them.
Strong attendance is the best way to show state and federal grant makers that this is a program worthy of long-term funding.
So, if you are interested in supporting local artists, in establishing a place to view original artwork or in free art classes, then coming out to see “Shadows on the Mountain” is an easy way to demonstrate that support.
If you can’t make it to McClintic on April 11, keep an eye out for us at your local branch. We’ll be announcing dates in the coming days.
I’m looking forward to seeing lots of you over the next few weeks.
