Time flies and now it is the end of July! Here’s my update on the many activities BRAA has been involved in lately.

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Annual Theme Show at Glade Church

First of all, I would like to congratulate our prize winners:

1 st place – Sally Mook

2 nd place winners: Three of them! Carol Josefiak, Bob Rotche and Robi Sallee. In addition, Glade Church gave out their own award (a beautiful stained glass hanging) to Andrea Brunais, for her piece entitled Turning Point.

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We received 42 artworks – Forty 2D paintings and two 3D pieces. We received all the artwork Friday, July 14, in the morning and hung them as soon as all the pieces arrived. A big hand for Robi Sallee, Riley Chan and Gerri Young (also myself!) for the installation. Glade Church extended their help by adjusting the spot lights for the best viewing conditions. Come over to enjoy our show during any of our Tuesday afternoon art meet up sessions from 1:30 to 4:30 P.M. in the basement location of the church. Just go down the steps on the right side of the church when looking from the parking lot. Bring something to work on while you are there, if you wish.

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Christmas Store Art Project

We are going to continue our Christmas Store art project this year. I purchased some art supplies for this event – markers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, etc. This year, we only will do the art supplies for the elementary kids. Also, if you have a particular project you love to do and is suitable for this age group, please prepare15 packages at your own home and bring them to us when we call for them close to the delivery time to the Christmas Store. Thank you in advance for helping us out.

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New River Art Biennial

For those of you who do not know, the New River Art Biennial has been hosted by BRAA, the Fine Arts Center of the New River Valley and the Floyd Art Center for many years. This year the show will be hosted by Floyd Fine Art Center. Floyd hosted a zoom meeting on July 26 for the three organizations to get started on the show. The Call for Entry will be announced soon. The show will be hung in the Hayloft Gallery of the Floyd center from October 14 th to November 29 th . We will keep you posted as work progresses.

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Upcoming Workshops

August 25-26, Gina Louthian-Stanley from Roanoke will lead a bookmaking workshop for BRAA. Details are posted on blacksburgart.org under the Happenings tab. Space is still available for this fun workshop for $125 per member student. A $35 fee is required for supplies. Gina is a very talented artist and her teaching style is fun and relaxing.

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In 2024, we are planning two very exciting workshops. Robin Poteet of Roanoke will be teaching watercolor in February. In August, Joan Fullerton from Denver, Colorado, will present an acrylic abstract workshop. Joan is stimulating and will keep you on your toes, so to speak! I am neither an acrylic nor abstract painter, but I believe I produced a couple good pieces by taking her workshop at the Studio School in Roanoke a couple years ago. I will take it again from her, for sure, in 2024!

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Professor Z.L. Feng will teach a 2-day watercolor workshop in late October this

year. Registration will be coming up after Gina’s workshop. Stay tuned and do

not miss it.

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Last, but not least, the new owners of the former Artful Lawyer building housing our Art Space, are allowing BRAA to continue this exciting venture. If you have not been in our shop, please visit on Fridays, 2-6 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Address is 318 N. Main Street, Blacksburg, in between Chipotles and Hokie House restaurants. A big thanks to our member, Lisa Acciai, for her excellent management of the Art Space! Contact Lisa at lisa@acciai.us if you want more info about how to take part.

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Keep on creating!

Charlotte Chan, BRAA President