A little art, a little wine, a little live music, and some great people to chat with…what could be better? Glade Church in Blacksburg (1600 Glade Road) is re-opening its art gallery.
The opening coincides with Downtown Blacksburg’s First Friday Art Walk from 5-7 p.m. Friday. Along with Shaun Whiteside and his art, there will be live music, hors d’oeuvres, and a wine tasting hosted by a member of the church. The event is free to the public.
Mr. Whiteside, a member of the Blacksburg Regional Artist’s Association(BRAA), works with acrylic paint in a style most influenced by Abstract Expressionism, with an emphasis on the metaphysical and emotional realm, rather than on optical reality.
Whiteside graduated with a BA from Christopher Newport University’s art department in 2007, and received an MFA from Radford University where he is currently an adjunct instructor.
Mr. Whiteside is excited to have his art shown in a church. He says, “”I’ve always been interested in showing my work in a church because it is a space in which metaphysical matters are so frequently discussed.
Many prefer for art simply to present an accurate reflection of reality the way we see it, but depicting merely the visible matter leaves out many aspects of reality. “
Glade Church in Blacksburg has long been known in the community as “the art church.”
This year, the church is pleased to announce the new partnership with BRAA to provide a rotating art gallery, introducing their new artists to the community. Each quarter, BRAA will hang the work of a new-to-BRAA artist in the space at Glade. And each time Downtown Blacksburg hosts a First Friday Art Walk (February, April, June, October, December), Glade will host a reception for the artist, along with music and hors d’oeuvres.
Art and creativity in all its forms have been important in the life of Glade Church for many years. The church believes that spirituality is accessed, experienced, and expressed in many different ways, sometimes especially so through art.
Glade Church has also dedicated itself to giving back to the community and believe that service is another integral component of spirituality.
Along with the gallery, art workshops are offered with the proceeds going to support service projects such as Laundry Love, and BRAA holds a Tuesday night art group at the church where artists of all types come together to work on their individual art.
In addition, art, music or storytelling is, at times, incorporated into Sunday worship.
You don’t have to consider yourself an artist to be part of the arts at Glade. Come to the gallery on a First Friday, sign up for one of the art workshops, or join us for worship on a Sunday morning and see how being in the presence of creative expression can be transformational in your life.
For more information, visit www.gladechurch.org or call (540) 552-3394.
