The Blacksburg Regional Art Association invites the community to the 15th New River Art Juried Biennial exhibition from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, at the Moss Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech.
Local artists exhibit in the juried biennial event. At left is a detail from “Red Cosmic Dragon,” acrylic on wood by Riner’s Ruth (Starroot) Neumann, at right, the yellow and black piece is a detail from “Femina,” made of woven paper by Blacksburg’s Martha Olson.
The short awards program will begin at 6 p.m. in the lobby to announce the award winners.
I am excited to have the New River Art Juried Biennial in the Moss Center opening this week,” Gerri Young, BRAA President, said. “It is the culmination of many months of work between BRAA and the Moss. I cannot say enough nice things about what it has been like to work with the staff at the center. Meggin Hicklin is in charge of making installations happen and she has been just spectacular! BRAA was given all three galleries over a year ago, which has been just thrilling for us.”
In addition to the collaboration between BRAA and the Moss Center, the exhibition is held in conjunction with the Fine Art Center of the New River Valley in Pulaski and the Floyd Center for the Arts.
Every two years, the show changes from one of these organizations to the next. This marks the first time the biennial has been hosted by the spectacular Moss Center and the first biennial in Blacksburg since 2013 at Perspective Gallery.
Sixty-four artists from 21 different towns or cities will be exhibiting in the three galleries of the center.
“Our juror, Emily Smith, is the director of 1708 Gallery in Richmond. She studied 389 works of art from our electronic entries and selected the 64 pieces that guests will see this Thursday.
As soon as she arrives in Blacksburg that morning, she will spend time seeing her choices in real life for the first time and will make her selections for the 12 awards we will present that evening,” Young said.
These artists were selected from among 389 entries forwarded to the juror.
Perhaps the largest award pool ever available for the biennial will be presented, with nearly $2500 going to 13 artists.
All but one award will have been selected by the juror Emily Smith, the director of the 1708 Gallery in Richmond, through both electronic and in person review.
A people’s choice award will be presented at the end of the exhibition.
“This is the largest number of awards for BRAA to present and the most generous award budget, thanks to the donations from people and businesses in Blacksburg, along with art organizations in Floyd, Pulaski and Roanoke College.”
The award money was provided through local donations by: The Nadine Allen Family and Friends, Elizabeth Calvera, Blacksburg Regional Art Association, Fine Art Center of the New River Valley in Pulaski, the Floyd Center for the Arts, the Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo Center for Art at Roanoke College, The Quilting Party, Inc., Sugar Magnolia, Brown Insurance, The Artful Lawyer and Cheap Joe’s Art Supply.
Comments and award presentations will be made by Gerri Young, president of the Blacksburg Regional Art Association and juror Emily Smith.
There will be refreshments that evening and the exhibition will remain in the Moss Center until August 3.